Hives at night?

Thank you Z, I am a bit late, but I have been looking for an answer to why I have hives @ 9pm, almost every night.  As a nurse I have worked odd shifts for many years.  Regardless of where I am (home, work, socializing), just woke up and going to work or going to bed.... I get hives.  My body clock wants to sleep at 9:30-10pm regardless of when I have slept.  So thank you again Z, it doesn't solve the problem...but sheds some light on my concerns.  I have gone through every possible reason I itch...and just can't figure it out.  The only thing that makes sense is stress causes the hives...but often I don't feel stressed when I itch...and when I "feel" stressed I don't itch.  So I have tried all sorts of meds, the Vistaril(hydroxyzine) causes Restless Legs (RLS) at night, Benadryl works well (but too sleepy and wake up with Benadryl hangover) and Zyrtec does nothing.    So I live with it.  A nurse friend of mine had the same problem...then had her IUD removed and the problem stopped.  It got me to thinking that I have titanium in my wrist and a mesh urethral sling...hmmmm..... the itching wasn't present before either (surgeries fairly close together).  So the sling and wrist work... I don't think it’s worth removing..at least not yet.    So I appreciate everyone’s input...and hoping we all become itch free...sooner rather than later. Take care, ~mikakat

Just a suggestion..have your thyroid checked, not just TSH test, which is fairly inaccurate but FreeT3 and FreeT4. Sometimes problems with your thyroid will cause hives. Also, for short term help at night, try applying Apple Cider Vinegar on them, should help with the itch. My sympathies are with all of you, I know how miserable hives can be.

Hello Everyone. I've read the posts and I, too, have suffered from hives suddenly. I could not identify what was causing it, but upon doing more reading and research, it seems that hormonal fluctuations, especially upon entering perimenopause (could start as early as 30's to 40's) can cause hives. During perimenopause, progesterone levels drop significantly which could cause estrogen dominance. For some women, this may lead to hives. Also, thyroid functions can get affected, which could also lead to hives. If your hormones are out of whack, your body may think that you're under attack by allergens (your dominant hormones) which may cause hives.

My hives were so bad I could not go to work because they literally looked like maps on my arms, legs and torso. None of the antihistamines worked. I found a specialist who took a look at my hormone levels and true enough, my thyroid function was low, my progesterone was low and estrogen was borderline. Since then, we've been working on balancing my hormones. I still get hives once in a while (at night during certain days of my menstrual cycle), but it's no where close to how bad it was last year before starting hormone therapy and thyroid meds.

For those women in their 30's, 40's, 50's who get hives out of nowhere, please have your hormone levels checked. (Notice that many who write in this forum are women!) Start to track down when you get hives and the day of your menstrual cycle. Notice that it also comes at the same time each night/day. It's also may be due to hormonal fluctuations during the day. Some may need more progesterone, others may need more estrogen (birth control pill or patch), while others may need thyroid medication - or a combo of these. Try to find an anti-aging specialist.

Good luck!

I know this is a very old thread, but I am desperate for answers and am hoping that SOMEONE on this forum can help. Did anyone find out what was causing their hives? Everyone posts their issue but hardly anyone posts their solution.

I have had hives every night for a week now. I wake up around 2 or 3 am with itchy hives mostly on my arms and legs(it's usually the worst on any area of exposed skin). They are always completely gone by the next day. My first instinct was that it had to be bed bugs or some kind of microscopic mite. I've been going crazy looking for bed bugs and vacuuming and washing bedding and such...not to mention I am not getting any sleep! No bugs or any evidence of bugs have been found after a thorough search. I also feel like if it was that, the "bites" would remain on me for more than a few hours. My husband and baby that sleep in the same room are unaffected. In desperation, I slept on the couch one night and had the same problem. I even went and slept at my mother's house on an air mattress and still got hives. Next, I suspected that I might have an allergy to something I was eating or possibly a soap or detergent...I can't really confirm if it is something I'm eating or not, but I did switch to All Free and Clear detergent the day after the first attack and it hasn't changed anything.

