hives - freakin' out

[Jess_n'_the_bean]

Hi - I woke up this morning with what appears to be hives...red, raised itchy bumps on my arms and my eyelids are very swollen.

I am freaking out - can't really find any good information on the net - does anyone have any experience with hives during pregnancy?

[kamismommy]

DON'T PANIC!!
I had a horrible case of hives (never did figure out the cause) in early pregnancy...suppose i was around 9 weeks. I first tried taking benadryl and using benadryl cream as told by the doc at the local hospital...that didn't work for me. I went to the ER at the next hospital and was given a shot of super-strong antihistamines and a shot of steroids (as I say, they were quite bad). They were pretty much gone by the next day.
Do you know what may have caused them?

[Jess_n'_the_bean]

update

So, I too had to go to the hospital and have a shot of benadryl. I have been told to take 2 benadryl pills every 5 hours or so, which I have been doing.

The hives aren't so bad now, but all of my joints swelled up and are very painful - it is hard to walk.

but everything is okay with the bean. they said that it is an allergic reaction to something - I may never find out what it was. Because I am preggers, my autoimmune response was probably stronger than it would be otherwise.

I am very uncomfortable still - itchy and sore - but not freakin' out anymore.

[BlissP]

You poor thing...

[kamismommy]

yep, that's what i was told as well....I can only think of one that which was new that may have caused it...I had had a single can of some orange pop which was pretty new out at the time...but that was a couple days before...couldn't think of anything else...

glad they're getting a bit better.

[JesiLynne]

any idea what caused it????????