Eeep! Hives!

poseidon · #1 08-27-2002, 10:49 AM

Well... I've now been up since 6:30am yesterday morning. It started off a few days ago by what I thought were just a series of bug bites (or spider bites) on my side. Last night I'm in full-blown hives!

Michelle told me to take Benadryl, so I took some and it did nothing. The hives got worse, I itched like crazy, and even forced myself to be like a kid with chickenpox and wear socks on my hands so I couldn't scratch myself.

This morning I called the doc and I've got an 11am appointment (with a promise that if anyone cancels they'll call me to get me in earlier).

We were trying to figure it out... Michelle thinks maybe this stress-induced. I don't feel stressed out (even though it's now 32 days until the wedding), plus I've never ever had hives before in my life.

I feel physically fine (short of wanting to scratch myself to death)... no fever, no nausea, etc. -- so something like West Nile should be ruled out.

I WANT TO SCRATCH I WANT TO SCRATCH I WANT TO SCRATCH

**theworm**[$] · #2 08-27-2002, 10:50 AM

DON'T SCRATCH!

Hope you can get in to see the Doctor sooner, and that he/she can get you some fast relief!

theeye · #3 08-27-2002, 10:55 AM

Start thinking about whether you've eaten anything new recently. Including ingredients. It might just possibly be a food allergy.

If you can manage it, you might want to get into the bath. Might make it easier to get through the last hour or so.

Good luck -- hope they can give you something stronger to clear it up.

poseidon · #4 08-27-2002, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by theeye
Start thinking about whether you've eaten anything new recently. Including ingredients. It might just possibly be a food allergy.

If you can manage it, you might want to get into the bath. Might make it easier to get through the last hour or so.

Good luck -- hope they can give you something stronger to clear it up.

That was the first thing to rule out. I'm allergic to most fish and to a variety of tropical fruits (especially mangoes). I know to steer clear of these things.

I've not eaten anything really "different" in the last week... so that's ruled out as well.

Jeff

mtbat · #5 08-27-2002, 01:05 PM

You can try an oatmeal bath-borrow a pair of panyhose from Michele-one she doesn't want back-cut off the leg, fill the foot area with raw uncooked dry oatmeal and take a bath with it in the water-squeeze the oatmeal water over the hives. Hey it works for chicken pox!

Have you tried a cream of some sort? if one allergy med is working I'd say try another!

Fridai

**drmomentum**[$] · #6 08-27-2002, 01:38 PM

About 2 years ago I had something like hives almost all over my body. Never found out what it was (could have been stress).

The only thing that gave me relief was the hottest shower water I could stand as long as I could stand sprayed on the rashes. It itches like mad for a few seconds and then the itch receptors go numb for hours.

I'm not saying you try this - I don't want to be responsible if you get too zealous and scald yourself. But I will say:

1) If you do try it, start out slow and not too hot.
2) This is the only thing that made my life bearable during this time.
3) I've told at least 2 other people who have verified this worked for them.
4) The itching returns after a few hours.
5) I am not a doctor
6) If your scalp itches, too, extra strength Neutrogena T-Gel helps
7) Consider the possibility that it is contact dermititis. Possibly you came into physical contact with a plant or chemical. I've had a similar reaction to tub cleaner once or twice. Of course, poison ivy does similar things and mild contact dermititis can look a lot like hives if the rash does not form blisters.

Good luck

-JP

**theworm**[$] · #7 08-27-2002, 01:50 PM

You should have seen the Dr by now? Any news? I hope that you got some medication!

poseidon · #8 08-27-2002, 03:17 PM

Doc says he thinks it is foliculitis. Michelle thinks he's wrong. Anyhow, I'm on Zyrtec and Keflex. Doc says that I should be okay after that.

I went ahead and informed the doctor that if he's wrong and this spreads to my neck and face, that I'm going to be exceedlingly upset -- explaining that I'm getting married in a month and that I do not want poc marks all over my face because of a misdiagnosis. He said that if it's not getting better in 72 hours to come back in and he'll do something with cortisone.

JP,

I love scalding hot showers. I've been doing what you've suggested since this has started. It does provide temporary relief, but I can't live in the shower, especially with the current water restrictions in place here.

Jeff

**theworm**[$] · #9 08-27-2002, 03:20 PM

Jeff,
I had some sort of allergic reaction thing once with terrible itching on my feet, ankles and wrists. I found that as long as I had tight socks on, my feet and ankles were fine, but as soon as I took them off - it was horrific. Does covering the hives with tight clothing help?

**drmomentum**[$] · #10 08-27-2002, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by poseidon
I love scalding hot showers.

:thumbs: I never did until that itch thing. Now I love 'em.

A rash can also be caused by an allergic reaction to a bacteria. What I mean is that you can have a small infection and then your body can have a more general reaction to the bacteria itself or toxins that the bacteria create. The Keflex suggests the doctor believes there either may be a bacteria involved, or I suppose it could be a prophylactic measure to prevent a subsequent infection.

Whatever the cause, I hope your conditon clears up quickly. It sounds like your doctor is on the ball and I bet it doesn't spread to your face at all.

-JP

**jgibson2**[$] · #11 08-27-2002, 04:35 PM

Jeff.
Any possibility you were bitten by Assassin bugs ?

poseidon · #12 08-27-2002, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jgibson2
Jeff.
Any possibility you were bitten by Assassin bugs ?

I don't think so:

1. There's no dead bugs in my bed. Trust me, I've checked.

2. I'm not sure that these bugs are in Colorado. We do pretty good out here with the variety of bugs that aren't around because they can't take the altitude or the environment.

3. The "bite" pattern doesn't match.

magenta321 · #13 08-27-2002, 07:26 PM

Jeff, in the mean time, the Aveeno lotion with Non-Coloidal (sp?) Oatmeal is a god-send when you have hives. Trust me. It is very soothing.

Margaret -- who has become very familiar with rashes over the past few years.

poseidon · #14 08-27-2002, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by magenta321
Jeff, in the mean time, the Aveeno lotion with Non-Coloidal (sp?) Oatmeal is a god-send when you have hives. Trust me. It is very soothing.

Margaret -- who has become very familiar with rashes over the past few years.

Yep the Doc recommended that. I've been slathering it on right now. The only bad thing is that I can't reach my back and it's itching like crazy. Michelle won't be here for another two hours, so I'm just trying to "manage" and think about other things...

poseidon · #15 08-28-2002, 10:40 AM

Whoooooooo! Made it the whole night sleeping the Sleep of the Dead (thanks Zyrtec) and I didn't scratch. Some of my hives have already started to shink away and get smaller, and I'm not itching today.

**Prepoia**[$] · #16 08-28-2002, 12:41 PM

Good to hear

Michelle must have arrived since you slept well. Bet she agrees with the doctor now too.

Sandy

poseidon · #17 08-30-2002, 10:37 AM

Woo Hoo!

The hives are finally drying up and going away!!!!!!!!

Now Michelle won't think I have the cooties anymore.

poseidon · #18 10-28-2002, 12:59 PM

Unfortunately, last night the foliculitus returned. I'm not only mad but also concerned.

Today I'm seeing a new doctor. Michelle's employers are members of my health plan and she was able to get me an appointment with the lead doctor today. Michelle will be my nurse, and thus I'll have at least the knowledge that I've got someone who is more than casually looking out for my best interest.

Hopefully this stuff can get knocked out of the way before it presents itself as a major problem again... and more importantly, hopefully my new doctor will properly diagnose and help us figure out how to prevent this from returning again.