Itching for no apparent reason - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ShaniFaye · 03-23-2005, 10:52 AM

Ok, this has been going on for 24 hours. It started around lunchtime yesterday. Im sitting at my desk working (ie reading/posting on TFP and other places

) and my arms start itching....I look down and notice hive like welts.....the itching spreads to my neck and my legs (Im wearing a long sleeve shirt and jeans)

I go home and take two benadryls and the itching doesnt go away completely so I use cortisone cream as well. That seemed to work until about 3 am this morning.

As I sit here now there is not one place on my body that doesnt itch from the top of my head to the tips of my toes....even my eyes and the inside of my mouth itch.

I cant take benadryl at work (makes me too sleepy) and the cortisone cream doesnt seem to be working at all.

I have gone over everything in my head as to what type of allergic reaction it could be. No new soaps (clothes washing or body washing) I havent eaten anything new...ruled out bug bites because Im so allergic to bugs I have to have an epi pen and I KNOW those reactions. No new perfume, no new hair care products, no new medications...I know I've thought of other things but I cant remember them at the moment....I feel like I've got fire ants crawling all over me and I swear it even feels like my brain itches.

Has this ever happened to anyone.....Im at my wits end at the moment, I've got welts and I've scratched myself bloody in some places

raveneye · 03-23-2005, 10:59 AM

Wow, sounds awful . . . . .

If you haven't done anything different, then the only source would be the one you can't control: the air. Has there been any smoke (e.g. from backyard burning) in the air?

The kind of reaction you have is a classic reaction to burning poison oak. If you have a history of allergies, then there is probably a lot of other airborne sources.

la petite moi · 03-23-2005, 11:07 AM

Raveneye, I agree about the poison oak- first thing I thought of. It could definitely be some kind of spores in the air. When my mom got poison oak on her leg, it itched like fire ants, as she said. Could be it, see your doctor and he/she'll be able to give you some meds.

ShaniFaye · 03-23-2005, 11:09 AM

The only real allergies I have are to insects and two kinds of anti biotics, latex and nonoxyl 9 (all of which give a different kind of reaction from what Im having)

I was in the house in the bed all day monday with a migraine and didnt go outside, in fact I didnt go outside from saturday nite to tuesday morning....and it poured rain all day yesterday so I know there wasnt any burning near where I work or live.

alec · 03-23-2005, 12:34 PM

this kind of thing has happened to me in a few occassions:

1) being around stuff im allergic to, mostly animals or animal fur/dander, or wearing stuff that itches me. specifically if its kashmere or wool directly on the skin, ill really get itchy sometimes.

2) if im all hopped up on painkillers. seriously, if youre on any sort of pain medication, itll happen from time to time, or if youre just doing it recreationally

did you try a really hot (almost scalding) shower and then moisturizing heavily? what about changing clothes and taking medicine (i saw benodryl but what else?).

anyway good luck, and dont turn yourself into a big pus ball

la petite moi · 03-23-2005, 01:00 PM

How about little microscopic bugs? I've heard of them before, but I'm not sure what they're called. When they get on you they itch like the devil, if I'm correct in my memory.

raveneye · 03-23-2005, 01:01 PM

Well it still sounds like contact dermatitis to me . . . . there's something your skin came into contact with that caused that reaction.

Could have been many things; soap, detergents, hair dyes, adhesive tape, jewelry (containing nickel), all sorts of chemicals or solvents, or preservatives in food, or of course poison oak or ivy.

Sounds like you need to get to a doctor and get some oral prednisone, if you've got it basically all over your body. It'll take a couple weeks probably to clear up, assuming you can find the source and stay away from it.

Sounds awful . . . . let us know how it goes.

Cynthetiq · 03-23-2005, 01:24 PM

what about stress?

ShaniFaye · 03-23-2005, 01:46 PM

Ok...in order here lol

alec----I have been having some back problems which I have been alternating advil and Ultram (advil during the day and Ultram at nite) but I havent taken the ultram since last week (I've taken it before with no problems). I'm not allergic to animals....and I wasnt wearing anything I've never worn before....cept for a new bra I bought last week. I tried the shower when I got home yesterday when I took the benadryl as "just in case I got something on me" thing. Of course with the benadryl it subsided but it got really bad again when I got to work this morning.

la petite....I know the bugs you're talking about, back in my "entomology/pest control days" I frequently sprayed offices for those things you cant see but which can drive you bananas....usually in an office those show up when you've gotten a load of paper in....we havent and the paper we do have isnt stored any where near my office

ravenseye....I have gone over everything I can think of and I havent changed anything I've used...and I know as of last summer I still wasnt allergic to the poison plants, ivy-oak or sumac...I was the only kid I ever knew that never got it lol

cynthetiq--we all know what kind of stress Im under lol thats always possible I guess

Redlemon · 03-23-2005, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShaniFaye

...and I know as of last summer I still wasnt allergic to the poison plants, ivy-oak or sumac...I was the only kid I ever knew that never got it lol

My grandfather used to pull poison ivy out of the ground with his bare hands, just to show off. Then, one day, he was allergic to poison ivy. I understand that he wasn't happy that day.

