Hives!!

[lilbadtrini]

For the past nearly 4 weeks now I have suffered with a hives rash all over my legs of a night time, they are so itchy, they were normally gone the next day but now some are still there.

Tonight they are everywhere, all over my arms, back, and boobs! I don't know how I'm going to sleep. I've been taking allergy tablets for the past 3 weeks! I have a docs appointment booked for next week but does anyone have any idea what the causes of it could be? Or suffer with it?

I've also been feeling very tired during the day and my hands have been aching, when googling it's coming up with under active thyroid but who knows!

Hives or Urticaria can be acute or chronic (lasting more than 6 weeks). Most people who have chronic urticaria never find the cause. I had it for about 9 months eight years ago, and have just had a flare up the past fortnight (after being clear for years!). People report all sorts of things that can trigger it, (I think mine is triggered by artificial food colourings) salicylate sensitivity is well known (including aspirin and other NSAIDs), viruses, normal allergens, etc. Thyroid is often tested, but mine came back as on the low side but within normal range so not likely to be the issue. With my first attack we think it went on so long not controlled properly ( first consultant took me off antihistamines that were working but needed a higher dose and put me on others that didn't agree with me and didn't work...🙄) that my immune system basically got overworked and was reacting to itself, and it needed time to calm down.

I'd actually contact your surgery asap and get an urgent appointment - tell them you're having an allergic reaction. It sounds like the antihistamines you're taking aren't controlling it and it's getting worse. Angioedema ( swelling) can also occur with Urticaria and bad cases of that can affect airways so they'll take you seriously.

You may need different antihistamines or a higher dose - currently I'm on 3x the label dose of Fexofenadine and 2x the label dose of Ranitadine ( and also taking Monteleukast) and have just about got it under control. From my recent visit to the GP it seems that understanding of treating it has moved on since I first had it in 2009.

Good luck!

If you have any questions happy to help!