A few months ago, my mother was diagnosed with severe chronic urticaria. Chronic urticara is marked by intense hives, all over the body, that persist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And my mother has one of the most acute cases that her doctors have seen. She has intense itching, all over... she cannot sleep or enjoy life as she is essentially in perpetual physical torment. At first, they would give her medications, and she would get relief for a short while, but the hives have been overpowering the medications... not to mention all the steroids and shots...