Sigh, I think the squash we had for tea last night has reacted with me.  I woke in the night my arms itching like mad and coming up in hives, and also on my stomach, lower back and legs.  The hives have settled down now but I am left with a very itchy prickly rash which is driving me batty.  Particularly where I get warm (walking around in a skimpy nighty to keep me cool - which was a bit embarassing because my veg box guy and Asda guy both arrived early!)

I’m just about to go and have a chammomile tea bath to see if that helps a little; but ohhhh I am so tempted to go to the chemist to get some anti-histamines before I scratch my skin to shreds.

I think it was the squash because its the only thing I can think of that I’ve not had before.  It was a butternut squash, which I had eaten before but it looked different from the ones I use to buy from the supermarket; so I’m guessing a different variety.  Weird though; I’ve not had one of these reactions for years - lol ironic that it appears to be an organic veg that caused this.

Anyway, any advice to help with the itching?

Joxy.

Well, this is going to sound dreadful, but I have been itching a lot recently too.  Sort of all over, little raised spots a bit like insect bites and boy do they itch!!  I have been literally giving myself sleepless nights, worrying that I had fleas, but, as DH pointed out, I sleep between him and Minnie in a King-Sized bed and there is no way I could have fleas without passing them on to either of the other bed-sharers!!  The dog caught fleas from Centerparcs and I wondered if I’d been bitten and it had caused a reaction!!  The only thing I have found is that putting coco-nut oil on when I come out of the shower, while I’m still wet, definitely helps.  The area around the spots is very, very dry and not moisturising definitely makes it worse.  Other than that, I’ve been using a tea tree and witch hazel cream on the worst spots which realy helps - think I bought it from Tesco. 

I’m only presuming it’s a reaction to a flea bite, it could be using lovely hand-made soap too, instead of special soap that’s PH balanced as I am very sensitive-skinned and have to be careful about soaps etc.  Anyway, glad it’s not just me that is scratching!!!

Sounds familiar - except I know mine is an allergic reaction to something, I use to get it a lot when was a kid, particularly on my hands and face, not that we ever did find out what the culprit was so I just tried to avoid common triggers.

LOl sounds dreadful too, but I’m so gutted my dishwasher seems to have a died a death because I’m allergice to latex rubber and can’t wear household gloves when washing up.  Boo.  Oh well,  at least washing up rather than using the dishwasher is a bit more green. 

I’m guessing this might be a daft question - but I can’t pass this allergy onto my son by bfing can I?  I’ve avoid it today so far; but he’s gonna want to sup at bedtime.

Joxyl

Hi Joxy, this is so annoying isn’t it?  I have alot of allergies at the moment for some reason and have been recently looking at natural antihistamines.  Propolis is a mild antihistamine, I double the dose and take 3 times a day.  Grapeseed extract tablets are meant to be great, but check out this link as I found it quite helpful (even if there is a bit of selling, read on)  even vitamin C is a natural antihistamine and it also reduces inflammation, reduces mucus (as does chamomile tea) and redness and itching.

Don’t worry about feeding your little one, you can’t ‘pass on’ anything bad.  I have checked this out online and asked my GP and nurse, I get very serious reactions (the sort I make sure I know where the adrenaline shot is, but have never had to use it) and have still managed to feed dd.  But make sure you feed in a position you aren’t going to overheat.

I also found that drinking alot of water, say 2-3 litres in half an hour helps to flush through a mild reaction and take down (and cool down) a severe reaction.

Also don’t worry about using the dishwasher, it has been recently proven by German scientists that even with the most economical use of water it is still more environmentally friendly to use a dishwasher, especially as most of them are cold fill you don’t use electric heating water up.  And you can use soapnuts to wash and white vinegar as a rinse aid.

Hope that helps and you are feeling better,
sarie

thanks
yeah a bit less itchy today.  Still there but not driving me wild.
I didn’t know that about Vit C and other natural anti histamines, so I will give those a try too.

Joxy.

do you have any oils…i react to the sun with hives..and have tried neem diluted with some success..its 1% dilution…
or ive used oil..olive. sweet almond or sunflower will do..with lavender and chamomile in..that really ehlped me sleep after i was daft enuf to get burnt…
hoep it goes soon
hugs
em x