I've been on prednisone for the better part of two years. The short term side effects are highly variable. Some people are highly put out by those side effects, while others experience virtually nothing. I'll give one bit of unsolicited advice -- take the prednisone in the morning. It tends to cause you to be on edge, which, if it happens at night, can stop you from getting a decent night's (or any) sleep.Doctor at the ER prescribed 50mg of Prednisone - 1x/day for 5 days plus the first dose they gave me at the hospital.
At the pharmacy now, waiting for the scrip.
Yes, it's hives. Yes, it's a bad case. Yes, it's an allergic reaction to something. And yes, it will be completely 100% gone long before we leave for WDW.
Keep taking the Benadryl; stop the hydrocortisone cream. Calamine lotion and ice packs are fine.
The prednisone will make me squirrelly. So that sounds like fun.