After taking a three week vacation at Christmas, I returned home only to wake up in the middle of the night with hives all over my legs, arms and back. I immediately changed all the linens on my bed, but the next night I had the hives again and ever since coming back home on 1/2/14. It's now 6/11/14 and the hives are still coming while I sleep. They used to go away at around 3 pm in the afternoon, but nolonger go away and itch all day and all night. It's enough to drive you crazy. I have yet to have this condition diagnosed as all any allergist or dermatologist wants to do is treat the problem with expensive meds that don't work. I just joined this blog, so hopefully I'll beable to read about someone who has the cure.

Just an update from last week. I think as someone else suggested earlier in this thread that the hives have something to do with building up a reaction to an infection in your body. 3 months ago, I had a very bad sinus infection that I tried to treat naturally without antibiotics for about 2-3 weeks. By the end, I woke up one morning with hives, and thought it was because I ate something I was allergic to. I started antibiotics and didn't see the hives again, until I had another sinus infection that began 3 weeks ago. I tried for about 4-5 days, but when I saw the hives I started antibiotics immediately. Even after starting the antibiotics, I had hives for a few nights. They would go away with benadryl, but these hives were MUCH worse than the first time I had them. First time, they were just around my waist. This time, they were around my waist, thighs and went all the way up both sides and under my arms (usually starting in the middle of the night, but sometimes as early as 11 pm). I started taking a benadryl before bed and they stopped. I did this for a couple of nights, and then started taking 1/2 benadryl before bed and still don't have them. I'm on day 8 of antibiotics, so I think the infection is gone. Tonight I'll probably do one more night with 1/2 pill, and then try no benadryl at all tomorrow night to see what happens. I don't know if this is the cause for everybody suffering night hives, but it certainly appears to be infection-related in my case. I hope you all find answers!!! :)

Hello everyone,

I came across this forum after suddenly suffering a serious attack of the hives back in May of this year. The hives occurred exactly the same as many of you described above. Mine started acting up around 10:30pm and would become full blown at 11pm. They looked like large platelets/bumps/bites, very much like a swarm of invisible insects had suddenly attacked me. They itched and burned at the same time, and with much urgency. I would try to ignore the itching, but it would become so intense, that my skin would actually break out in goosebumps from the intensity of the itching. It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before, including insect bites and prior experience with allergic reactions. The hives also would dissipate at around 1am to 2am, then come back with a vengeance around 4am.

I initially used a poison ivy/insect bite spray to more or less "numb" the affected areas which included my face, genital areas, stomach/waist, inner thighs, calfs, inner part of my knees, inner part of my arms by my armpits, neck, back/lower back. Only my hands and soles of my feet were free of the hives. Even my scalp itched. I then started taking Benadryl at around 10pm, and that helped, but put me to sleep till very late the next day. I am fortunate to not have to work outside my home.

I originally had gone to an endocrinologist near my home, to see what exactly was going on. I also had other symptoms that were strange to me since I'd always been a healthy and strong woman...hardly ever getting sick. I had esophageal spasms (which also turned up in May this year), increased belly fat (could not lose it despite dieting, never had it before, started around 2012), trouble sleeping/staying asleep (had this one for many years), chronic fatigue (had this one for many years unfortunately), foggy headedness (had this one for many years), and some dermatitis (patches of darker itchy skin on my fingers, which only got better and disappeared after treating with prescription grade hydrocortisone, twice daily for maximum 2 weeks a pop), some bouts of low blood sugar/hypoglycemia (which I'd started suffering from in 2007, never had it before then), severe attacks of asthma around 11pm and 4am (was prescribed Asmanex and Proventol, started around 2003??), unexplained infertility (tests showed I should be fine to conceive), headaches (would typically go away after taking a half of a glucose tablet along with a small meal). This endocrinologist was terrible--she tested my cortisol through a blood test (knowing I am terrified of blood and hence my cortisol reading would be high after having the needle injected into my pulsing vein), partially tested my thyroid, tested me for anemia. She then told me I was fine and to stop looking for reasons to be sick. I asked around for recommendations for a new endocrinologist, as I suspected it might have something to do with my thyroid.

