Swelling & itching

[GeekLady]

I have had some very strange symptoms. First, my face and lips were swollen only on the left side of my face, very red and itchy but no bumps or raised areas. It was gone in about two days. Afterward, I had the same symptoms in my right hand: swollen, red, itchy palm and it "moved" across my palm. Again, it disappeared in about 48 hours. "It" next showed up on the opposite wrist; same symptoms and duration. Next, I developed the itchy-swelly (for lack of a better name) on my ring finger only for the same 48 hours or so, and most recently it has developed where I sit. I wish I were joking.
I'm not on any meds except vitamins (which I take hit-or-miss), calcium (daily). I was taking a hoodia supplement but have abstained from taking anything else while this is going on.
The only change in routine has been to bring my plants inside. I suspected an allergic reaction of sorts, but it does not respond to antihistamines and topical ointments don't help much either.
Any ideas? I am concerned about where it will turn up next.
I was quite healthy until hitting the big 50 this year!

Thanks,
GeekLady

[GeekLady]

I asked the dentist and a nurse about it - no one seems familiar with these symptoms. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Unregistered]

I asked the dentist and a nurse about it - no one seems familiar with these symptoms. Anyone have any suggestions?

sounds like hives i have them i take zyrtec and it work about 80% of the time
if you get swelling and itching around your mouth or toungue go to the hospital
because this could be a bad allergic reaction to something .i wish that i could
tell you how to stop it but the hive once it starts will run its course you can help it along by putting ice on it to reduce the swelling but it will still itch and swell good luck

[Unregistered]

sounds like hives i have them i take zyrtec and it work about 80% of the time
if you get swelling and itching around your mouth or toungue go to the hospital
because this could be a bad allergic reaction to something .i wish that i could
tell you how to stop it but the hive once it starts will run its course you can help it along by putting ice on it to reduce the swelling but it will still itch and swell good luck

after reading the symtoms again im almost positive that it is hives it sounds just like mine

[Unregistered]

I had these symptoms intermittently for about ten years. (between the age of 16 and 26) I used to call them my lumps. The gradually went away and never returned. they defied any proper diagnosis except a consensus that they were allergic in their origin.

I would advise you search for a food allergy or contact allergy

[Don]

I will sometimes have a small round spot about the size of a quarter in the center of my right palm that itches and swells. It will go away after a few hours. This happens for no reason that I know of. I haven't been able to discover the cause.
Thanks,
Don

[hoping]

I believe you are suffering specifically from angioedema hives. Its a type of hive..where only specific areas swell up. My sister n law had it..it lasted for a year. I know she took benadryl. Myself, on the other hand, suffering from chronic hives...see my thread (hoping-chronic hives)

good luck!!!!

[AshleyHH]

What kinds of things are you allergic to?
And what allergen do you think you had contact with?

[funkyhives]

Geek Lady,

This is the exact description of what I've been suffering from. I've been to a ton of doctors and allergists and they really have no clue what is going on. Online searches yielded hereditary angiodema as a possibility. There is a simple blood test for this. I tested negative for this, but by trying to find a physician who knew anything about it, I have found the best answers to my condition to date. My doctor believes that this condition is from what he calls an immune system with an itchy trigger finger...It'll often show up in places where the body is irritated or there is direct pressure, such as your ring finger or waistband, or from sitting on your ***. Higher stress levels certainly make things worse.

It's extremely frustrating, especially when it disappears for months at a time (you think you're cured) and then returns. Feel free to drop me a line, I'd love to hear what you find out.

funkyhives@gmail.com

[Itchybee]

I've been with hives for over 4 years already! :-( 24/7, 365 days of the year! I take zyrtec every night. If a miss a dose I get the swelling and itching in any part of my body. I have seen tons of doctors and specialists and the only answer they have given me is "keep taking zyrtec", "you have ideopathic allergy" which means it's unknown.
I can't live with this. I refuse to take zyrtec for the rest of my life. I don't think any long term medication is good for your health, besides it's costly.
Please, any advice? Did anyone find a cure? The ice, lose clothing, prednisone, nothing works, except zyrtec.
I have tested negative to any possible thing it could cause my allegy. No foods, no animals, nothing, zero. I'm so discouraged. No one in my family suffers from something like this.