Rawhyde
Member
I think I'm getting an education on it....
On the 7th, I went to Wendy's and ate a cheeseburger, fries and a Coke. As I was eating, I was reading our favorite forum on the iPad. I had a meeting across town, so I stopped by the restroom and went to the car. As I sat down, I realized that I had to go BACK to the restroom RIGHT THEN. I literally ran back (made it, thank God), but it was a violent case of diarrhea with some pretty powerful cramps. I started thinking that something I ate didn't agree with me. After a few minutes, the palms of my hands began to itch, then the soles of my feet, and I got incredibly HOT. Not a regular itch, but one that you'd want to scratch with a chainsaw. By now, I was red as a fire truck. After being bent double for a while, I thought it might be good to sit upright for a little while, and everything turned purple and I didn't have the strength to sit up anymore. I wrapped my arm up in the handrail and doubled over again. Eventually, I regained some strength, and saw a puddle of sweat on the floor. I was very thirsty by now. I decided it was time to leave the restroom and get some water, but after I got myself put back together and my belt buckled, I was exhausted. It was sit down or fall down, so I sat back down. Soon, I either gathered enough strength or got thirsty enough to go back to the dining room for water.
A few minutes after I got some ice water and sat in the dining room, I got cold. Not normal cold, but chilled to the bone and shivering uncontrollably. I went to the car, and fired up the heater, and about 15 minutes later, I was better. I didn't have the strength to drive home, but I thought I could make it to my office (about 3 miles). When I got there I was worn out, and it was 4:45 PM. I hung out there and napped on the floor until about 7:30, then went home.
The next day was ok. I didn't dare eat lunch. When I got home, I ate tomato soup, soda crackers, and a cheese sandwich.
The next morning (the 9th), I felt great. I went to work, had a good lunch at a meat & 3, and went home. I was fine at home, but fatigued. I decided that I'd have the same thing for supper, but then I thought that grilling the cheese sandwich would make it even better. It was, until about 30 minutes later... I had another episode. This time, after the first restroom visit, and the onset of the itching; I knew what to expect. I went to the kitchen and took a Benedryl and made a big solo cup of ice water (smart move). I sat down in the recliner to rest (bad move). I got woozy and everything started to turn purple, then I felt the urge to get to the restroom NOW. I didn't make it. I collapsed into the bathroom floor. About 15 minutes later, I had the strength to climb onto the throne, and after 30 or so more minutes, I began to feel alive again. The chills hadn't yet started, but I was expecting them, so I showered, then ran a shallow tub of hot water and waited on them. The chill phase came and went, I dried off, dressed, and returned to the recliner. This episode lasted only 2 hours.
I went to the doctor the next morning. He did a lot of blood work and gave me an antibiotic. I lived off water and a can of soup at my uncle's house after work. I'd wait a couple of hours after I ate before I went home.
On the 16th, I had another 2 hour episode (used the Benedryl again). Unfortunately, I skipped going to my uncle's and went straight home. Called the doc the next day. He was baffled.
On the 19th, I had another episode at my uncle's, but I took liquid Benedryl at the onset. I bought the liquid thinking it might get into my system faster. This time, the storm passed in only 45 minutes.
Called the doc the next day and told him to either shoot me or help me... He made me an appointment with a local allergy center.
I went to the allergist today and was tested for about 75 potential allergens, and I didn't react to any of them.
He is convinced that I had a powerful allergic reaction to an as yet unknown trigger. He told me that the Benedryl is probably the only reason I'm sitting here typing right now. He instructed me in the proper dosage of liquid Benedryl and when to take it, and he set me up with Epi Pens and instructed me in when and how to use them. I have a follow up appointment in 4 weeks, and instructions to call him when/if I have another episode. This is miserable. I have lost 18 pounds since this adventure began because I'm afraid to eat.
The doctor wants me to eat and keep a log of what I'm eating and when.
I know I wrote a long boring book, but have any of you ever experienced anything similar? Any advice on narrowing down the trigger?
