I need help!

[Foxy]

I don't know how to word this but I do believe you gals talked about it in the past.  So I know that certain fruits and pollens react when eaten and pollenating.  I think it maybe what is happening to me.  Is there a chart or something I can look at?  I am in SW PA and our weather is BOGUS for this time of year!  We are setting a record high today of near 80 degrees! Everything is coming to life and I am breaking out in MYSTERY HIVES and WELTS everywhere!  OMG!  I have never had this happen that I can remember. 

I called an allergist and the receptionist was like eh... do you have environmental allergies and I'm like not really but how the heck do I really know! She's like... let me see if he will see you and then came back and said he would only see for environmental and food allergies.  I have a peanut allergy and I need help!  She finally fit me in.

If you gals can help me before I get in I would love you all more than I do now!  I need help! 

[Foxy]

I have been taking benedryle and using the cream too but I have to go back to work tonight and there is no way I can have the benedryle!  It knocks me out!  If I could have showed you all my butt the other day you'd of thought me and hubby were in some kinda sick and twisted love affair!  Itchy, hived and welted beyond belief! The nape of my neck and upper back is the same.  My hairline behind my ear has been going nuts even my shins and the top of my feet.


UGH! 

[Mookie86]

I spent last week dealing with a rash, hives, and welts due to a virus.  At first I thought it was the pollen, for I've heard that can happen.  You have my sympathy.  It was awful!

Are you taking a 24-hour antihistamine?  Allegra is a nondrowsy one.  Claritin would be another option, though I'd try Allegra first.  It tends to be more effective.  You can take Allegra and Benadryl at the same time.

Other options to control the rash or at least ease itching:  Benadryl cream or spray, oatmeal bath

[Foxy]

This was my back last night.



I don't know if it's a virus or not Mookie.    I eat a lot of fruit so I'm just trying to figure out what the heck it is.

[GingerPye]

oh dear, that looks awful.  I have no idea, but I am sorry you are dealing with this on top of your ankle problems!

[Mfamom]

I would start taking Allegra or Claritin or some sort of anti histimine daily.

Also, don't double up on oral benadryl AND benadryl cream. 

Try a bath in baking soda or oatmeal or both. 

Do you have other symptoms besides the hives? 

I hope you're better soon!!!! 

[Mookie86]

Last week, the pharmacist told me it was fine to combine oral Benadryl and Benadryl cream, and she knew I was taking 50 mg Benadryl orally as well as Allegra.

IF, here's a link to the thread where I posted photos of the rash I had last week.  IDK if the photos will help you.  A friend told me that her child once had viral hives and it looked the same as mine.  It's hard to tell from your photo.  I think yours is different.  What caused this reaction?

[Foxy]

My chest will get a little like yours but not so wide spread.  Just itchy and break out out of no where.  I get the occasional skeeter bite looking hives on my hands and arms too. My back between my blades is just out of control and very baffling atm.

[yelloww]

What fruit are you eating? Specifically? Can you list them, maybe we can figure out if there's a tree in bloom that is cross reactive with the fruit.

Ds can't eat any pitted fruits in the spring because of his pollen allergies. It puts him over the top. Maybe this is now the same for you since spring came so early to PA this year.

[Mookie86]

During pollen season, fruits with skin are off limits for some people.  dh can't eat apples or peaches without clawing his eyes out, for instance.

I know there are lists online how fruits cross-react with pollen.  I tried finding it, but I see only lists regarding OAS and cross-reactivity.

[CMdeux]

Birch pollen  (that is, anything in the birch family) is cross-reactive with apple, peach, pear, plums, cherries, etc. etc.

This looks like a lot more than that going on, though.  I hope you can figure out what is causing it, Foxy.   That really looks miserable.   

[Mfamom]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_allergy_syndrome

some cross reactive pollens/fruits listed here. 

I used to have a really great article about it, but can't find it!  UGH

[GoingNuts]

Yikes, Foxy Mama, that looks awful.

I've had chronic hives for about 5 1/2 years now, that wax and wane.  I take Claritin year round for them, but right now it's really not controlling them well at all.  Any place on my body where there's pressure (like under my wedding ring or  bra-band - that the worst ), I'm super-itchy.  I assume for me it's an allergy-cup being full thing.

As for you - I have no idea!  Take cool showers rather than hot (when it's bad, hot really sets them off) and take a 24 hour non-drowsy antihistamine.  Add benadryl at bed time.  And I hope you figure it out soon!

[Foxy]

Bananas, oranges, cherries in yogurt, peaches in yogurt, strawberries. 

I haven't had any apples recently but have been eating alot of the above in the past 2 weeks.  I never had a problem like this though but you never know in this awful world of allergies. 

[Foxy]

I have also been eating carrots, cucumbers, peppers and potatoes.