Re: how long chronic hives last

Hi - I've had hives for much longer than than three years. If I were you I'd get tested for gluten intolerance/celiac (see enterolab.com) for which the resulting leaky gut leads to hives, which is my case and I know others who had hives too b/c of it. I found out after 15 years of food allergy hell in June 2008--it's probably the basis for all my other acquired food allergies . Currently I take an H2 antihistamine 30 mins before meals called ketotifen (it does make me somewhat sleepy/lethargic), stick to 100% gluten avoidance diet and doing immunotherapy (shots) for the foods I have tested allergic to (except for gluten, which avoidance is the only solution at this time). Not fun, but that's how life goes sometimes.