Swollen eye, itching and broken out all over

lizzydavis
lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I woke up this morning (5:00 am)with my left eye swollen, several whelps on my body and itching. I didn't know what to do and it was very bothersome and scary. I called the onc on call. He wasn't my doctor and just said you must be allergic to something. He recommended I take benedryl. I went to Walmart at 5:30 am and bought the benedryl. I have been taking 2 tabs every 4 hours. I have some relief but my eye is still swollen, I am itching all over, and going nuts! Any suggestions? Thanks.

Comments

  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #2
    Sounds like an allergic reaction
    Like your doctor said, some sort of allergic reaction. I would wait and see, if it gets worse, maybe talk to your pharmacist or check an ER?

    Did you eat anything out of the ordinary or get a bug bite, those can certainly do it. I had a bug bite once that made me swell up like a pumpkin head.
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #3
    PhillieG said:

    Sounds like an allergic reaction
    Like your doctor said, some sort of allergic reaction. I would wait and see, if it gets worse, maybe talk to your pharmacist or check an ER?

    Did you eat anything out of the ordinary or get a bug bite, those can certainly do it. I had a bug bite once that made me swell up like a pumpkin head.

    I did eat scallops ...
    I did eat scallops but they have never bothered me. These did have cumin on them which I have never had. I went for a walk last night but I do not know about bug bites. These whelps are all over my body. They do get better when I take benedryl but only temporarily. Yikes. Thanks for your response.
  • Fight for my love
    Fight for my love Member Posts: 1,522 Member
    #4
    lizzydavis said:

    I did eat scallops ...
    I did eat scallops but they have never bothered me. These did have cumin on them which I have never had. I went for a walk last night but I do not know about bug bites. These whelps are all over my body. They do get better when I take benedryl but only temporarily. Yikes. Thanks for your response.

    Hi Lizzy,since you mentioned
    Hi Lizzy,since you mentioned about walking outside last night, this let me remember the other day the TV says people get sick from ticks,and sometimes it's hard to diagnosis.I suggest you to go see a doctor soon.Hopefully you will get well soon,take care.
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #5
    Fight for my love said:

    Hi Lizzy,since you mentioned
    Hi Lizzy,since you mentioned about walking outside last night, this let me remember the other day the TV says people get sick from ticks,and sometimes it's hard to diagnosis.I suggest you to go see a doctor soon.Hopefully you will get well soon,take care.

    The pharmacist said if the benedryl doesn't work I would need to
    The pharmacist said if the benedryl doesn't work I would need to go to the ER for a steroid shot. She recommended some cortisone cream which makes it feel better but they are still showing everywhere. Wow - what an unexpected event.
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #6
    Sorry
    I am so sorry that you are going through this. You have to be so uncomfortable. Please let us know if it is getting better and if not go to the ER. You don't need to have another issue to deal with. Better safe than sorry.

    Hugs! Kim
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #7
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Sorry
    I am so sorry that you are going through this. You have to be so uncomfortable. Please let us know if it is getting better and if not go to the ER. You don't need to have another issue to deal with. Better safe than sorry.

    Hugs! Kim

    Thanks Kim.
    Thanks Kim. I appreciate your kind words. I am going to try to hold out and see if it is gone by tomorrow. This is very uncomfortable. I have never experienced anything like this. Hopefully it will be gone tomorrow.
  • PGLGreg
    PGLGreg Member Posts: 731
    #8
    Welts.
    I don't see anything wrong with going to the emergency room for this. Don't tell them you have whelps, though, which are young offspring of mammals, coyote pups, e.g..
    --Greg
  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    #9
    lizzydavis said:

    Thanks Kim.
    Thanks Kim. I appreciate your kind words. I am going to try to hold out and see if it is gone by tomorrow. This is very uncomfortable. I have never experienced anything like this. Hopefully it will be gone tomorrow.

    allergy?
    I used to have the same reaction to crab meat every time I ate it or shrimp.I would break out in welts all over my body.I had to take benadryl,then I would be ok the next day.My eyes would swell up also,but then after 20 years it went away,but I still carry benadryl when I go out to eat seafood.I hope you feel better soon.
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #10
    ER
    I think an ER visit is in order. Since I'm late in reading this, hope you've already headed there.

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #11
    tootsie1 said:

    ER
    I think an ER visit is in order. Since I'm late in reading this, hope you've already headed there.

    *hugs*
    Gail

    I went to the ER.
    I went to the ER this morning. The gave me ativan, a shot of steroids, and Zrytec. It smeems to be better. What a relief it is. Thanks for you note.
  • elizabethgd
    elizabethgd Member Posts: 145
    #12
    lizzydavis said:

    I went to the ER.
    I went to the ER this morning. The gave me ativan, a shot of steroids, and Zrytec. It smeems to be better. What a relief it is. Thanks for you note.

    Glad you are better
    Glad you are better. I have had reactions like that to various medications. Bendryl usually helps. It happened with Xeloda towards end of my treatment. Hope you continue to feel better.
    E
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #13
    lizzydavis said:

    I went to the ER.
    I went to the ER this morning. The gave me ativan, a shot of steroids, and Zrytec. It smeems to be better. What a relief it is. Thanks for you note.

    Missed the post
    Lizzy

    Did they have an idea of what caused your reaction? I'm glad you found some relief.

    -Craig
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #14
    Sundanceh said:

    Missed the post
    Lizzy

    Did they have an idea of what caused your reaction? I'm glad you found some relief.

    -Craig

    They said it could have been a number of things to cause it.
    The staff in the ER said it could have been a number of things to cause it. They could not say for sure. I sure am glad I went. I was miserable before. It is getting better and probably will be gone before my Round 4 on Tuesday. Thanks for all the responses.
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #15
    Swollen eyes are gone.
    Well, I was sent home with Prednisone and the advice to take claritin. My eyes are not swollen but there are a few red rash areas left. The back of my hands are now stinging and swollen. I go for chemo at 9:30 am tomorrow. I am having such a time with this. They could only say it is an unknown allergic reaction. I thought it might be gone by now. Ouch!
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #16
    lizzydavis said:

    Swollen eyes are gone.
    Well, I was sent home with Prednisone and the advice to take claritin. My eyes are not swollen but there are a few red rash areas left. The back of my hands are now stinging and swollen. I go for chemo at 9:30 am tomorrow. I am having such a time with this. They could only say it is an unknown allergic reaction. I thought it might be gone by now. Ouch!

    I just called another Onc who was on call.
    I just called another Onc who was on call. She thinks it has to do with the Ginger Root, minerals, or lipoic acid I am taking. She said stay off of those and add them in one at a time. She said if I begin having shortness of breath, to go immediately to the ER.
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #17
    PGLGreg said:

    Welts.
    I don't see anything wrong with going to the emergency room for this. Don't tell them you have whelps, though, which are young offspring of mammals, coyote pups, e.g..
    --Greg

    Greg, Thanks for the heads up! I appreciate it very much.
    Greg, Thanks for the heads up! I appreciate it very much.
    I can use all the help I can get. lol
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #18
    Round 4 today!
    Most of the swelling was gone this morning. My hands and forehead were new swollen areas. At the Cancer Clinic, they said my labs were ok and I went ahead with Round 4. They added benadryl and zantac to the drip. So far so good. No one can identify why I had the allergic reaction. It could have been a food allergy or a med allergy. They told me to stay off of Ginger and Mineral supplements. That's it for now.

Discussion Boards