Tuesday, December 20, 2005

dehived and deswelled

Excellent news! I am back to my normal color, size and shape!!! Tonight we will hopefully be celebrating 72 hours hive-free, and I am feeling sooo. much. better.

Thank you so much for your well-wishes and advice. Maribeth asked if it helped, and your sympathy honestly did. I felt as if I wasn't totally crazy for being concerned, particularly since my primary care physician was acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Reading all your comments and knowing that you thought I was right to be alarmed made a difference.

I will tell you that Josh almost met with an untimely death when he told me on Friday night that he thought the source of all my hives, chest pressure, swelling and difficulty breathing were all due to stress. It took all my strength not to THROTTLE him. Thankfully, we are done with that theory and he has admitted that a drug allergy is more likely.

The doctor's second prescription made me feel remarkably better, and it wasn't until yesterday that I realized just how swollen I'd been from the hives. If I'd shown you my legs on Friday, you could scarcely distinguish my knees from the rest of my legs, the swelling was so extreme. I hadn't worn my wedding ring for several days because my fingers were so swollen it felt as if my circulation was being cut off. My face looked puffy and all my clothes fit tighter.

Today, I feel 100% better. So thank you thank you thank you! For all your kind comments and for all your emails checking to see how I was doing.

I spent the large part of the weekend parked on the couch watching movies and addressing holiday cards, per Josh's orders that I had to rest to get better. We ventured out only once on Saturday night for a brief visit to a holiday party, and to breakfast on Sunday morning. I had another 16 hour day at the office yesterday, and I feared that the hives would return, but I remain hive-free today. I'm hoping the rest of the week will allow for shorter hours and next week I may be taking some vacation time, pending a client's decision on when they'd like to close.

Thanks again for the messages! I'll keep you updated on what the allergy doctor says. I am apparently seeing an allergy and immunology specialist, rather than an actual allergist. I'm not sure why, but I guess I'll find out soon.

23 comments:

Suzanne said...

So glad you are feeling better! Sixteen-hour days, though? You are made of pretty stern stuff, I think.

blackbird said...

whew!
so happy to hear you are okay - -and your normal size.

Running2Ks said...

I am so happy for you that you are the normal color, size, and shape again.

Now, stay that way, ok? You scared me :) Healthy vibes, headed your way.

Frankie said...

Glad to hear you're back to normal! I hope that you get to take some time off next week.

I think seeing the allergist/ immunologist is a good idea, just in case it is some funky autoimmune reaction...

ccw said...

So happy that you feel better and that your body has returned to its normal size, shape, and texture.

Here's hoping that yourupcoming work days are a little shorter!

Liz Miller said...

Whew. I was just poised to send you an email checking up on you when I saw your new post.

So relieved!!!

My guess as to why you're seeing an immunologist is 'cause the original allergy medicine didn't work.

Anonymous said...

God that sucks! SO glad you are feeling better!!!
:)

K said...

Eek, I didn't visit the blog on Friday, and look what I missed! In a way, I'm glad I didn't hear about this till afterward, so I didn't have to worry. :) I'm so glad you're better now.

Maribeth said...

Oh, I am so glad you are better! Hives are just the worst! I have had them twice and went crazy!
Good luck with the allergy testing. Once done at least you'll have a better idea of what to avoid.

jo(e) said...

I am glad to hear it. Now, stay healthy!

Gawdessness said...

Adding my voice to the chorus, so glad that you are so much better!

R.H. said...

There are no allergies in Australia.

Crunchy Domestic Goddess said...

oh my goodness! i'm so glad you are feeling better. i missed the whole hives scare, but i can tell you from experience that they are no fun at all.
stay healthy and well. :)

Anonymous said...

Your episodes with the hives sounded really scary! You poor thing! I am SO glad that you are feeling better now. I am curious to see what the allergy and immunology specialist has to say. I hope that he or she can figure out with certainty what caused the hives, so that you can avoid the trigger and never have to go through that again.

Anonymous said...

Why I thought "DeFabulous" at the end of yout title, I'll never know.

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness.

I look forward to seeing what the expert has to say.

purple_kangaroo said...

So glad you're feeling better. That was scary! Take care, okay?

Anonymous said...

Phew! Glad to hear it.

Limon de Campo said...

So glad you are feeling better; hives are just plain awful.

Anonymous said...

Yes, that was alarming! Glad to hear you've resumed your regular form.

Piece of Work said...

I'm so glad your feeling better, HL. I hope you and Josh have a fabulous holiday, with no swelling or hives!

nancy said...

I hope you remain hive-free for the holidays. Glad to read you are feeling so much better.

Peggy said...

have a wonderful magical Christmas