Baffling hives

[joanna5]

David woke me up last night complaining of itchiness.  I took a look and his entire body, except for his face, hands, and feet, was covered in huge, horrible hives.  His chest and stomach, back, legs, arms, even his scalp.  It was around midnight so he hadn't eaten in 5-6 hours (and dinner was all made by me) so food was out.  He'd showered, but no new soap/shampoo.  No new laundry detergent.  We gave Benadryl and put him in the shower and called the allergist on call.  He recommended an additional large dose of Zyrtec and close supervision with Epis nearby.  Nothing got worse, so he eventually came to bed with me.  This morning, his belly and back were somewhat better, but his legs were just as bad.  The pedi saw him this morning- love Sunday office hours- and he's on steroids now.  Super itchy and miserable. 

He hasn't been sick or even sniffly so viral is possible, but not really likely. Any ideas of things we've missed?  I hate thinking we just may never know. These were horrible, systemic hives- some bigger than a softball. 

[twinturbo]

We had an eerily similar bout of nighttime mystery hives ourselves last night. DS1 had all his regular foods, regular soaps, home yesterday. First hives appeared around 8:30 pm, disappeared by 9:30 pm, reappeared on his body around 11:30 pm picked him up to give Benadryl then waited around with EpiPens until about 2:00 am. Checked on him about every hour until 5:00 am then he woke up about 7:30.

to you. We're on eggshells here wondering what it could have been. Seasonal swing? We're in the Northeast where spring is finally in full swing after the longest winter.

[CMdeux]

Extraordinary bump in a common allergen?

Any chance that the two of you are anywhere near one another geographically?

My vote goes toward environmental.  I have random hives this morning, too.  Grrrr.  I took two zyrtec, too-- but it just isn't enough this time of year with it VERY hot, VERY  dry, and VERY VERY WINDY the way it is today.  I haven't even really been outdoors.  It's just that bad out there.

[GoingNuts]

I had them last week. Walked outside long enough to water a plant and take in the mail, and came back inside sneezing and with huge, hideous hives on my face.

[joanna5]

We're in the northeast, too- a bit outside of Boston. 

[MandCmama]

Years ago I briefly lived in a valley of central PA.  The locals call it allergy valley, lol. Despite not having any known allergies, my last 2 years there included dramatic hives and angioedema the first week of May. We never pinpointed the cause, but assumed it was enviromenal. I returned to NE PA and its not happened again. Very strange! I hope both your kiddos are more comfortable tonight!

[YouKnowWho]

At some point, or even more often - I get the itch during the BLOOM.  Had them on my face today and on my inner thighs (even before trying on new clothes).  My favorite ones are running into a pet store, away from the rodent tanks and walking out in head to toe hives - there was usually some guinea pig loving going on in the store.

DS2 gets viral hives, uticaria hives and then for fun, the just because he wants to drive mom bat sheet crazy hives LOL

DS1 saves them solely for a reaction - I love him dearly for this

[twinturbo]

joanna, how's your ds doing?

[joanna5]

Thanks for asking- he's doing really well.  Tomorrow is his last day of steroids.  He's hive free- just a little battered from the scratching over the weekend.  Otherwise, though, perfect. 

[Janelle205]

Hoping things go well with ending the steroids and you don't have the hives come back.  I'm in OH, but the birch pollen levels have gone way up in the past few days and I have been miserable - hivey and everything else.