Hives, hives every where and no relief in sight. Two different doctors, 10 different medicines and nothing has changed. Sometimes just on my arms and other times so bad that I have to go in for two adrenalin shots just to get them to stop spreading. I need some new methods or ideas to research.
Can you help?
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You didn't say how long you have had these hives...If over two months then a more extensive workup is indicated. If you've been to two different docs and 10 medications, then the assumption is that you've also had bloodwork to look for infection, anemia, hepatitis, autoimmune disease and a chest X-ray to rule out infection, malignancy and sarcoid. You've probably also had a total body exam to rule out skin sources of infection and possibly a biopsy, as indicated to assess your hives for signs of vasculitis (if they last longer than 24 hours in any spot). Hives are tough. Is there a university near you? Is there a dermatologist who will attack your problem until it goes away? Having said that, let me assure you that I almost always have at least one patient who has hives but I have not found the cause. The longest time of recurrenet daily hives in a patient I am now following is about 1 year. I sent him to Cleveland Clinic for further consultation, but they did not uncover anything new. Make sure your internist/primary care physician is involved and consider both an allergist and dermatologist to work together.
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Dermatology Online: Served by Eliot N. Mostow, MD, MPH
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