Please help - 'reaction' since November.

[kittysaysmeow]

I’m desperate so hoping someone can help me.
Sorry this will be long because I want to be thorough.
I’ve been to the doctors and they’ve ruled out anything medical (blood tests etc) and suggested its allergy or bites… but no idea what.
I have intense itching (think chicken pox intensity) from little raised bumps (bumps about 2-4 millimeters) – they are either skin coloured or pink. No puss or red dots etc. I’ve scratched so much I literally have cuts and scabs everywhere but the itching is so intense I will willingly make myself bleed to stop it. The bumps don’t hurt, or burn, or sting at all – they just itch like crazy. No rash and not spreading. No red area. No blisters, welts, etc.
The affected areas were only my feet and lower legs for months. However, last night it was one arm affected (coincides with me having worn a tshirt all day and going to bed in a tshirt). No where else on the body is affected.
I have two small children and a partner and no-one else is affected and we all share a bed. So it can’t be bed bugs etc – there isn’t a single mark on them.
I thought it might be what I’m washing the clothes in so changed detergent and conditioner and it hasn’t made a difference and – as I said -it’s mainly feet and lower legs.
Having been to the pharmacist and doctor I’ve tried anti itching cream, chamomile lotion, steroids (!), and anti histamines and nothing has helped.
I’ve spent ages looking at insect bites online and the marks don’t really resemble anything. I suppose they might look like beg bug or flea marks – similar size but rather than be bright red or very pink in the pictures, mine are light pink or skincolour. Also, no-one in the house is affected.
I have a cat and have had her over a year. I’ve had these “bites”/”reaction” since November (got cat in April).
I’m at a total loss.
It’s so bad I cannot sleep. Does anyone know anything that could help please?

how has it been left with the doctors?

i would wager it’s cat related

Do those little lumps contain any hard, crystal-like grains? Only mentioning that as if you are dumping oxalate the crystals can emerge via the skin and itch like mad. But there would be those grains coming out.

pomflix? not sure of the spelling -

Having ruled out diabetics etc they just encouraged me to 'reduce exposure to allergens' but I don't know what the issue is :(

This is my concern - due to the main irritation being 'cat level' . I had two cats (one died). The issue is the worst now with one. I had a cat before these two and had no issues at all.

Is there anything I could do for cat related that you know of?

No they just bleed when scratched. They just seem to be little raised bumps. Nothing in them - no pain or hardness or anything. No central dot or rash or pattern.

Just little raised skin colour or pink bumps I scratch and then they bleed.

Fleas I’d wager from the feet/lower legs location

Has your cat been dosed or checked recently?

If it is fleas follow all instructions re treating the house as well as the cat

And personally if it is I’d go hard with proper flea treatments that will also inhibit the life-cycle as well as kill the fleas

If not, GP for sure as an allergy can develop even if not there previously and you might damage your skin further by trying lots of home treatments

no-one else affected doesn’t rule out fleas though

daily antihistamines
or
rehome

That's been considered and ruled out because there's no weeping or crusting or pain etc.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Have you got any pictures?

The only antihistamine that does anything for my skin reactions is acrivastine.

Could be fleas. The thing that made me think not was

1. No one else is affected and I spend the least time with the cat.
2. The cat doesn't seem affected
3. Cat is regularly treated.

I might take to vet just to check the treatment is working to at least rule that out completely.

Spray your home regardless some people are immune to fleas and/or bed bugs

I did not know that if fleas it might only be some affected and not all. Blimey.

I feel horrified and embarrassed. I ruled it out because it was just me and figured it must be an allergy.

I'll deep treat and spray everything immediately. Booking vet visit.

I do treat the cat every month with anti flea but it might not be affective I suppose.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm now working on the assumption it is fleas. Horrified.

Will deep clean, treat, and see what happens. Hopefully this is the breakthrough.

Are you treating the cat with proper prescription treatment from the vet? Most OTC stuff doesn't work properly unfortunately.

Fleas are buggers and really hard to get rid of Al- you'll need to treat your entire home including all carpets and soft furnishings.

Do you have a holiday booked at all? If it is fleas/the cat, I’d assume you might see an improvement or change in the symptoms if away for a week or more. If not, do you have anyone you could stay with for a week or so to test it as a theory?!

Have you ever seen a change in symptoms or is it constant?