Allergy frustrations

Been having welts since the beginning of May. On my head, sides and bottom of my feet. Just thought I was having a bad allergy season.

The night before last could hardly sleep. Woke up, and I'm like, "darn welts again" at like 3 30. Went to bathroom, had to pee, looked at side and HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL it was like 8 inches long and five inches wide!!!! What the heck?????? Tried to stay upright on the couch to alleviate the itching. Husband got up to go potty. Asked me what I was doing up. I showed him, and he's like, "WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME RIGHT AWAY?!?!?!?!?"

I have a welt that is now about a foot long and 6 inches wide on my side. Went to ed yesterday morning for it. They gave me prednisone, and said if it comes back after I'm off the roids to go to an allergist. Been taking my benadryl - spray and oral - like a good girl today. Took my allegra, also. The swelling seems to not be as red, and to have gone down but it's still bigger than it was this morning. Feels like a great big bruise now and today was actually able to wear a bra which means I got to go to go to work (with GGs you can't exactly run around without proper underwear).

They said there's a chance I've developed an allergy to my depo (my birth control shot, makes it so I don't have a period, I get one every 3 months). Are you fricking kidding me??? I don't want to go back to being anemic, passing out and, having to wear diapers for 10 days out of every month because I'm bleeding so much. The reason I went on depo was because my periods kept getting worse and they said it was probably a safer decision for me to NOT have my period. Rather than drastic surgery, I opted for this. So the dude at the ed said, "well you could just stay pregnant." For the next like 30 years? I wanted to punch him but by that point I was so slap-happy from lack of sleep I just laughed about it. Good thing, I guess.

'Course then I could just be having a bad reaction to something I'm already allergic to that I know of - dust mites, maple trees, grass - or an old allergy could be resurfacing - which could be just about ANYTHING RAR.

I do not plan to be pregnant at all let alone the next 30 or so years, so I need to come up with some other option if it is true that I can't take depo. But I don't want to go through surgery because what if some day one day I wake up and want to have a baby and there's some infintessimal chance I could have one? Some days I wake up so badly wanting a kitten that I have to go buy a houseplant and drown it for a few weeks and then I'm good. What if that happens about a baby need? Would a plant cover that need? My husband had a daughter and I absolutely loved her but she's been gone from this realm for the last 5 years and I couldn't picture ever wanting to have anyone besides her. Maybe it's just grief, maybe it's just my continuing non-working biological clock. Never wanted to have kids but who's to say what the future may bring, and I want to still have the option just in case, but the only way I would go off some form of birth control is if I was POSITIVE I wanted the baby. I've never been more positive than right now that I DO NOT want to have one, but again, who knows what may change in the future? For the last year or so, I just tell everyone I can't have kids. I mean that's basically what it is, if it's not safe enough for me to have my period than I can't stay off the depo. There's too many anomalies for them to think it's safe for me to have children, so basically that means I can't have kids, right? It's not really a lie, just a shorter way of saying what is the truth and less gross because who really wants to hear about how much blood is involved in my montly life if I don't have birth control? Coming completely clean about everything because I don't want anyone to be confused about when I said I can't have kids if they remember me saying that. I can't have kids, because I can't safely go through the cycle in order to get pregnant. Then they're not positive that I wouldn't have a period while I'm pregnant because some people do - my mom did with one or two of us, but she still knew she was pregnant because she had all the other symptoms. So I can't have kids.

Sooooooooooo frustrated. Guess I was just looking for suggestions. I really thought I was getting over this allergy stuff for the first time in like 28 years. I was almost the bubble girl when I was born. I was allergic to everything I ate, touched, or wore. I don't want to go back to that. I like wearing dye in my clothes. I like being able to eat everything but oranges. I thought I just needed to avoid the maple trees and the grass and try and stay inside in the summer and It would all be gravy.

Sorry this is so long, but I'm at my wit's end.

On top of that, landlord "fixed" the roof in the bathroom AGAIN for like the 20th time in 7 years we've lived there and it is leaking AGAIN. Don't really know what to do about that either.

Originally Posted by LadyHitchhiker

On top of that, landlord "fixed" the roof in the bathroom AGAIN for like the 20th time in 7 years we've lived there and it is leaking AGAIN. Don't really know what to do about that either.

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Now there's something you need to check into. Most people are allergic to molds to some degree, I have no doubt that you probably are, too.

Is there any possibility at all that there could be mold growing in that bathroom due to the leak? You might not see it, it could be within the walls or ceiling itself.

Ooooh I am SURE that is possible. And I'd much rather believe that I am reacting more heavily to something that I already knew I was allergic to than something new. I KNOW I am allergic to dust mites, maple trees and grass and some molds so this is peak season for it.

I am now getting a welt on my face and welts in my thighs. Have taken two benadryls, my steroids, some sudafed (so I can breathe) and sprayed myself with benadryl spray.

My insurance doesn't cover going to an allergist. But I'm thinking I may need to break down and go to one anyways. RAR!

