Needing sympathy!

I had something similar after I had finished a course of Septrin tablets. Twenty four hours later I woke in the night with a prickly sensation on my legs. I put the light on and saw an awful rash from my knees down to my toes and over the space of a few hours it gradually spread over my whole body. I looked awful but felt fine and not particularly itchy. When I went to see the doctor, he called his colleagues in to admire my rash. I felt rather special if a bit freaky! I had some antihistamines and after a few days I was back to normal.

I recently had a minor dental operation. The dentist told me to rinse that side of my mouth with a widely available medicated mouth wash. The next day my face looked slightly puffy, but the op site was healing well, so I thought nothing of it.

On the second day I woke up and I had a hugely swollen face and a huge bruise all along my jaw line. I realised immediately what had happened. I had had an allergic reaction to something in the mouthwash. I went straight back to the dentist who examined me, checked the op site, xrayed my mouth and agreed it was an allergic reaction, only the second he had seen to that product in 20 years as a dentist.

But worse was to follow, From the dentist I went on to a meeting and lunch of a group I have belonged to for years, cheerfully explaining the cause of my swollen bruised face.
It never occurred to me that my allergic reaction made me look like a possible victim of domestic violence, until a acquaintance started asking elliptical and delicate questions. Looking in the mirror later I realised just how my swollen face and bruised jaw could be interpreted. When I got home I didn't go out again until the bruises faded. The last thing I wanted was anyone thinking DH was violent and that I was in an abusive marriage.

Just to update...the cortisone seems to be doingg nothing, the itching simply gets worse and worse, with the rash just zooming from one part of me to another, but mostly concentrated on my breasts and groin and back, I wake every hour at night. An told I have to finish the course if cortisone (on day 4 of 7). Honesltly, i don't usually moan like this!

Just a thought but a liver problem can cause intense itching too. Check your urine. If it is bright yellow then tell your doctor immediately.

Other than that I do hope the itching and rash go soon. Must be very distressing for you especially when trying to sleep.

You can't predict if you're allergic to a particular antibiotic. I'd never had a problem until the dentist gave me metronidazole after a tooth was extracted when I had an abscess. A rash developed very quickly and my tongue swelled up but I didn't recognise it as a problem because I also became confused. I couldn't explain the rash but I thought my gums were swollen due to the infection rather than my tongue swelling. I also blamed my constricted throat sensation on the infection.

It was three days before one of my girls saw the rash (it was only on my body) and realised that something was wrong. When I phoned the doctor for advice I was told to stop taking them immediately and go to the surgery asap. The doctor checked me over and found that my gums were healing but my tongue was swollen. Fortunately it didn't swell to the point where I couldn't breathe.

I was injected with antihistamines and given tablets to take and told never to take metronidazole again as I might not be so lucky next time.

Sorry paola. For some reason my opening sentence to the above post disappeared.

You have my sympathy. Allergic reactions are horrible.

paola going back to basics, you need a tetanus injection asap.

Thanks all. Tetanus is always up to date as it seems to be a requirement wherever we live. Just not sure whether to stop the cortisone cream. Have just sent graohic photos to the dic!

I would seek further medical advice. I had never been allergic to penicillin. But after an operation I collapsed (had a rash, thought it was the heat as I suffer with the heat). No one could figure out why. Had another op, collapsed again (rash), worse this time. On my notes it said 'suspect Warfarin'. Had another op, collapsed (rash), was then sent home with Augmentin (penicillin tablet form). I took the first dose. Collapsed this time and was barely breathing when paramedic arrived (he was there in 3 minutes! astonishing!). Revived and rushed to A&E to have the drug flushed out. Have been told a further dose will kill me. So have to wear a band. So you shouldn't ignore a rash that's getting worse when you're taking a drug. I would get a proper check up to be absolutely certain you are not having a severe reaction.

I am in the hands of the local doc, who has taken me off all the creams, amd will refer me to a dermatolologist. horrible: I have never been allergic to anything! Thank you!