I'm all broken out in hives and I don't know why!!!

You must follow up with an allergist. What if this were to manifest in more ways then just hives and welts somewhere down the line?

that the steroids help and that you can figure out what this is from.

i hope that it helps,

I just got up and called out of work today. I'm not covered in welts at the moment, but I still have them here and there right now. I fell asleep on the couch last night and when I woke up both my hands were swollen. Especially my ring finger. I had to use liquid soap to slowly and painfully work off my wedding band! I had a hive right on the knuckel between the ring and the end of my finger. My hands are still a bit puffy right now, but not as bad.

Oh this sounds so awful! I hope you feel better soon and figure out what triggered it.
Very gentle for you.

((MoochNNoodles)) Wow, that sounds really uncomfortable, and way beyond anything I've ever gotten. I definitely second the suggestion to see an allergist or at least a dermatologist.

Another anecdote I forgot to mention is that I had a friend who broke out in a terrible rash on her hand that lasted for a couple of weeks because a household cleaner she was using (409 or one like that) got under her wedding band and didn't get rinsed away when she washed her hands, so she had a prolonged exposure to it. It was really awful.

Maybe there was something like that?

My boyfriend's mom, who is a biology teacher, was on a field trip with her students at the botanic gardens. She's never had an allergy in her life (other than to jewelry with nickel in it) and she must have brushed up against some plant, (she doesn't even know which one) and within minutes, she was going into anaphylactic shock. Fortunately, one of her students is allergic to bees and had her epi pen with her, so she gave her a shot. Like I said, she's never figured out what plant caused it and has never had anything like that happen since, but she sure carries her own epi pen with her now!

Sometimes these things develop suddenly, and things you never had a sensitivity to before are now a problem.

I hope you figure it out!

Whatever you're reacting to, it sounds like such an intense reaction that I really really think you've got to see an allergist. As SW suggested, it's possible that a thing like this could manifest in places other than your skin -- it could become life-threatening if it happened to your esophagus, for example. You need to know what's causing this, hon!

So sorry for how miserable you must be...

I've got a call in to my doctor's office this morning. I kept waking up itching uncontrollably last night and the welts didn't go down like they have been doing at night. I told my Dr's nurse that taking 2 benadryl every 4 hours along with the steroid isn't helping.

I think I'm going to request she send me to an allergist for this even if it does clear up soon. I know I'm sensitive to some things; it's time I pinpoint things more specifically. I think I might head into work to keep busy. I'll be in the back office and my boss said he's fine with whatever I decide. I'm just hanging around hoping the doctor's office will call before I leave since it takes me about 45 minutes to get back up here and across town to their office from my job.

I have to add that Mooch thinks this is great having me home to toss milk rings for her; or to let her sleep in my lap all day.

Crazy thought here - but what about their litter? Cats get litter dust all over them, then lay on you. If you use a scented one that could be a possible problem.

Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles

I've got a call in to my doctor's office this morning. I kept waking up itching uncontrollably last night and the welts didn't go down like they have been doing at night.

I told my Dr's nurse that taking 2 benadryl every 4 hours along with the steroid isn't helping.

I think I'm going to request she send me to an allergist for this even if it does clear up soon. I know I'm sensitive to some things; it's time I pinpoint things more specifically. I think I might head into work to keep busy. I'll be in the back office and my boss said he's fine with whatever I decide. I'm just hanging around hoping the doctor's office will call before I leave since it takes me about 45 minutes to get back up here and across town to their office from my job.

I have to add that Mooch thinks this is great having me home to toss milk rings for her; or to let her sleep in my lap all day.

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I would ask to see and allergist. You need to find out what it is.

This must be so uncomfortable for you.

Good luck with the allergist appointment!

Well, I didn't get an appointment to see my doc yet. She changed me to Prednisone (from Medrol) and wants me to call Monday morning if I'm not better. I managed to work a few hours today (in the back office!) and I'm glad I did because it gave me a chance to see my boss; and he's willing to put a call in to my primary on my behalf. (My primary reffers people to our office fairly regularly; so they know each other.)

The Medrol has made my face puff right up; but I don't know if it's done that to me anywhere else. I'm keeping my rings off as a safety precaution at this point. I just hope I go back down after all this is over!

^Unfortunately that's a common side effect of steroids. It should go away after you're completely off all of them. Try taking it (prednisone) first thing in the morning after you wake up and see if that helps at all.

Also watch your fluid and salt intake.

Vibes headed that way that you can get into an allergist soon!!!

Originally Posted by MoochNNoodles

Well, I didn't get an appointment to see my doc yet. She changed me to Prednisone (from Medrol) and wants me to call Monday morning if I'm not better. I managed to work a few hours today (in the back office!) and I'm glad I did because it gave me a chance to see my boss; and he's willing to put a call in to my primary on my behalf. (My primary reffers people to our office fairly regularly; so they know each other.)

The Medrol has made my face puff right up; but I don't know if it's done that to me anywhere else. I'm keeping my rings off as a safety precaution at this point. I just hope I go back down after all this is over!

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I hope you get some relief from the prednisone

I hope you get some improvement soon. And I hope you get in to the doctor too! It sounds like they really need to look further into what is causing this bad rash. I'm really concerned for you. Keep us updated!

Well today has been my best day yet! I think the Prednisone is helping. I'm still broken out some, but not nearly as bad as I had been. Yesterday morning was bad, so I'm just making sure I wake up at night to take another dose of Benadryl. I hope this is about over now; especially since I start my jury duty tomorrow! That's got me worked up enough as it is!

Oh, surely they'll dismiss you from jury duty, since you're visibly ill. Won't they?

You poor thing... I hope it continues to improve...