What sort of hormones are you going on if you are trying to fix the imbalance? Can you give me some insight? I'd like to hear more about it. Thanks!
I just recently turned 33 and have been periodically having hives for 13 years. The first bought came out of nowhere lasting 9 months (my 1st daughter was 18 mos) with my Dr. diagnosing me with chronic urticaria and being prescribed hyroxyzine once a day. The only over the counter drug that worked was Reactine extra strength, but I found it to be fairly expensive. The next bout was a few years later. It lasted 18 months and then seemed to disappear, I used the same meds and sought out more testing via a allergist who said it was all stress related (that is what they tell you when the can't find an allergy).
I went through it twice more with the hives lasting longer each time. Very scary as I have landed in the hospital with anaphylaxis twice, which I have contributed to taking Advil. Ibuprophen does not bother me only the Advil brand itself. This I thought was a drug reaction to another drug, but I have since taken the Advil on its own without having been on anything for hives or having noticable hives. Through out the next few years I had another daughter and a son (with whom I had hives through out the pregnancy). I have now 4 kids and the last pregnancy was a doozie. At 20 weeks I started to get itchy belly which is a normal pregnancy occurance for some women. The itching got worse and worse, until a month later after meds were not working and 3 Dr. visits produced a "suck it up" and 2 diagnosis of PUPPP. WRONG!!!! I did research on the internet and it produced several ideas, none of which were PUPPP. I wound up in the hospital with a visit by a dermatologist. He did tests and what I had was called Pemphegoid of Pregnancy and yes you can have it while not pregnant. The only relief was prednisone or give birth. So I took prednisone, baby was born 2 weeks early. I suffered from this for almost a year after he was born taking the prednisone all the while, reducing the dosage as needed . I now experience a small amount of hives and annoying itchyness prior to my periods. I take chlortriplon for that as needed and trying to stay cool as the heat aggrivates the hives further.
I have been since tested for an autoimmunity and the test proved negative that I am allergic to my own blood serum. I am too stuck for answers and hope that there is actually someone interested in helping us women who suffer so terribly from this. I hope to hear something new soon. So I just sit and scratch and tough it out. Some times you just have to suck it up and get on with life, or they will run your life.
I went through it twice more with the hives lasting longer each time. Very scary as I have landed in the hospital with anaphylaxis twice, which I have contributed to taking Advil. Ibuprophen does not bother me only the Advil brand itself. This I thought was a drug reaction to another drug, but I have since taken the Advil on its own without having been on anything for hives or having noticable hives. Through out the next few years I had another daughter and a son (with whom I had hives through out the pregnancy). I have now 4 kids and the last pregnancy was a doozie. At 20 weeks I started to get itchy belly which is a normal pregnancy occurance for some women. The itching got worse and worse, until a month later after meds were not working and 3 Dr. visits produced a "suck it up" and 2 diagnosis of PUPPP. WRONG!!!! I did research on the internet and it produced several ideas, none of which were PUPPP. I wound up in the hospital with a visit by a dermatologist. He did tests and what I had was called Pemphegoid of Pregnancy and yes you can have it while not pregnant. The only relief was prednisone or give birth. So I took prednisone, baby was born 2 weeks early. I suffered from this for almost a year after he was born taking the prednisone all the while, reducing the dosage as needed . I now experience a small amount of hives and annoying itchyness prior to my periods. I take chlortriplon for that as needed and trying to stay cool as the heat aggrivates the hives further.
I have been since tested for an autoimmunity and the test proved negative that I am allergic to my own blood serum. I am too stuck for answers and hope that there is actually someone interested in helping us women who suffer so terribly from this. I hope to hear something new soon. So I just sit and scratch and tough it out. Some times you just have to suck it up and get on with life, or they will run your life.
Hi,
I also started getting hives after I weened my daughter. This started in October and of course I went to many doctor's and no one could help me. I started to pay attention to when my hives were the worst and noticed it was always right before and during my period. I asked my gynecologist if it was hormone related and she said yes, she's seen this before. She put me on low dose estrogen patches and that has completely helped. They still come, but not nearly as bad and I don't have to take anything else. None of the anti-histamines were working anyway, but I was still taking them since there was nothing else. I was also taking doxepin at night to sleep. It was horrible. Taking the estrogen has made such a huge difference. It's a Vivelle patch with the .025 dosage. I put one on and switch it every 3 days. Like I said I still get them, but not nearly as bad and I can manage with them now.
I hope this information can help someone out there because the thought of living with hives that didn't allow me to sleep was miserable.
