I'm 53 and have chronic urticaria for almost a year now.  Hives are on all over my body including face, hands, and feet.  My lips often swell up because of hives. A year or so before my hives outbreak I started having heavy menstrual bleeding with clots. I also started losing hair a month ago and lost so much the last 2 weeks that I had cut my hair very short.  My hair has been very brittle and dry.  My feet and legs swell up and my finger joints hurt when I wake up no matter what time of day.  I am always exhausted and started having problems staying focus.  The past weeks, I started talking slow.  I seem to forget what I have to say.  I was on Prednisone for 6 months and stopped 4 months ago.  I continue to take Atarax (200 mg/day) but still get hives everyday.  What’s wrong with me?