The Hives Return

Itchy Itchy Itchy

The hives returned yesterday. Actually they never really leave, but they become less bothersome. Yesterday they decided to hop into high gear. Bumps everwhere my clothing touched, bumps all over my back, bumps on my face, bumps on my arms, bumps on my chest. Bumpity bump bump they were popping out everywhere. Very uncomfortable. My eyes are very scratchy too.

Taking a large assortment of antihistimines hoping to make this better, but they aren't working. The itchiness is a little less, but truthfully just thinking about the hives writing this is creating itchy spots everywhere. It feels like they are in my ears, in my nose, and my throat.

Guess I will have to call the immunologist Dr. Calm Monday. I have waited more than a week to see if the higher dose of thyroid medication would help. They were better for a few days, probably some carry over from the prednison, but have been getting worse each day. The more I itch the worse they get....

Having a hard time sitting still this evening. Antihistimines (especially the older ones like vistaril and benedryl) can cause you to move erratically. They certainly do that to me - its an uncontrollable urge to move.

Hoping everyone had a great weekend. Adios Amigos as the Cisco Kid would say! The Cisco Kid and Pancho were my favorite TV vaqueros growing up. I'll bet they never got hives even in the strong desert sun.

KU Medical Center Day

I'm On the March to Painville

I drove to Kansas City today to see my headache specialist. Have had the appointment for a few months. Also squeezed in a visit to the Immunology department to discuss my horrid hives.

My specialist was pleased with my progress to partially functional, since I was coming from totally disfunctional territory the last time she saw me.

I told her that the Benedryl is having less and less effect, and she said that is a draw back for Benedryl. She prescribed Vistaril, another sedating antihistamine medication to take in combination with phenergan. She said the trammadol I was taking probably wasn't doing much good for the type headache I have, and I said it didn't do much, but was in assistance in sedating me when the headache got bad enough. She said the Vistaril should do the trick, even though it is a low dose. She also mentioned if the oral route of a medication doesn't help with a headache, sometimes it helps to bypass the digestive system, either as a suppository or as a specially compounded skin absorbing cream. She said there just isn't much that can be done for The Headache other than what we are already doing. She said she would like to see how The Headache does after the three month study period, when all the bells, whistles, and programming gets turned on the occipital stimulator. Me too!

The immunologist took pity on my hivey body and loaded me up with samples of some expensive medications. She also said I need to carry TWO Epipens with me. I keep one in the car at all times, but never thought of carrying two in my purse. More blood tests, meaning more co-pay. Sigh. At least I got the free samples!!! I was glad to get reestablished with someone who is used to treating chronic hives. The only allergist I found locally after my immunologist passed away last fall said he didn't treat chronic hives.

I left at 4:30 this morning in order to get to KC in time for my first appointment. I drove through dreadful rain and lightening half the way there, and then bumper to bumper traffic after I hit the Kansas City limits. I had forgotten what real rush hour traffic is like! The Headache did not behave itself, even after I fiddled with my stimulator controls.

Tonight I will be trying the Vistaril to see how it goes, but am waiting until the last minute because I am determined to get some things done. I won't be able to save myself from hurting, since the march to painville has already started and is well on its way, so I'm going to suck it up and see how long I can last. I was able to work for about an hour after I got home, so at least I am drawing some wages for today. Hoorah!