I'm just so done with this. I want an upgrade.

Sorry to be so negative. This is so not me, but I don't feel like me when I feel like I'm falling apart.

Look up histamine and foods. There are some foods that are high in histamine and some that trigger the body to release more. If you're in the middle of a bad allergic reaction it would be best not to toss more fuel on the fire. Also remember that all the allergy meds are just blocking histamine, not actually lowering it in the body. So the moment you try to lower the meds you may end up with another bad flare up.

Personally I'd prefer to find out I was having a reaction to mold or something else environmental than to have it be a needed med.


I hope you can find the trigger for this. Start making up lists, it could literally be anything in your home even a detergent.

I've done so much allergy testing and treatments over my life. I'd really just thought I'd gotten it manageable. In the spring/summer I'd take my allegra and be good. Rest of the year didn't really need management so I'm like YAAAAAAAAY fall! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY winter!!!! As soon as everything starts blooming forget about it. Last year barely broke out so I thought I was getting the hang of this. Until May I had no hives at all. No itchies. Just some big welts I made the mistake of thinking were bug bites. But my kitties and hubby weren't getting any bug bites so I just thought maybe they just liked my blood-type. Heehee... Gonna look up that histamine food stuff. If I can just watch myself the next few months, maybe that will make the difference between a huge doctor bill and allergy shots to just watching what I eat?

Should start food journal again and journalling all my body stuff. I already read all the ingredients on my body washes, shampoos, etc.,. because I know I'm allergic to oranges, so I know I have to be careful...

I feel like a hive factory. I am queen bee...

But I'm telling you one thing, I know I'm allergic to my cats to some degree, but there is NO WAY in this world I will EVER be without my kitties. I'll be up to debt to my eyeballs going to the allergist and covered head to toe in hives and I still won't give up on them!

Thanks for all the good wishes. You are an angel, Strange_wings.

Maybe the person trying to fix the roof used some product that is causing a reaction?

I know here in the Green Bay area we have ALOT of rain in June and now July. I know parts of the UP were in a drought situation but I don't know if you are in that section or if you have gotten more rain which helps support the mold theory.

I hope you find a solution.

We've been getting a lot more rain this year than the last 7 years. The last 7 years have been dry dry dry... so dry that we worried that if lightning struck it might take out large parts of the town. So brown. But this year it's been green. So maybe I just don't do well when everything's green and plentiful? Going to ask the landlord what he's going to do about fixing the roof. He just goes up and tars it when it leaks. It's like he didn't believe me when I said it was leaking again. Are you kidding me? If the first few times you do it and it doesn't work you try something else! What if it starts spreading throughout our apartment and doesn't stop at just the bathroom? BTW our litter box is in the bathroom and Majel has been very good about using the catbox but she doesn't like going in a room that has water on the floor so I've had to be very proactive about where I put the buckets and keeping the floor dry. She hasn't had any accidents so far *cross your finger* but that doesn't mean that our luck will continue.

What type of place do you live in that they just tar to fix a leak? Does your roof have shingles?? Do you notice any problems in the winter with all the snow??

Seems like the landlord doesn't want to spend the $$$$. There should be some local housing agency that you can report the landlord too if he isn't keeping the place habitable.

I know Wisconsin has pretty strict landlord/tenant rules there should be something similar in Michigan. Just because the UP towns are small doesn't mean that you shouldn't get an answer to you landlord not keeping the place properly maintained.

We are investigating on Monday into agencies to see what we can do to get our situation better. "We are living in substandard living arrangements" my husband said, and I agree. My husband also gets very defensive of the landlord because he has known him and his wife so many years, but guess what? He's not fixing the roof, the drawers have been broken since we moved in, and we've lived there FOR SEVEN YEARS! I know my husband doesn't want to be on bad terms with the landlord, but obviously he doesn't care about us OR the place.

Actually went and looked at a house to rent this very night that might fit into our budget, and we wouldn't be paying much more than we already are. We'll see how this all pans out, but I am SURE it would be a better move than where we are at now.

Ugh guess I'm going to set up an appointment sometime soon. Didn't have welts for two days and now I'm getting them again and breaking out with a rash on my neck and back. I'm itchy and the steroids are making me CRAZY. Yesterday I'm cutting up bacon and prepping it for work and I'm hearing some country song called "Jesus take the wheel" and crying and cutting bacon. Feel like I'm coming out of my skin from the steroids and then itching on top of it. Raaar...

Oh, hun, I"m so sorry you're going thru this! No suggestions, really, but lots of that you feel better soon.

Went to my doctor today. Went in for work for two hours, went to my appointment, they put me on two new medications, took me off one and said try this then c ome back and see me in two weeks. No luck getting off the steroids because they said they are probably what's holding back the welts. The blood work will tell what cells are acting up in my body and if it is allergies and need to see an allergist or if remarkably enough it could actually be something else. Yeah right. Like I'd be that lucky or unlucky? It's probably just going to be the same bat problems same bat channel...

