Last year around this time, I started getting these serious hives everywhere....then parts of my face starting swelling up....after a few months and about 5 docs and 2 specialists later we determined that I have chronic urticaria as well as angiodema.....it lasted for about 6 months and finally stopped. During that time I was steadily taking a series of different allergy medications like zyrtec, allegra and benedryl as well as oral prednisone doses from time to time....sometimes it got so bad that I had to stick myself with an epi-pen. All of these treatments did nothing but drain all of my energy. It effected my job and much more....it s happening again..about 3 weeks now, almost on a daily basis.....using the same treatments but not getting anywhere......any suggesstions???????!!!!!!!!!!!!!