Allergic reaction, seek help or is that ridiculous?

[getmetothebeachplease]

Accidentally picked up the wrong laundry detergent yesterday and did 3 loads of washing. Wore something from that washing to bed and woke up feeling like my skin was on fire with awful hives all over my body. Went to pharmacy who gave me some piriton and anti itch cream. Things seemed to get slightly better.

Then got home and about an hour later everything has flared up again, now spreading up my neck and face as well as all over my body. Taken more piriton and it's made no difference.

Obviously it's not an emergency because it's not effecting my breathing or anything but would I be unreasonable to seek help?

I would call 111 for advice, sounds horrible!

Are you sure it's from the detergent and not a different trigger I.e. food?

That would seem like quite an over reaction. Same happened to me once, the itching stopped on its own.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask 111 (or your gp surgery if still open) for some advice, given it’s now affecting your face and neck and therefore has the ability to affect breathing etc. I had a horrible reaction to my third course of penicillin in a row (not anaphylaxis but severe hives) and was told to do this if it crept up to my throat.

Ooh nasty!

I would ring 111.

Mind you, have you had this before? What happened?

@Aprilx

That would seem like quite an over reaction. Same happened to me once, the itching stopped on its own.

I take it you've never seen someone go into anaphylactic shock before? Allergic reactions can be serious.....

Try an antihistamine with fexofenadine or cetirizine for the hives.
I have chronic urticaria an a combination of both keeps the hives under control

@OccaChocca

Ooh nasty!

I would ring 111.

Mind you, have you had this before? What happened?

I've only had it as a child as I'm normally very careful about what I use but I don't remember much, I know I had to go to hospital but I don't know what they did to bring it under control

If the antihistamines aren't helping then I would call 111. They maybe able to advise you further

Call 111. Allergic reactions are tricky things - best to get some medical advice at least. Lots of allergies in my family and all my allergies didn’t start until I was 10, each reaction worst than the last so be extra careful going forwards.

I'd its affecting your neck and face you need to seek medical advise, hope they can help you.

Thanks for all the advice, will call 111 and see what they say

You need to contact the doctors you need a steroid cream like betamethadone,this happens to me I always stick to the same brands.

Tried 111, been on hold for more than an hour and no answer, it's now spreading much faster but there's no one I can ask for advice so just going to hope I can see my go in the morning

Keep taking the piriton every 4 hours max 4 times in 24 hours. If you get a tightness in your chest, shortness of breath or tongue/lip swelling get seen sooner. If it’s just the rash and it’s itching then it’s horrible but not life threatening. Can you redo the washing with a normal powder? Make sure there’s no items in your room that have been washed. Put the washing outside so it’s not in the house. Hope you feel better soon xx

I had similar, but took a couple of weeks to work out it was detergent as I’ve never reacted to it before. I got steroid cream for the GP, but TBH, it started to calm down quite quickly once I swapped to Fairy.

@getmetothebeachplease

Tried 111, been on hold for more than an hour and no answer, it's now spreading much faster but there's no one I can ask for advice so just going to hope I can see my go in the morning

Have you done the online NHS checker? I think if you've had to go to hospital with it before you should probably go again or call 999 if you can't get through on 111. This sounds like it's escalating rather than easing.

@getmetothebeachplease you really need to get this seen by a dr if you can't get a response from 111 please go to minor ailments and if you don't have 1 near then it's going to have to be a trip to A&E. If it's spreading faster that means the antihistamine isn't enough and if you're around the clothes/washing then you will still be being exposed to the allergen which will make your reaction worse.
Sorry to be a doom sayer but it really sounds like you need someone to rewash the washing and ventilate your house whilst you get seen by a Dr

Please go to the hospital @getmetothebeachplease allergies can be very serious, and they will understand why you have gone

Please go to A&E this doesn't sound like washing powder it sounds like my allergic reaction to penicillin...

Definitely A&E if it's spreading fast

@MahMahMahMahCorona

Please go to A&E this doesn't sound like washing powder it sounds like my allergic reaction to penicillin...

Same. I ended up passing out from low blood pressure because I was pumping fluid into my skin on one occasion (with paramedics sorting me out at home), and being ambulanced to a & e later in the episode.

Don’t take chances, OP.

You can fill in a 111 form online. I did this for my Mum when she had a fall (and seemed okay). They rang her shortly after and sent the paramedic. She was fine but they checked her over which was reassuring as she'd bumped her head.

I would second A&E. Allergic reactions can go from mild to dangerous very quickly.

You sound like you need steroids at least.

I do hope that you are now in A and E.

wow, @Aprilx your post was trash. It’s awful that skin conditions are not taken seriously by people like you who see as the patient as “overreacting”.

OP do you know what you may be allergic to? You can get patch testing on the NHS but would need a dermatology referral so call your GP in the morning regardless of whether you go to A&E now.

Rewash your laundry ASAP as your skin will keep getting triggered. Using steroids is helpful short-term, but not if your skin keeps getting inflamed again - you need to address the cause.

Having said that, it doesn’t necessarily sound like contact dermatitis. I have a diagnosed contact allergy but wouldn’t react to laundry as it’s been rinsed before touching my skin - your reaction sounds severe in comparison