I had the same problem a couple of years ago.  It happened in the summer time and became worse by the day.  I saw dr after dr, but no relief.  Drs kept asking me if I had changed laundry detergent, shampoo, soap, etc......I said no.  But after talking to someone about the problem, I realized what had changed.  We changed to a front-loading washer which requires HE laundry detergent....I was using the same detergent that I've always used for years.  Turns out that my clothes had a soap built up which would worsen the hives when I would sweat.  I re-washed all of my clothes (first without any detergent), then starting using HE detergent.  Guess what????.....no more hives!!!!

Ya is what I use Diphenhyramine but once agaI can't stress enough about the risks of taking these as Benadyrl can cause Liver damage and all the other can cause Kidney damage or Liver damage or both.

I personally find hot showers to help yes it does hurt for the first few mins but once aclimated I find the itching to go away for many hours,like right now my shoulders down my back my chest are just covered in hives.

I just avoid medications unless I happen to get an attack near my airway or my eyes,which just happened last month my eye swelled completely shut looked worse then Rocky two Benadryl Liqui Gels fixed that up.

I had not heard of Benadry, I will look for ir tomorrow . I was prescribed hydrocortisone cream, this is quite good at stopping you scratch your skin to shreds lol. It is not really the rash that bothers me, it is the stiffness of the joints. I mean my knees r swollen too, just like you mentioned, I am walking around in flip flops. I understand what you are going through totally!! I walk around like a 90year old limping.

What I don't understand though is why is it taking so long? I am into my 3rd week and nothings clearing up yet. Ok the blisters have stopped popping up they are starting to flattern but look like theyre going to scar. My legs look like a kids legs, like they have been kicked all over. It is pretty hard to keep cool as it is spring here and temp is already 23c.... although I am bare foot on the tiled floor (Heaven)

You made me laugh when you wrote about takin the dogs out!

I tried to chase my daughter last night and was outclassed by a 3year old! I was in pain and looked a right plonker.

I am so glad I found your comments!  I have experienced hives in the past but they were stress related.  This year I believe they are allergy related (Hayfever).  I normally am a mess around now (sneezing, itchy eyes/throat etc.) but have not experienced any of that, but instead have been fighting hives since April of this year.  They flair up and almost go away and then flair back up again etc.  I went to the Dr. in April he gave me a shot in the office and prescribed an antihistine for bedtime.  The shot help for a short time but then I flared back up again so know I have been trying zyrtec and allegra along with my prescription anithistimine.  I am now experiencing the swelling of the feet and and by the end of the day, I too feel like a 90 year old moving around.  It seems at the night goes on, it gets harder and harder for me to walk, me knees have just recently been bothering me also.  I know this has to be related to the hives because I can see te welts on my feet and even my knees (these just don't itch at the moment) but I have had the feet and hands itch and it's enough to drive you crazy!  I am at a loss of what to do about the swelling feet and aching swollen joints etc.  I have searched and searched online and I now feel at least sane knowing that I am not alone in feeling "old"!

I was given TELFAST 180mg which was ok for the hives but I returned to the doctor the following week as it had not helped the swelling at all. Doctor gave me SOLUPRED 20mg and I can honestly say that from the very 1st day I felt relief!! within 3 days the swelling had almost gone and by end of the week I was back to normal and have been ok since. I have been confirmed that am allergic to ceclor ( cephlasporin) and Penicillin, have since been told that I should have been given an injection at the Hospital on day one of the reaction and not just given the telfast. I did notice that the during the peek of the problem, eating cheese made it much much worse - strange but really it did. You need to be referred to a specialist so that you can get this sorted, you could be allegic to some kind of food even but I wouldnt wait any longer as from April is quite a long time.

I was given TELFAST 180mg which was ok for the hives but I returned to the doctor the following week as it had not helped the swelling at all. Doctor gave me SOLUPRED 20mg and I can honestly say that from the very 1st day I felt relief!! within 3 days the swelling had almost gone and by end of the week I was back to normal and have been ok since. I have been confirmed that am allergic to ceclor ( cephlasporin) and Penicillin, have since been told that I should have been given an injection at the Hospital on day one of the reaction and not just given the telfast. I did notice that the during the peek of the problem, eating cheese made it much much worse - strange but really it did. You need to be referred to a specialist so that you can get this sorted, you could be allegic to some kind of food even but I wouldnt wait any longer as from April is quite a long time.