I’m having some sort of itchy issue. Two evenings ago my neck started feeling hivey and my skin was hot. Two nights in a row I’ve had to take Bendaryl to sleep. I wake up bleary in the morning, am fine during the day and am uncomfortable again by nighttime. I predict I will take another Benadryl shortly. I don’t know if that’s short-circuiting an allergic reaction of some sort or if it’s just knocking me out. Either way, mission accomlished.
Tonight the itchiness has spread to the lower part of my cheeks and my chin. Damon looked at me a few hours ago and said that my face looks swollen.
I haven’t changed detergents, soap, perfume or anything else. I’m not allergic to any foods, and I haven’t eaten anything out of the ordinary anyway.
What I want to know is: What gives?
jaysaint 
Posted by electricrocket on October 7, 2006 at 11:26 am
Maybe you’ve become allergic to nighttime? Some sort of anti-vampire?
That’s a puzzle.
Posted by electricrocket on October 7, 2006 at 11:26 am
Maybe you’ve become allergic to nighttime? Some sort of anti-vampire?
That’s a puzzle.
Posted by electricrocket on October 7, 2006 at 11:26 am
Maybe you’ve become allergic to nighttime? Some sort of anti-vampire?
That’s a puzzle.
Posted by electricrocket on October 7, 2006 at 11:26 am
Maybe you’ve become allergic to nighttime? Some sort of anti-vampire?
That’s a puzzle.
Posted by samae on October 7, 2006 at 11:42 am
Food allergies, actually all allergies, environmental too, call show up suddenly, hang around for a few years and then disappear again. So it could be food. My sister developed food allergies in her 20s that disappeared in her 30s, and I never any problem with allergies until 31 and now I hive and swell a couple times a month.
Also, allergies work on a load basis. You could handle the histamine release from cat dander and ragweed on separate occasions without a problem, but together they cause a noticeable reaction.
If it continues, think about taking a daily claritin (you can buy it in bulk for very cheap – the boxes at the grocery store are like $1/pill.) Will help with the reactions with no side effects or drowsiness (that I’ve ever had at least.)
Posted by samae on October 7, 2006 at 11:42 am
Food allergies, actually all allergies, environmental too, call show up suddenly, hang around for a few years and then disappear again. So it could be food. My sister developed food allergies in her 20s that disappeared in her 30s, and I never any problem with allergies until 31 and now I hive and swell a couple times a month.
Also, allergies work on a load basis. You could handle the histamine release from cat dander and ragweed on separate occasions without a problem, but together they cause a noticeable reaction.
If it continues, think about taking a daily claritin (you can buy it in bulk for very cheap – the boxes at the grocery store are like $1/pill.) Will help with the reactions with no side effects or drowsiness (that I’ve ever had at least.)
Posted by electricrocket on October 8, 2006 at 12:24 am
That’s actually good to know. I’ve been battling what I’m told is a dust-mite allergy that doesn’t seem to have any rhyme or reason to when it strikes.
Where do you order your claritin (claritin-D?) in bulk?
Posted by samae on October 8, 2006 at 1:13 am
I get it at Sam’s Club – “Members Mark” Loratadin 10mg. generic Claritin. 300 pills for $12. Best deal I’ve found.
Posted by samae on October 8, 2006 at 1:13 am
I get it at Sam’s Club – “Members Mark” Loratadin 10mg. generic Claritin. 300 pills for $12. Best deal I’ve found.
Posted by samae on October 8, 2006 at 1:13 am
I get it at Sam’s Club – “Members Mark” Loratadin 10mg. generic Claritin. 300 pills for $12. Best deal I’ve found.
Posted by electricrocket on October 8, 2006 at 12:24 am
That’s actually good to know. I’ve been battling what I’m told is a dust-mite allergy that doesn’t seem to have any rhyme or reason to when it strikes.
Where do you order your claritin (claritin-D?) in bulk?
Posted by electricrocket on October 8, 2006 at 12:24 am
That’s actually good to know. I’ve been battling what I’m told is a dust-mite allergy that doesn’t seem to have any rhyme or reason to when it strikes.
Where do you order your claritin (claritin-D?) in bulk?
Posted by jaysaint on October 8, 2006 at 4:18 am
I have been thinking about the allergy load as well. My allergist calls that cross reactivity. It’s why sometimes, even though I have no food allergies, certain fruits can make my mouth and throat burn and itch.
Posted by samae on October 8, 2006 at 12:44 pm
Cross reactivity is different from what I was talking about – ragweed is in the same family as cantaloupe, banana and honeydew (and more I think.) So while you might not have a true IgE-mediated allergic reaction to cantaloupe, if you do to ragweed, then cantaloupe might affect you as well.
