What's Wrong With Me (skin allergy)? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ironchefkorea · 03-12-2004, 08:00 PM

Hmm...I'm worried that I may have some kind of weird skin disease, or in the worst case scenario, Syphillis. Let me explain...The following is really long, and kinda gross, so if you don't wanna hear it, just check the last paragraph. But it might give those of you who are wonderful enough to help me a better idea of what's going on.

For about a week or so I've been getting really weird, itchy hives. It started friday morning (3/5) in my film aesthetics class on my arms, and by the end of the night I had puffy quarter- sized hives all over my body - my back, stomach, chest, shoulders, forearms, biceps, thighs, and calves. I visited a doctor on Monday (3/8) and got six pills, a shot in the ass and a bunch of sample zyrtec pills. The six pills seemed to help a little bit, but if I ate anything oily, or any meat, the hives would break out.

The pills were to be taken once every twelve hours (I'm not sure what they were, because this doctor of mine is Korean - he just babbles stuff to me, hands me medicine and I smile and bow.), I'm guessing they were a basic antihistamine type of thing.

Anyway, things seemed to be getting better, but then I go to my film class again this morning (once a week, this class...), the hives only a very mild issue - I'd say less than 10 small red spots on my whole body. After the class they got worse. So I visited the doctor again today and when I got there, I had dime- sized hives on my forearms that looked like flowers - the centers were normal skin, but the area around it was red and puffed up. All I got were more zyrtec.

Now after a few hours, the hives are down to little tiny red dots on my shoulders and forearms. I'm scared, because these dots look a bit like the secondary phase of syphillis. But I practice safe sex and don't recall having a primary phase chancre.

So right now all I'm doing is eating carbs and veggies, and trying to clear out my system - I'm going to be taking lots of wheatgrass, eating a lot of fruit, etc. What suggestions might you people have to help my situation? Is it just a food- related allergy, or a skin condition, or am I a dirty, diseased, foul sex fiend?

WarWagon · 03-12-2004, 08:06 PM

I think the only appropriate thing to do in this case is to go and get tested, both for STD's, as well as allergies, and to consult a doctor you can actually understand. I would tend to lean away from the STD scenario, as typical allergy medications and food reactions to a diet that hasn't really been changed shouldn't have had such an impact.

How have your stress levels been lately? Any changes in location? Diet? Weather? etc?

ironchefkorea · 03-12-2004, 08:17 PM

I've been doing okay stress- wise. I've just been going to school (community college...early HS graduate), just got a job...the weather here in Santa Clarita, CA went from 50's-60's to the 80's, and bright n sunny just this past week, that could have something to do with it. I haven't changed my diet or anything like that. Since the hives have started I've been exercising more, but with no change in the symptoms.

VitaminH · 03-13-2004, 07:41 AM

It doesn't really seem to be syphilis, the main thing to look at is with syphilis the sores are brownish and almost ALWAYS present on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. If they're not there, it's probably not syphilis. I wouldn't worry to much about that. One thing to think about is laundry detergents, have you changed brands recently? Same goes for fabric softeners? It could be an allergy to that. Zyrtec is an antihistamine, so if that doc gave you that plus what you suspect is another antihistamine that's not really a good idea to take them both. If you can find out what it is he gave you, I can probably help more. If I had to guess they were probably corticosteroids, as was the shot in your ass. Often given for rashes to help stop the inflammation and whatnot.

I would definitly try a different doctor if you are skeptical about this one, one that you can communicate with better if there is a problem with your current, although he seems to be treating you according to normal measures for something like this...

Also is it only showing up in your film class? It could be an allergic reaction to something in the room.

thingstodo · 03-13-2004, 09:59 AM

I agree with something possibly in the room AND a new doctor. If you stay away from the class and everything is fine, you might try to find out what is in that classroom!

fhqwhgads · 03-13-2004, 05:14 PM

Allergies can be caused by almost anything. Even if you've been using the same soaps and eating the same foods all your life, you can suddenly develop an allergy to them.

I went through the same kinda thing about three months ago. Mine were on my legs, arms, and chest. They'd itch like hell and got real swollen. I finally ended up seeing a doctor and he put me on a steroid for 10 days, and gave me a whole bunch of Zyrtec. I'm off both medications now, and they haven't come back yet.

My advice would be to see an allergist, and have yourself tested to see what could be causing it. My doctor told me to make an appointment with an allergist if mine ever came back. He also told me to request a "rast" test, assuming I'm spelling it right. Apparently it's a blood test that is much more accurate.

Good luck to ya.

ironchefkorea · 03-14-2004, 12:28 PM

thanks for all the help guys. it seems as though it's a food thing, mainly meats/greasy shit, which is driving me nuts. I plan on becoming a chef, and if this is permanent...well...I don't even know what I'm going to do with myself.