A doctor was recommended in southern New Jersey (I live in NY), and my husband and I were desperate enough to make the appointment and go. My husband takes off from work to take me, it is an hour and a half ride down for us, and I wasn't well to drive or take the train alone. I had desperate exhaustion. This doctor, Dr. John Ricci, is great to say the least. He has been very thorough with the testing. This is what he did, what he tested, the plan of action to help me, and how I am now. I last went to Dr. Ricci August 25th, 2014. These are some of the things that were tested (tested after end of menstruation, cannot test during):

• cortisol (by collecting saliva samples every 5 hours for a day). Results are:
  morning: 4.1 with range 2.0-11.0
  midday: 2.2 with range 1.4-7.2
  afternoon: 3.0 with range 1.0-5.2
  evening: 1.4 with range 0.8-4.3
  Results for cortisol are very low. Proper testing should be done by saliva in this way.
  
• DHEA (not sure if from saliva samples or from the urine sample I sent). Results: 35.1 with female range <23.8-291.1, male range <23.8-308.8.
  
• Lipids (blood samples): total cholesterol (high), LDL-C direct (high), HDL-C (very good), triglycerides (intermediate between good and very bad/high), non-HDL-C (high).
  
• Thyroid (blood samples): TSH, T4, T4 free, T3, T3 free, Reverse T3, T uptake, Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibody, Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody. All within range.
  
• HS-Omega-3 Index, RBC EPA+DHA (blood samples). Below healthy range, intermediate level risk.

Note: I haven't listed ALL of the tests taken from the saliva, urine and blood samples. I have several pages of results. They all came out pretty much good so I didn't think I needed to list pages and pages of tests and results.

More info about myself: late 30's, 5'3", 117lbs (normally 107lbs). Used to love playing sports, volleyball, tennis, biking, kickboxing. Former accounting, management science and chemical engineering student. Went to school while working. Loved learning and self taught myself many times. After beginning to get sick, all of this was gone. My mind was so foggy, I couldn't focus and/or carry an argument. My fatigue made such things as dusting our one bedroom apartment, a dreadful, exhaustive task. I was unable to drive for more than a few minutes without panicking. I needed to sleep several times a day. I gained belly fat that just wouldn't go away. My quality of life...shot.

So the doctor prescribed that day an all natural regimen. This included 2 pills Kavinace a half hour before evening meal and then 2 again at bedtime; DHEA vitamin: 25mg three times a day with meals; and special type folic acid because despite taking large doses of regular over the counter folic acid, I was only absorbing about 50% of it and we are trying to conceive. We want to bring the DHEA to about 100 for me. Doctor also said it looked like my adrenal glands where exhausted. That would explain the low DHEA levels, which my body would naturally produce about 20mg a day I believe, for a woman my age. That would also explain the low levels of cortisol and high levels of bad cholesterol. The adrenal glands convert cholesterol into DHEA. Also, several fertility clinics treat women with DHEA before IVF treatments to raise the level of androgens since trials have shown that women with lower egg count have truly benefited from a DHEA regimen raising their fertility rates to over 20% for women ages 38 and over. No difference for women younger than 38 with healthy egg counts. Some doctors have disputed this though. Here's an article on that:
humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/11/2845.short

I started the regimen August 26th and this is the results I have gotten so far...

My hives have completely disappeared. No Benadryl taken.
Esophageal spasms have completely disappeared.
My skin has already showed signs of improvement.
No asthma as of yet but I'd like to wait and see what happens through the winter when my asthma seems to kick in more.
I have tons more energy and my mood is elevated. I feel very motivated.
I sleep through the night but have energy still till around 4am, so the Kavinace helps to get me drowsy.
My mind is clear and has become sharper. I also feel I can think faster.
The dark itchy patches on my fingers are still there but I am putting prescription grade hydrocortisone on it at night, covering it with a bandaid, and it has started helping. The patches are slowly beginning to fade.
No more episodes of low blood sugar. I can go over my 3 hour threshold without needing to eat.


Important:
DHEA can be dangerous if taken without medical supervision. I highly recommend having a doctor monitor your DHEA intake and although it is sold over the counter for only $4 a bottle at Shoprite, it doesn't mean it can be taken as you would Vitamin C, or other such vitamin. Please google information on DHEA. It helps produce hormones such as androgens, testosterone, estrogen. May not be good for men or women who are predisposed or have had breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer. It isn't good to continue to take once you become pregnant, unless you are closely monitored and your obgyn recommends you take it. It may help produce too much testosterone or too much estrogen in women, depending on how your body reacts and processes the DHEA. Women with PCOS beware, this can make your symptoms worse. DHEA can also interfere with women on birth control. DHEA can also irritate the stomach so should be taken with meals. DHEA can also have an impact on those taking prednisone and such medications. DHEA is banned from certain sports like football, baseball, etc. Here's one article on DHEA, I recommend you read more about it: www.womentowomen.com/adrenal-health-2/dhea-and-adrenal-imbalance/

My next appointment is in about a month, in October. I will try to update my post and update on any other changes/improvements. I really hope I helped in some way. I will try to answer back any replys I get as soon as I am able to.

