Hives

Did anyone have problems with hives?

I developed hives about 2 weeks after surgery, but they were mostly on my legs with a few on my arms. All of those have gone away, but now a few days ago, they broke out again, only this time on my torso. I don't have any food allergies that I know of. And the temporary hot flashes and night sweats (I still have my ovaries) are gone, so I am puzzled as to why this is happening.

At least this time they don't itch too terribly!

Kitten

I have had ichy hives/rash since about 2 weeks post-op. My gyn says it is unrelated to surgery, but it won't go away!! I haven't had time to go to a primary or dermatology doc as I am still working on complications from the hysterectomy which is taking too much time as it is!!

Let me know if you learn anything!!!

by the way, I had a LAVH, so it isn't from external stitches or anything like that ... it is annoying though, I itch so bad that I am a bloody mess!

Seeking solice,

My gyn pretty much wrote me off, too! I never had a problem with hives before so I have to assume it is something with the surgery.

My mom seems to think it has something to do with hormones. She had hives when starting to go through menopause and when she went on HRT, they stopped. So, if that is the case, maybe the hives will stop after my ovaries start functioning normally??? Or would we be allergic to the internal stitches?

I might call the triage nurse at my primary physician's office when I get a chance to see if they can tell me anyting. Anyway, if I find out something, I will be sure to let you know.

Hang in there!

Are you still taking narcotic pain meds on occasion? You may have developed a sensitivity/allergy to these. I can not take any narcotic pain meds without getting hives and itching like crazy!

Nope. The most I took was Tylenol with codine and I stopped 2 weeks after surgery, so it has been at least 4 weeks since I have taken any pain meds.

I wish it was that simple.

Kitten

I had hives after surgery and believe it was due to lack of estrogen (like your mom said) because once I went back on estrogen they went away. It was awful, they'd get inflamed and itchy right when I was trying to go to bed! I was in perimenopause before my surgery and I would get them when my estrogen was low.

Hi Jahee!

I have been reading your postings and glad to hear you are doing well. I went back to work for half days Weds-Friday last week, had Monday off and started full time this week. So far, no issues, although I have to admit it was nice being home.

Thanks for the input on hives. I broke out again last night and they were terribly ichy. I have been using Jergen's Calming Cream which seems to help curb the iching. I hope my ovaries kick back in soon so the hives go away. Unfortunately, I'll have this to look forward to when I actually experience menopause.

Kitten

Interesting thought (that is low estrogen) ... I am not sure, in my case, that it is the cause - but it is possible. I kept my ovaries and am pretty sure they are already functioning (as I had an ever so slight "breakout" a few weeks ago ;-) ) -- and somewhere between October 19th (when I had my preop sonogram) and January 7th (when I had my cat scan) I grew a 4.3 cm ovarian cyst!!

But, I was on birth control pills pretty steadily before my hysterectomy ... perhaps I am lower on estrogen now. BUT wow, over 2 months of this stuff is getting on my nerves!

Keep me informed on your progress hysterkitten! I have been using both the cortaid and aveno anti-itch creams - they work great for a few hours at a time!

Seeking Solice,

I, too, was on birth control for several years before my hyst. I am wondering if our bodies are adjusting to the lower estrogen levels. I assume that when taking the pill, the estrogen levels are pretty steady. I am wondering if the estrogen levels are fluctuating now that we are no longer on the pill and if they ever level off so we won't experience anymore hives!

A few weeks of this is plenty, I can't imagine two months! I feel really good except for the hives. I also noticed that the hives popped out after a nice long hot shower last night, so maybe it's heat related as well?

I'll keep in touch. If I find out anything else, I'll let you know.

Kitten

I had the hives too about 2 weeks after my surgery. I had the hot flahses and insomnia along with it. I used the benadryl cream and that helped the itching, but they still stayed on my arm for about a week. I wasn't on BCP before the surgery, but on and off Prometrium. My estrogen was 10 points higher last year than after the surgery so hmmm. Haven't had the hives since the first month so hopefully when the ovaries do their thing maybe it will calm down. Before it happened to me I had just been reading some exerpts from the Sexy Years by Suzanne Sommers and she talked about her symptoms as the seven dwarfs of menopause, Itchy, Bit#$#, Sleepy, etc., so I kinda figured it was hormone related. Hope it goes away soon. I'm only left with the insomnia now. : (
Tara