Good luck,
Monica
I also started getting hives after I weened my daughter. This started in October and of course I went to many doctor's and no one could help me. I started to pay attention to when my hives were the worst and noticed it was always right before and during my period. I asked my gynecologist if it was hormone related and she said yes, she's seen this before. She put me on low dose estrogen patches and that has completely helped. They still come, but not nearly as bad and I don't have to take anything else. None of the anti-histamines were working anyway, but I was still taking them since there was nothing else. I was also taking doxepin at night to sleep. It was horrible. Taking the estrogen has made such a huge difference. It's a Vivelle patch with the .025 dosage. I put one on and switch it every 3 days. Like I said I still get them, but not nearly as bad and I can manage with them now.
I hope this information can help someone out there because the thought of living with hives that didn't allow me to sleep was miserable.
Good luck,
Monica
It is such a relief to hear others share this bizarre experience. I too have seen all sorts of doctors and ultimately self treating by starting birth control pills a few years ago. They became less frequent and bothersome for a while and I went off the pill to have a baby. It just began again after weaning my year old son and i am reluctant to take Birth Control long term. I am looking into something called bio-identical hormones-any thoughts??
I have been suffering from hives since January this year. My allergist has had me run all sorts of blood work to rule out any food allergies, or hive related diseases, and nothing comes up. Oh except the high level of TSH in my thyroid, so now I'm seeing the endo. I came to this site because I too suspected it was my period. (Prior to suspecting it was my periord I thought it was my occasional cosmopolitian.) How surprised am I to find so many simular cases. I am 48 years old and am taking allegra 180 along with zantac 150 daily. These hives are a mystery and so very annoying.
I am 32 and i have been dealing with hives for the past 5 months. My primary doctor thought it might be seasonal/enviromental allergies (though i have never had any allergies prior). He sent me to an allergist. I have had dozens of blood tests, steriod shots, i have taking prednisone, clariton, benadryl, zrytec, singular, hydroxyine. I change detergents, shampoos, lotions, make-up, bought new mattress, changed my diet but the hives seemed to get worse. I have had episodes where i woke up with a swollen face, lips, eyes. Most mornings i wake with hives on my arms/legs they last a couple of hours then go away. Lately, they have gotten worse (lasting all day) and covering my whole body. I noticed today that my swelling tends to coincide w/ my period. maybe some type of hormonal imbalance? I pray that we figured this out
Hello
I have had hives for nearly 4 years after my last son was born. Getting worse and worse and particularly bad before and during my menstrual cycle. I have just made what I think is a link between my iud copper coil fitted just after my child was born. Do you have a iud fitted and could you be illergic to copper. Just a thought that took me 4 years to pick up on. I am having mine removed on tuesday so will let you know. I have had all of the allergy tests and the hormone and everything else and nothing to date. Still belive it iis an allergy.
very best wishes Naomi x
I have had hives for nearly 4 years after my last son was born. Getting worse and worse and particularly bad before and during my menstrual cycle. I have just made what I think is a link between my iud copper coil fitted just after my child was born. Do you have a iud fitted and could you be illergic to copper. Just a thought that took me 4 years to pick up on. I am having mine removed on tuesday so will let you know. I have had all of the allergy tests and the hormone and everything else and nothing to date. Still belive it iis an allergy.
very best wishes Naomi x
I have the same story and I'm very happy to have found this blog. I had hives for about 2 years either prior to getting my period for the first time around 12 years old. The doctors could not figure out why. They said it might be a reaction to MSG. I stopped eating Chinese food for a year. (which was hell bc it's my favorite) only to find out I still would break out. I had horrible eczema to the point all of my fingers would crack and I would be covered in rashes as well as hive. Then one day the hives stopped. Just like that they were gone. Now I'm 25 and for the past 3 months I have been getting hives before, during and after my period. Just like before they start in areas that have the most heat. Around my bra, armpits ect. and either stop there or get to the point where my body is covered, my face and ears are swollen and I'm scared my breathing will fail me. I am going to the doc tomorrow and I was glad to find out that I'm not the only one who feels it's connected to their period. I'm going to tell them about autoimmune progesterone dermatitis that was mentioned on this blog. I really think that it's a good starting point. I'll post the outcome when I find out more. Good luck to everyone.