Rawhyde
On the 7th, I went to Wendy's and ate a cheeseburger, fries and a Coke. As I was eating, I was reading our favorite forum on the iPad. I had a meeting across town, so I stopped by the restroom and went to the car. As I sat down, I realized that I had to go BACK to the restroom RIGHT THEN. I literally ran back (made it, thank God), but it was a violent case of diarrhea with some pretty powerful cramps. I started thinking that something I ate didn't agree with me. After a few minutes, the palms of my hands began to itch, then the soles of my feet, and I got incredibly HOT. Not a regular itch, but one that you'd want to scratch with a chainsaw. By now, I was red as a fire truck. After being bent double for a while, I thought it might be good to sit upright for a little while, and everything turned purple and I didn't have the strength to sit up anymore. I wrapped my arm up in the handrail and doubled over again. Eventually, I regained some strength, and saw a puddle of sweat on the floor. I was very thirsty by now. I decided it was time to leave the restroom and get some water, but after I got myself put back together and my belt buckled, I was exhausted. It was sit down or fall down, so I sat back down. Soon, I either gathered enough strength or got thirsty enough to go back to the dining room for water.
A few minutes after I got some ice water and sat in the dining room, I got cold. Not normal cold, but chilled to the bone and shivering uncontrollably. I went to the car, and fired up the heater, and about 15 minutes later, I was better. I didn't have the strength to drive home, but I thought I could make it to my office (about 3 miles). When I got there I was worn out, and it was 4:45 PM. I hung out there and napped on the floor until about 7:30, then went home.
The next day was ok. I didn't dare eat lunch. When I got home, I ate tomato soup, soda crackers, and a cheese sandwich.
The next morning (the 9th), I felt great. I went to work, had a good lunch at a meat & 3, and went home. I was fine at home, but fatigued. I decided that I'd have the same thing for supper, but then I thought that grilling the cheese sandwich would make it even better. It was, until about 30 minutes later... I had another episode. This time, after the first restroom visit, and the onset of the itching; I knew what to expect. I went to the kitchen and took a Benedryl and made a big solo cup of ice water (smart move). I sat down in the recliner to rest (bad move). I got woozy and everything started to turn purple, then I felt the urge to get to the restroom NOW. I didn't make it. I collapsed into the bathroom floor. About 15 minutes later, I had the strength to climb onto the throne, and after 30 or so more minutes, I began to feel alive again. The chills hadn't yet started, but I was expecting them, so I showered, then ran a shallow tub of hot water and waited on them. The chill phase came and went, I dried off, dressed, and returned to the recliner. This episode lasted only 2 hours.
I went to the doctor the next morning. He did a lot of blood work and gave me an antibiotic. I lived off water and a can of soup at my uncle's house after work. I'd wait a couple of hours after I ate before I went home.
On the 16th, I had another 2 hour episode (used the Benedryl again). Unfortunately, I skipped going to my uncle's and went straight home. Called the doc the next day. He was baffled.
On the 19th, I had another episode at my uncle's, but I took liquid Benedryl at the onset. I bought the liquid thinking it might get into my system faster. This time, the storm passed in only 45 minutes.
Called the doc the next day and told him to either shoot me or help me... He made me an appointment with a local allergy center.
I went to the allergist today and was tested for about 75 potential allergens, and I didn't react to any of them.
He is convinced that I had a powerful allergic reaction to an as yet unknown trigger. He told me that the Benedryl is probably the only reason I'm sitting here typing right now. He instructed me in the proper dosage of liquid Benedryl and when to take it, and he set me up with Epi Pens and instructed me in when and how to use them. I have a follow up appointment in 4 weeks, and instructions to call him when/if I have another episode. This is miserable. I have lost 18 pounds since this adventure began because I'm afraid to eat.
The doctor wants me to eat and keep a log of what I'm eating and when.
I know I wrote a long boring book, but have any of you ever experienced anything similar? Any advice on narrowing down the trigger?
Rawhyde
) or the food is just rotten, the odds are you would not get it past your nose.. 
