Allergy Help?

I am puzzled. I have had hay fever over the years, nothing too terrible. And though I had not changed anything in my environment, I woke up this past Sunday with my eyes red, kind of looking like I had a rough night of sleep. By late morning, my conjunctivas were swelling, and by afternoon, I was in the ER getting a shot of benadryl and steroid. I have been taking steroid eyedrops and antihistimine eyedrops since.

More symptoms started showing up. On Monday night, I had pain in my hands and feet, and shivers, like I had a fever, but the thermometer said I had no fever. In fact, my temp was low. Yesterday morning, the pains were gone, but I had red bumps all up my legs, back, and stomache. They cleared off a bit after a shower.

I saw my dosctor yesterday afternoon, who thought I was having a reaction to smoke at a fire pit at a matanza we went to on Saturday night. He added prednizone to my regimine.

Last night, we noticed more bumps, some of which seemed to be in line with my clothing. I slept without clothing last night, and had no bumps this morning, but they came back while I was on the computer. Again, no clothing, and we had put some Clorox 2 on a bandaid last night and stuck it to my arm while sleeping, so the only thing that had changed in my laundry (new clorox 2 formula) appeared to not be a problem.

I've never had severe allergic reactions to anything before. Has anyone else dealt with this?

Re: Allergy Help?

Sorry, not much help, but perhaps you've developed a new allergy you haven't discovered yet.

I've never been allergic to anything before - well, perhaps a slight allergic to bee stings/bug bites, but nothing serious and nothing diagnosed.

However, this past July I noticed that when I held a cold beverage in my hand that my hand would start to itch. Then later, I noticed that it would swell. This happened to any skin that encountered cold objects. I started doing research and came up with 'cold hives' - an allergic reaction to cold! Now, this is certainly a new thing because back in '07 I worked part-time in a groceries warehouse freezer and I didn't have problems (perhaps the cause?). It just started in July. The wierder thing is that according to the nurse practioner, it's not as uncommon as you'd think.

But with your eyes swelling, that sounds pretty serious!

Re: Allergy Help?

I have terrible allergies (especially ragweed) and have been getting regular shots for about five years now. It has made a dramatic difference in my life (especially in the fall).

Smoke from a fire could most definitely cause a problem if they were burning something that you were allergic to. I've heard of people getting poison ivy from fires before. I would think that the prednisone should take care of the problem, but stay on top of it. I would recommend seeing an allergy specialist. For years, I was diagnosed as a simple Asthmatic, but it turned out that most of my problem was allergies and this was diagnosed within minutes after seeing a specialist.

You also mentioned sleeping with no clothes on, but you might also want to try a different bed or washing your sheets several times in a different detergent. Beds and bedding can be a major harbor for allergens.

Re: Allergy Help?

Thanks, guys. I had hives from my chest and back down to my knees for a while, yesterday. It seems to have stopped. It started when I was cleaning in the garage (lots of dust, right?), but as the day progressed, still cleaning in the garage, they went away.

I'm hoping the doctor is right, and that it was related to the fire, and once we get the symptoms under control it should go away. But I am going to see an allergist if I have any more symptoms today.

Also, yes: I am washing all the sheets. Don't want anything getting on me there, though I woke up hive-free this morning, so i suspect the bed itself is not an issue.

Re: Allergy Help?

I think you are doing the right things to get rid of them. I'm still not sure what caused my outbreak of hives or how they went away, but I had them for a long time, from November of 2006 until about May of 2007 off and on.

Re: Allergy Help?

Buzz:
Like you I've had allergies all my life. Fortunately I've never had an incident like the one you describe here.
As a kid (LONG time ago) I was asthmatic and was on Prednisone for an extended period of time. While Prednisone can literally be a life-saver, it can also mess you up (remember Jerry Lewis a few years ago ?).
If you need it you need it, but try to get off of it quickly.
Hope you are feeling better.

Re: Allergy Help?

I had no symptoms yesterday...hope it lasts.

Re: Allergy Help?

New allergies can develop in an instant, literally. (I speak from experience.) See an allergy specialist and have yourself tested. It's important to find out what you need to avoid.