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Original poster

God help me i'm so bloody itchy! What is it?

59 replies

Laiste · 12/09/2020 02:21

I cannot sleep, i have this itchy rash which is all over me basically. I just want to tear my skin off :( It's spread from a couple of intensely itchy bumps on my hands this morning to just about everywhere by bed time tonight. I don't know what to do with myself. I'm almost in tears with it.

For info: I had a sore throat 2 days ago which is better now, but am left with a really snotty nose. No cough (!) No temp. No aches or pains.

Recently been taking nitrofurantoin antibiotics for cystitis. Have taken 10 out of the 14. Had it before with no probs. Did not take tonights one.

OP posts:

dalmatianmad · 12/09/2020 03:33

Hey op, I'm an A+E sister, sounds like your having an allergic reaction, if you cant get to a 24 hour garage for some antihistamines then go down to your local A+E, they really wont mind. Unless you can wait till shops open? My local Tesco Express opens at 6am.
Try not to scratch

bugaboo218 · 12/09/2020 03:42

Gosh how awful for you.

Do you have any bicarb in? Or any bite/sting cream (anthensin)? Failing that do you have any oats or natural yoghurt in? A paste of oats, natural yoghurt and tepid water may help. A couple of ibuprofen tablets may help too.

I would ring GP first thing tomorrow, or if you feel it is getting worse 111 now. Can you or a partner go to a 24 hour pharmacy now?

You can suddenly develop a reaction to medicine after being OK with it for years. I was fine with penicillin until half way through a course I an allergic reaction.

AnnaFiveTowns · 12/09/2020 04:18

I developed an allergy to nitrofurantoin after id been on it for about a week. It looks like an allergic reaction.

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mosscarpet · 12/09/2020 07:50

this wont help you, but that rash looks exactly like what I had a couple of months ago. Started on the backs of my arms, then spread over the course of 7 days until it covered my entire body, excluding my face. The itching was unbearable. After about 7 days I started to feel quite generally unwell as well. I tried everything - every antihistamine (including fexofenadine I'm prescribed for hayfever), OTC steroid cream, tea tree oil, oat baths, calamine etc etc... nothing helped. Tried to get a GP appointment - got told I needed a COVID test (why???) Had COVID test - which was negative, still had to then wait another 7 days to speak to a GP. I ended up off work for 10 days (and I'm never off sick) I was in such a state. GP looked at photos, but didnt really know what it was, so declared it a viral rash. It gradually improved over the next 2-3 weeks. Its still not fully resolved and keeps flaring up on just my arms now, but not to the same extent thank goodness.
I hope you get some answers and I fully sympathis.

Sexnotgender · 12/09/2020 07:53

If you have any porridge oats run a bath with the oats wrapped in old tights. The water is soothing.

differentnameforthis · 12/09/2020 08:01

Started on your hands? Have you been using latex gloves?

SwanShaped · 12/09/2020 08:05

Ah mate that looks bad! I’d stop the meds. Ring GP.

mallowa · 12/09/2020 08:05

Hives, take some piriton and you will be ok.

MiriamShepherd · 12/09/2020 08:20

Do you have any other symptoms? Night sweats for example

Original poster

Laiste · 12/09/2020 08:29

I've read through and thank you SO much to everyone x

Night garage! i went back up to bed about 10seconds before @Turtletotem posted that.

So it's all still here. I've made DDS breakfast and in a min i'mgoing up to the chemist in the village for everything they sell some piriton. Thanks for the heads up about liquid piriton, didn'tknow that existed.

It'sstill as itchy as hell. I've not had any moreofthe tablets since yesterday morning.

Why does this sort of thingalways happen to meon a friday night?

Andwhat's wrong withmy space bar??

OP posts:

Original poster

Laiste · 12/09/2020 08:30

My ongoing other symptoms are skin feeling hot but not running a temp, loads of snot and a chesty cough.
Joy.

OP posts:

Original poster

Laiste · 12/09/2020 08:33

Getting zero sympathy from DH. He's got a (the?) cold as well with sore throat (slight shuffling) but to give him credit he's meant to be going outside to build a brick wall today and he's going to do it, so i don't blame him for being a grumpy arse :)

OP posts:

mosscarpet · 12/09/2020 08:34

Hope you get something that helps. Just a heads up - piriton contains the antihistamine Chlorphenamine - if you ask for that you can usually buy the unbranded version much much cheaper.
ALternative antihistamines would be Loratidine or Cetiriazaine, but I would go for the chlorphenamine if you can get it.
I would also buy some hydrocotisone cream and maybe some aqeuous cream to moisturise it. My rash ended up going really dry and flaky as it was starting to heal.

