calling Dr. WW (long)

DG1

I wanted to have a picture ready, but it just looks like that's not going to happen.

Saturday morning, I woke up and showered.  As I was getting out of the shower, I thought "weird. My butt itches.  Whatev."  I didn't think much of it.

As the day progressed, though, the itching got worse and there was a visible rash all over my arms, legs, hands, and stomach.  Annoying and distracting, but I could still function.

At dinner, my lips started feeling itchy and tingly.  But there was a lot going on, and my lips have been chapped lately, I had a semi spicy dinner, etc.

After we got home, we were doing kid stuff. At one point, H walked in from another room, stopped dead in his tracks, and said, "are you taking something for that rash?"  My lips were HUGE!  Like serious collagen-done-by-back-alley-surgeons huge. 

For cereal.
(This is what I wanted to include the photo of, but this will have to do.)

Yowza.  So I took a benadryl, hoping it would help.  It did, a little, but my lips were still puffy and I was still itchy, so I took a second one a couple of hours later. 

I've pretty much been on benadryl ever since.  Yesterday, my hands looked like this: http://i54.tinypic.com/10qao7l.jpg, and my joints were stiff. Fingers too swollen to wear wedding rings. 

Last night, I was itchy all over again, and my butt and the back of my thighs were COVERED in quarter-sized raised, red, itchy welts.  I took another benadryl, slathered hydrocortisone all over my chair ass and tried not to scratch anymore.  It helped - some.

Rash is still there this morning.  I'm not using any new shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, or lotion.  The shirt I wore on Saturday was new, but the itching started before I put it on.  No new foods or beverages.  AF showed up yesterday, but I've never had a serious rash with it before. 

Ideas?  I don't know that it's a good idea for me to bathe in hydrocortisone every day. Do you think a doc would call in an oral steroid? Or would she want to see it? (Yes, I can call her. I know.)  Would an oral steroid even help? 

I'm going freaking nuts over here.  urgh.

ReturnOfKuus

It sounds like a food allergy to me.

thatgrrrrl

get your chair ass to a dermatologist!

AuntFlo

I'm sorry to be harsh, but are you taking stupid pills?  At what point do you think it would be a good idea to see a doctor?   WHen your throat swells shut and you can't speak????    Seriously, I think you need to go to the ER, but at the very least you should call your doctor.   

Butter Cookie

I'd talk to the doc, though mine was unhelpful with both shingles and ringworm.

When I had ringworm I had a lot of the same symptoms you're having now, for about a week before any rings showed up (though mine was localized to my face and neck)

So my advice: get a doctor appt, and between now and then try jock itch cream (it works for ringworm) and see if that helps.

dharmabunny

Why are you not seeing a real doctor for this?  It sounds like allergic reaction, but may not be skin contact related.

Dr. WW sez human hemorrhagic fever.  Await the bleeding!  Or Octomommosis.

MinM

Any new drugs or supplements?

And ditto the potential for a food allergy.

Are you under any new stress? Like, maybe this is hives, plus the swelling.

I am thinking you probably need, at least, some progesterone. But yes, get thee to the doc ASAP, Mama G. Treat the symptoms yourself until you get there to find out the cause. Try to remember if you introduced ANYTHING new into your system.

zsazsa-stl

hee @ Octomomosis

The doctor may not be very helpful, but I would still try to see one.

nicoleg1982

Sometimes, L has stuff on her clothes (from the playground, or daycare worker's lotion) that irritates me.  It's not always just you - sometimes it's those around you who are trying to kill you off.

loveshine1

Uhm I would see a doctor. Like, this afternoon.

I'm allergic to a ton of stuff, and this sounds pretty serious to me.

mrsconn23

Get thee to a Dr.  Like, yesterday.

VarunaTT

Urgent care, just to be safe.

Hydrocortisone cream on the hives.  Keep up with the benadryl, you might just be staving off a worse reaction like dharma was talking about.  Avoid hot showers, it'll make it worse.  Also, are you taking a Zyrtec or Claritin?  MO has had SEVERE allergen/pollen warnings out, I think the worst are cedar, maple and some other trees.  I've had random (now 3) breakouts that I've never been able to link to anything.  Regular allergy meds will help.

Also, any alchol?  Wine, both red and white, has sulfates that you could develop allergies to.