OMG.so glad to find this website. I have been suffering with hives since April 20!! the same day as the BP oil spill and there seemed to be no solution insite for either of us :'( I have been to allergist, endocrinologist, dermatologist and gynecologist and I'm told "chronic urticaris" because all labwork has come back negative! so frustrating not knowing and trying to pinpoint any little thing that could be the trigger. My daily journal seems to indicate that it could be related to my menstruation cycle. I thought it was the sanitary products I was using or maybe latex containing items..I thought I was going crazy especially when hives were head to toe and size of my entire body.. I felt like a freak especially when face and hands and feet are swollen and you can't hide it! I've heard of autoimmune progesterone dermatitis and actually saw a segment of it on "Mysterious diagnosis" one night when the hives kept me up! I was told that progesterone is lowest when your period starts so then I was deemed crazy by my ob/gyn :'( Now, all I do is take my combination antihistamine regimen which is Zantac, Xyzal, and Alegra in the morning and Zantac, Claritin, and Zyrtec in the evening with Atarax for breakthrough hives as needed, which is usually during my period. It has been 3 weeks since I started this and the big breakout hives are staying away :-D . Thank goodness. I hope it goes away forever very soon!!
:'( I am 40 years young, I've heard all the symptoms, treatments,but none have helped me. I've had Lupus when I was 25,in remission, now family history of hypothyroidism has affected my daily life, but this year since late February 2010, I've had these god aweful hives that started out only by my elbows and knees,eventually spread throughout my body,along with anaphyl shock,swelling of face, lips,throat which I carry an epi-pen just in case. Unlike some postings , my hives seem to stop 5 days after starting birth control (Trynessa) but since has reappeared. I also get these painful headaches,along with heavy periods even while taking birth control! I am severly depressed, sleep 10 hours a day. I believe its hormonal, but I also have thyroid imbalance and have noticed they have re-appeared since I started taking thyroid med and iron supplement. So frustrated. Wake up wheezing, feel like ton of bricks. Allergists say they don't know whats causing hives, skin tests appeared to have no allergies to food,outdoor allergies. My physician only tells me its an idoitic condition that has no cure. I stopped seeing him!! Was only giving me steroid shots that temporarily slowed breakouts but which lead to leg swelling and kidney aches! I now am only seeing my gyno,which is going to give me a biopsy to rule out uterine cancer before trying estrogen therapy for heavy periods. So again I wait til October to wish for relief soon...if anyone has exact symptoms and found a good doctor to cure their hives please email me l_rodarte2002,and thats a yahoo email,thanks.
I am so happy to have found this thread! I turned 38 years old yesterday - I have been dealing with hives since 2004, and multiple visits with various doctors, numerous tests/biopsies/bloodtests, and even hospital stays have produced no answers. My mom recently saw the same 'Mystery Diagnosis' episode and called me in a tizzy to quickly turn on the channel. I was shocked at what I was watching - for more than 5 years no one has had the same symptoms, and doctors looked at me like I had three heads. I've taken Claritin, Zyrtec, Benadryl, Doxepin, Atarax, Plaquenil, Quinacrine, Zantac, Levothyroxine, gobs of Prednisone...the list goes on and on. The Prednisone, if taken at doses of 50-100mg, with get the hives under control, but once I go below that 50mg mark they start to return. I have them primarily on my arms and chest, but have started getting them on my legs, butt, back and face. The Prednisone has given me a 50+ lb weight gain and has severely damaged my kidneys. I work out 2-3 hours every day and have to take Lasix 80mg 2x/day just to keep the fluid retention down and be able to urinate properly. This has taken a mental toll on me (the hives, not the weight gain) and I don't even want to go out with friends or family, date, etc. My doctors thought it was stress related since my husband passed in a car accident 8 years ago, but the hives and symptoms didn't start until 2 years later. I see a Rheumatologist for Lupus, a Gastroenterologist for Celiac Sprue, an Endocrinologist for Hypothyroidism (all diagnosed within the past 16 months), and an Immunologist who is trying to figure out why I have the hives. Two skin biopsies showed Leukocytclastic Vasculitis, but I am not responding to conventional treatment. My Rheumatologist even suggested chemotherapy to put my Lupus into remission, as the hives tend to exacerbate that condition. After watching the episode of Mystery Diagnosis, I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Roca, a fantastic Gynocologist who actually worked with Dr. Frances Webb Smith, the GYN who was featured on Mystery Diagnosis. We are trying Medroxyprogesterone to see if my hives are hormone related and controlled. This is my first month on the medicine (on 10 days, off 2 days, repeat) and I have had my period for 16 days and a terrible outbreak of hives since the medication ended on day 10. I am considering a hysterectomy, but am worried that this will further inflame the hives...and once it's taken out, it can't be put back in! :-) Any suggestions or advice?
Thank you so much - this thread is an absolute God send!!!
Angie
Thank you so much - this thread is an absolute God send!!!
