Why am I itching???????

[Norse]

I finally saw the dermatologist yesterday. He actually thinks that high stress levels may have triggered it but, because I do not have a noticeable rash anywhere (just bumps and itching) he wants to make sure it's nothing systemic. So... in about another 3 weeks I have an appt with the primary care doc for a physical including blood work and urinalysis. Meanwhile, dermo told me 1 benedryl before bed and Sarna lotion. I had been doing the Benedryl on and off but trying to stay off as, not only does it knock me out at night, it keeps me sleepy the next morning. It does help though. Picked up some Sarna lotion for sensitive skin yesterday and ohhhhhhhhhhhh what a relief this lotion has been!

[Crankin]

You know, that chart made a lot of sense to me, even as someone with no scientific background. Almost every weird symptom I have had in my adult life was on there... after my debacle three years ago, with no real resolution (yea tell me I have fibromyalgia because there's nothing else to say), I realized after looking at the chart, that I do know I have allergies and asthma. And all the stomach issues, skin issues, rashes, hives, palpitations, blah, blah, blah are caused either by stress, which induces a histamine response, or some some environmental trigger that switches from year to year. If I treat the allergies and keep the stress down, I am healthy.
When I was around 34-35, I started having the palpitations, followed by a long bout of asthma and hives. I went from specialist to specialist, with little resolution. When the stress went away (I quit teaching aerobics 7 days a week, moved across the country, and got away from the dust in AZ) most of it went away for years. I know that a certain level of exercise, which is basically over training for me also induces these symptoms, even without any asthma showing up.

Thanks!

[ny biker]

Sigh. It's back again. Same symptoms as in July. Woke up itching last night, was better during the day today and then got worse again. I'm hoping it won't be as severe as it was in July, especially since I started taking the antihistamines right away. Also hoping I won't need the prednisone this time, since I just don't want the side effects.

I haven't had any sea food lately except for tuna salad early last week. The only new/rare food I've had in the past few days was Newman's Own pizza with pepperoni. Of course now I'm thinking maybe food is not really the cause.

[emily_in_nc]

Oh crap - so sorry to hear this! Hope it will be very short-lived this time around, and that you can finally get to the bottom of it. Must be very frustrating!

[ny biker]

I just had an appointment with my allergist today to discuss this. He's also thinking that food is not the cause. I'm going for a blood test -- thyroglobulin antibodies and thyroid peroxidase antibodies, if I'm reading his handwriting correctly. The test may show that I've developed antibodies to my thyroid, which apparently is a problem for some people. Or, it might show that we can rule that out, in which case...?

Also I'm going to get some Zirtec, to see if that works better than the Claritin that I've been taking so far.

The good news is that the last attack was not as bad as the one in July. I don't know if that's because I started taking all the antihistimines sooner, or I was just lucky.

[KnottedYet]

whispers quietly... (do I dare to point out that people with undiagnosed celiac disease will often produce antibodies to their thyroids? and have skin reactions? and edema?)

{I only know much about one disease, but I will promote awareness of it every time I see something that might be related... cuz the darn thing is so rarely diagnosed until very late in life}

[ny biker]

Oooh, doesn't that mean big dietary restrictions? I was bummed enough thinking I could never have crab cakes again. Oh well, we'll see what the tests say.

[OakLeaf]

cuz the darn thing is so rarely diagnosed until very late in life

...and lately they're finding that it may not even have onset until late in life.