sudden new itching

[mollie carey]

just wondering if anyone has had this, I have had a serious uticaria rash allergic reaction several months ago, and twice had to use an epi pen.  My allergies have been horrible, causing itchy eyes, fatigue, runny nose, sore throat.... Last night I woke with itchy hands, and feet and then random all over itching, no bites, no hives, took some benedryl, got better, did not develop into any rash. I spent more time outside yesterday than I have so far and wondered if the pollen was in my hair from working in my yard, or just the allergies themselves could cause itching, anyone else have this?

[mollie carey]

nurse called me back and said you can have itching with allergies, esp. at night, seems weird, but hope that is all it is.

[eija]

Yep, allergies can cause the weirdest things. But itching esp. at night? Heh... well, why not... 

I vaguely remember reading somewhere (no idea where, though!) that nerve-related itching often happens at night, too.

Hoping yours will subside soon. I've been popping antihistamines, too, lately. Because of random itching but also because of stupid insect bites which kind of kill me

[jazzlover]

Be sure to Google Mastocytosis or Mast Cell Activation Disease.

I suspect this is what I have. Not easy to get a diagnosis. Itching in the middle of the night means inflammation. My allergist says I have an auto-immune uticaria (hives.)

I know of a Dr who can dx me regarding the Mast Cells, but he's not in my plan.

Also search Histamine Intolerance. You may find help with a different diet.

[mollie carey]

The doctor told me " When an allergen is responsible for triggering an immune system response, then it is an allergic skin condition and this is mostly due to seasonal allergies". He said seasonal allergies can cause body itching, along, with eyes, nose and other parts esp. since I had been working outside all day and I am allergic to every tree, grass and flower but the doug fir, so I am basically allergic to a lot that is blooming, it just never happened before, I guess it is happens tonight and through the weekend, I will go to doc on Monday.

[jazzlover]

Well, that would actually be "good news."

I got tested and I didn't react to any allergens.... so ....

http://www.thepatientceliac.com/2014/01/04/mast-cell-activation-syndrome-madness/

What's strange is that 30 yrs ago I was on allergy shots and was allergic to just about everything.

[eija]

Okay, wow.

I've been to allergy tests several times over years. Nothing. Just puzzled doctors because they're so sure I am allergic. To something. For sure. Once in a prick test the lab tech doing the test wondered when I got no reaction of the allergens, only of the histamine thing which is there for comparison only.

Just last night, waiting for sleep, I was thinking that I'm "sero-negative for allergens" 

One thing for me seems to be cross allergies. And those are difficult to determine. Like getting a reaction from raw potatoes - but only when there's birch pollen in the air, too. Etc.

BUT the eternal dilemma: How to present this to a doctor? I hate the idea of going there, showing some stuff that seems spot on, but to have her thinking I'm fishing the 'net to find diagnoses

[mollie carey]

I agree about the cross reactions, I had a bout of uticaria that last 2 days and they had to give me the epi pen after iv's of steroids and bendryl would not control it, and I think it was a combo reaction.  After washing my hair before bed, no itching last night so I am thinking I had pollen in my hair, I read that if you have bad allergies you should shower after being outside. Kind of a pain morning and night.

[Carolina]

The entire immune thing is often very weird for us.

I never test positive for any autoimmune conditions (which I have).

I test positive for almost every thing I'm allergy tested for (when I have a few specific allergies, but not to everything like shows up on the tests).

This is what has always made me so skeptical about the tests that doctors RELY on for making decisions.

Heavens I test allergic to apples, and pork, and scads of things that don't bother me at all!

So I rely upon my own experiences, and get what I need as best i can.

I do know that when my system is in a flare, I itch all over and my skins burns.  The itching is like a Christmas tree with lights that twinkle on and off.

And the itching is more like stabbing and stinging, but no hives. 

I'm also completely exhausted, in great body pain and depressed when this happens.  It is an all over 'thing' with my immune system throwing a fit.

I take antihistamines, and pain meds (OTC) and go to bed and wait it out.  NO FUN.

Hugs,  Elaine

[Scottietottie]

Plaquenil causes some people to itch and so does the sun.

[jazzlover]

eija... My PCP is very open. I took some info to him and I think he thought my idea of the mast cells was quite possible for me.

He sent me to the allergist, but I knew ahead of time that this Dr didn't handle mast cell issues. I was not sure about approaching him regarding it. I've only seen him once.

I went on Facebook and found out that another DR in the same city can help me. Right now I don't have the money to see him because he's not in my plan.

I am researching on how to help myself in the meantime.

Caroline... my itching is often very intense like you described.

[mollie carey]

I am not sure if I should be tested for the MAST but I do feel much better on a gluten free diet and my daughter put herself on one when she was 16 and her ashma almost completely cleared up, and eczema cleared totally and she feels much more energy, runs everyday, is in great shape.  I have tested for high ANA's, very high RO and High LA, in a specked pattern, and at times had low C3, found in lupus, high sed rate, and a rheumatoid factor when first dx.  I also have CVIV and do sub q gammaglobulin each week, with no reactions at all.  I was having reactions that lasted a week even when pre medding with more steroids, and benedryl. At least I did not itch last night, hoping I have been outside too much and had pollen in my hair.

[Helene]

I've been having this too. I get little rashes on my legs and back that itch a lot. The weirdest thing is that I've had allergies since birth and extreme reactions to dogs, rabbits and cats where I'm sick for weeks after exposure, but since I've been dx with CVID and Sjogrens, I no longer respond to any of the allergy tests. It makes me feel crazy since I've become almost phobic about avoiding dogs and cats. I even have an attack if a friend has animal dander on their clothes and sits too close. I originally went to my allergist/immunologist to see about getting allergy shots to make my life easier, but there's no point now that I don't register a reaction to the allergen samples. I assume all this is connected. At least now I'm getting ivig for the cvid and it may help the sjogrens. And maybe it will ultimately help with the allergies that are now medically invisible.

[jazzlover]

Helene .. That is exactly what mast cells are all about. They release histamine even when we are "NOT ALLERGIC."

[Helene]

I think I had a negative Mast test too though, or do you mean something else? I'll look it up. All this auto-immune/allergy/immune deficiency combo has me very confused.