Help! It's driving me nuts.

[theworm[$]]

I'm still getting hives! It's been over two weeks, and I'm tired, and I can't stand them anymore.

I've been taking Zyrtec everyday, and I thought they were getting better, but I woke up this morning to a lot of new ones on my legs and shoulders. It seems that I wake up with a bunch every morning and they subside during the day. This morning was really bad. I'm very uncomfortable.

Brian is calling my dermatologist to see if he can get me in, but I'm so darned busy at work. I hope he can see me when I don't have an important meeting scheduled.

Do any of you have good home remedies? The stuff I've been trying hasn't worked.

[lynnzop[$]]

Ugh. Benedryl cream? Lanacane?

When I had chiggers, I took a super duper antihistamine, and that was the only relief I could get. And it put me right out, so that's probably not an option.

I think the bigger problem is finding out what's causing it. You may have to visit an allergist in addition to the dermo.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

I vote Dermo - remember, I thought I had hives last year from mosquito bites, turned out to be a skin version of yeast infection!

[theworm[$]]

it's just odd that Brian and I got them at the same time.
I'm very uncomfortable today.

Hopefully the doctor can fit me in, but I have meetings today, and Monday and Tues and Wed.....

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

Further support for my theory - yeast infections are contagious!

[taurusmoon]

theworm said

Brian is calling my dermatologist to see if he can get me in, but I'm so darned busy at work. I hope he can see me when I don't have an important meeting scheduled.

I think an appointment with the dermatologist counts as an important meeting and should trump the others.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

taurusmoon said

I think an appointment with the dermatologist counts as an important meeting and should trump the others.

Ditto!

[emeleel]

Triple-o!

[conradd]

If you're taking an antihistamine and still are bothered with hives, you really need to see a doctor now. Can you go to urgent care after work?

[theworm[$]]

Is Zyrtec an antihistamine?
the hives are really annoying, but they don't seem dangerous. Just Itchy. The dermatologist was closed today so we were going to try again on Monday. This is really annoying me, but doesn't seem like an "urgent care" kind of problem.

[emeleel]

From Wikipedia:

Cetirizine hydrochloride, an antihistamine, (pronounced /sɛˈtɪrɨziːn/) is a major metabolite of hydroxyzine, and a racemic selective H₁ receptor inverse agonist used in the treatment of allergies, hay fever, angioedema, and urticaria. The structural similarity of cetirizine to hydroxyzine, and its derivation from piperazine, attribute similar adverse reactions and properties to other piperazine derivatives.

Now, don't you feel more informed?

[Prepoia[$]]

You have GOT to stay away from that Wikipedia! While it carries some helpful "facts" it really isn't trustworthy. We don't even let the kids at school use it as a source. But, I check it out often anyway.

[jgibson2[$]]

I think the fact that you are waking up with more hives is significant. Something like a yeast infection is possible, but it could be viral, too.

Last year Matthew had something that looked remarkably like hives and itched like crazy. His pediatrician called it exanthem -- fancy name for non-specific viral rash. A couple of doses of atarax later and he was fine. Atarax is also an antihistamine, but it's much more effective against itchy rashes than most. It might be worth a visit to the local urgent-care clinic.

[theworm[$]]

Thank you Melanie. Now I feel dumb.

Ok - viral things and yeast things. We'll call the doc again on Monday morning, and if they're really bad over the weekend, I'll go to the clinic. I just want to make sure the clinic will accept my insurance.

I think it's so odd that Brian and I both got it at the same time with the flood, but maybe we were exposed to some virus.

[jgibson2[$]]

I got sick when we visited Orlando a couple of years ago. After spending way too much time on the phone trying to find a clinic or doctor that accepted my insurance, I finally got smart and called the insurance company's customer service line. The person I spoke with advised me to go to the ER. When I insisted that they must have some other, less expensive, option she started looking into urgent care clinics and located one near by.

[Helen_B[$]]

You're sure these aren't flea bites, right? Fleas coming inside to escape the wet?

You didn't put some kind of funky dryer sheets in your laundry with your bedding, did you?

[theworm[$]]

I did wonder if they were fleas, but we checked the cats and we all seem to be flea free.

[magenta321]

I had horrible hives from Surf detergent once. You haven't changed any of your soaps, detergents, lotions, shampoos, or anything, right?

Another time I got a worse problem (ack!) from Lever 2000. When I complained about it my mom said she had the same thing too, and she had wondered if it was the soap!

Hope it's something little like that!

[theworm[$]]

They were gone.

Now they're back.

Yes, we'll be going to the doctor. They did not return our calls, so Brian will go and make an appt in person.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

...you tried to make an appointment by phone and the office didn't return your calls, and you're still considering going to this doctor?

[theworm[$]]

I know, I know - but there are only two dermatologists in my plan, and I've already gone to this one. It's months to wait as a new patient, so I can't go to the other.

[slick4591[$]]

MIL swears by Tea tree oil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for those kid of things, although I have no experience.