I'am itching all over my body again

[sleepyangel30]

I guess my skin is allergic to blueberry bars, Thats what I finished eatting and now I'm itching all over. I'm wondering does Benadryl help?

[RainSun]

yes. take a benadry

[ICNDonna]

Benadryl can help, but it can depend on what other medications you are taking. To be on the safe side, you could ask your pharmacist if you're taking prescription medications. I keep benadryl on hand at all times because we do have some allergies in our family. Would you believe --- even our dog is allergic (to fleas) and our vet ordered benadryl for her too!

You also might want to keep a record of the contents of that blueberry bar. To find out for sure if it's the blueberries that are the problem, you might want to try a few plain --- after the itching stops, of course.

Blueberries are my favorite --- I hope I don't ever become allergic to them.

:dogrun:
Donna

[janelle77362]

Yes benadryl will help you as well as a topical application of Calamine lotion.
Hope you feel better soon!:kiss:
Janelle

[MakinIT]

Yup...as a recipient of many "surprise" allergies, I always keep a supply of benadryl on hand..I'd say that should help with this, as well. (If anything, you'll sleep through the itchiness:) )

Good luck...Tracey

[Sarojini]

Itching stinks!! I get a lot of rashes and hives. Once, I got hives that just wouldn't go away despite taking Benadryl. I itched for a month and was never able to pinpoint what caused it... the doc called it "chronic idiopathic urticaria" which means "we have no idea what is causing these hives" in doctor-speak. ;)

Anyway, at the time, they prescribed the antihistamine Zyrtec and told me to take it along with a Tagamet, of all things (yes, it's the same one you buy in the antacid aisle). For the first time in a month I did not itch!! Later, I found that taking a Tagamet along with a Benadryl works pretty great too.

I looked it up, and the reason is that you've got two kinds of histamine receptors, the H1 type and the H2 type. The H1 type is blocked by Benadryl and Zyrtec, which is usually enough for some nasal allergies, etc. However, in the skin, itching and hives are mediated through the H2 receptor as well... so taking a Tagamet, which blocks the H2 receptor, helps with that part. Now you've got all your bases covered. :)

Hope it helps...

[sleepyangel30]

Thanks Sarojini :angel:

[MakinIT]

Wow the tagament I did not know about. However, that all over itching you brought up reminded me of a horrible spring and summer some time ago (Way before IC) that made me carry a epi-pen. I took matters into my own hands and started eliminating stuff. I found that I had a horrible time with processed foods and premixed "flavoring" packets. So, for instance, I haven't for years eaten anything out of a box (like pasta with flavorings) or premade soups, etc....I make almost everything by hand or I am miserable. Now, due to my IC, I'm sure I must have missed something because my symptoms are brought on by allergy related stuff. (Very high mast cells in my bladder) I really think all of these problems are, to an extent, brought on by enviromental factors of the recent industrial economy we livein. (that is, pollution in our air, water, food, etc...) No, you wouldn'tlook at me and think "wow, she's one of those wacko environmentalists" but I do think that many of our health problems like "idopathic hives" are brought on by this and we folks are like the canaries in the coal mine (indicating the up coming health problems for everyone, not just us who are sensitive)

aggh..I know....people scratch their heads and say "hmm...she's a wierdo" but look at the health problems that have cropped up (allergies, asthma, high cancer rates) I don't know what to do about it except to help myself by trying to eat only healthy things ( and avoiding MSG like my life depended on it, which it does!!!!:D ) and try to help financially organizations like Sierra club and Greenpeace. (No, I don't own a VW with funky stickers all over it...I'm just sick of being sick)

Ok...Done with my rant:rant: ....take care to all....

Tracey

[jala]

I take Benedryl pills all the time. They help me alot with my food sensitivities. My allergist suggested Bonine to replace it and I have tried Allegra and others, but Benedryl worked best. It helps alleviate all my IC symptoms, including itching. I have been warned not to take them in combination with other allergy medications, so do check with your Pharmacist.

I have to take Benedryl at night because it knocks me out big time. I suggest taking it about 8pm (too much later and I can't get up for work). If you are one of those people that is affected by drugs, you will get sleepy by 9:30 or 10. Even when I go to bed by 9, I have trouble getting up in the am. Once I wake up, though, I feel much better.

I haven't tried the gel, spray or creams yet. Jala

[MakinIT]

Yeah...I'd agree with that!!!! My experience has been the same with benadry...However....my experience with atarax has shown that I've become sensitized...I don't have the AM hangover anymore,,,(had to take it for a month) I never got to that point with benadryl. It takes me most of the day to shake off a benadyrl hangover.

The cream doesn't do that to you, but I don't think it works as well.

Tracey

[Sarojini]

Tracey,

I totally agree with your "environmental" theory. When I got the idiopathic hives, I was living in Los Angeles, and as we all know, the air quality there leaves a lot to be desired (an understatement, I know!) ... who knows what I was breathing in, or drinking in the water.

And, when I moved to Memphis, my asthma remained out of control (I've since seen a specialist who's got me back on track) and I was diagnosed with IC. There are high levels of pollutants here as well, and the mold is totally insane... my husband and I are thinking of moving someplace more rural, where hopefully the air is cleaner. We think both of us will feel better...

In addition, we make a lot of our food up fresh like you do. I need it because of allergies and IC, and my husband gets severe migraines from many food additives...

So basically, I don't think you're crazy -- in fact I really do think that we are like the canaries in the coal mine. My husband has actually used that analogy before! :)

Sending hugs

[MakinIT]

Nice to know there are others out there who think along the same lines I do. But I look at reports of towns with high industrial waste output compared with towns without....the folks forced to live in these places are generally low income with no way to move. So, they have tolive with asthma, chronic illness, developing allergies, high cancer rates. Yet, the line we all hear is that the industrial outputs have no effect on us. (or, current politics won't allow or fund studies into it) Geez...we are just slowly strangling ourselves. Yet, we continue to float along in this belief, that it can't happen to us.

I'm Done With the Topic...don't want to get anyone upset.

Tracey

[sleepyangel30]

i agree with you makinit about high industrial waste output

[sleepyangel30]

i agree


Originally posted by MakinIT
Nice to know there are others out there who think along the same lines I do. But I look at reports of towns with high industrial waste output compared with towns without....the folks forced to live in these places are generally low income with no way to move. So, they have tolive with asthma, chronic illness, developing allergies, high cancer rates. Yet, the line we all hear is that the industrial outputs have no effect on us. (or, current politics won't allow or fund studies into it) Geez...we are just slowly strangling ourselves. Yet, we continue to float along in this belief, that it can't happen to us.

I'm Done With the Topic...don't want to get anyone upset.

Tracey