I'm one giant red, itchy welt!

Okay long rant about health issues. I should be grateful I'm not really sick but...

Starting on thurs. I started feeling itchy on my hands, little patches, kinda like bug bites. Then I started getting itchy while sleeping. waking up with more little 'bites'. I've been spending a lot of time in the tatami room watching TV on the 'puter. the straw mats do get what they call 'dani' or tatami mat ticks (mites) from time to time. I haven't had any issues in two years since I boraxed the hell out of the mat. And they go away, no big deal.

So, I borax wiped the mat again, and again. Still getting the 'bites' and worse. Asked co-workers what people do about this. they recommended something called dani kira or dani-killer. I sprayed down the mats and the bed which seemed to be infested. Actually the bottle comes with a hypo so you inject the pesticide in the mats. I covered everything with plastic and shut Aya out fo the room and left it for a while. That was Friday night. Saturady and Sunday am i'm still not getting any relief. another round of the dani kira.

This am I wake up at 2 itchier than ever. Hands, head face... Can't go back to sleep. Take a shower around 4 and fall asleep for an hour on the sofa. Don't notice till i wake up that my scalp and face are covered with what look like red itchy mosquitoe bites. Over the next 2 hours they gradually merge into a lumpy swollen red mess that is spreading south on my body -yup I've got hives. My first experience.

Got to work to find someone to help get lots of stares and 'doshita no? or 'what's wrong?'

Go to see a dermatology clinic.

Once again Japanese doctors are less than helpful. Told them the sotry but he won't say what caused it. jsut that its an allergic reaction. Going to give me 5-7 days of allergy meds. Gee I wish they would tell you what they're goin to give you as I don't take Allegra or claritin anymore after side affects. It was like pulling teeth to get that outta him!

then he's like you have to wait 5-7 days maybe to get better. I can't wait that long! Again more metaphorical teeth-pullng ensues... finally he agrees to give me an injection of 'something'.

I feel a little better.

Banished the tatami to the balcony -uggh! until whatever makes me itch pests or poison is gone. Sitting on an uncomfortable unfinished subfloor complete with splinters typing this on 3 hours sleep and a 2 hour nap after which I awoke with more red bumps elsewhere. He did say this might get worse before it gets better....-sigh-!

Yuck! That doesn't sound fun AT ALL! A friend of mine went through pretty much the exact same thing last year. She had the welts, that looked like bites all over her body for months. They put her on drugs for an allergic reaction but she had no health coverage and couldn't afford the meds. Then they told her it could last months, and it did! She still has no idea what caused it, but it did eventually go away.

Hope you feel better soon sweetie.

I'm so sorry you're going through this!

Been there more than once myself. I'm a redhead with very sensitive skin and have quite a few drug allergies. I react terribly to allergy meds like Claritin also.

If you can't take allergy meds, you will have to ride this out to some degree. I have found that aspirin helps a lot (takes down the swelling and relieves the pain from itching) and sometimes soaking in a bath with Epsom salt will relieve it (if you try it, take a short bath the first time, but it will sting when you first get in).

Sending vibes that this resolves itself quickly!

Oh gosh, that sounds horrible!! So sorry you are dealing with this. Why can't you get any info from the doctors? Is it a language barrier thing? Or specific to the one you saw? Or do they just not talk to patients at all in Japan? I wouldn't be able to handle that. I hope the mystery shot will help and you can get some relief soon!!

I've just done a lot of research an allergies for Chumley. Something you can probably get there that may help you with anti-inflammatory properties and antihistamine properties is coconut oil. IF you can find organic, extra virgin, cold pressed it's best. Mix it into something, use it like butter or something - or add it to a smoothie. Start with a tablespoon and work up to 2-3 per day, it might help.

Im so sorry! Less itchy vibes coming your way!


I was on antibiotics for an abscessed tooth over the summer and found out I was allergic to penicillin by turning into a red itchy rashy person! Fun times!

It's no fun; I know from experience! A few years ago I had a reaction to who knows what. It started in my armpits. Then as the day went on these hives would come and go; but it was getting worse. I was working for a neurologist at the time. I went to talk to his assistant and she was like 'Your face!!!" as I felt the welts like crawl up my face! The doctor came in and told me I needed to go get seen. So I called my family doc and told them what my boss had said and they got me in right away. (Perk of working for a doctor!) The doctor there told me that sometimes you just don't know what is causing the reaction. He told me that if it ever came back he'd send me for allergy testing; but they never did.

In the meantime I literally looked like a freak. He prescribed me steroids and while I was walking around walmart waiting for the pharmacy to fill my prescription people were staring at me. I mean seriously staring at me. For DAYS my husband had to help me put calamine lotion all over my body. I was also taking benadryl at this point. I ended up needing a different steroid; which both puffed me right up. It was a good 3 weeks before they were completely gone. I worked through most of it because it was just easier to be busy than sit home and itch. At least benadryl helps me sleep!

Hope you get some relief soon. Can you get some calamine lotion or something like that? Try cool showers too. \\