I seem to do okay when I only eat fruit smoothies and shit, so I'm gonna be going to jamba juice a whole lot in the next few days. I'm plannin on seeing an allergist in the next week or two.

raeanna74 · 03-15-2004, 09:25 AM

I grew up with severe food allergies so know the "allergy diet" like the back of my hand. When your allergist starts you on an elimination diet you eat a very limited diet. Then you add one food at a time waiting a couple days or more in between to see if they give you a reaction. When you find something that does give you a reaction you drop that from your diet and move on down the list of foods to add. It goes something like this

Grains:
Start with Rice
Add the following in order:
Oat
Rye
Wheat
Corn
Any other grains

Fruits
Start with Peaches, pears, plums
Add Bananas (sometimes people won't get a reaction from bananas unless they are exposed to latex in the same day - for some reason the two allergies tend to coincide)
Grapes,
Apples (sometimes people will only be allergic to the skin in apples as I am - there is a salycylic acid in the skin)
Tomatoes
Other Citrus fruits - go from least citrus to most citrus (some people are allergic to the ascorbic acid in citrus fruits so watch your ingredients closely on bottled juice)

Meats and dairy:
Lamb
Venison
Duck
Turkey
Chicken
Beef
Milk, cheese and other dairy
Eggs
Other meats
Seafood last as that tends to me a more common allergy

Nuts and legumes
Start with adding peanuts - as they are a legume not a tree nut
Then tree nuts - often if a person is allergic to one kind of nut they will be allergic to others.

Vegetables:
Peas
Potatoes sweet or white
Green beans
Any other vegetables - Vegetables are among the more rare allergenic foods.

Even while you are waiting to get relief and to get tested you can start out with this diet to avoid problems. Try to eat these foods pure when you first try them - don't use bottled juices or things that often have added ascorbic acid or sweeteners. Also Dextrose and corn syrup are from corn so avoid those in ingredients until you have eliminated corn as an allergen.

Starting out I ate ONLY rice cakes, Chex rice cereal, Rice baby cereal, Cooked white or wild rice with no additives, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Almost any vegetable (NOT tomatoes since they are a more citrus fruit), Lamb and venison. It's a sparse diet but it gives relief from allergic reactions to food and is well worth it if you are allergic to any foods. I stayed on the diet for about a week until all my reactions that I'd been having had calmed down and then began adding ONE food at a time and waiting about 48 hours between each new food.

I know this doesn't address any of the other possibilities but I think everyone else covered those well.

I'm a Slacker · 03-17-2004, 08:44 PM

I've had that same shit for years.....never left home without a benadryal sp or any other allergy med. My shit was pretty bad. I finally went and saw someone last year and got some prescription meds. Turns out that I'm allergic to dust and a few food items. Maybe it was something on that desk you were sitting in cleaners maybe??

03-12-2004, 08:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
ironchefkorea Insane	What's Wrong With Me (skin allergy)? Hmm...I'm worried that I may have some kind of weird skin disease, or in the worst case scenario, Syphillis. Let me explain...The following is really long, and kinda gross, so if you don't wanna hear it, just check the last paragraph. But it might give those of you who are wonderful enough to help me a better idea of what's going on. For about a week or so I've been getting really weird, itchy hives. It started friday morning (3/5) in my film aesthetics class on my arms, and by the end of the night I had puffy quarter- sized hives all over my body - my back, stomach, chest, shoulders, forearms, biceps, thighs, and calves. I visited a doctor on Monday (3/8) and got six pills, a shot in the ass and a bunch of sample zyrtec pills. The six pills seemed to help a little bit, but if I ate anything oily, or any meat, the hives would break out. The pills were to be taken once every twelve hours (I'm not sure what they were, because this doctor of mine is Korean - he just babbles stuff to me, hands me medicine and I smile and bow.), I'm guessing they were a basic antihistamine type of thing. Anyway, things seemed to be getting better, but then I go to my film class again this morning (once a week, this class...), the hives only a very mild issue - I'd say less than 10 small red spots on my whole body. After the class they got worse. So I visited the doctor again today and when I got there, I had dime- sized hives on my forearms that looked like flowers - the centers were normal skin, but the area around it was red and puffed up. All I got were more zyrtec. Now after a few hours, the hives are down to little tiny red dots on my shoulders and forearms. I'm scared, because these dots look a bit like the secondary phase of syphillis. But I practice safe sex and don't recall having a primary phase chancre. So right now all I'm doing is eating carbs and veggies, and trying to clear out my system - I'm going to be taking lots of wheatgrass, eating a lot of fruit, etc. What suggestions might you people have to help my situation? Is it just a food- related allergy, or a skin condition, or am I a dirty, diseased, foul sex fiend? __________________ If it wasn't for microsoft, if we lived in the middle east? Y'all wouldn't have no hands....

03-12-2004, 08:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
ironchefkorea Insane	I've been doing okay stress- wise. I've just been going to school (community college...early HS graduate), just got a job...the weather here in Santa Clarita, CA went from 50's-60's to the 80's, and bright n sunny just this past week, that could have something to do with it. I haven't changed my diet or anything like that. Since the hives have started I've been exercising more, but with no change in the symptoms. __________________ If it wasn't for microsoft, if we lived in the middle east? Y'all wouldn't have no hands....

