UH OH, hives

[goatgal]

Thank you for the birthday greetings. I began celebrating early with an outbreak of total body hives. I've never experienced anything like this before. I have had mild cases of hives but this is something else. Some of the patches are small, others are as large as my palm but all are red and furiously itchy. Miserably itchy and so sensitive to the touch that clothing sets them afire (no, I'm not nekked as I type). They began Friday, continued spreading through the weekend (now it's Monday.) On Saturday night, I began to experience whole body jerking when the itch got intense. Benadry has no effect. I tried Gabapentin; it stopped the jerking (spasms?) but did nothing for the raging on fire itch. That has continued. I emailed my PCP (the only way I can contact her) and I won't bother with my useless neuro. There's no walk in clinic close by, but 15 miles away there is a UVA Dermatology Clinic, with a phone number. But I am frantic (unusual for me), if I had a cliff, I'd jump off it. It's my overactive immune system at work, I know, but if it's MS related, I don't know. And can a case of total body hives with NO obvious trigger be considered a relapse? This is no way to start the next decade.

[Morllyn]

😲 😬

[jimeka]

Oh Goatgal, I am so sorry. Have you any calamine lotion as it used to work on very itchy chicken pox. Or bicarbonate of soda in a paste. I hope that you can get relief, as Molly will wonder what happened to you if you jump off that cliff. It must be bad as you didn’t really complain when you broke your ankle. Please let us know how you are, that is in between scratches. Maybe you are allergic to snakes 🐍 black ones that is. Take care, Blessings Jimeka 🤗 🤗 🤗

[goatgal in reply to jimeka]

I have tried everything: calamine, cortisone cream, aloe vera, baking soda paste. Nothing calms the itch, the color, or the swelling. I tried shocking my body by getting in a cold shower, and tepid water seems to help but four days and counting, I'm getting desperate. I know no one ever died of hives, but this episode is a misery. Now I know why serious itching is a torture.

[hairbrain4 in reply to goatgal]

That really sounds like an allergic reaction to something. I know citrus can do that including melons. My daughter has gone through that. She can't eat or touch them without breaking out.

[goatgal in reply to hairbrain4]

Thank you. Yes, I agree it's an allergic reaction; my immune system at work. I live in a region where ticks transmit all the tick borne diseases, and I always get a reaction at the site when a tick (or mosquito, sandfly, gnat) bites, and I have an epipen for wast/hornet stings, but I've never broken out and suffered like this before. Every dog I've shared my life with here has tested positive for Lyme, and some for Erlichia. 10 years ago I was tested for all the tick borne diseases as part of the diagnosis to confirm MS. Fortunately I can go in to see a PCP this morning so maybe there's relief in my future.

[greaterexp in reply to goatgal]

I'm so glad you are getting to the dermatology clinic today. Please let us know what you find out. I sure hope you feel much better very quickly.

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

Give the UVA Dermatology Clinic a call. Other than a tepid bath, with lots of baking soda applied to your itches, I don't know what to suggest. Could it be shingles?

[goatgal in reply to carolek572]

Thank you. I'm driving in to UVA to see a PCP (not mine, but someone available). It could be shingles, but I hope not. I'll know by this afternoon.

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador in reply to goatgal]

I am thinking of you, goatgal and hoping that this itchiness goes away SOON!

[rjoneslaw]

I’m so sorry to hear that

I know the pain you’re having I had hives b4 like that. I had to stay at my dr office all day til they went way they just kept trying different meds til one worked

Can you go to the er so that you can get some relief?

[Royjr]

That’s what I was thinking, it sounds like Shingles. I hope not but I hope you feel better.

[Hidden]

Oh no—that is a terrible birthday gift.

So sorry 😐

I hope you can find some relief soon.

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[bxrmom]

That is a horrible birthday gift. Hope it's not shingles, as that is a horrible gift. Hope the dr is able to help you out. Please keep us updated when you can.

[pamgarner]

you do need to go to dr.office.i had an episode in my life like that,i could feel the hives popping out on my I had so many.i went to the emergency room and they gave me a shot of benedryl,that is when i found out i was allergic to benedryl,they sent me home and I fainted at home,went to dr next am,my head got very swollen.all of this was brought on by citrus.it was life threating,,please go