Cynthetiq · 03-23-2005, 02:13 PM

possibility of eczema?

maleficent · 03-23-2005, 02:43 PM

You may not have been outside, but what about a blanket ot something else that has been outside. Poison Ivy, and other stuff, I believe, can live on in non living things for a while.

Has Dave been anywhere, then back home to you...

ShaniFaye · 03-23-2005, 03:44 PM

Mal....no blankets from outside....we were all at the same place saturday...we were both in bed all day sunday...he went to work as usual monday...so I cant think of anything that he was around differently.

Grasshopper Green · 03-23-2005, 06:59 PM

This happened to me one day...it was something I ate and had eaten many, many times before and all of the sudden my body rejected it. Allergies suck, because they are so hard to diagnose. I hope you get it figured out so you can avoid it in the future!!

Konichiwaneko · 03-23-2005, 10:16 PM

I had something like that Shani about a year ago, I think it ended up being something like little bugs or not washing the detergent completely away from my cloths. I don't remember but oh man I still have the marks where I scratched too much.

alec · 03-24-2005, 10:05 AM

well, if you want to get rid of, and by get rid of, i mean forget, that you're itching, you could always get on painkillers. but thats probably bad advice.

any luck on finding the source yet?

ShaniFaye · 03-24-2005, 10:13 AM

No luck yet.....its not as bad today....right now only my legs and my head itch so I guess its going away

embo · 03-29-2005, 05:38 PM

Just a thought...when it's really dry (like during winter months), I find I sometimes get random itching all over, and I get really hot for no apparent reason with this. Generally, it goes away for the season if I stop using fabric softener in my laundry.

ShaniFaye · 03-29-2005, 05:41 PM

Mine went away just about as quick as it started.....I woke up friday morning and realized I wasnt itching, it felt so nice

03-23-2005, 10:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	Itching for no apparent reason Ok, this has been going on for 24 hours. It started around lunchtime yesterday. Im sitting at my desk working (ie reading/posting on TFP and other places ) and my arms start itching....I look down and notice hive like welts.....the itching spreads to my neck and my legs (Im wearing a long sleeve shirt and jeans) I go home and take two benadryls and the itching doesnt go away completely so I use cortisone cream as well. That seemed to work until about 3 am this morning. As I sit here now there is not one place on my body that doesnt itch from the top of my head to the tips of my toes....even my eyes and the inside of my mouth itch. I cant take benadryl at work (makes me too sleepy) and the cortisone cream doesnt seem to be working at all. I have gone over everything in my head as to what type of allergic reaction it could be. No new soaps (clothes washing or body washing) I havent eaten anything new...ruled out bug bites because Im so allergic to bugs I have to have an epi pen and I KNOW those reactions. No new perfume, no new hair care products, no new medications...I know I've thought of other things but I cant remember them at the moment....I feel like I've got fire ants crawling all over me and I swear it even feels like my brain itches. Has this ever happened to anyone.....Im at my wits end at the moment, I've got welts and I've scratched myself bloody in some places __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

03-23-2005, 11:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	The only real allergies I have are to insects and two kinds of anti biotics, latex and nonoxyl 9 (all of which give a different kind of reaction from what Im having) I was in the house in the bed all day monday with a migraine and didnt go outside, in fact I didnt go outside from saturday nite to tuesday morning....and it poured rain all day yesterday so I know there wasnt any burning near where I work or live. __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

03-23-2005, 01:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	what about stress? __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

03-23-2005, 01:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	Ok...in order here lol alec----I have been having some back problems which I have been alternating advil and Ultram (advil during the day and Ultram at nite) but I havent taken the ultram since last week (I've taken it before with no problems). I'm not allergic to animals....and I wasnt wearing anything I've never worn before....cept for a new bra I bought last week. I tried the shower when I got home yesterday when I took the benadryl as "just in case I got something on me" thing. Of course with the benadryl it subsided but it got really bad again when I got to work this morning. la petite....I know the bugs you're talking about, back in my "entomology/pest control days" I frequently sprayed offices for those things you cant see but which can drive you bananas....usually in an office those show up when you've gotten a load of paper in....we havent and the paper we do have isnt stored any where near my office ravenseye....I have gone over everything I can think of and I havent changed anything I've used...and I know as of last summer I still wasnt allergic to the poison plants, ivy-oak or sumac...I was the only kid I ever knew that never got it lol cynthetiq--we all know what kind of stress Im under lol thats always possible I guess __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