03-13-2004, 07:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
VitaminH An embarrassment to myself and those around me... Location: Pants	It doesn't really seem to be syphilis, the main thing to look at is with syphilis the sores are brownish and almost ALWAYS present on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. If they're not there, it's probably not syphilis. I wouldn't worry to much about that. One thing to think about is laundry detergents, have you changed brands recently? Same goes for fabric softeners? It could be an allergy to that. Zyrtec is an antihistamine, so if that doc gave you that plus what you suspect is another antihistamine that's not really a good idea to take them both. If you can find out what it is he gave you, I can probably help more. If I had to guess they were probably corticosteroids, as was the shot in your ass. Often given for rashes to help stop the inflammation and whatnot. I would definitly try a different doctor if you are skeptical about this one, one that you can communicate with better if there is a problem with your current, although he seems to be treating you according to normal measures for something like this... Also is it only showing up in your film class? It could be an allergic reaction to something in the room. __________________ "Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever." - Napoleon Bonaparte

03-13-2004, 09:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	I agree with something possibly in the room AND a new doctor. If you stay away from the class and everything is fine, you might try to find out what is in that classroom! __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

03-14-2004, 12:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
ironchefkorea Insane	thanks for all the help guys. it seems as though it's a food thing, mainly meats/greasy shit, which is driving me nuts. I plan on becoming a chef, and if this is permanent...well...I don't even know what I'm going to do with myself. I seem to do okay when I only eat fruit smoothies and shit, so I'm gonna be going to jamba juice a whole lot in the next few days. I'm plannin on seeing an allergist in the next week or two. __________________ If it wasn't for microsoft, if we lived in the middle east? Y'all wouldn't have no hands....

03-12-2004, 08:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
WarWagon Loser	I think the only appropriate thing to do in this case is to go and get tested, both for STD's, as well as allergies, and to consult a doctor you can actually understand. I would tend to lean away from the STD scenario, as typical allergy medications and food reactions to a diet that hasn't really been changed shouldn't have had such an impact. How have your stress levels been lately? Any changes in location? Diet? Weather? etc?

03-13-2004, 05:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
fhqwhgads Junkie	Allergies can be caused by almost anything. Even if you've been using the same soaps and eating the same foods all your life, you can suddenly develop an allergy to them. I went through the same kinda thing about three months ago. Mine were on my legs, arms, and chest. They'd itch like hell and got real swollen. I finally ended up seeing a doctor and he put me on a steroid for 10 days, and gave me a whole bunch of Zyrtec. I'm off both medications now, and they haven't come back yet. My advice would be to see an allergist, and have yourself tested to see what could be causing it. My doctor told me to make an appointment with an allergist if mine ever came back. He also told me to request a "rast" test, assuming I'm spelling it right. Apparently it's a blood test that is much more accurate. Good luck to ya.

03-15-2004, 09:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	I grew up with severe food allergies so know the "allergy diet" like the back of my hand. When your allergist starts you on an elimination diet you eat a very limited diet. Then you add one food at a time waiting a couple days or more in between to see if they give you a reaction. When you find something that does give you a reaction you drop that from your diet and move on down the list of foods to add. It goes something like this Grains: Start with Rice Add the following in order: Oat Rye Wheat Corn Any other grains Fruits Start with Peaches, pears, plums Add Bananas (sometimes people won't get a reaction from bananas unless they are exposed to latex in the same day - for some reason the two allergies tend to coincide) Grapes, Apples (sometimes people will only be allergic to the skin in apples as I am - there is a salycylic acid in the skin) Tomatoes Other Citrus fruits - go from least citrus to most citrus (some people are allergic to the ascorbic acid in citrus fruits so watch your ingredients closely on bottled juice) Meats and dairy: Lamb Venison Duck Turkey Chicken Beef Milk, cheese and other dairy Eggs Other meats Seafood last as that tends to me a more common allergy Nuts and legumes Start with adding peanuts - as they are a legume not a tree nut Then tree nuts - often if a person is allergic to one kind of nut they will be allergic to others. Vegetables: Peas Potatoes sweet or white Green beans Any other vegetables - Vegetables are among the more rare allergenic foods. Even while you are waiting to get relief and to get tested you can start out with this diet to avoid problems. Try to eat these foods pure when you first try them - don't use bottled juices or things that often have added ascorbic acid or sweeteners. Also Dextrose and corn syrup are from corn so avoid those in ingredients until you have eliminated corn as an allergen. Starting out I ate ONLY rice cakes, Chex rice cereal, Rice baby cereal, Cooked white or wild rice with no additives, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Almost any vegetable (NOT tomatoes since they are a more citrus fruit), Lamb and venison. It's a sparse diet but it gives relief from allergic reactions to food and is well worth it if you are allergic to any foods. I stayed on the diet for about a week until all my reactions that I'd been having had calmed down and then began adding ONE food at a time and waiting about 48 hours between each new food. I know this doesn't address any of the other possibilities but I think everyone else covered those well. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

03-17-2004, 08:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
I'm a Slacker Upright	I've had that same shit for years.....never left home without a benadryal sp or any other allergy med. My shit was pretty bad. I finally went and saw someone last year and got some prescription meds. Turns out that I'm allergic to dust and a few food items. Maybe it was something on that desk you were sitting in cleaners maybe??