My body is covered in a reddish covering of hives...definitely not the hip look at college. Hopefully it'll go away before I leave, but in the meantime, it's driving me crazy with itching!
*craves sympathy* Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Have you taken Benadryl yet? And do you know what you're reacting to, so you can avoid it in the future?
Much sympathy!
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
Taken Benadryl, yep. No idea what I'm reacting to.
Posted by rollainm (Member # 8318) on :
I broke out in hives only once a couple of years ago. I'm guessing it was stress that caused it.
Take benadryl, use the cream, and go to sleep. Trust me, it's the only solution to prevent total insanity.
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
Hehe . I've taken enough meds for the itching to go away, and am actually feeling quite chirpy now! Feeling normal is such a blessing.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
I'm like the hive queen. Once I start breaking out in hives, they recur and recur and recur every day for months.
Antihistamines help, and work better if I take them prophylactically -- that is, before they come back to prevent them from coming back.
Scratching at them is the worst thing to do -- it makes the hives bigger and itchier.
Icing them (or getting into a cold shower and letting the cold water run over them) brings relief.
I've never been able to determine what triggers my hives. They start and stop mysteriously. When they emerge, the first ones are likely to be in a place where there is pressure, like under my watchband, waistband, sock band, and bra straps. And band. But once those scouts have staked out their ground, the rest of the troops rush in to settle in the spots in between. I am least likely to get them on my face and hands, most likely on my arms, legs, and torso.
Hives are miserable. You have my sympathies.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Yup, I get mystery hives and mystery rashes, too. So does Fahim. I've had them last for weeks and months at a time, and itchy as all heck. Fahim's had a rash for the last month and a half that started with hives. It finally looks like it's getting better.
You've got tonnes of sympathy from us. I hope it gets better soon.
Posted by Elmer's Glue (Member # 9313) on :
Once, on the way home from the doctor, I took the medicine they gave me (Zythromax) and I broke out in hives all over my body in under a minute. I took some Benadryl. We went back to the doctor and I threw up the medicine.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tante Shvester: I've never been able to determine what triggers my hives. They start and stop mysteriously. When they emerge, the first ones are likely to be in a place where there is pressure, like under my watchband, waistband, sock band, and bra straps. And band.
(not the most detailed article, but I'm in a rush)
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
Yeah, I am. But these only start in the pressure area. Once they start there, they go on to the rest of me. And then recur and recur and recur for weeks and months, pressure or not.
I think that if I'm going to be hive-y, that pressure is the first thing to tip the scale to get things rolling. But even without the pressure spots, the hives would come. But maybe they'd wait another ten minutes.
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
Thanks for the support and advice everyone. I have to admit, though, that I'm glad that (so far!) this has been a one time thing. Especially considering what some of you guys go through, I almost feel lucky! I'm kinda wondering if it's allergies or stress, because both make sense.
Allergies, because very year at this time I get runny-nosed and sneezy. Stress because there is always stress, but not really enough that my body should feel justified in coating itself in red dots.
Eh. I'm just pumping my body on the anti-histamines and hoping I don't go into withdrawal when I stop. Also, that this goes away within the end of the week.
[ August 27, 2007, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: Phanto ]
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
"Pumping" the antihistamines? I'm sure you're not a moron or anything, but I'd feel better if I reminded you not to exceed the recommended dosage on the bottle.
See? Now I feel better. And I'm glad you do, too.
Withdrawal ought not to be a problem, by the way.
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
to the first, and to the second.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Is it getting better? Hives suck, especially itchy ones. Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
I hope so!
I remain in ominous uncertainty, unfortunately, because I am still taking the medicine. While I'm tempted to skip a dose, the thought of having my body invaded once more by itchy polka dots keeps me proper.
I'm really, really pissed off at my body about this, though. Were this some sort of allergic reaction, I'd be cool. Chemicals cause chemical reactions; it's just like in a textbook. But the idea that this could be because of stress puts me in quite another textbook -- a psych one.
And since I consider myself to be strong willed and, well, tough, that's embarrassing.
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
. I've taken enough meds for the itching to go away, and am actually feeling quite chirpy now! Feeling normal is such a blessing.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
to the first, and ![[Frown]](frown.gif)