On the plus side steroids made me zoom zoom so I got about 4 hours of work done in about 1 hour and 45 minutes so I don't have to go in but downside I don't have to go in. Love the job but now my reaction is making me really sore. This happens with some of my allergies when I go into overload. Gonna go home soon and take some benadryl and a shower and new drugs and try and sleep and not itch.

Gonna switch back to baby detergent. Maybe that'll help too.

Thanks for the good mind folks! Love ya!

So I got my bloodwork results back. My esinophils (sp.?) are good so it means I'm not having allergic reaction after allergic reaction but my white blood cell counts are way up there which indicates an infection. So they put me on some antibiotics. Maybe with this dose of antibiotics the welts will go away? Cross your figglers!

Now I have patchy white marks in my throat, and one is red in the middle. Mom thinks I have an oral yeast infection on top of it all! Yaaay! (sarcasm galore)

Actually my throat is hardly sore today considering, my energy is up, I am generally less sore but still itchy. Starting to feel better! Maybe the antibiotics and the sleep are finally restoring me a little bit? Trying not to blow all my energy though.. gotta try and take it easy. Good thing I'm at the book store today and not Wendy's cuz there's no way to relax at Wendy's.

Candida can overgrow anytime your immune system has taken a blow, and of course when you're on antibiotics.

Just curious, but did they check kidney and liver function on you?

They sure didn't but I'm really curious to see what they're going to say now

So Saturday was the only day I didn't have welts. Now I have a lot more. At least the fever's gone! Going to call my doctor's office this morning when they open. Developed a white sore on the back of my throat as well. Been eating lots of ice cream over the last few days.

Today was the last day of my steroids so I imagine the welts will probably continue to get worse without intervention but I can't stand steroids. They make me very emotional.

Didn't sleep well. New welts kept popping up and when they come up I feel like I'm being stabbed. But at least the fever's down!

You poor thing! I hope you get some relief soon!

Went to the dermatologist on Monday. He was absolutely adorable and straightforward and Russian and I wanted to squeeze him and have him say "nuclear wessels". I behaved myself though. My husband loved him too. His name is Dr. Igor. Heehee.. Well anyways, he told me to go to all fragrance free detergent, deoderant, bathlines, etc.,. And to start a food journal. Then the hard part is I'm going for allergy testing Friday. What's the hard part is I can't have ANY allergy medicine this whole week until I get the testing done or it may mess up the tests, and then I can't be retested until October when they'll be in town. Rar. So I'm a BIG hivey mess. Yesterday, they were ALL inside my mouth, on my tongue, roof of my mouth, back of my throat, down my chest, on my stomach. Then they cleared up around 1 pm and within an hour of coming home they were starting around my belly. I'm like what the hell?????

So now I feel like I have to put my life on hold. I need money for new meds, etc.,. instead of possibly moving into this house that I wanted to do.

Roof is STILL leaking in the apartment and we have contacted the housing commission.

Was feeling really disheartened yesterday but my spirits are up again today. It helps not having the welts in my mouth which is the most painful of all of them.

Burn's healing.

Bajingo's cleared up.

It's almost now to the point where I'm used to being itchy and hurty. The other night I really missed Linus though. He always took care of me when I was sick. But then I was so itchy, I was like, if he was here, he wouldn't even want to curl up with me because I'm so twitchy.

Sick of going out to the couch in the middle of the night because I don't want to the wake up the husband because I'm so uncomfortable.

Sick of not being able to sleep through the night.

Sick of not enough sleep.

But good spirits today!

Dr. Igor made me do bloodwork and is sending out for all sorts of tests, just in case, even to an immunologist to check for genetic problems, so hopefully we'll find SOMETHING in all this mess!

And now I'm freaking out a little bit. Dr. Igor's office called me and asked for me to call back. I've NEVER had a doctor call unless there was something bad with my tests results so let's hope he's different than all those docs and the test results are reasonable.

He was testing for all sorts of things from my thyroid to genetic abnormalities to wasting muscle sickness diseases, etc., etc.,.

Hopefully they just say something that's easily treatable.

Welts have NOT disappeared on my mid section but the discomfort I'm used to today... until it migrates again.. Mwa ha ha...

My mom has nicknamed them "my imaginary friends" because they're so obviously not imaginary, it's cute. Never know when my imaginary friends will show up.

I wanted to squeeze him and have him say "nuclear wessels".

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Love it!

Seriously, I hope this apparently adorable dr. can help you. Sending loads of that you feel better soon.

Teehee... I figure when I'll get to see him at my checkup in 2 months I'll get him to say it somehow.. now how to trick him INTO saying it without giving it away??

Thanks for all the goodmind!!!!

On the other hand, I could perhaps start charging my welts rent if they're going to keep taking up more space on my body. I mean, my other healthy skin cells otherwise are going to revolt against the cranky neighbors.

At least I don't have welts in my mouth and on my tongue and my throat like yesterday. That was not fun at all.