HUGE hives. PLEASE help me!!!!?

i used to get these HUGE hives when i was little and we went to the allergist and i was allergic to a bunch of stuff so they'd tell me everyday take clariten and when i break out take benedryl. well benedryl makes me SO sleepy!! this was when i was 9-10 last year they came back and just for a few days in the spring the went away. well yesterday they reappeared on my knees and elbows i took benedryl and like slept in all my classes until it wore off. today i woke up with itchy knuckles. my mom said dont take benedryl she gave me this pill you cant take benedryl with and it made it worse..i have to wait 24 hours so i used anti itch cream didnt help at all. the hives are on my hands, feet, knees, and elbows and itch SO bad i came home from school b/c of it. im sick ive had a fever all week and the climate is starting to change.

ANY IDEAS? and any ideas on how to make the itching stop any at home remedies cause it itches so bad but you cant scratch them!!

also what do you think could be the reason for the random break out?

I'm a Yankee fan so I will do my best to help you out from one Yanks fan to another.

Urticarias (Hives) can be very difficult to treat. Most treatment plans for urticaria involve being aware of one's triggers, but this can be difficult since there are several different forms of urticaria and people often exhibit more than one type. Also, since symptoms are often idiopathic there might not be any clear trigger. If one's triggers can be identified then outbreaks can often be managed by limiting one's exposure to these situations.

Drug treatment is typically in the form of Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine, cetirizine and other H1 receptor antagonists. These are taken on a regular basis to protective effect, lessening or halting attacks.

For some people, H2-receptor antagonists such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac) can also help control symptoms either protectively or by lessening symptoms when an attack occurs. When taken in combination with a H1 antagonist it has been shown to have a synergistic effect which is more effective than either treatment alone. The use of ranitidine (or other H2 antagonist) for urticaria is considered an off-label use, since these drugs are primarily used for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Tricyclic antidepressants such as doxepin, also are often potent H1 and H2 antagonists and may have a role in therapy, although side effects limit their use.

For very severe outbreaks, an oral corticosteroid such as Prednisone is sometimes prescribed. However this form of treatment is controversial because of the extensive side effects common with corticosteroids and as such is not a recommended long-term treatment option.

None of these treatments are surefire means of controlling attacks. Some people prove to be treatment resistant, and medications can suddenly cease being as effective as they once were. In these instances, changes to a treatment plan can sometimes help. It can be difficult to determine appropriate medications since some such as loratadine require a day or two to build up to effective levels, and since the condition is intermittent and outbreaks typically clear up without any treatment.

While the disease is obviously physiological in origin, psychological treatments such as stress management can sometimes lessen severity and occurrence. Additionally, methods similar to psychological pain management can be used to shift focus away from the uncomfortability and itchiness during an attack.

Herbalists actually recommend that what you should do first is figure out what is causing you hives before you even begin to treat the condition. That way, you can eliminate your exposure to the allergen. In the meantime, for treatment, here are some natural remedies for hives:

1. Quercetin. This is a plant pigment that is found in leafy green vegetables, onions, apples, and other natural foods. Quercetin acts as a natural antihistamine, which can help reduce or even completely eliminate hives in a lot of people. You should take 500 milligrams of this twice a day. It may be the best natural remedy for controlling hives.

2. Sandalwood essential oil. This natural remedy is especially used in Native American medicine wherein it is believed that hives are a fiery condition. This essential oil is well known for its calming and cooling effects. As such, some herbalists call Sandalwood a sedative for the skin. Simply add several drops of this essential oil to a cotton ball and then apply it to the infected area every three hours.

3. Mint. Mint is a natural remedy that has a cooling effect. Mint oil can be used to soothe the irritating symptoms of hives. The best way to do this is by creating mint ice cubes that you can place directly onto your skin. Seep 2 teaspoons of freshly crushed mint leaves in boiling water for about 5 minutes. Next, strain this 鈥渢ea鈥?and pour it into an ice cube tray and place it in your freezer. When the ice cubes are formed, apply them onto your inflamed and irritated hives. You can save the remaining ice cubes into a labeled plastic freezer bag for future use.

scratch them off with a spoon

You obviously have allergies to something or somethings. Try to determine what you come in contact with or eat that causes the most problems. Write these things down every day in a journal so you can keep track of it over time. An MD allergist can only help you if you help yourself so be diligent with your journal. I have a friend that is allergic to any form of peanuts, even anything that came in contact with peanuts. I don't know how old you are but as we age many of these things will go away naturally. There is hope, good luck!!

Just get rid of the chemicals in your house all your cleaning products have chemicals in them, your shampoo, hand soap... and you are probably very sensitive to this.
I can help you switch to better, safer products so you can be healthy again.
Email me at severine.degnan@yahoo.com

Thank you