Hives

[DungareesTrombonesDinos]

Has anyone else started getting hives which may/may not be due to perimenopause? I am being driven mad by them, they can come on at any point in the day and can be anywhere on my body- arms, belly, neck, hands, bum cheeks! If I scratch them it leaves huge red welts - look like Ive been got by Freddie Kruger! I also sometimes get an itchy mouth / lips. I tried antihistamines but they don't seem to make much of a difference.

Im so sick of being uncomfortable in my own body I really am!

Yes me! Been suffering with this since I was about 42ish so could be peri related? Mine are exercise induced and drive me absolutely crazy! I find fexafenidine better than the others but none have really worked so far. It feels like I’m just overheating as part of the reaction so I’ve bought some disposable ice packs to try after a run to test the theory.
are yours triggered if you get hot?

Mine turned out to be an allergy to gluten. Fexofenidine helps but I need such a high dose that I then can’t sleep

might be worth getting some testing done?

Ahh thank you both for replying, being hot is definitely a trigger and also if I even slightly scratch myself? I will book another GP trip!

Yep I started with them at 41 was my first symptom looking back before I got chronic anxiety. Mine are definitely linked to peri as I tend to get them before a period or along with other symptoms now like palpitations but it’s not always like that my body is having a party so it can be a bit random sometimes I’m 48 now my mum had her last bleed at 49 so hopefully I’m nearing the end of the rollercoaster now. I would start logging symptoms and when they happen it’s helpful.

I've had hives 3 times, once was spectacularly bad. I was prescribed fexofenadine, but it took 3 desperate appointments before the dosage was adjusted effectively. Good luck to you. As my events have all been in spring time I've put it down to developing allergies.

Just to say I don’t take anything for them just on HRT but mine are usually one or two small haves that subside after an hour or so. I had them in puberty so it’s definitely something to do with hormones for me

Yes I developed an allergy during peri to some kinds of wool.

I thought it was just me!! I am 47 and this has been happening for about 2 years. I know alcohol, caffeine and heat are triggers. I will get the most hideous red raised rash on my back for about an hour then it will go. And it’s the same with the scratching - people ask if I am ok as I look as if I’ve been self-harming. No other symptoms of menopause yet. I am actually relieved to hear it isn’t just me!

I've had this for 5 years. It can come on at any time, on any body part, and I also look like I've had a run in with Freddie Kruger afterwards. It drives me crazy. I'm assuming it's hormone related and hoping that it will stop soon (I'm 50).

Not peri related but I’ve had severe chronic hives with varying causes for the past 30 years so offering some tips
the scratching yourself could be dermographism, I have cholinergic urticaria which is caused by heat and despite what posters on here tell me exercise

cooling spray - boots, Amazon etc sell it
tepid showers and avoid sudden changes in temperature where possible
really try not to itch! I find if I’m itchy then cool showers help and distraction, slapping the skin or using a specialist tool
hydromol to wash or bioderma shower oil and keep the skin moisturised with something basic like Mixa ceramide cream (Amazon again)
e45 itch relief cream
obviously I’m not recommending this until you’ve asked but you can usually have more than one antihistamine a day, I used to take 4 cetirizine (2 am and 2 pm)
dermatology often have a specialist urticaria section if it carries on as there are more.. sledgehammer options. I take Xolair injections or I can’t do anything at all without thousands of hives

Yes I had it awfully. An antihistamine a day helped. It stopped after ten years or so. It’s miserable