Me and The Prednisone, We Don't Get Along So Well

About a month ago, I decided that it would be in the best interest of my training partners at boxing class if I shaved my legs before class. It's the little things I do for people that are the best, I'm convinced.

So I was in a rush and I sat on the edge of the tub and shaved. When I was finished, my legs looked weird. All covered with dots, and so, so itchy. I chalked it up to "shaving too fast" and "possibly using the wrong lotion" and went on with my day.

My legs, oh, how they itched. And when I woke up the next day it was to see my legs covered in long, ropey looking hives. I took a Zyrtec and went on. For about a week.  I had no idea why I'd have hives - no different detergent, no new lotion, no different foods, no new soaps.

Then they disappeared. Except to appear across my hips and lower abdomen a week later, itching like fire and leading me to claw at my hip area - something you just CANNOT do discreetly, no matter how hard you try - over and over. And I took more Zyrtec, for Benadryl makes me all kinds of sleepy and I just can't do Benadryl with the kids. And I scratched and scratched and complained.

Until, you know, they went away.

Only to show up, a week later, across my stomach and chest, itching like fire and leading me to claw at my boobs and stomach and beg to be itch free. I scratched so much in my sleep that I had little red spots on my nice white sheets.

And then I woke up Thursday (a month after the first set of hives) and the long ropey hives were BACK on my legs and my stomach was covered and I said ENOUGH and went to the dermatologist. A lovely woman who felt extreme pity for me and gave me a shot of prednisone. As soon as she did so, she told me that it would last in my body for a month, take a different antihistamine, and come back in a month. She declined to do a food allergy panel, but if the hives came back, she agreed that it would be the next step. I laughed myself silly when she posed her theory on the revolving/reappearing/never departing hives - STRESS.

And, lo, the prednisone did its job and the hives disappeared - only to leave in their wake the irritability and the impatience and the frustration. And I went to get the new antihistamine, which isn't one that's covered by my insurance - and costs $115 for a one month supply. So, you know, I didn't get it. I did, however, buy just 5 pills in order to try them out and see if they helped.

So for two days now, I've been blissfully hive and itch free. I have not, however, been very pleasant to be around.

Comments

[Nicki]

Ooohhh, I hate the mystery hives! And insurance companies that don't cover miracle-working antihistamines! And.... well, you get the idea. I hope your cycle of hives is broken and you can get back to normal, albeit a slightly grumpy normal thanks to the prednisone. :) Seriously, why does prednisone cause that reaction in so many people? Makes me want to avoid it like the plague. Hope you feel better soon.

[amie]

Poor girl:( I did the bout of prednisone for my never ending sinus & ear infections In late August. I got two injections a week apart followed by th a week's worth orally. By day 3, I was a bitch on wheels- irritable/agitated/ short tempered & SLEEPLESS. My poor, poor family :( Feel better soon>

[Brandy]

Yikes! She thought nothing of the shaving? Odd. Hope the medicine does it's job, well and quickly! Hugs!

[Sabz]

Hope you feel better soon.

[UKCraftySal]

Fingers crossed the hives don't return, and your mood levels off.

[Beth]

Why is it that prednisone makes women "cranky" and guys "lusty"? My husband had to take it twice for posion ivy. He couldn't sleep and we ended up with baby number 3 and, number 4!

[Pat]

With my asthma flare-ups, I thank God often that I have no problems with prednisone in any format!

[gucci 2011]

I love the way you directly get to the point,inspired

[karen]

Did they check for shingles? It's caused by stress and I had it this summer, extremely painful. Good luck!