So, I've been having chronic hives. Sometimes it's just one, sometimes it's twenty. They usually itch for about an hour or two, then stop itching, and then slowly fade away within about twelve hours. They seem to be a big fan of my lower spine, all around my waist (especially the front of my hips), the front of my knees, and my shoulders. Basically, they're concentrated in areas where my clothing or my joints apply pressure to the skin. (Case in point: today, I wore a watch, and there's a nice-sized hive right where the watch face was touching my skin all day.)
So far, I've talked to my allergist (who has come up with no suggestions except to take my one-a-day Claritin twice a day), my dermatologist (who suggested that I have dermatographia, which a quick Google search tells me I don't; his best guess is that something is stressing out my immune system and that it's causing it to freak out about innocent little things like pressure), and my gynecologist (who doesn't think my hormonal birth control pill that I started taking two months before the hives started caused the hives; I stopped taking it three months ago anyway, and the hives have continued).
In addition to the hives, I have also been getting headaches pretty regularly. I am slightly underweight, and my appetite is minimal. 27 year old female; high-stress job.
I have an appointment with my primary care physician next week and I'm going to ask her to do some blood tests.
Anyone have similar experiences or thoughts on conditions to ask about? Tests to request?
Thank you in advance!