Original poster

Laiste · 12/09/2020 08:35

Reading again; Bite and sting creamwas a good idea. I might even have some of that squirreled away.

OP posts:

mosscarpet · 12/09/2020 08:37

re the skin feeling hot, I had that as well. Eventually all my arms and chest were absolutely burining to the touch, which actually made me feel shivery, but I didnt have a temp.
Not wanting to freak you aout, but skin rashes have been linked to COVID so maybe worth considering if you are feeling unwell in other ways.(although also appreciate skin rashes can be millions of other things too!) I wish I had got a definite answer for mine.

Original poster

Laiste · 12/09/2020 08:38

Thank you moscarpet8. I've written that down.

Interesting you say about the dryness. My inner wrists look soreand dry, and the creases are red, similar to what skin witheczema looks like eventhough there's no itchynes there.

OP posts:

Original poster

Laiste · 12/09/2020 08:40

Going there now.

OP posts:

Elisheva · 12/09/2020 08:43

You can get a histamine (hives) response to any virus. It’s basically the body’s immune system overreacting to the infection. It usually happens towards the end of the virus.

Piratepearl · 12/09/2020 08:45

My DD (4) is currently covered in an itchy rash like this too! It started off on her tummy and back and is spreading to arms and tops of legs. I thought it may be an allergic rash so sent some photos of it to the doctors who said it was 'some form of eczema' and prescribed steroid cream and moisturiser....despite never having had eczema before. DD then came out with a temperature and sore throat a few days later.
Been trying to get a Covid test for 3 days with no luck
The piriton helps but it soon starts itching again when it's time for the next dose. I've also been using calamine lotion and oats in the bath(much to her dislike).

TroysMammy · 12/09/2020 08:47

Don't know about the bumpy rash but in 1992 I had a sore throat and came out in a mottled rash. GP said it was related to streptococcal tonsillitis. It was mainly on the tops of my thighs, boobs, torso, armpits, warm areas really and the itching was worse at night. I can't remember much more about it but I've got a photo of me in my underwear .

Inadays · 12/09/2020 08:57

OP, what you have sounds and looks exactly like the rash my DSD had earlier this year. She found out she was violently allergic to an antibiotic she was originally prescribed for a urine infection. She got a GP appointment and was told it was hives and was given antihistamines. However it got worse and her face and lips started swelling up so she went to A&E. Turned out she WAS allergic to the antibiotic (sorry can’t remember the name of it) and was prescribed strong steroids which she had to take for a couple of weeks I think. It took a while to disappear completely and she was fine, but it’s now on her doctor’s notes to avoid being prescribed it ever again. If yours gets worse and doesn’t respond to antihistamines I would go to a&e if you can. Good luck

Shesellsseashellsontheseashore · 12/09/2020 08:58

I had similar to your last pic in December. Came from nowhere, was on my arms initially and them went onto my thighs and hips and down my legs. At night was always worse as I think I read it's to do with your body being at its lowest to produce anti itch chemicals or something? Anyway I was literally tearing my skin off every night.
I used a combination of anti histamines and I also used Eurax cream which I found really good for dulling the itching. I also got some aloe Vera gel from Holland and Barrett.

HollyHocks13 · 12/09/2020 09:02

I developed an allergy to penicillin after years of being fine with it - this looks exactly like the rash I get. Stop taking it and take medical advice as soon as possible.

Original poster

Laiste · 12/09/2020 09:20

Thanks again all.

Yes to hands, arms, legs, 'hot places' like where my bra strap goes and then my bum and upper thighs. Inner knee. Between my fingers is bad and icould cut my elbows off they're so bad! I can feel the bumps up in my hair line at the back of my head too.

Anyway i was first in the queue outside the chemist and have got home andswigged the liquid piriton (2 big spoons) and spread on lots of 1% hydrocorisone cream. I'm sure it's partly in the mindbut i think it feels better already! :)

The aloe vera idea is good.
When i first got up i put on some coconut oil cream (the pure solid stuff) and actually that did ease it a teeny tiny bit.

Gotto take DD to ballet at 10. Waiting to see if i feel too drowsy to drive.

OP posts:

MrsGface · 12/09/2020 10:05

Have you had a Covid test? Rashes can be a symptom, and given that you have a sore throat and a cough it could be a possibility covid.joinzoe.com/post/skin-rash-covid

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