Hi everybody and thanks for sharing your hives stories. believe me, I totally understand your frustration and it's really stressful!

My first hives attack was back in Oct 2010, everybody said it is stress related... fast forward in May 2015 I got the second attack, of course stress was blamed too and lasted about 2 months, (the owner of the company deiced to move his business to Santa Barbara and my grandmother passed away the same month, as well as I was job hunting for new opportunities)

After that I was getting them on and off until around October 2015 I started taking Align Probiotics and it seems it helped a bit along with a diet to lose some extra weight.

The 3rd episode was on January 2016 and I'm still dealing with it AGAIN, Align Probiotics is not working anymore and I'm tired of Xyzal, Zyrtec, Benadryl, Claritin, Allegra, Singulair, Hydroxine... as well as Znatac (anti-acid) that works as H2 blocker and not to mention Prednisone... they all helped a little and didn't get rid of the hives.

I read every single word that y'all wrote, from stress, Sulfites, DHEA to mix H1/H2 anti-histamines but Scoutfx got my attention! I tend to get stomach acid reflux ALOT and been on Omeprazole (like Prilosec, Zegerid and Nexium) since 2008 when they found I had H. Pylori Bacteria in my stomach which was treated back then. I also did stool and breath test for H. Pylori and they came negative last month.

I've done a lot of allergy testing and they are not that significant according to my 2 allergist that I've seen.
But I know myself and I know my body, every time I eat any thing that contains flour I get acid reflux and in few hours to days I get hives. I have IGg allergies to Wheat (4.0), Coffee (4.8), Peanut (2.9), EGG York & white (2.5) and finally Banana's (13.2) all these are out of 2, so it's high. BUT I've been always eating Bananas my whole 31 years (I'm 32 years old now).

I'm avoiding wheat/flour products, and trying to go Gluten-Free, but it's really hard, most of Gluten-Free products are high in sugar and I don't want to like sweet.

Will try Scoutfx's suggestion and get Enzymatic Therapy probiotics pearls, 6 strains a try, but I don't know where to get the refrigerated ones I like in Torrance CA, any suggestion?

(Please do not post your email in the open forum. You can put your email in your Profile page and it will be available to members only, not the general public. This is for your safety.)
Everything happens for a reason and I can't give up not finding the reason behind my hives!

Post Edited By Moderator (LanieG) : 3/7/2016 6:42:54 PM (GMT-7)

Hi everyone,

First and foremost, I like to thank everyone who have shared their experience with this debilitating condition. It gave me hope realizing I wasn't alone with night hives. It gave me insight and vital information to help me combat my condition and I'm happily on my way back to normal life.

I have been suffering with night hives for about 6 months, with the last month being so terrible that I couldn't sleep due to the constant itching. I would get patches covering my entire arm, half of my torso. And quarter of my legs. When it started to patch up around my neck, it really caused great deal of stress. Not being able to identity my triggers just added to my frustration, and doctors only try to prescribe medication I didn't want to take for obvious side effects and long term damage.

During one of my sleepless nights around 3 am, I found this thread and took the advice of taking vitamin B-12. I went to the store immediately and purchased it and took one pill. 10 minutes later the itching stopped and I was finally able to sleep. Next day when I felt the hives coming on again, I took a pill and it stopped the hives. This may not work for everyone who may not be suffering from Vitamin B deficiency, but it worked for me.

Had hives that appear at night for almost 10 years now. Been to regular and natural doctors. Accidentally discovered that UVB tanning booths help me a lot. Zyrtec stopped working shortly after I started taking it. Allergy sublingual drops didn't help (maybe wrong allergens used), neither did glutathione or mega dose vit. A, C. Taking Calcium D-Glucarate for high estrogen. I'll try Kavinace and Enzymatic Therapy Probiotic Pearls as suggested here.