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AIBU?

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Original poster

Just came over head to toe in a rash

53 replies

stopbeeping · 12/12/2022 17:32

Within 30mins I was covered
My eyes are swollen

Started with itch burning eyes then ears then lips and face then head and then down my body

I'm swollen like hives and red it's so painful

Why did this happen
I felt shaky and weak and I felt I'll

I've showered and taken 2 anhistamines

Doctor fully booked

1 kid had sf last week
Other had tonsilitis
Other had chest infection

Worried

OP posts:
Nevertrustasilentpoo · 12/12/2022 18:22

Outing so changed my name. But I went from being normal to having full on anaphylaxis shock in less than 4hrs taking naproxen! In doubt go and get it checked. Especially since you I've so close and can walk in.

Original poster
stopbeeping · 12/12/2022 18:23

It's come right down

Working on my list
Eyes still swollen
I almost rang 999 in total fear the itchy was so bad I made myself bleed in places

OP posts:
LittleScottieDog · 12/12/2022 18:26

stopbeeping · 12/12/2022 18:23

It's come right down

Working on my list
Eyes still swollen
I almost rang 999 in total fear the itchy was so bad I made myself bleed in places

I have severe itching when I have an urticaria attack. The best thing I can recommend (if it is this) is taking 3-4 one-a-day antihistamines (my consultant said it was safe but please check - don't take my word for it!), lying down so not moving and NOT SCRATCHING. Scratching seemed to spread the hives so not reacting to the itch was the best thing. In about 30mins I'm normally feeling better, even if I still look all blotchy.

Naunet · 12/12/2022 18:27

Have you been out in the cold? As crazy as it sounds, I had a reaction to the cold once, came out in a rash all over, swollen lips and eyes but felt fine. Never had it again, just a bizarre one off thing.

ZED55JAX0 · 12/12/2022 18:28

I once had something similar turns out my dh had washed our clothes in biological washing powder and I had a full body reaction to wearing them!! I use non Bio and no problem
also allergic to certain make up
cant wear lipstick as it blisters my lips!!!
Think if there’s some change or new product recently?

foggywindows · 12/12/2022 18:29

I have Cold Urticaria and I break out in horrendously itchy hives when I go out into the cold. At one point, just getting out of bed and straight into a dressing gown in the morning was enough to set me off with big red blotches and raised hives on my arms and legs. I now take fexofenadine every morning and I'm usually pretty ok now.

You definitely need to get checked out. Good that the antihistamine is working!

Thatweredeadtightoncheryl · 12/12/2022 18:32

I don't want to worry you but I had an anaphylactic reaction a few years ago, in my 30s, out of the blue. The hospital told me the first time was a warning and the second would've been fatal if I hadn't dialled 999, so please go to the hospital tonight, the next one might cost you your life

jeepdeep · 12/12/2022 18:35

@stopbeeping I suspect this is what you have: www.bad.org.uk/pils/urticaria-and-angioedema/

My son had it a couple of years ago. In his case we think it was linked to a tonsilitis infection which raised his temperature, because he had it a few times during the period of infection, and it was specifically triggered by exercise which raised his temperature further - he has eczema and had childhood food allergies, so is the "reactive" type. However yours may be linked to something else - the leaflet says that sometimes there is no obvious trigger.

Original poster
stopbeeping · 12/12/2022 18:35

Thatweredeadtightoncheryl · 12/12/2022 18:32

I don't want to worry you but I had an anaphylactic reaction a few years ago, in my 30s, out of the blue. The hospital told me the first time was a warning and the second would've been fatal if I hadn't dialled 999, so please go to the hospital tonight, the next one might cost you your life

Did you have a rash that responded to anti histamines? Mine did, I'm wondering if it could come back again this evening as they wear off

OP posts:
Original poster
stopbeeping · 12/12/2022 18:35

I live in Margate I would be at a&e for about 10 hours no joke

OP posts:
Original poster
stopbeeping · 12/12/2022 18:36

jeepdeep · 12/12/2022 18:35

@stopbeeping I suspect this is what you have: www.bad.org.uk/pils/urticaria-and-angioedema/

My son had it a couple of years ago. In his case we think it was linked to a tonsilitis infection which raised his temperature, because he had it a few times during the period of infection, and it was specifically triggered by exercise which raised his temperature further - he has eczema and had childhood food allergies, so is the "reactive" type. However yours may be linked to something else - the leaflet says that sometimes there is no obvious trigger.

That sounds like me I think it's because I've had a terrible throat (I don't have any tonsils any more)

OP posts:
Thatweredeadtightoncheryl · 12/12/2022 18:37

I had a rash, my eye closed over and I had a swollen tongue.

jeepdeep · 12/12/2022 18:37

stopbeeping · 12/12/2022 18:35

I live in Margate I would be at a&e for about 10 hours no joke

Phone 111. If it has responded to antihistemines it is probably not an emergency, but worth speaking to someone about it.