03-23-2005, 02:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	possibility of eczema? __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

03-23-2005, 10:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
raveneye Born Against	Wow, sounds awful . . . . . If you haven't done anything different, then the only source would be the one you can't control: the air. Has there been any smoke (e.g. from backyard burning) in the air? The kind of reaction you have is a classic reaction to burning poison oak. If you have a history of allergies, then there is probably a lot of other airborne sources.

03-23-2005, 11:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
la petite moi Filling the Void. Location: California	Raveneye, I agree about the poison oak- first thing I thought of. It could definitely be some kind of spores in the air. When my mom got poison oak on her leg, it itched like fire ants, as she said. Could be it, see your doctor and he/she'll be able to give you some meds.

03-23-2005, 12:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
alec Insane Location: Washington DC	this kind of thing has happened to me in a few occassions: 1) being around stuff im allergic to, mostly animals or animal fur/dander, or wearing stuff that itches me. specifically if its kashmere or wool directly on the skin, ill really get itchy sometimes. 2) if im all hopped up on painkillers. seriously, if youre on any sort of pain medication, itll happen from time to time, or if youre just doing it recreationally did you try a really hot (almost scalding) shower and then moisturizing heavily? what about changing clothes and taking medicine (i saw benodryl but what else?). anyway good luck, and dont turn yourself into a big pus ball

03-23-2005, 01:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
la petite moi Filling the Void. Location: California	How about little microscopic bugs? I've heard of them before, but I'm not sure what they're called. When they get on you they itch like the devil, if I'm correct in my memory.

03-23-2005, 01:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
raveneye Born Against	Well it still sounds like contact dermatitis to me . . . . there's something your skin came into contact with that caused that reaction. Could have been many things; soap, detergents, hair dyes, adhesive tape, jewelry (containing nickel), all sorts of chemicals or solvents, or preservatives in food, or of course poison oak or ivy. Sounds like you need to get to a doctor and get some oral prednisone, if you've got it basically all over your body. It'll take a couple weeks probably to clear up, assuming you can find the source and stay away from it. Sounds awful . . . . let us know how it goes.

03-23-2005, 02:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	You may not have been outside, but what about a blanket ot something else that has been outside. Poison Ivy, and other stuff, I believe, can live on in non living things for a while. Has Dave been anywhere, then back home to you... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

03-23-2005, 03:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	Mal....no blankets from outside....we were all at the same place saturday...we were both in bed all day sunday...he went to work as usual monday...so I cant think of anything that he was around differently. __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

03-23-2005, 06:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	This happened to me one day...it was something I ate and had eaten many, many times before and all of the sudden my body rejected it. Allergies suck, because they are so hard to diagnose. I hope you get it figured out so you can avoid it in the future!! __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

03-23-2005, 10:16 PM	#15 (permalink)
Konichiwaneko The Dreaded Pixel Nazi Location: Inside my camera	I had something like that Shani about a year ago, I think it ended up being something like little bugs or not washing the detergent completely away from my cloths. I don't remember but oh man I still have the marks where I scratched too much. __________________ Hesitate. Pull me in. Breath on breath. Skin on skin. Loving deep. Falling fast. All right here. Let this last. Here with our lips locked tight. Baby the time is right for us... to forget about us.

03-24-2005, 10:05 AM	#16 (permalink)
alec Insane Location: Washington DC	well, if you want to get rid of, and by get rid of, i mean forget, that you're itching, you could always get on painkillers. but thats probably bad advice. any luck on finding the source yet?

03-24-2005, 10:13 AM	#17 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	No luck yet.....its not as bad today....right now only my legs and my head itch so I guess its going away __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

03-29-2005, 05:38 PM	#18 (permalink)
embo Upright	Fabric Softener? Just a thought...when it's really dry (like during winter months), I find I sometimes get random itching all over, and I get really hot for no apparent reason with this. Generally, it goes away for the season if I stop using fabric softener in my laundry.

03-29-2005, 05:41 PM	#19 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	Mine went away just about as quick as it started.....I woke up friday morning and realized I wasnt itching, it felt so nice __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*