The allergen load is the sum total of the factors which contribute to the production of allergic symptoms. Imagine your immune system is a bucket, and each small histamine release fills up the bucket a tiny bit. Anti-histamines empty the bucket a tiny bit. You won’t feel anything until the bucket overflows – and yes, adding cantaloupe to ragweed would cause that bucket to overflow.
I really wish I didn’t know so much about allergies.
Posted by jaysaint on October 9, 2006 at 1:36 am
Wow, you really do know your stuff. I’m sure you would prefer otherwise.
I see the difference now. It’s interesting about the ragweed. I can confirm the cantaloupe sensitivity and add in kiwi and avocado. The ripeness of the fruit also makes a difference. The more ripe the smaller the reaction.
Posted by jaysaint on October 9, 2006 at 1:36 am
Wow, you really do know your stuff. I’m sure you would prefer otherwise.
I see the difference now. It’s interesting about the ragweed. I can confirm the cantaloupe sensitivity and add in kiwi and avocado. The ripeness of the fruit also makes a difference. The more ripe the smaller the reaction.
Posted by jaysaint on October 9, 2006 at 1:36 am
Wow, you really do know your stuff. I’m sure you would prefer otherwise.
I see the difference now. It’s interesting about the ragweed. I can confirm the cantaloupe sensitivity and add in kiwi and avocado. The ripeness of the fruit also makes a difference. The more ripe the smaller the reaction.
Posted by samae on October 8, 2006 at 12:44 pm
Cross reactivity is different from what I was talking about – ragweed is in the same family as cantaloupe, banana and honeydew (and more I think.) So while you might not have a true IgE-mediated allergic reaction to cantaloupe, if you do to ragweed, then cantaloupe might affect you as well.
The allergen load is the sum total of the factors which contribute to the production of allergic symptoms. Imagine your immune system is a bucket, and each small histamine release fills up the bucket a tiny bit. Anti-histamines empty the bucket a tiny bit. You won’t feel anything until the bucket overflows – and yes, adding cantaloupe to ragweed would cause that bucket to overflow.
I really wish I didn’t know so much about allergies.
Posted by samae on October 8, 2006 at 12:44 pm
Cross reactivity is different from what I was talking about – ragweed is in the same family as cantaloupe, banana and honeydew (and more I think.) So while you might not have a true IgE-mediated allergic reaction to cantaloupe, if you do to ragweed, then cantaloupe might affect you as well.
The allergen load is the sum total of the factors which contribute to the production of allergic symptoms. Imagine your immune system is a bucket, and each small histamine release fills up the bucket a tiny bit. Anti-histamines empty the bucket a tiny bit. You won’t feel anything until the bucket overflows – and yes, adding cantaloupe to ragweed would cause that bucket to overflow.
I really wish I didn’t know so much about allergies.
Posted by jaysaint on October 8, 2006 at 4:18 am
I have been thinking about the allergy load as well. My allergist calls that cross reactivity. It’s why sometimes, even though I have no food allergies, certain fruits can make my mouth and throat burn and itch.
Posted by jaysaint on October 8, 2006 at 4:18 am
I have been thinking about the allergy load as well. My allergist calls that cross reactivity. It’s why sometimes, even though I have no food allergies, certain fruits can make my mouth and throat burn and itch.
Posted by samae on October 7, 2006 at 11:42 am
Food allergies, actually all allergies, environmental too, call show up suddenly, hang around for a few years and then disappear again. So it could be food. My sister developed food allergies in her 20s that disappeared in her 30s, and I never any problem with allergies until 31 and now I hive and swell a couple times a month.
Also, allergies work on a load basis. You could handle the histamine release from cat dander and ragweed on separate occasions without a problem, but together they cause a noticeable reaction.
If it continues, think about taking a daily claritin (you can buy it in bulk for very cheap – the boxes at the grocery store are like $1/pill.) Will help with the reactions with no side effects or drowsiness (that I’ve ever had at least.)
Posted by samae on October 7, 2006 at 11:42 am
Food allergies, actually all allergies, environmental too, call show up suddenly, hang around for a few years and then disappear again. So it could be food. My sister developed food allergies in her 20s that disappeared in her 30s, and I never any problem with allergies until 31 and now I hive and swell a couple times a month.
Also, allergies work on a load basis. You could handle the histamine release from cat dander and ragweed on separate occasions without a problem, but together they cause a noticeable reaction.
If it continues, think about taking a daily claritin (you can buy it in bulk for very cheap – the boxes at the grocery store are like $1/pill.) Will help with the reactions with no side effects or drowsiness (that I’ve ever had at least.)
Posted by travellight on October 7, 2006 at 12:47 pm
You’re not coming down with mumps or the poultry pops, are you?
Posted by travellight on October 7, 2006 at 12:47 pm
You’re not coming down with mumps or the poultry pops, are you?
Posted by jaysaint on October 8, 2006 at 4:19 am
Heaven forbid
I’ve never known anyone with mumps, so at least that would be an education.
Posted by jaysaint on October 8, 2006 at 4:19 am
Heaven forbid
I’ve never known anyone with mumps, so at least that would be an education.
Posted by jaysaint on October 8, 2006 at 4:19 am
Heaven forbid
I’ve never known anyone with mumps, so at least that would be an education.
Posted by travellight on October 7, 2006 at 12:47 pm
You’re not coming down with mumps or the poultry pops, are you?
Posted by travellight on October 7, 2006 at 12:47 pm
You’re not coming down with mumps or the poultry pops, are you?
Posted by raving_liberal on October 7, 2006 at 1:48 pm
Stress? I started getting hives from stress after Donovan was born — has you had any new stressors in your life lately?
Posted by raving_liberal on October 7, 2006 at 1:48 pm
Stress? I started getting hives from stress after Donovan was born — has you had any new stressors in your life lately?
Posted by jaysaint on October 8, 2006 at 4:20 am
I think you may be closest to the truth. It’s been a terribly stressful time. I haven’t blogged about it as I can’t without violating someone else’s privacy. I’d have to be so obscure that there’d be no point. But yeah, I sort of suspect stress. And I need to get a grip because now the hives are spreading to my forearms and my face feels like sandpaper. Gross, I know.
Posted by jaysaint on October 8, 2006 at 4:20 am
I think you may be closest to the truth. It’s been a terribly stressful time. I haven’t blogged about it as I can’t without violating someone else’s privacy. I’d have to be so obscure that there’d be no point. But yeah, I sort of suspect stress. And I need to get a grip because now the hives are spreading to my forearms and my face feels like sandpaper. Gross, I know.
Posted by jaysaint on October 8, 2006 at 4:20 am
I think you may be closest to the truth. It’s been a terribly stressful time. I haven’t blogged about it as I can’t without violating someone else’s privacy. I’d have to be so obscure that there’d be no point. But yeah, I sort of suspect stress. And I need to get a grip because now the hives are spreading to my forearms and my face feels like sandpaper. Gross, I know.
Posted by raving_liberal on October 7, 2006 at 1:48 pm
Stress? I started getting hives from stress after Donovan was born — has you had any new stressors in your life lately?
Posted by raving_liberal on October 7, 2006 at 1:48 pm
Stress? I started getting hives from stress after Donovan was born — has you had any new stressors in your life lately?
Posted by electricrocket on October 8, 2006 at 12:24 am
That’s actually good to know. I’ve been battling what I’m told is a dust-mite allergy that doesn’t seem to have any rhyme or reason to when it strikes.
Where do you order your claritin (claritin-D?) in bulk?
Posted by samae on October 8, 2006 at 1:13 am
I get it at Sam’s Club – “Members Mark” Loratadin 10mg. generic Claritin. 300 pills for $12. Best deal I’ve found.
Posted by jaysaint on October 8, 2006 at 4:18 am
I have been thinking about the allergy load as well. My allergist calls that cross reactivity. It’s why sometimes, even though I have no food allergies, certain fruits can make my mouth and throat burn and itch.
Posted by jaysaint on October 8, 2006 at 4:19 am
Heaven forbid
I’ve never known anyone with mumps, so at least that would be an education.
Posted by jaysaint on October 8, 2006 at 4:20 am
I think you may be closest to the truth. It’s been a terribly stressful time. I haven’t blogged about it as I can’t without violating someone else’s privacy. I’d have to be so obscure that there’d be no point. But yeah, I sort of suspect stress. And I need to get a grip because now the hives are spreading to my forearms and my face feels like sandpaper. Gross, I know.
Posted by samae on October 8, 2006 at 12:44 pm
Cross reactivity is different from what I was talking about – ragweed is in the same family as cantaloupe, banana and honeydew (and more I think.) So while you might not have a true IgE-mediated allergic reaction to cantaloupe, if you do to ragweed, then cantaloupe might affect you as well.
The allergen load is the sum total of the factors which contribute to the production of allergic symptoms. Imagine your immune system is a bucket, and each small histamine release fills up the bucket a tiny bit. Anti-histamines empty the bucket a tiny bit. You won’t feel anything until the bucket overflows – and yes, adding cantaloupe to ragweed would cause that bucket to overflow.
I really wish I didn’t know so much about allergies.
Posted by jaysaint on October 9, 2006 at 1:36 am
Wow, you really do know your stuff. I’m sure you would prefer otherwise.
I see the difference now. It’s interesting about the ragweed. I can confirm the cantaloupe sensitivity and add in kiwi and avocado. The ripeness of the fruit also makes a difference. The more ripe the smaller the reaction.