Re: severe itching/

[Guest guest]

> The next day we took my son for his college dorm key pickup

> and went back home (2 hours away) to pack his things for the move

the next day. Even though I saw no " bite " marks, I was itching like crazy

still and if I scratched, I would get these welts that looked like water

blisters. If I stopped scratching (after it went from an itch to a raw feeling)

after about 10 minutes the " blisters " would go away and leave no sign of them

even being there.

Hi

Rashes are so miserable, and such fun (not) to diagnose. Your doctor gave you

the very conservative treatment, taking Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) at bedtime,

and using a cortisone cream, but you obviously need something more.

You probably have contact dermatitis, and might need a stronger cortisone cream,

Vistaril aka Atarax, and an oral antibiotic to clear it up.

Are you under an unusual amount of stress lately? Living with chronic pain, is

enough to give anyone a nasty rash.

The rash could be caused by stress, and anxiety. Anxiety, can hit a person at

any time for no obvious reason.

Anyway, try using Aveeno products, especially the Aveeno oatmeal bath. It can

work wonders. I don't know how well the generic products work, but I know the

Aveeno brand can be expensive.

Make sure that all your soap products, including laundry soap are free of

allergens. This includes your fabric softener too.

If possible increase the Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) to 3 whatever the package

dosage says, or try switching to Zyrtec. There is a generic Zyrtec, that is a

little cheaper.

There are so many things that can cause a rash, here are two good links you

might look through. I strongly recommend that you go back to the doctor, or see

a dermatologist.

A dermatologist, of all people should be able to help you. If not, shame on her.

You might have anything from anxiety hives, or a food or environmental allergy.

It could be Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Shingles, and so many other things.

This link from the Mayo Clinic has a slide show, with pictures of all kinds of

rashes. This includes what a drug reaction rash looks like.

http://tinyurl.com/5vxu86

This other link from the Mayo Clinic is about Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, that

is caused by a tick bite:

http://tinyurl.com/6gkdut

I hope this helps. Please let us know what it was, and when it resolves. We do

care about you.

If for any reason at all your tongue begins to swell, or you have trouble

breathing, please call 911. This is anaphylactic shock, the most deadly kind of

reaction. It isn't probable, since you are already taking some Benadryl, but I

thought it best to include it.

Shortly after my Dad passes away in 1994, I developed an eczema rash all around

my face and under my nose. It looked exactly like a goatee.

It itched like crazy, and hurt to the touch. An increase in Klonopin, an

antibiotic, Vistaril, (Atarax) and 2% cortisonene cream finally cleared it up.

Kaylene

Moderator

PS Try to stop scratching. Wash your hands frequently.

[Guest guest]

--- Kaylene wrote:

>

> Shortly after my Dad passes away in 1994, I developed an eczema rash all

around my

face and under my nose. It looked exactly like a goatee.

Hi Kaylene -

I suffer from chronic eczema and it is miserable. My mother had it too, and

they think

there is a genetic component. Stress definitely triggers an outbreak for me. I

get it on my

face (mainly my eyelids - really painful and horrid to scratch!) - and inside my

elbows and

the backs of my knees, all classic locations for eczema.

However, it doesn't sound like what our first poster described is eczema.

Eczema may

cause hard little bumps and peeling/flaking/reddened skin that itches and hurts,

or

sometimes is invisible but very itchy, but it doesn't cause the big watery hives

like she

described.

I agree that she needs to see another doctor right away. You also gave good

advice about

any difficulty in breathing. With any severe systemic allergic reaction to

anything, we must

be aware and prepared for that potential. It must be considered an emergency

situation,

and don't hesitate to go to the ER! As an asthma patient too, I can tell you

that you'll

never get seen in the ER faster than when you go in reporting that you can't

breathe! No

waiting in that case! Ha.

Cheryl in AZ

Moderator

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

A few months ago my son woke up one night and was itching so bad he was in

tears.  The next day wasn't any better.  I changed his sheets, gave him

benadryl, and also made him take an oatmeal bath. 

That night he slept good and wasn't itching any more.  Then my oldest son

started doing the same thing.  Then my husband.  It finally hit me!  I tried a

cheaper laundry detergent.  The reason my younger son didn't itch the next night

was because the clean sheets had not been washed in that particular detergent.

I know it's a shot in the dark but I thought I would tell you about it.  The

strange thing is it only effected the men in the family.  Us girls where not

effected a bit.  I hope this helps.

Hugs & Prayers,

Carol  (OK)

[Guest guest]

> wrote:

>>

>> Shortly after my Dad passes away in 1994, I developed an eczema rash

>> all around my

> face and under my nose. It looked exactly like a goatee.

>

>

,

Shingles are effected by stress also. I agree that you need to get it

checked. Shingles appear in different people, different ways, different

ages. They also tend to happen on the face. They happen in immune

suppressed people. Good luck in finding out what is is. You can have

a systemic problem also. I had a rash happen that I thought was from

virginia creeper and I went and visited my Father and found out a

friend just died from a brain tumor's only symptom was a rash she broke

out with.

I know that this is not likely but it made me think twice about having

things checked out. Her Mother said that Rhonda was doing well and all

of sudden broke out with a rash and then had it checked out. She had a

renal tumor that had spread to her liver and brain.

Please make sure you check things out. I am not an alarmist but I

never had a rash before in my life and know that my immune system is

suppressed.

Please let us know what your find out.

Bennie