At Your Appointment

Hives Appointment Guide

Ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment. Answer two questions below to personalize your appointment guide.
  • Please describe the symptoms and issues you’re having that led you to schedule this online appointment. Start at the beginning of this current episode and tell me how and when things have changed and progressed.
  • Have you had a recent illness or infection?
  • Have you started new medicines, supplements or foods?
  • Have you started using any new personal or household products, such as shampoos, lotions, wipes or detergents?
  • Do you have any allergies?
  • Have you tried over-the-counter medicines? How well did they work?
  • Are your hives interfering with sleep or your daily activities?
  • When did the hives begin? How severe is the itching, if any?
  • Are the hives all over your body or only in certain places? Do your hives also have painful swelling?
  • Do you have any other symptoms, such as throat tightness or breathing problems?
  • Have the hives been constant or do they come and go?
  • What seems to make your hives better or worse?
  • What other medical conditions do you have?
  • What side effects are you noticing with your hives medicine?
  • Do you feel that your current hives treatment plan is effective?
  • What tests and treatments have you had so far?
  • What new symptoms are you experiencing?
  • What is the most likely cause of my hives?
  • Could another medical condition be causing or contributing to them?
  • How do you diagnose the cause of hives?
  • What does it mean if you can't find a cause?
  • What should I do if my symptoms do not improve or get worse?
  • How often is there no clear cause of hives?
  • What is the best treatment for my hives?
  • What are my options if the treatment you are recommending doesn't help?
  • How long can hives last?
  • What strategies can I use to soothe my skin?
  • How should I care for my skin? Are there products I should use or avoid?
  • Are there symptoms that should alert me to call you or seek medical care?
  • Could another medication do a better job of controlling my hives?
  • Are my new or different symptoms related to my hives?
  • What is the best treatment plan for my hives?
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Last Review Date: 2019 Jan 23
THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.
  1. Chronic Hives. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-hives/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352723
  2. Hives. American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/itchy-skin/hives