ALERGIC REACTION ALL OVER MY BODY

by NAn
(tennessee)

I HAVEN,T SOLVED IT I AM AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO.MY BODY LOOKS AS THO i HA BEEN IN AN POISON IVORY PATCH.


Kathi's answer
Nan, the first thing I would do is try to write down every single thing you have ate or come into contact with in the last few days. I know this part is hard because you are doing it after the fact. But start that journal and keep it going every day. You have to figure out where it's coming from. If you eat or touch that item again, and your rash worsens, at least you know those things you just used may be the culprit. Remember though, nothing gets left off your list right now. An example, I first started showing allergic reactions about 10 years ago. That means I made it almost to 50 years of age before my problems started. It was on these cans of aerosol dusting spray. It took me the longest time to figure out every time I dusted my house, I looked like a spotted cow I guess. I had red spots all over.

Next, you are from a state much like me in temperatures and climate. It is the height of flea season right now and they are horrible this year. That means they are inside your home and out. I don't care what you do to prevent it, every time you or anyone else walks out your door, they bring some back in with them on their shoes, clothes etc. So far, I have contained most of my problems to my feet and legs, but again they look like bumpy tracks all over. But I spend every day also treating my home trying to reduce the population of fleas in my area.

For relief, an antihistamine, like Benadryl, helps the itch but it makes you so drowsy. I can't be all groggy so I just keep a bottle of witch hazel with me all the time and some cotton balls. It helps reduce the itch tremendously for a few hours and then it needs reapplied. Once you apply it though, it takes about 10-15 minutes before you notice the itch is going down. If you don't get enough relief after the first try, apply it again.

Next, if this is the first time you've had this problem, I would check first and see if your problem might not be the bugs this year. Some of us are just highly susceptible to bugs. Others can tolerate them pretty well.

If you decide to go to your family doctor, first they can give you something stronger than the Benadryl or the witch hazel for the itch. They can also use the log you are building to help you look for possible problem areas.

I won't kid you and tell you this is an easy fix -it's not. It takes a lot of time and work to find out what exactly the source of your problem is. But suspect everything. By that, I mean it could be your bar of soap, the laundry detergent, the shampoo you use, the fabric of your clothes, absolutely anything.

For now though, if this is the first time you had it, start with the fleas (or flies or whatever your area has a lot of). At the same time, I would start checking the types of foods you commonly eat. See if one of them might not be giving you trouble.

Let me know how you make out.

Kathi