Hives! AAaaargh!

Early Wednesday morning I woke up itching, a few hives all over me. I took some Benedryl at about 4:30 in the morning and went back to sleep. I itched a little all day Wednesday, and took 2 Benedryl before bed Wed. night. Well, Thursday morning I awoke covered in hives and itching like a dog with fleas. Great big welts that were raised were all over me. The welts were so large they were running into each other to make what they call "plaques." Welts were everywhere: my scalp, trunk, legs, arms, bottom of feet, everywhere except my face (thankfully). It even itched behind my ears! I decided to go see my doctor about it. She said it was the worst case of urticaria (medical term for hives) she'd seen since her residency! She thought I needed some steroids to conquer it. I was miserable and agreed. I've been on prednisone 4 days now and still have some remnants of redness all over! The itching gets worse during the night and seems to improve during the day. I've changed the sheets and done a double-rinse cycle when washing them. I still haven't been able to pin-point what triggered. More than half the cases are of unknown origin. She said it could be heat, cold, food, detergent, sun, darkness, stress, moisture, dryness.... in other words, anything! This has been a frustrating 4 days. The day I went to see her I slept off the Benedryl most of the day. I just cannot battle against the drowsiness of Benedryl! Never have been able to do so, even as a kid, which was the last time I got hives, I think.