Swollen hands and feet?

HELP! I am having an itch attack! Includes swollen feet & hands which are beet red!?

• A couple of weeks ago I started to feel itchy and didn't know why but for some reason I thought I should take Benadryl at the onset. Then it got worse. I itched all over, I got into the shower and that made it even worse...the hives turned into welts in specific places on my body like my arms I had hives on my back neck, face. And my hands and feet turned beet red and were swollen. I saw a dr. but by the time I got there the benedry was kicking in so we talked about it and I left. Tonight, the same thing happened. My feet are so swollen I can't stand. I would have to say this lasts about an hour. It's like an allergic attack. I don't know what it is. I have never had this in my life and i don't know anyone who has. Please help!!

• Answer:

  I'l comment on the period. Hives and allergic reactions are worse when you are sick, stessed, etc. Advil and aspirin make allergic reactions worse so if you took something like Motrin for your period, it may have made things worse. I think hives and allergic reaction have also something to do with hormone levels too. Some pregnant woman get worse hives. Other's get relief from chronic hives when they are pregnant. Estrogen from birth control maybe? Heat makes hives worse too so don't take hot showers when you have hives. A hot shower releases histamine and makes existing allergies worse. Certain foods are naturally high in histamine like strawberries and should be avoided when you have hives. Ask to be sent for allergy testing. I'd also get your iron levels and thyroid checked if allergy testing comes back negative. They don't test for everything so just because it comes back normal, doesn't mean you are not allergic to something.