Basil, Your post is very timely! yesterday morning I woke w/ allergy attack from ? I
just know my lids were swelling, ears popping fluid, massive hd-prssr. I took a sample
Zyrtec. It helped, then wore off 4hrs? I decided to try a 2nd one 12 hrs later since
the all day pill `wasn't'! Big mistake! 1hr later I was covered in speckled rash & flush
face. I needed a antihistamine for the one I took? Won't try those again. Anyway,
I test neg. for allergens but went to hospital several times yrs ago for hives. I found
out that many folks get hives from something ingested, not breathed in. I know that
most Dr's don't test for additives in products. By trial/error, I found out I was allergic
to `red dye 40'. It's even in Pillsbury Biscuits! The pink in Benadryl tabs is red-40!
Anyway, get a script for atleast 50mg Atarax (hydroxyzine)=g. Will make U drowsy
& may take 100mg, but it will take away the hives. You must be hm. & not out. Look
at the labels of everything. See what's common. It may be an `ingredient' that's in
food +. Mine was almost a `no-brainer'. I had BBQ Sc, red jello, & a biscuit the last
time I went to hospital. 2 days later I read all the labels. Red-40 in ea! Few weeks
later & ready w/ my Rx, I ate ribs & sc! 3 hrs later, hives! Thank heavens for those
pills. I don't believe Zyrtec will help hives. I know stress makes them worse so you
need to sedate. Gd. thing my Zyrtec was samples! All-day-relief my fanny! Gd-Luck.

Quote from Murphy:

Basil, Your post is very timely! yesterday morning I woke w/ allergy attack from ? I
just know my lids were swelling, ears popping fluid, massive hd-prssr. I took a sample
Zyrtec. It helped, then wore off 4hrs? I decided to try a 2nd one 12 hrs later since
the all day pill `wasn't'! Big mistake! 1hr later I was covered in speckled rash & flush
face. I needed a antihistamine for the one I took? Won't try those again. Anyway,
I test neg. for allergens but went to hospital several times yrs ago for hives. I found
out that many folks get hives from something ingested, not breathed in. I know that
most Dr's don't test for additives in products. By trial/error, I found out I was allergic
to `red dye 40'. It's even in Pillsbury Biscuits! The pink in Benadryl tabs is red-40!
Anyway, get a script for atleast 50mg Atarax (hydroxyzine)=g. Will make U drowsy
& may take 100mg, but it will take away the hives. You must be hm. & not out. Look
at the labels of everything. See what's common. It may be an `ingredient' that's in
food +. Mine was almost a `no-brainer'. I had BBQ Sc, red jello, & a biscuit the last
time I went to hospital. 2 days later I read all the labels. Red-40 in ea! Few weeks
later & ready w/ my Rx, I ate ribs & sc! 3 hrs later, hives! Thank heavens for those
pills. I don't believe Zyrtec will help hives. I know stress makes them worse so you
need to sedate. Gd. thing my Zyrtec was samples! All-day-relief my fanny! Gd-Luck.

I am also allergic to the dyes...I have found that most people that react to those dyes have a problem with all salicylates..Aspirin. So many foods contain them as well as drugs. Tomatoes, peppers, apples, tea, etc. I am also allergic to wheat and gluten which many people have a problm with. When I run into a large problem I stick with rice, water and wheat free bread for a week or so and then start to add one thing back at a time. Have had this problem for 30 years along with dermagraphism. Have never gone more than 3 days in the 30 years without a antihistamine. No fun for sure....BUT i did fine out most of the things that i react to from blood tests...Only foods, no outside things.Can't have the pin ***** tests because of the dermagraphism.