Hives...

[MRG_06_10]

I have what I believe to be hives on my legs from taking advil, now switched to aleve (I generally don't take any pills very often) for inflammation of tendons in my shoulder. Benedryl cream isnt cutting it. Should I switch to oral benedryl. The dr office said cream or liquid but i can't take liquid anything (not since some awful penicillin as a child) so would the pills work? And how long would I need to wait between using the cream and then taking an oral dose? I'm sick of phone tag and I have a few more days before my follow up. This has been going on for 2.5 weeks. I have difficulty with getting to the drs office and tight on funds, so I'm trying to keep it to just the Workmans Comp related appointments. Thank You for your help!

[MRG_06_10]

Thank You For responding.  No test was done, just a visual exam by an LPN who then passed me off to another dr who decided I needed an exam that may have lasted 10 seconds at most.  Its strange that the "lesions" I have had occur at three separate times have looked the same and healed up the same regardless of treatment.  I also find it odd that I was advised that no one else in the household would need treatment. If it were such a contagious situation why am I the only person to have it? I also was alarmed by the fact that I seemed to get a few spots then suddenly have hundreds. I know people that have dealt with that situation and they say that my skin doesn't look like what they experienced.
Should I break out again after I have washed everything in the house in extremely hot water including bedding I will be seeking treatment at another facility.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Scabies is an infestation of the skin with the Sarcoptes scabiei mite. It is characterized by intense itching, usually at night and by small insect-type bites lesions on the skin. Diagnosis of scabies is made by scraping the skin and viewing the material under a microscope to see the characteristic mite or eggs.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[MRG_06_10]

After the aforementioned issues, I was prescribed nabumetone. I took 3 doses over three days, afraid I'd have a bad reaction. The fourth day I woke up with what I thought to be hives on my shoulders, underarms, breast area, abdomen, legs and arms.  I had a physical coming up in a few days so I used calamine. At that appointment I was told to try Zyrtec for the allergy. After the 3rd dose of 24hr Z. I woke up to over 300 spots. Had to wait 2 days to see the same Doctor since it was over the weekend. Was given a descending dose of methylprednisolone. That seem to clear it up over the next  6 days. I was ok for 12 days then started getting a few spots over the course of a week. Over that following weekend I came up with a large number like before. Straight to the Dr. Monday morning and I get told I have Scabies and get a prescription cream and told to wash all my clothes, etc.  Internet research does not quite match what I am experiencing. I was told by a person who had it that once the cream is applied I would see black dots raise up as the organisms were killed and yet I saw nothing after a hot shower and ample cream. Does anyone have any experience with this. I am simply mortified as I am an extremely clean person. Please Help!