Novemberhater · 12/12/2022 18:39

stopbeeping · 12/12/2022 18:35

I live in Margate I would be at a&e for about 10 hours no joke

I was at Ashford for nine and a half hours a few days ago. Two ladies had been waiting for more than 24 hours. I was wondering if Margate was any better. Clearly not!

concernedalot · 12/12/2022 18:40

Just keep up with the antihistamines OP, get some rest and drink fluids. You sound sensible. If it gets worse obviously get yourself up to the hospital which you said was 2 minutes away. No point ringing 111. Ring your GP in the morning if you're still concerned.

Blanketpolicy · 12/12/2022 18:45

Last time I had a head to toe rash come up that quickly was when I absentmindedly licked a drop of ds's pencillian liquid off my finger. It covered every inch of my body from head to toe within minutes, very scary and lasted a couple of hours.

I had had a moderate reaction to pencillian as a teen over 20 years previously and had avoided ever since, unsure if I would react again, now I know I will!

Blossomandbee · 12/12/2022 18:45

Have you changed washing powder? I had a similar reaction once and it was new washing powder, I had worn the clothes all day it came on suddenly in the evening

Gerwurtztraminer · 12/12/2022 19:00

I'd monitor it and if it's not getting worse, then get a GP appointment if you ca to get a referral to an allergy clinic via your GP, even if it takes months to get an appointment

I had a full body allergic reaction some years ago, ended up in A&E on a drip for steroids and antihistamines as OTC medications had no impact after 2 days. My whole face and eyes swelled, my lips looked like I'd had a bad lip filler treatment and I had an insanely itchy red rash head to toe, including between my toes, on my scalp and in my ear canal. Tongue swelled and went floppy for about 45 minutes as well which was probably the most worrying. But no breathing problems oddly.

We never got to the bottom on what had caused it (no new washing powder, shower gels, lotions, makeup or food that I could identify) and I've not had a similar reaction since. It's scary as you feel on edge for ages afterwards, so worth asking for a referral even if it takes months to get an appointment.

PraiseTheSunshine · 12/12/2022 19:05

That definitely sounds like an allergic reaction. I had the same happen to me when I had an allergic reaction to amoxicillin. I'd ring 111 for advice and write down anything you've eaten or had contact with💐

Original poster
stopbeeping · 15/12/2022 11:23

This was within ten minutes
I'm much less swollen today and been taking fenofexadine
When I called the GP they said call 999 and didn't say what to do to follow up
They are still telling me to go to a&e

Do I need to insist on a GP appt for a plan because I don't know what triggered it? I'm frightened it will be worse if it happens again

Just came over head to toe in a rash
OP posts:
Original poster
stopbeeping · 15/12/2022 11:24

Gerwurtztraminer · 12/12/2022 19:00

I'd monitor it and if it's not getting worse, then get a GP appointment if you ca to get a referral to an allergy clinic via your GP, even if it takes months to get an appointment

I had a full body allergic reaction some years ago, ended up in A&E on a drip for steroids and antihistamines as OTC medications had no impact after 2 days. My whole face and eyes swelled, my lips looked like I'd had a bad lip filler treatment and I had an insanely itchy red rash head to toe, including between my toes, on my scalp and in my ear canal. Tongue swelled and went floppy for about 45 minutes as well which was probably the most worrying. But no breathing problems oddly.

We never got to the bottom on what had caused it (no new washing powder, shower gels, lotions, makeup or food that I could identify) and I've not had a similar reaction since. It's scary as you feel on edge for ages afterwards, so worth asking for a referral even if it takes months to get an appointment.

Gosh how worrying

Did you get an appt with the allergy clinic?

OP posts:
Original poster
stopbeeping · 15/12/2022 11:24

Blossomandbee · 12/12/2022 18:45

Have you changed washing powder? I had a similar reaction once and it was new washing powder, I had worn the clothes all day it came on suddenly in the evening

That's interesting. I haven't changed washing powder though.
It could be something from earlier in the day I touched ?

OP posts:
Original poster
stopbeeping · 15/12/2022 11:25

@Novemberhater

EKH is in dire straits
I am ashamed this is what we have for the local people here in an emergency
Soul destroying for all involved

OP posts:
StrawberryPot · 15/12/2022 11:29

This happened to me twice in my early twenties. Started feeling itchy and came out in hives from top to toe. If I scratched they would join together to make bigger ones. Only lasted 24 hours on each occasion. I did go to the GP but by then there was nothing for him to see so he just shrugged his shoulders. I hadn't eaten or used anything different that I could think of.

Anyway, that was decades ago and, apart from those two occasions, it hasn't happened since.

Original poster
stopbeeping · 15/12/2022 11:32

StrawberryPot · 15/12/2022 11:29

This happened to me twice in my early twenties. Started feeling itchy and came out in hives from top to toe. If I scratched they would join together to make bigger ones. Only lasted 24 hours on each occasion. I did go to the GP but by then there was nothing for him to see so he just shrugged his shoulders. I hadn't eaten or used anything different that I could think of.

Anyway, that was decades ago and, apart from those two occasions, it hasn't happened since.

I have had hives a few times I know what you mean about them joining

This was so different to the hives I have had in the past

Which some welts were the size of my hand (hives)

OP posts: