Posted 8/29/2008 8:06 AM (GMT -8)
Hi, I normally post on the fibro forum, but I'm having a real allergy issue that I could use some help with.
Three nights ago I felt something bite me on the arm(probably a spider since there lots in my house). There was a pinching, burning pain that lasted a few minutes and went away. I've had this happen before and it usually takes several hours to start reacting to it. Sure enough mid-morning the next day the area was all red and itchy.
The last time this happened, I treated it with topical lidocane that I had left over from allergy testing. I tried to use it again this time but unfortunately the stuff had expired back in February so it only relieved some of the itch and was only effective for a few hours at a time.
Then yesterday morning it was itching so badly that I wanted to rub sandpaper on it. I tried taking benedryl which really didn't do anything but put me to sleep. When I woke up my arm was still itching badly, so I called the doctor and I got in for an emergency appointment. The doctor proscribed diprolene gel which I had used two years ago for a similar incident. When I got home, I used the stuff and it did help but not as much as it did when I used it two years ago, it just wasn't relieving the itching completely.
This morning when I used the diprolene gel, it only gave me relief for a couple of hours. The tube says to only use it twice a day, but does anyone know if it's safe to take it more often? I did call my doctor to ask but still waiting to hear back and I'm in such agony right now, and I can only leave the ice pack on it for so long at a time.