Hives Hives, and more Hives

Though this blog is mostly about Karmann and the house, I am making a note about something that happened to me this time...something I will never forget and will hope to never repeat!! As I mentioned, I was sick with a terrible cough that I caught in Illinois. I finally went to the clinic (dr's office was closed over the new year holiday) and was prescribed amoxicillin. I was also experiencing a pain in my side, just under my ribcage - as if a grapefruit was stuck in my side when I moved or laid on that side. I did go to my doctor about that, and we determined that it was muscular - from coughing so hard - I pulled the muscles in my rib cage! So I continued to take the amoxicillin and cough medicine for the full 10 days. The NEXT day, i started to itch in the evening, but didn't think anything about it. The next morning (Thursday), I had a little bit of a rash on my wrists and arms, but nothing crazy. By 3 pm, while at work, I had a full-blown rash break-out all over my arms, thighs, back, belly, and armpits!!! No shortness of breath, but a panic to find Benydril! Finally after about an hour search, I found some and was a little bit relieved. Little did I know, that was just the beginning! So I went home that night and called the doctor's nurse, my mother in law who's a professor in nursing, my sister in law who is an ER nurse, and the consensus was that I was reacting to the medicine. Though, I had been on it for 10 days and no problems! The only other option was that the virus that I had was exposing itself at the end of the cycle. Regardless, benedryl and caladryl lotion became my best friends - as the itching was driving me crazy! The rash subsided over the weekend, but I was still getting new break-outs. Finally, today - almost a week later - I didn't take any benedryl. My feet and hands have been itching these last few days, but the huge hives all over my body are gone - thank goodness!!!