Hi, I am new to this site, and just
started doing some online research to try
and find some answers... Doctors can't
seem to help, and i'm becoming really
frustrated. For the past four + months,
I have had hives and random swellings
(sometimes a lip, sometimes an eye lid,
sometimes a finger). In the beginning, I
had them only every 3rd or 4th day, with
little regularity. For the past 5 weeks,
however, I have had quite severe hives
**every** single day, with little
variation in intensity. They are pencil
eraser to quarter sized, sometimes merging
into big groups, covering my legs from the
tops of my feet to my hips, the lower part
of my torso, and my arms. The one place
on my body that has remained relatively
clear is my chest and upper back. They
are unmercifully itchy, and antihistimines
(i've been taking the new claritin hives
relief) aren't working nearly as well
these days they used to. I have been to
a gp, who didn't even let me finish with
my bizarre symptoms before he started
writing a prescription. I then moved on
to an allergist, thinking that it had to
be an allergy issue. She did the
scratch-test for 49 foods and also cats,
and all came back negative. She also did
a blood test and found that I had elevated
levels of ana. She reccomended that I
stop taking a sulfa-based antibiotic,
bactrim (i had been taking off and on for
3 years for acne), which I did. After
these original tests, my symptoms became
increasing worse, and I went back 6 weeks
later for further testing. She had
little to suggest, since I had changed
shampoo, soap, etc., so she did another
blood test, this time including celiac
sprue in the mix. It came back negative,
but I still had elevated levels of ana.
She recommended that I see a
rheumatologist, which puzzled me. The
only link I have found on the internet
between rheumys and hives is lupus, so i'm
hoping that someone here can tell me i'm
not crazy!! my
mom has lupus (a very mild case) and she
also has celiac sprue. I don't know if
this makes a difference, but any info that
may help...
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LadyBrannon
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 506 Location: TX
Posted: 07-27-04 22:09pm
Hi there!
i have had serious skin reactions with my
lupus. Keep in mind though that there are
several autoimmunes that mimic lupus, it
may not be lupus.
I would keep a detailed diary and make an
appointment to see the rheumy! Keep
track of all the tests they do and their
results.
Wishing you the best...And some answers!
Ladybrannon
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el725
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 49 Location: Florida
Lupus Related Hives Posted: 08-19-04 16:25pm
Hi all,
i was out in the sun yesterday for just a
little while--took the usual precautions.
This morning I woke up with hives on all
of my joints--back of the knees, elbows,
around my hip joints. I called my rhuemy
& he told me to try a couple of things
including benadryl and as a last result if
they didn't work, I could go on the
prednisone. I'm sure benadryl will help
with the itching, but I can only take that
if I just give in to staying in bed all
day--it totally knocks me out. I already
take allegra-d daily, so another
antihistamine probably wouldn't help. My
question is--has anyone found anything for
extended relief short of the benadryl or
prednisone?
Lizbet
my
mom has lupus (a very mild case) and she
also has celiac sprue. I don't know if
this makes a difference, but any info that
may help...
