[PondLife]

I didn't know where to post this but here seems appropriate.

I have had quite an ordeal the last week and now it seems that it's far from over...
It started last Friday, I had a bump on my head that I assumed was a bug bite or a small cut, then I got a few spots on my face and neck and though I was breaking out with zits. When Sunday night came and my stomach strated itching, I realized it was hives, no big deal, they'll go away soon enough. Nope, Monday morning I woke up scratching my scalp, it was covered in hives, my face felt funny, so I looked in the mirror, my entire face was swollen. One eye was almost completely swollen shut. I looked like a pit bull. So My mother came and took me to the ER. They said well it must have been something you ate. Pumped me full of steroids and benedryl and sent me on my way. Tuesday I woke up and my lips were swollen, my doctor said get to the ER right away, by the time I got to the ER I was having trouble breathing. They gave me a breathing treatment, more steroids and benedryl and sent me home after just an hour. Wednesday I went to my doctor so he could see what was going on. I had woken up naseus and my lips were so swollen that I couldn't eat, I had to drink some milk through a straw and get the steroids down. He just told me to keep up the benedryl and steroids. When I got home I was really tired so I took a nap. When I wokje up I was a little dizzy and very sick to my stomach and kept repeating myself becaue I couldn't remember if I had said what I wanted to say. My hands were so swollen I could barely move my fingers. So to the ER again. The doctors and nurses there actually seemed annoyed that I was back. I told them look I'm crying right now and there are no tears, that has never happened to me. The doctor who was taking care of me wanted to admit me but said that they couldn't find anything that would warrent it, so I got 48 hours in observation. I just lay around and got pumped with even more steroids and bendryl. They released me this afternoon saying it will be over soon. No such luck. The hives are all back again, getting worse. And to add to all that everything I like to eat and drink tastes disgusting.

The docs seemed to come to an agreement that I had caught some virus and am allergic to it, but I don't know. Not one of them seemed to look at ALL of the symptoms I was telling them about, just the ones in their specialty. I just don't know what to do. Not only am I extremely itchy and getting more depressed as this goes on, but people are looking at me and actually getting out of my way, like they are afraid I'll touch them and theyll get this. I don't know what to do

[sideblinded]

I am so sorry that you are going through this. I hate to say it but docs just don't know it all and your symptoms do warrant further investigation. I would be persistent and keep going back to the doctors and ask for a specialist if you need to. Sometimes it takes screaming for people to hear you. Be assertive and advocate for yourself. Be stubborn as they don't always get it right. Best wishes.

[kiwi33]

Hi PondLife

I am not a clinical health professional but (day job stuff) I know a fair bit about immunology.

What you have described sounds like an allergic response to me - maybe something that you have eaten, maybe something that you have been exposed to. The notion that (your words) you have "caught some virus and am allergic to it" makes no sense to me as a non-clinical immunologist.

I suggest that you get your GP to refer you to a clinical immunologist who knows about allergies. S/he should be able to do some investigations to figure out what the problem is.

All the best.

[PondLife]

I saw a specialist when I was in the hospital. My mother told him that when I was about four I caught a virus and was hospitalized, the diagnoses was that I was allergic to a virus I caught. The specialist and most of the other doctors agree with this. But if this is the case, why aren't they trying to figuren outb which virus so this doesn't happen again? Right now it doesn't seem like it's going to stop.

[SnakeCharmer]

As weird as it sounds, I've developed severe hives as a response to mild respiratory infections several times. It's not as simple as being allergic to the virus. My immune system over-reacts to the virus and everything goes haywire. Even after I've recovered from the viral infection my immune system over-reacts to many things in my environment, as if I'm allergic to everything. I'm not. I have a few real allergies and when my immune system gets over stimulated, my body over-reacts to things I can normally tolerate.

Fortunately, so far, I respond to cortisone and diphenhydramine (Benadryl.) Too much diphenhydramine makes me loopy, bad memory, can't stay awake. Unfortunately, I need large doses to get the therapeutic effect.

I have several auto-immune illnesses. My body over-reacts to things that don't bother other people, like a small case of the sniffles. I feel fortunate that cortisone helps me. I also get a good response from strong black coffee and from generally trying to relax and stay calm.

I've had this response since childhood. Calling it an allergy to a virus is an over-simplification, a shorthand way of talking about it, but it doesn't really make sense. Some people have immune systems that can be triggered to over-react for weeks by a simple case of the sniffles or a light cold. The virus doesn't really matter that much. It's your immune system that's out of kilter.

Kiwi's suggestion to see an immune specialist is a good one, even if you saw a specialist in the hospital. You may need some longer term follow-up on an outpatient basis. I got the most help going to an endocrinologist and seeing my primary for regular follow-up.

I hope the hives clear up soon. But, yeah, like Kiwi said, get your immune system checked out.

[possum220]

I had an allergy to medication and I broke out in hives. The nausea was so bad. It was like having these lumps march across my entire body over a number of days. It would have taken a month for the swelling to go down.

Hang in there. Keep taking the meds and whatever they tell you. You may be incredibly itchy but the worst things you can do it scratch. Maybe rub them if you really have to but be very gentle this yourself. .

Take care.