Could use some advice here, 'specially from any organic/homeopathic

[grannylib]

folks...
anyone have a hint for dealing with pain/itch/BURN from hives???
I have 3 prescriptions for different antihistamines, and some Eucerin calming creme, and calamine lotion, and ice packs, and warm compresses (not sure which seems to work best; the cold feels best to start with, but then my fingertips and toes swell up and get almost like impending frostbite, which is happening kind of anyhow with these damn things, feel like I did when I was pregnant in summer and swelled up like a fuckin' sausage, damn...)

Anyhow, they hurt/itch like hell and it's hard to sleep, even with the Benadryl which she SAID would knock me out, wish it would, holy shit...I need some sleep!!!!!

Any clues, anyone, please let me know! Thanks! It's mostly the palms of my hands and a little on the soles of my feet...

[spacelady]

1. double dose of benadryl

[grannylib]

6. I will do that tonight...doc said it'd knock me out, so I really looked

forward to it last night, so at 3:00 am when I was STILL awake I went and took another one and finally fell asleep...
Maybe two at once would do the trick.
Thanks!

[Enraged_Ape]

9. Taking two at once is like being right-crossed by George Foreman

Be prepared. Someone gave me the "double dose of Benadryl" advice when I had the chicken pox in my early 20s. I don't think I woke up for two weeks. Don't say I didn't warn you.

[grannylib]

12. *lol* ok! thanks for the heads up....or the lights out....or whatever!

[grannylib]

17. Damn, is this stuff ever going to kick in??? I am NOT SLEEPING...

and I am in so much pain I can hardly stand it, my fingers are so swollen. Thought that getting up to type/move them might loosen them up and keep them from getting stiff, but it is not working. Dammit, I need to sleep!

[progmom]

2. that sounds awful!

benadryl never works for me, but if you have tried others... gosh - that just sounds awful. :hug:

[grannylib]

7. benadryl, claritin and something else I can't remember at the moment

another antihistamine. Zantac, that's the one.

[Enraged_Ape]

10. Zantac's not an antihistamine; it reduces stomach acid

How many pills have you taken?

[grannylib]

11. Zanex maybe? I don't remember. Two.

[Susang]

16. You're wrong, Zantac is an antihistamine

It's a type of antihistamine known as an H2 antagonist or H2 blocker. This site should explain it a little more: http://www.always-health.com/Antihistamines.html

[Enraged_Ape]

18. But is it ever prescribed for skin allergies?

I actually take Zantac, and not for hives.

BTW, I knew that Zantac was an H2 blocker, but I never connected it with antihistamines in general. Thanks for that.

[Susang]

21. I don't know about Zantac

But my friend takes Tagamet in addition to her other allergy medicines as a complementary medication, at her doctor's recommendation. According to her MD, it's supposed to help boost the effectiveness of the other meds if used regularly. Couldn't tell you if it actually works or not. :shrug:

[Floogeldy]

3. Locking in 3 . . 2 . . 1 . . .

I wish I had a good answer, like "stop eating strawberries."

B-)

[grannylib]

5. We think it's the preservative/dye/something in the wood chip mulch we

used in the garden; it smells awesome but I think that's about when the problem started, when we expanded the flower beds this year and put down fresh mulch.
Guess who won't be doing much weeding the rest of the summer!
Hope it goes away though, it's miserable (waah, what a thing to complain about, really I shouldn't whine, but dammit....)

[tjdee]

4. Take a bath with some baking soda in it...

I think it's a teaspoon to a pint, or something (I'm bad with measuring).

Some natural antihistamines are Stinging nettles, Quercetin, Vit. C...hope someone is along with more info for you.

Hang in there!

[grannylib]

8. Oooh, I have vitamin c, and baking soda (I hear oatmeal is good too)

Thanks!

[tjdee]

13. Good luck!

Sounds very uncomfortable!

[BeTheChange]

14. Welll...

Lavendar oil comes to mind immediately.. aloe... Those are my two biggest recommendations.. make sure the lavendar oil is therapeutic grade if you can find it....

OH.. and EMU oil.. that is great for all kind of skin irritations...


Posting quick before locking

[BeTheChange]

15. Few more..

I cant believe I didnt remember these oils immediately..tea tree.. or manuka..lemon balm- these are all natural antihistamines and antiseptics..

Myrrh is good for excema, which has symptoms similar to what you are describing

Spikenard is another oil..

If you dont have easy access to essential oils, get some camomile tea and steep the bags in warm water, then apply to your palms. You could also put them in the fridge when you are done and reuse when they are cold to see which one helps more.

Then there is always straight Vitamin E oil.. you can get that at most beauty supply stores.

That's all my homeopathic advice.. Hope you find something that works.

[MercutioATC]

19. Emu oil???

How many emus do you have to squeeze to get a pint of that?

[NV Whino]

20. Hylands

has a homeopathic remedy specifically for hives. Get thee to a health food store. It worked pretty well for me. The poison oak/ivy stuff also works well.