Chronic Hives

[Ness8004]

About six months ago since I moved across country and suddenly started to experience hives. I have never experienced this ever in my life, the only allergy I have had was to Shellfish and I stayed away from that. The hives seem to be very prominent in the morning and evening. They just don't seem to be going away. I am drinkning hot lemon water to cleanse my system and I was taking reacton but i really don't want to continully take pills like that. Is stress a big factor for these hives? Is six months a long time for them to last? I have seen an allergist but I was allergic to dust mites and still shellfish so should I go back to them and get tested again? What else can I do to get rid of these annoying hives? It's driving me crazy!

Thanks

[LadyAngler]

I am now about 4 1/2 days off Splenda & sucralose products. I have had a dull headache, seems worse in the evening. I have to read the labels on everything I think about eating now & have begun to eat more health consciencely.

Sometimes I think I can feel the hives as they are forming, it seems that area of my skin is tingly, feels almost like something planted under my skin is trying to push it's way out. That is when I need to start the cold packs. Today I had an area where my the side of my bra rubbed me, I reached  to adjust my bra & just touching the area set off the itching. I tried to avoid touching it & when I returned home I applied the ice bottle. The cold settled down the itch. I am now typing this with a cold bag applied under my bra, that will have me good to go for another couple of hours, the cold does help as much as anything.

It is not the materials or the laundry products I use that cause the hives from clothing, rather a label or tag in the neck of a shirt or the area where something is sewn together & has formed a thicker than normal seam that rubs my skin that may just trip  the trigger that will set the hives off in a new area. That and pressure from a waistband or a pair of shpoes. I love to fish & we go out often. If I catch a fish & place the rodtip on my tummy for leverage when fishing I will have a big circular hive there the next day.  URGHH

[Deeds]

Hey! you catch fish!! hahaha!! *kidding*
my hubby is a big fly-fishin' nut!!  ties
all his own and stuff...I'm just fish from the shore
with a simple rod and reel...a spin fisher...

I know what you mean about 'feeling' the hives coming on...
mine is that way too...like, eing sunburnt on
your face and then you sweat from exercising and it burns?
that's how my entire body feels...like a burn under my skin
I NEVER get actual hives ((some small bumps on my face but, that's it)
I take a benedryl when I feel that coming on.  I was taking a bendryl every night before bed so the histamine would wear down...the benedryl doesn't always work...

I am curious if your headache goes away with in a week...

Deeds

[Catherine38]

I had hives for 10 months about 3 years ago after having a baby, and just started having hives again because I basically just started ovulating again (I had been taking a topical natural progesterone cream in such a way that it was essentially acting as a contraceptive).  I definately think it is related to hormones and possibly my thyroid.  Have you had your hormones tested?  Our hormones change at different times in our lives and it may have been a coincidence that you just moved (also stress!! provokes them too I think)

[LadyAngler]

My hormones have been fine . I am now 8 days off of Splenda or any artificial sweetener.  I have experienced headaches daily and insomnia ost nights. I am eating healthy and drinking plenty of fluids, water, green tea & juices. I have added several aditional servings of fresh fruit to my diet as well, something I usually had just two servings of daily before.

I located many articles on the ill effects of artificial sweeteners and hives were one of the symptoms. I can pretty much pinpoint the timeline for mine to the use of Splenda.  

I have joined a group on YAHOO Health Groups that has given me lots of information, you can do a search on YAHOO GROUPS, keyword Urticaria to locate the group there.

There was a post today on the internet, keywords Splenda Side Effects. I will post here to let you know my progress with the hives.

[Deeds]

and remember, it's Sucralose that you have to stay away from...make sure THAT's not on the label ((it's Splenda's real name))

not sucrose which is a sugar  - but, SUCRALOSE

[Gatty68]

A friend went to the doc for hives and her put her on an antihistamine and Xanax for the anxiety related to the itching.  She hasn't had a problem since.  I am going back to the doc this week to see about getting soem Xanax just to get through this.  

I feel your pain.