Question about a rash

[Goobr]

3 1/4 years ago (exactly 4 weeks after the  birth of my daughter), I awoke at approximately 4am itching all over. I had lines all over my skin where I had scratched (I looked like i was in dire need of an exorcism). I have had this rash ever since. About a week after it started, I realized it wasn't going anywhere, I start to medicate myself with benadryl.  After a while, the benadryl didn't quite suffice any more and I got fed up and saught a doctor's opinion. I was sent home with a week of steroids and told that this would fix it once and for all. My CBC came up normal, no other tests were ran. The steroids didn't knock this rash down at all. I saught his help again. He told me that it would resolve on it's own, he was out of ideas (that didn't take long). I went home and upped my benadryl and hoped for the best. A year or so later I downward spiraled, the rash became worse, the benadryl helped but not enough (I had graduated to 3 pills before bed, spray, and cream all of which were diphenhydradmine HCL). The doctor gave me some zyrtec (which was Rx and expensive and I could not afford).  A month later, I returned (hoping for some more free samples as I was in agony) and I DEMANDED that my liver and kidney functions be tested. Once again, all normal, sent home with an RX for Zyrtec. After going to doctor after doctor after doctor, I was referred to an allergist. I was given a scratch test, and out of over 100 scratches, it came up as being allergic to EVERYTHING EXCEPT apples, bananas, vaseline, and crisco. I find this hilarious. I told the doctor that everything that touches my skin will make a mark, but she said that since there were some negative reactions (meanin, smaller than the "control") that i was IN FACT allergic to everything but the above noted things. I was told to get rid of our animals, have somebody else vacuum, use inhalers, continue with my antihistamines, and eat only ONE serving of any given allergen in a day. Oh, they also INJECTED me with my own serum and did a scratch control beside it and told me i was not allergic to my own self....though I think this is inconclusive because the control was scratched, the serum was injected...injections do not make me itch. Well, I tried what she said, and I tried what every other doctor said....I am in H3LL! I am at a loss of what to do any more. Every day I itch, and if I am even slightly late on my antihistamines, I have a breakdown and have a hard tim getting it back under control. I have not been able to go a day with out antihistmines for 3 years....and even with them, I still have a large number of breakouts. With the medications though, at least I don't rip my skin off in agony, I am just uncomfortable all the time. I got rid of my cats, I eat better, I take medications (benadryl pills, cream, spray, and zyrtec), I clean my house extra good (we even moved and bought a new bed and new sheets). We have tried air filtration/cleansers. I have tried soaps/shampoos/cleansers/lotions...everything. I have tried elimination diets...nothing is working. If anybody out there knows of anything that I am missing, please let me know. I have not had my thyroid checked, i do know that thyroid problems run in the family, but nobody had itching issues. I have gained 30 pounds in the last 3 years, but I don't think that is related. I am trying to lose the extra weight (in hopes that it might help) but (and I don't know if this is related)...I can'tget the scale to budge (but I don't know if this is related). Other than that, I do have frequent short bouts of nausea (which I'm pretty sure are related to BC pills, as both of my pregnancies made me VERY ill). I had no complications in the pregnancy preceeding the onset of symptoms, but was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in the second pregnancy. I have smoked during my lifetime, but I have quit. At one point in time I was having horrible cramps in my stomach, it was H.Pylori, it has been treated,a nd I have not had any recurrence with that infection.other than that, I now live a very healthy lifestyle, I hoped this would help, but it hasn't in the least bit. What am I missing? Any ideas as to what is causing this? What might I do to rid myself of this horrible itching?

[Dr J Singh]

Hello,

I see that you are having the problem of chronic urticaria.It is defined as urticaria that persists for longer than 6 weeks. In most of the cases of chronic urticaria, the underlying pathology is idiopathic i.e it is not linked to any cause. It is essential to rule out the presence of serious illnesses of which recurring hives can be a symptom. Examples are hepatitis, hyperthyroidism,diabetes, lymphomas, collagen vascular diseases, and cancers of the rectum, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Chronic infections such as chronic sinusitis can be associated with urticaria.

I feel that you should find out the cause of your chronic urticaria by ruling out the various conditions causing it.The phenomenon of getting rashes even on firm stroking is called dermographism.Moreover the eosinophil counts are pointing towards chronic urticaria.

Pls discuss this possibility with your allergist.

Hope it helps.Kind regards and pls do keep me posted.

[Goobr]

Oh, I forgot to add... My eosinophils are off the roof (obviously suggesting some sort of allergic response), my blood was tested for parasites and came out negative (which I understand is not anywhere near foolproof)...my skin has never been tested for scabies (however i have inked my arm a couple of times out of paranoia of this, I saw no signs). The only other issues I have are really bad memory issues (once again, probably no correlation, I'm just trying to give as much personal info as possible).