This is an ugly one. And a yucky memory.
December 2002: This is a pic of the first time my face did a mystery swell-up. It was so severe, I could hardly see. We went to the ER for fear of my throat swelling up. They could NOT figure out what the cause was. It lasted a week and was the first time I honestly felt like I wanted to die (okay, second. the first was when I was prego w/#1). Seriously, it was that horrible. I felt like red ants were continuously biting my whole face. I felt suffocated. And there was not a single darn thing to do to fix it.
The second time was March 2005. Same.exact.horrible.thing.
Now, this year, it has happened several times, but LUCKILY it is only my eyes. They are red and burning and swollen and itchy. And there is absolutely no connection I can find to food, lotions, seasons, etc. Maybe its a reaction to stress? Who knows. Really though, zyrtec, benadryl, claritin, steroids.....zip, zilch, nada, no help period.
So, yesterday was the fourth time this year. And it lasts about a week no matter what I do or what I take. When I need to go out, I will cake on the eye make-up to look semi-normal, but it just aggrivates it more. Can you see how red they are?
Can you diagnose me!?
13 comments:
Oh my gosh Jamie!! I feel so bad for you. It's got to be stress. My body does funky things when I am under a lot of stress. My mouth brakes out in huge sores and I can't eat or barely brush my teeth. So sorry you are in so much pain!!
Hi Jamie- You don't know me but I read your blog all the time. Just love how precious your girls are.. (I have 2 teenage boys!)especially that adorable Payton! Anyway- I can totally relate to your swelling. Mine is different in that the swelling is my lips, tongue, hands and feet. I also get huge, itchy hives all over. I swear it has something to do with stress. Dr says it doesn't. Been diagnosed with idiopathic angiodema- which basically means swelling/hives from an unknown origin. I am on Zyrtec all the time 2x time a day and it helps some. Good luck- I feel for you!! Kris
Oh I am soo sorry.I did not know about this happening to you. That is the craziest, unknown thing. I sure wish I had the cure for you! I think of you often.
Love ya
oh my goodness jamie, that looks so painful. i wish i had a cure for you but i am not a doctor or even close to one. i really hope you can figure it out.
That is so strange and looks really uncomfortable, which I'm sure it is. And really strange that none of those allergy medications do anything for it. Do you ever feel it coming on, or is it like you just wake up and you're swollen? So sorry, Jamie.
It ALWAYS happens after I go to bed. Usually I will wake up in the middle of the night with one of the kids and think "hmm, my eyes sure feel tired" and then I'll glance in the mirror and be SO sad that IT happened again. At that point, there is nothing I can do and it gets worse on the second day. So strange!
Such a horrible thing. Your such a trooper to still function. I'm so curious if its something in our allergic valley or related to your arthritis. I bet you will pin point it one of these days.
Not fun! You notice the redness more than anyone. In person, it really does look like you are wearing rosy eye shadow. I wish I could diagnose you. Maybe someone out in bloggyville will be helpful?
Tiffany
It reminds me of when you got your wisdom teeth out!
How awefull, I'm so sad for you! I bet it would help to at least have a name for it! That has to make it even worse to not know what it is from? So sorry Jay, I hope you get to relax a bit? I'm thinking of you!
Jamie I feel so bad.. I can't compare but I'm allergic to cats and when I'm around one for a long stretch of time my eyes shut tight.. it's happened about 4 times and I had to once go to the ER to get a cortisone shot because my eyes literally shut tight. I can't remember- did you say that you had allergy testing? If you haven't I know someone that had this done when they were having a weird reaction and they were able to pinpoint the problem.. I think this is a good case for dateline's medical misteries..
hmmm that really doesnt look like fun at all....
And so scary that the Dr's dont know what it is...
Has it ever effected your breathing
Hey, I'm a friend of Karli's... I have a similar thing as anonymous... and similar to you. The doctor has tested me off and on for 10 years. I take Zyrtec every night now, and have been doing so for 5 years, and in those five years I've only had it happen twice, as opposed to 5 x's a year before that. So I think the Zyrtec is really working, but you just have to be really consistent about taking it. It might be worth a try. Also, I always have an EPI-PEN with me, you never know when the swelling will happen in your throat (it's happened to me). Hope this helps.
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