Another question for the doctors (allergists?)

Jeff Alton · 07-13-2007, 08:16 PM

So, I am allergic to just about everything that floats in the air. I take a daily antihistamine in the summer months when they are real bad, but don't in the other seasons as I don't really want those in my system. I treat the symptoms topically (nasal spray and eye drops) in the "off season"

Well, this year my symptoms have been bareable, not too bad really. But, today I am out for a run in the morning and at a little over one hour into it my wrist starts to get itchy. I re adjust my watch thinking maybe that is what is causing it. I get home about 30mins later in a fair amount of discomfort. Eyes are now itchy, nose is plugging up, throat is dry etc.... I head up stairs for a shower and pull my shirt off to find I am breaking out in hives. Up both arms and legs and my upper torso. Hmmm, I think not so good. Then I look in the mirror and they are forming on my eyelids as well.

I go get my eye drops and go to town with those and then take a couple of Benedryl I keep around and jump in the shower.
Not much change and I notice an increase in heart rate, very slight. I am not sure if it is from my allergic reaction or my fear that maybe the hives is not all that I am going to see......

Head off to the clinic and wait and wait, and things seem to be getting better. So I leave and I head off to work and around 2 hours later the hives are gone, but my eyes are still killing me.

The strange thing is this is a route I run fairly often and have never seen an increase in symtoms....

Did I get this from something airbourne or is it something else? I have had some bad attacks before but it always centered around nose, eyes and throat. This was weird. I have handled the clothes I had on agian this evening (doing laundry) and got no reaction from it.....

I have been tested and it was stated at the time by the allergist that taking shots probably will not cure my allergies.

Cheers

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Dude, you need to keep an epi pen around if you are getting symptoms like that. Something did it, perhaps some insect bite that you did not notice? Maybe someone was burning some brush you are particularly sensitive to, like poison oak or something.

The watch bothered you because you were swelling and it got tight is my bet. If you are swelling up like that, next time it happens you might just stop breathing, tongue or throat swell enough to close airway. Often you get a more severe reaction the second time you are exposed to an allergen. First time gets your immune system revved up to react, subsequent exposures are potentially much worse. Not a bad idea to keep 100 mg of benadryl on your person, just in case.

Jeff Alton · 07-13-2007, 08:33 PM

Good advice, having lived with the allergies for so long I think maybe I am a wee bit complacent with them. Strangley I put teh Benadryl in my car, my gym bag, and my desk drawer today once I got to work!

No burning going on around here, it is so dry right now there is a ban on. Needless to say, I won't be using that stretch of road for a while....

Never thought of an epi pen though, I should look into that.

Cheers

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Epi pen is potentially a life saver, depending on severity of allergy. Say you are allergic to bee stings and get stung, might buy you enough time to get to the hospital. Take some benadryl when you go running for sure.

livi · 07:00 AM

Although allergy, asthma and other atopic diseases are my specialty, the spectrum is different in the pediatric setting. Sounds like you experienced a fairly substantive game of urticaria and angio edema. In children, both symptoms are very common and rather few are accompanied by more severe, life threatening symptoms like asthmatic reactions and anaphylaxia.

Most of these reactions are of unknown origin but many of them are caused by viral infections and as such not a 'true' allergic reaction. Those with known multiple allergies, not least from food, will of course suffer from specific allergic reactions and as such running a higher risk of more severe reactions. However, even in these cases it is often impossible to pin point the exact culprit. Many times our immune system reacts unpredictably. One single allergen might not evoke a reaction, but in combination with others the immunological reaction may (or may not) run amok.

In your case it might have been one or probably several different air borne allergens cooperating - together with you straining the system.

A certain fact is that no matter what level of original allergic reaction - exercise will very much raise the risk of more severe symptoms.

Impossible to give any specific advice long distance as usual, but as previously stated, it is probably not a bad idea to have both cortisone and an adrenaline pen like Epi-pen or Ana-pen handy. First of all I would however see a doctor with this specialty.

Oh, and I would definitely take an anti histamine daily all year. The local topical medications for nose and eyes are fine for the local symptoms, but they do not block the systemic allergic reaction which is paramount in lowering the risk for systemic more severe reactions. They are also harmless in modern iterations.

Excuse my bad spelling. Spell check did not work.

Jeff Alton · 07-14-2007, 04:32 AM

Thanks Markus,

I am planning another trip to the alergist, and my family doctor as well.

Good to know that it is okay to take antihistamines daily, I thought they may be hard on the system.

Cheers

Joeaksa · 07-14-2007, 07:09 AM

We carry Epi pens on the airplane. All it takes is one insect bite and some people go into shock. If you are over the water or far from an airport/hospital then the persons chances are not good.

If you have issues like this look into an Epi pen with your doctor.

Steve Carlton · 07-14-2007, 07:49 AM

Something worth trying might be Pollinosan by Bioforce. It was like a miracle for me. My spleen got ruptured when I was 19 and I moved to Westwood a few months later. I'd wake up every morning and sneeze 4-5 times in a row in quick succession and was often miserable. I saw an Ear Nose and Throat doctor, had my tonsils removed, stopped drinking milk and eating dairy products, and ultimately got better after my cat passed away. But of all the things I tried along the way, the Pollinosan virtually cured me. I used the little tablets, you put them under your tongue and let them dissolve. I didn't even take them as often as is recommended, and taped off. I've heard you can do that and be cured, and I don't doubt it. It's some sort of homeopathic medicine; for me it was awesome. Worth a try...

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

I remember like it was yesterday. I was a lad of 6 years.

Woke up in the middle of the night, could not breathe, had been coughing and croupy earlier. Woke Mom up, she turns on the light, takes one look at me, grabs a syringe from her sock drawer and gives it to me IV in a big vein at the base of my thumb. It was solumedrol, my older brother had asthma. Slept in the bathroom floor with the shower running and her observing me from her perch on the commode. She went and bought a humidifier the next day(That might help you too, the humidifier, not the solumedrol, although I bet that would not hurt.)

Nice to have a mother who is an anesthesiologist and stays calm in about the most stressful type of situation I can imagine. Wife is a critical care/ER nurse who is like that too. Good people to have around when bad things are happening

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

I've had ~20 bee stings in my life. The last sting (2 years ago) knocked me on my butt. I went into mild shock, swelled up, muscles locked, stomach seized, and was profusely sweating. Spent 4 hours in the ER with various drugs/IVs before they were comfortable sending me home. Next sting very well might kill me they warned. I used to carry around an EpiPen but they are difficult to maintain (avoid heat) and expensive. I now carry around a bottle of Benedryl. Hopefully I don't get stung again...