A big ROTTEN cherry, that is.

Just over a week ago I posted about the unjust nature of "normal person" health problems such as seasonal allergies in a person who already regularly juggles chronic health concerns.

Well I have a bone to pick with those seasonal allergies!!!  After using every technique I know to stave off infection this one was just too strong for everything I tried.  Yesterday morning I went to my PCP's office (primary care physician) in extreme pain from an ear infection.  I told him my left ear is a little uncomfortable but my right ear was agony.  He looked in my left ear and said "This is the GOOD one?!  It looks pretty bad to me!"  Then he looked in my right ear and said "Oh."  A spectacular double ear infection.

I was prescribed ear drops and amoxicillin for the ear infections and apparently a sinus infection as well.  It seemed to be good enough news to me.  The drops are numbing and help dull the pain.  I've taken amoxicillin dozens of times and it generally works well for me.

Last night I took the first hefty dose of amoxicillin.  This morning I took my second dose and was pleased to notice that already I have less pain.  There was much rejoicing ... until the hives started.

I am now slathered in benadryl cream and have just taken 2 benadryl capsules (excuse me if I fall asleep in the middle of a sentence).  My hands, arms, elbows, knees, ankles, neck and even behind my ears are now splotched with insanely itchy hives.  Despite the cream and the medicine I can barely stand to not scratch.  I'm doing my very best though!  Daughters have been on self-imposed "mommy watch".  When I start scratching without thinking about it one of them will come grab my hand and try to distract me.

I didn't particularly consider the amoxicillin as the culprit at first, but after texting my mom, who recently conquered a long term batch of hives, to tell her that I'd found her hives and they're on ME, the first thing she texted back was to stop taking the amoxicillin and call my doctor in the morning.  After some consideration I was convinced.  It's not an unusual thing in my family to be allergic to amoxicillin.  Over the last several hours the hives have not only spread, but the areas covered with hives are also swelling.  Making a fist is difficult and painful as I have several hives on the palm of each hand which have swollen.  Darn it!

I think it is now time to go to bed and try to not scratch my skin off in the night :)