Experiencing a hives attack can be an incredibly distressing and uncomfortable ordeal. Early this week I found myself caught in the grips of this aggravating condition, and the intensity of the itch and discomfort led me to seek urgent medical attention at an ungodly hour today.
It all began on a seemingly ordinary Monday night when I first noticed the appearance of hives on my body. Initially, the itchy hives were limited to only my back, but by Tuesday, they had spread throughout my body, making their presence more pronounced and distressing. The affected parts of my skin turned red and developed welts, resembling blisters. What started as an annoying discomfort soon turned into an overwhelming struggle.
The relentless itch accompanying hives is perhaps the most maddening aspect of this condition. By Tuesday, the itch had intensified, and it seemed to amplify with every passing hour. In an attempt to find relief, I purchased a tube of steroid cream (hydrocortisone) from the pharmacy and applied it to the affected areas. However, despite my efforts, the cream failed to tame the maddening itch. Sleep became an elusive luxury, as the intensity of the itch disrupted any hope of shut eye.
Desperate for relief from the unbearable itch and recognizing the severity of my condition, I made the decision to visit the emergency room in the early hours of the morning today. At 1 am, I asked my hubs to drive me to the hospital. The urgency of the situation was apparent, as I hoped for immediate medical intervention to alleviate my suffering. I just couldn’t go on with the second night of not getting any sleep.
Upon arriving at the emergency room, I was promptly assessed by a doctor who recognized the severity of my hives attack. To provide immediate relief, the doctor administered a 2-in-1 intravenous injection consisting of a steroid and antihistamine. Miraculously, within seconds of the injection, the itch that had tormented me for days vanished. It was a much-needed moment of relief. Additionally, I was prescribed oral steroids and antihistamine pills. The steroid pills have to be taken twice a day (two pills each time) for a span of five days.
I couldn’t really identify the culprit for triggering this allergy. This is my first time having a hives attack and I don’t think I have any allergy. I know though, that what I wasn’t allergic to in the past, I could be allergic to it now, and this is known as adult-onset allergies. I didn’t eat anything new or use any new toiletry and laundry products. The only way I can find out what my allergies are is to do an allergy blood test, which costs a few hundred Ringgit. Cass did an allergy test at Pantai Medical Centre a few years ago.
My encounter with hives taught me a valuable lesson. It highlighted the importance of recognizing when professional medical attention is necessary for severe allergic reactions. While over-the-counter remedies may suffice for milder cases, it is crucial to seek timely assistance from healthcare professionals in more severe situations.
Experiencing a hives attack can be a daunting ordeal, filled with discomfort, frustration and sleepless night. From the initial appearance of hives to the unbearable itch that disrupts daily life, the battle can be arduous. However, seeking urgent medical attention can be a turning point in finding relief. My journey through the extremely itchy welts, failed attempts at soothing the itch, and ultimately, the effective treatment received in the emergency room brought an end to my suffering.
If you find yourself facing a similar situation, I hope my experience serves as a reminder to prioritize your well-being and seek appropriate medical care to find relief from the torment of hives.
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Do you know what brought this on? You have reacted to something. Look to see if you used a new soap, laundry detergent, fabric softener, body lotion, shampoo/ conditioner etc. Or maybe something you ate or drank? I had the worse case when I was pregnant, so not able to use anything… I’m sure you know to avoid anything with perfumes, even handsoap. Did the doctor give you a prescription? I’ll tell you what I always have at home and take with me when travelling…Cetrizine 20 mg ( it’s reactine, although extra strength is only 10mg; 20 mg is covered by insurance, sometimes I cut into half if I don’t need the 20mg.), Taro-Clobetasol cream for targeted areas, and Olopatadine ( Pataday) eye drops – use only once a day but if eyes are really itchy, use twice a day. Seems the dose was done on research for 18 hours, so up it when symptoms are bad.
Good luck!
Hi Chris
I really can’t identify the culprit as I didn’t eat anything new or use any new toiletry / laundry products. It could be heat hives or hormonal hives. The current heat wave is pretty bad. The pharmacist told me that lately many customers came in to get creams for similar skin issues. The dr prescribed me with Zyrtec Cetrizine 10mg. Luckily I didn’t have itchy eyes, nose and throat. And the itch didn’t attack my face and head. This is unfortunately not covered by insurance here, unless hospitalization was involved. Thanks for the info. I’ll take note of the drugs’ names 🙂