DON'T try this at home~

OK, that's a bit silly but seriously, be very careful with the medications you take and never let your guard down of your body could end up like mine...One Giant blister Hives. I don't think there's a small spot of skin that isn't red and welted up.

And why? Because hubby's workplace didn't offer the plan we've been on, I've had to switch to similar medications to keep from going broke. Doc wanted to introduce them a couple at a time and now I sure can see why. We're now trying to guess which medication might be the culprit.

The copays for my medications is what skyrocketed and forced this problem One of my medications I take for Ulcerative Colitis went from $80/3 months to $1000/3 months. Another went from $20/1 month to near $400/1 month. That particular new medication causes horrid nausea but I tried.

Sorry if this is disjointed but my head is full of benadryl. I just wanted you to learn something from my lesson. Not sure what other choice I had but hopefully in the next 48 hours or so my skin will come back to normal. rolleyes

Heading back to my recliner for the day. confused sad shakehead
Chutz cry

Chutz,

So sorry about the reaction you had! That is miserable!! Gosh if it is not one thing it is another!! That is what most people do not understand....it is not just pain we have to deal with! Medicines making us sick, causing constipation, causing reactions and a lot of suffering to find the right combination that works! Then leave it to the drug and insurance companies to not let us have the meds that do work! My insurance is awesome for meds.....IF, and that is a bif IF you can use a generic! All generics are $10.00 for 30 days! If there is not a generic, they basically do not cover anything! My Rheumy wanted to put me on one of the better meds....the biologicals, but there was no generic so it would have cost me around $5,000.00/month! Like I can afford that!! So, for now, I take plaquenil and it seems to be helping....I hope it lasts!! Anyway, take care of you!!

Hugs and scratches for your itches!
Beckey

Chutz,
So Sorry to hear what you're going through. Is it hives or eczema? I had a similar problem but it never improved much on Benadryl. Turns out it was eczema from the drying/dehydrating effects of the methadone. I had to get special shampoo, creams, antibiotic ointments & a small amount of topical steroids to be used judiciously. Plus I had to coat myself with Vasoline (ick, ick, ick!!!). It took months to get better and more laundry tokens than I care to admit, but now I just have one patch left between my fingers of dyshidrotic eczema (the kind that "weeps"). Before I had 2 or 3 types of eczema all over -- even on my scalp! I too let it go on for many months before going to see a dermatologist & we just played guessing games since I couldn't afford multiple tests (we did one to rule out something serious, but that was it).

If the Benadryl alone doesn't do the trick, maybe try switching to a sulfate-free shampoo (even if the rash isn't on your scalp), Cetaphyl soap (get the bar -- the liquid is MUCHO DINERO) and a big ol' vat of Vasoline. Also, lemon juice helps b/c it kills any little bacteria buggies that like to grow in rashes & eczema or all kinds. If you're itching, squirting some lemon juice on the rash will usually stop the itching even better than benadryl and it's super cheap. :)

Hope that helps! omg, the last thing you need when you're already in so much pain is a stupid itchy rash that grows & grows & grows. Take care of yourself.

Sending healing thoughts ------> Chutzie

hugz, frances

Ouch! I've had that happen before! Pure misery. :((
((((((((((((((gentle hugs))))))))))))))

Can you add an additional drug plan to suppliment the cost??