Two years ago around exactly this time (early June), chronic hives started for me. I had them for about 6-7 months before they simply faded away. And I haven't had them for the past 1.5 years.
When I did have them, they were fairly mild on most days. They were mostly on my upper body, including my undergarment area. I never had the angio-edema versions, just the pesky pink wheals. I also often would get "pressure hives" clustered around my waist area and braline areas. And sweating or heat would make the hives much worse, so I spent a good bit of that summer inside in the AC and taking lukewarm showers.
I later came to believe that the hives were the result of one of two medications I had started one month prior: Either a birth control pill or an antidepressant to treat my anxiety, but I can't tell you which one and none of the long list of doctors I met with ever brought this up to me. I believe that my body simply finally got used to whichever medication it was and stopped reacting allergically to it. I remained on both medications even as the hives went away. (I have since changed to a different birth control, and have been on that for over a year now.)
Last night, I got pressure urticaria along my lower belly after sitting on the couch with my laptop on my lap for over an hour. I also had some tight-fitting jeans on too. The urticaria were raised, pink and elongated where the 'pressure' of the laptop's edge was pressing against my body for that extended period of time.
I did get quite anxious -- are the hives returning? Will I have to endure a long period with them again, especially over the summer again? Does the timing mean anything?
Except this time, there is NOTHING different going on. I haven't recently changed medications. I have nothing different going on in my life. No new foods, detergents, etc.
I took an antihistamine before bed, and I will dose up on them for the next few days, even if no more hives appear. I have read and learned from my own experience, that keeping them at bay is best. This morning when I woke, as expected, the urticaria were gone and I saw no new hives on my body. I still took a lukewarm shower though! I will also not wear tight clothes or be in the heat for the next few days.
I hope I won't be posting more routinely to this blog once again.