Angie
I am so happy, and so relieved to have found this site and blog thread! It is comforting to know I am not alone, and/or crazy!! I am 34, and have been suffering from Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria for four months. It all started in June, when I suddenly contracted a very high, intense fever. Two days later, I was covered in hives head to toe, my mouth, eyes and throat swelled shut, and I had to go to the ER. Since then, I have had hives every day without reprieve, and have been to the ER 4 times with severe reactions including the lip swelling, throat closing and dramatically reduced heart rate. I have sought help from my primary doctor, two different allergists, an acupuncturist, and a dermatologist--all to no avail. I was put on extreme doses of Prednisone and antihistamines, and nothing really "works" as the hives never really go away. I tried changing my detergent, doing an industrial clean of my apartment, an elimination diet, and keeping a food journal. The most recent severe reaction occurred on my birthday two weeks ago, and I am embarrassed to say that it finally occurred to me that they could be linked to my cycle, as I had gotten my period that very same morning. I am now terrified for my period to start again as the first day of my cycle usually puts me in the ER with a near-death experience. I am carrying an Epi Pen now, but find that this and all the drugs and antihistamines are just not a satisfactory solution. I am currently on a regimen of two Claritin in the morning, and two Zyrtec at night, and this combo does not get rid of the hives, rather makes them a bit more tolerable. I am still an itchy, blotchy mess most of the time. There is definitely a pattern though to how they operate: Mornings are the worst, I wake up and they are all over my body. By lunch time they have gotten a bit better, but never compeltely go away, and then by evening they are starting to come back again. Cyclically, they are also dramatically worse cycle day 1 - 14--but like I said, never go away completely. I am eager to try some of the recommendations on this feed--particularly the cocktail recommended on this feed's first page from Dr. Lee's book. I found that I actually already have a number of the vitamins and supplements in the combo in my medicine cabinet, so today I started taking: 2 Claritin, fish oil, Vi. C, B-complex, Vit. E, and increasing my water intake. I am a bit hesitant about Quercetin and Vitex, but plan on asking my OB about them when I see her next week.
I am determined to find an answer to this. I do not think that science has caught up with all of the hormonal issues and the implications they have for women. It is not normal , it not an acceptable way to be, and I refuse to be placated anymore by doctors and specialists who tell me that "we will just never know what the cause is".
Thank you to all of you who have posted your experiences. I am so grateful to you for sharing your findings, and promise to do the same!
I am determined to find an answer to this. I do not think that science has caught up with all of the hormonal issues and the implications they have for women. It is not normal , it not an acceptable way to be, and I refuse to be placated anymore by doctors and specialists who tell me that "we will just never know what the cause is".
Thank you to all of you who have posted your experiences. I am so grateful to you for sharing your findings, and promise to do the same!
hi, im 25 an I have had hives now for 7-8 mths. I have everything that is mentioned on here. But im curious what doctor would i go to get this diagnosed. I do believe that yall are probaly right. At times it seems like its getting better an then i'll break out all over an it will stay with me for about 3-4 days. My hands an swell an itch so much same with my feet. The meds make me so tired i cant live like this. I'v never had anything happen to me like this. I'm just tired can someone help me please.
. WHOEVER has heavy bleeding while suffering similar symptoms, please check your hormone levels, thyroid,and hemoglobin count!!! I was admitted to hospital (10/29/10)because I was so weak and was told I was anemic prior to hospitalization! I continued to to ignore dr's advise of taking iron supplement,and eating Hi Protein/Iron rich foods, my hemoglobin count was so low I couldn't bring back up on my own, had to have blood transfusion= 2 units of blood, and 2 iv's of fluids!! I was released the next evening, and immediately felt improvement with weakness. My heavy clots/flow stopped a few days later. Still having tests done for heavy periods (biopsy,ultrasound,more labs)and light flow started up today(11/8/10). I'm not taking any hormones or medications at the moment,and haven't had any hives. So I'm going to continue to stay hydrated and start liquid iron supplement. Was noticing MONTHS AGO when taking Levothyroxazine and iron supplement, my hives became worse, so I'm gonna see what works for me. Will post outcome in a few weeks.(btw, THATS MY POST ABOVE ALSO)
Hi, I am a 15 year old girl who started my period 2 years ago. I soon got allergic to the cat that I've had since I was three years old. I also started breaking out in hives on my feet, ankles, legs, hands, arms, even behind my ears. After tracking my period for a few months, I realized that most of my hives come right before and during my period. I also tend to break out after wearing socks for a long time, rollerskating, sometimes bug bites. My allergist doctor said that I was defenatly allergic to my cat (whom I am NOT getting rid of), but said that he had no clue why I was breaking out in hives. After reading some of these posts, I guess I realized that my body must have changed when my period started, like others. So now I know I'm not alone and I'm not gonna die of some unknown disease. Lol.. Just kidding. Thanks! :-)