Hives

[paris]

Not a "serious" medical condition, but I am at day 5 with hives and I think I am going crazy!  I am considering a straight jacket so my hands can't scratch them!    They just keep coming.  Today, my face decided to join in.  I look lovely      Half dollar size welts on arms, hands, neck, face and back.  It is entertaining to speculate where the next ones will break out.  I am on second tube of hydrocordisone, also benydryl and oatmeal baths.  I have been told it is probably stress induced.  I think that is funny----me?  What stress do I have?         By the weekend, I should be one big welt; red swollen and itchy!    Last time I had hives, it was the week of my wedding.  I also had a dream the other night and all I can remember from it is the phrase "impending doom".    Time for more benydryl and cream and maybe a good scream to go with them. 

[Romona]

  Have they done labs lately? Maybe something is high. I hope you feel better soon.

[jbeany]

My body's stress reaction is to make my hair fall out - not sure if that's better or worse than hives! 
 

[MooseMom]

About 6 years ago, I had a mouth infection and was treated with antibiotics.  The following week, I had a UTI and took Bactrim.  I remember I was sitting at the breakfast bar in my pyjamas; it was morning and I was reading the paper.  My back started to itch.  After a few minutes, I realized that the itch was not going away. So I padded into the bathroom and looked at my back...it was covered in welts.  Over the next hour, I watched my entire body gradually welt up.  I had never had hives before, and I will never forget it.  It took about three days for it to go away; the hives disappeared as quickly as it appeared.  Such a strange thing.  I hope you recover soon.  Nasty business.

[Jean]

My daughter had some hive like welts and they diagnosed it as stress induced. She takes 1/2 of a Zanax at night and no more rash. Silly question, but you have contacted your Dr. have you not?

[Mimi]

Paris, I have had hives off and on for years.  It is stress induced.  The last time I had them was a Saturday before Easter.  I ended up in the ER.  They gave me a shot of something and a prescription for
Hydroxyzine.  Later when I went to my PP she put me on Zanax, too.  You might want to give your Dr. a ring.

Love, Mimi   

[paris]

Thanks guys        The hives are better today. Still have lots of bumps, but not itching as bad.  I take Zoloft for anxiety. I internalize everything and don't talk to the people around me about problems.  A few weeks ago, I finally was diagnosed with Fibro and went through a lot of xrays. They showed I have lost all the cartilage in my knees and one shoulder and the spine is full of arthritis.  None of it is a suprise--I know the pain I have been in. But, I haven't said anything to my family or friends.  It will just sound like I am complaining --- again.  And lots of people don't thing Fibromyalgia is a real disease.  And everyone has arthritis.   I think I have been worrying and stressing and trying to figure out how to feel better. I have spent my whole life hiding problems and taking care of myself.  I think my body is tired of the stress!!    It was hard to write this----I don't like complaining or whining. Others have so many more problems that are much worse.   Thanks for listening.   

[Sunny]

Paris,
I have always had muscle and joint pain ever since getting kidney disease. My doctor says it's part of ESRD. It feels like fibromyalgia and arthritis. Plus I itch plenty if I don't eat right. It sounds like you have the long-term outcomes of chronic kidney disease and its effects. I never had firbomyalgia-type pain nor arthritis prior to getting kidney disease. Some days are better than others. When it's really bad, I have to take vicodin to manage the pain.

[paris]

Sunny, you and I have been going thru this together for some time now, haven't we?   My neph sent me to a rhumatologist because he first suspected Fibro.  My sister and Mom both have(had) it. And the degenerative bone disease is another family gift. But, top it with the kidney junk and my poor bones don't have much of a chance.  I am really trying to do everything I can to help myself.  Exercise seems to be such an important key. And I finally bite the bullet and take the drugs prescribed daily. It has helped.  I have been able to sleep and that is a great improvement.   We will just keep plugging along, won't we?   I couldn't have gotten this far without you and everyone at IHD.   

[Mimi]

Paris there is not anything much worse than full blown  hives.  My mother had to be put in the hospital, when I was a little girl, for hives.
And who cares if people don't believe in fibromyalgia, my aunt had it  and my cousin has it now.  It is real and very painful.  Sweetie quit holding everything in, it will do you IN.  Open up and let it all hang out.
Believe me you will feel better. 

[paris]

Thanks Mimi.  You always have good advice.      I am trying to be more open.  Where is the line between sharing and constantly whining?  I don't want to be the complainer all the time.  My Mom was a hypercondriac.  She was always sicker, hurt more, and was dying for years and years.  I loved her, but I think her need to be sick left a huge impression on me.  duh!!!!    We wanted to put "see I told you I was sick" on her tombstone!   But, she lived to be 86 and Alzheimers was her final illness.  And she didn't know it so she couldn't complain about it. LOL     Your words helped me a lot today.  Thanks for sharing your wisdom and your strength.

[MooseMom]

Paris, few people on IHD whine more than I do, so I can tell you from personal experience that whining can be very therapeutic.  There is no point in suffering in silence.  It gets you nowhere, and as you have seen, it is downright bad for you.  I can understand how your mom's behavior in the past affects yours in the present, but you are not your mom.  You are you, and you have your own issues and your own way of coping...or not.  Your mom didn't have IHD to help her diffuse her anxieties.  You do, so use us.  That's what we are here for. 

There may be people who have it worse than you, but that's largely irrelevant.  Your neighbor's pain will not allieviate your own.  Someone else's suffering will not cure your fibro or your arthritis or your kidney disease.  Another's horror story will not render your life problem-free.

Be more open if you can.  Don't force yourself to do something or be someone you are not if it makes you uncomfortable.  But you know full well that we do not judge anyone here.  We all are trying to fight our way through a frightening obstacle course, and if talking/whining makes you feel better, then do it.l

[sumodidit]

I got my first case of hives last sunday. I started to freak out because I didn't know what it was. After a few days and a doctor's visit in dialysis. he told me to take benadryl and hydrocortisone and it will go away. After the fourth day I decided to goto ER. As to my suprise the doctor's didn't know exactly what it is or what triggered it but the gave me a steroid shot and a small prescription of steroids to calm the inflammation down. It has been getting easier now, but there are still some general rules to follow in regards to hives. They think it is connected to my disease "LCDD" cause my URR has been very low and my body is trying to find a way to get rid of the toxins, well what do you know my body is using the skin as a way to remove the toxins like sweat and that where the hives kick in. I don't know what to do or say but get your doctor to see if you can get some corticosteroids to help ease he pain and inflammation