My most recent shots started out calmly. The injection sites grew itchy while I was in the doctor's office waiting my 30 minutes. The reaction started to escalate about an hour after the shot. I took photos to document the process. In the photo at left, the two rashy bumps are above and below the bruise from the previous week's injection. The slight bumps grew together and formed a lump. Three out of four injection sites swelled up. Soon it became hard to concentrate on anything other than my burning arms. I grew a little dizzy and my arms felt feverish. Soon, the rest of my body felt a bit hot.
Four hours after the injections the lumps had grown into larger welts. These were not the quarter size marks I was warned about. These were the size of the little cutie oranges. All four of my sites had swelled up at this point. I had been putting ice compresses on the wounds for hours now. I became short of breath and suddenly wondered why I was putting off taking medicine. Sure, under normal circumstances it makes sense to try to not take extra medicine for something I am trying to build up an immunity to.
I took my first dose of Benedryl at around seven. I did not feel the effects. I'm sure it did something, but it did not stop the swelling or the spreading redness. I continued the cold compresses. Hours later one of my knobs was the size of a softball, and on my small arms, one softball and one orange takes up almost the whole upper arm. I started to panic. My bed time was approaching and I had no idea how I would be able to sleep with the burning. The searing pain had subsided, or perhaps I had just become so accustom to the pain that I didn't feel it.
I took my first dose of Benedryl at around seven. I did not feel the effects. I'm sure it did something, but it did not stop the swelling or the spreading redness. I continued the cold compresses. Hours later one of my knobs was the size of a softball, and on my small arms, one softball and one orange takes up almost the whole upper arm. I started to panic. My bed time was approaching and I had no idea how I would be able to sleep with the burning. The searing pain had subsided, or perhaps I had just become so accustom to the pain that I didn't feel it.
I started googling ways to make the swelling go down. I was desperate. I tried many things. The oatmeal mask was messy, but seemed to work to bring the swelling down. When I took it off a half hour later I could see where the puffiness had distanced itself from the perimeter of the rash. However, soon after I cleaned the oatmeal off the swelling caught back up, and continued to spread. The swelling had started to wrap around under my arm. Not good. My muscles were starting to ache. Really not good.
Finally, before bed I took more Benedryl and slathered my arms with aloe vera had some herbal tea and hoped for the best. I had no idea if the night would be agonizing or if things would calm down. Nonetheless, my head hit the pillow.
Luckily, sleep came easy. I guess that was the benefit of all of the Benedryl in my system. I awoke with a slightly stiff neck, which is generally a side effect of a poor night's sleep due to allergies. Arm check, bad. While the burning and itching had subsided, my arm was still swollen and covered in a rash. The hideous remnants stayed with me for another 18 hours. Days later I still had a tell tale outline from the rash.
I am apprehensive and anxious about this next round of shots. I talked to my doctor the morning after the severe reaction. My treatment plan was adjusted and I was given additional instructions. Still, my reaction seemed so freakish I fear it might happen again.
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