tntgoodwin Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 (edited) Looking for suggestions on what could be wrong with me... Thursday evening I went out to eat, and by Thursday night I began itching. I had a headache before I went out, so I took a little bit of Tylenol. It seemed to start on the backside of my upper legs, and when I woke up, my arms and legs (knees and elbows especially)itchy. I have noticed my feet and hands seem swollen (can't fit my wedding ring). There is slight redness on my skin, like a super-mild sunburn, but no rash. No itchiness on my torso area at all. I took some Benadryl this morning (over 24 hours after first noticing symptoms), and after a while it seemed to help a bit. Now it feels like the itchiness is starting to come back. Except it is my back that is starting to itch now, too. Which happens for me from time, and I think it is probably mostly in my head. I have no food or other allergies as far as I know. (I ate 4 cheese ravioli at California Pizza Kitchen if that helps). We had changed our sheets Thursday night, but we have used the same detergent for several months. This is kinda driving me crazy, and was wondering if any of you have suggestions for what it might be. :confused: Edited April 14, 2012 by tntgoodwin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 Any signs of a bladder/kidney infection? The itching alone wouldn't make me think of it, but the swelling in the extremities combined with it would likely cause me to put in a call to the doctor. JMO, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntgoodwin Posted April 14, 2012 Author Share Posted April 14, 2012 Any signs of a bladder/kidney infection? The itching alone wouldn't make me think of it, but the swelling in the extremities combined with it would likely cause me to put in a call to the doctor. JMO, of course. No, not that I can tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntgoodwin Posted April 14, 2012 Author Share Posted April 14, 2012 So now there is a bit of a rash and it's breaking out on my face and behind my ears. I think there is probably a DR visit in my near future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnitWit Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 Definitely sounds like an allergic reaction. If Benadryl didn't kick it, you likely need a steroid. Please don't mess with it over the weekend...says the woman who let one go thinking she was just getting sick and ended up in anaphylactic shock and nearly dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnitWit Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 It's Saturday, don't wait until Monday. Go to the ER or a walk-in TODAY. If you feel your throat swelling, that is EMERGENCY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 It does sound allergic and I agree you may need a steroid to tamp it down. In fact, I think you very likely due given the long time range and that benadryl didn't stop it better than that. I hope you did or can do a walk in clinic perhaps. Zyrtec is good for reactions that hang around. It stays in your system better than benadryl. Do you routinely take tylenol? My father had a reaction to ibuprofen and it took a really long time to get out of his system even though he, of course, stopped it. He had been ok with ibuprofen until he wasn't. Given the seriousness of your reaction (the swelling is especially concerning to me) and that you don't know what it was I'd want to see an allergist. You know any throat swelling at all is an emergency (as in ambulance type). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntgoodwin Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 In the ER waiting room now. Time to wait. No, I don't regularly take Tylenol. I do regularly take Adderall XR, Claritin, and sometimes sudafed. If I have pain I normally take Advil. It seemed to subside for a few hours when I took Benadryl this morning, but when that wore off is when the hives started. I have had no swelling of the throat. I took another Benadryl this afternoon and then ate a yogurt. After that it seemed to get worse instead of better So, I headed to the hospital. It's on my face, the back of my neck, my arms, and most annoying, the palms of my hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the Rain Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 I'm glad you are at the ER. I hope they figure it out quickly. Allergic reactions are irritating at best, and can turn bad quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Is it itching too? I'm sorry, rashes are miserable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 (edited) :grouphug: Yikes, that's scary and sounds anaphylactic. I'm so glad you went to the ER. I just want you to know my son had an (immediate in his case) anaphylactic reaction to nuts and our ER was not very good in handling it. That's not uncommon so I hope you got a knowledgeable ER doctor and good treatment. Try to get them, or your regular doctor if they have a call in number, to give you an epi pen script especially given the reaction to an unkown something came back with that much force. You want some rescue medication when you go home. Do look up warning signs of anaphylaxis. Those need immediate epi pens and 911. The epi pen might help for as little as 15 minutes--enough time to get an ambulance to someone. I know you won't take anymore tylenol or tylenol containing products until you see an allergist. Zyrtec will do much better with hive control generally. My father's reaction to ibuprofen lasted a very long time. You may find you need Zyrtec for quite a while. I'm thinking the tylenol but it could be anything in the restaurant given cross contamination potential. I'm assuming you don't have any known food allergies? Edited April 15, 2012 by sbgrace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 I'm so glad you're in the ER. Itching sucks, hang in there! I have a friend who breaks out like that from MSG, fwiw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntgoodwin Posted April 15, 2012 Author Share Posted April 15, 2012 They are giving me several drugs to treat it, and hopefully it goes away in a couple days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Tony, are you still scratching today? How are you feeling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyhomemaker25 Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 Follow up with your PCP. Allergic reactions tend to worsen with each exposure. You probably need to find out what your allergic to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 just saw your post-hope you are better today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnitWit Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 So glad you went in and hope you are much better today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntgoodwin Posted April 16, 2012 Author Share Posted April 16, 2012 No itching or rash or swelling today! Got to wear my wedding ring...good thing too, it was her birthday. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 No itching or rash or swelling today! Got to wear my wedding ring...good thing too, it was her birthday. :001_smile: Yay!! I just saw this thread. Several years ago, my dh suffered a similar reaction that he thought was from (bad and molded) cheese in food he ate at a certain restaurant. His seemed equally bizarre, as it moved around to different parts of his skin. I'm glad you're on the meds, and I'm glad it seems to be easing for you. Your comment about cheese made me wonder though . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntgoodwin Posted April 16, 2012 Author Share Posted April 16, 2012 This morning I woke up with a headache. I took 1 Advil. Not long after that my elbows and knees started itching again. :glare: My elbows were starting to show some red marks. After I took the meds they gave me, it stopped. It was only the second day of five days of treatment, so I am not terribly worried yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 You are definitely allergic to something. Could it be cold or heat urticaria? I have both and it is the biggest pain the the patooshkie. Good luck with your treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Maybe you are allergic to the dye in the pain meds. Ds used to break out in horrible hives from blue dye #1. Had to have steroids every time. I finally figured out it was the dye, watched what he consumed, and never had another problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TranquilMind Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 In the ER waiting room now. Time to wait. No, I don't regularly take Tylenol. I do regularly take Adderall XR, Claritin, and sometimes sudafed. If I have pain I normally take Advil. It seemed to subside for a few hours when I took Benadryl this morning, but when that wore off is when the hives started. I have had no swelling of the throat. I took another Benadryl this afternoon and then ate a yogurt. After that it seemed to get worse instead of better So, I headed to the hospital. It's on my face, the back of my neck, my arms, and most annoying, the palms of my hands. Gosh, could you have chicken pox or measles or something? That sounds unlikely. Seems kind of long lasting for a food allergy. What was it? Did they find out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tntgoodwin Posted April 16, 2012 Author Share Posted April 16, 2012 I was diagnosed with: "skin rash undetermined cause" :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I was diagnosed with: "skin rash undetermined cause" Well, at least they were specific. :rolleyes: I hope you get better soon! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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