Recently, my daughter has become allergic to water.
No, not really.
But she started breaking out in hives whenever she went in our community pool last summer. It doesn't happen in the pool where she has swim lessons, so I figured it was too much chloride. But then she started summer camp a couple of weeks ago, and she breaks out in hives at the beach and even during a trip to a water park.
I called her pediatrician and they recommended Zyrtec. Which helps only slightly. So then they suggested allergy testing to figure out what's wrong and how to treat it.
We got a referral to their allergy clinic. I explained the situation.
Receptionist: "We can't test her if she's been on any antihistamines in the last week."
Me: "Oh man. We just gave her one on Thursday."
Receptionist: "Oh. So it's going to be a whole week until we can do it. And you can't give her any more."
Me: "Fine. We can wait."
Receptionist: "Okay, so, our first appointment is.... September 1."
Me: ".... But the whole summer will be over by then."
Receptionist: "Well, it will be useful information for next summer."
First of all, why did they ask me if she'd had any antihistamines this week if they were booking two months ahead??? Just to torture me? Second, I feel like all specialists have zero appointments within a two-month window. So if you have any urgent need for a specialist, then... I guess you're just shit out of luck.
It sucks that my daughter has like three water-related trips per week at camp and every single one of them makes her break out in itchy hives, and she can't be seen by an allergist until the summer is over. I'd probably be even more pissed off if I actually thought the allergist would be able to do anything to help her.
If you want an answer before summer is over, as the pediatrician to run IgE blood work. Labcorp has a pediatric allergy panel, regional panel and a food allergy panel. Allergists prefer the skin test, but the blood work can do if you're in a bind finding an appointment. Only issue is that it could be costly (but so is skin testing)
ReplyDeleteWhat about too much exposure to the sun? Doesn't sound like this happens when she takes her shower/bath so I would assume it's something outside that's the trigger.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hives.org/sun-hives.php
I know someone who broke out in hives after exposure to cold water - not warmer, heated pools, but colder ones. Maybe??
ReplyDeleteThe final sentence of the initial post encapsulates my feeling for specialists. My son had to deal with an immunologist for an extended period of time. In hindsight, it was a complete waste of time, money, and gasoline.
ReplyDeleteYour basic swimmer's itch, right?
ReplyDeleteShop around- surely there's more than one allergist in your town. And see if there is a waiting list for cancelled appointments.
ReplyDeleteI have cold urticaria that I get when I go in the water (I have to carry an epipen). It happens year round though, especially in the winter if I go skiing and then go into the warm chalet.
ReplyDeleteAnd I take 2-4 reactine (or aerius) daily.
DeleteI wonder about the cold urticaria others mentioned. I have a patient who just gets really red cheeks during our upper Midwest winters, but gets hives in the summer when jumping into cooler water. Allergist vetted it and she's on daily antihistamines in the summer (can't remember if she carries epipen but I think she does). The cetirizine helps.... It could be something else, but this was my first thought. And I suspect your peds doc could make a phone call and get her in sooner (that's what I do as an FP) - or totally look for another allergist.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter just reminded me though that she uses ice packs all the time for injuries without consequence…
DeleteGood thought... You will have to update us when you know what it is!
DeleteOk, you guys convinced me. I'll test her for the cold urticaria.
ReplyDeleteYou could get the water tested at an independent lab.
ReplyDeleteWe used to do that all the time at the lab I worked at.....
DeleteZyrtec doesn't work well for many people for anything significant. Other options to consider are fexofenadine (tends to be better for uticaria, would probably be my first option but can cause drowsiness) or loratadine (less good for uticaria, but less likely to cause drowsiness). Phernergan if it gets really bad, but that will most likely cause drowsiness so better to avoid.
ReplyDeleteObviously, chat to pharmacist to find out if these suggestions are right for you!
I just came to say this. Allegra (fexofenadine) seems to be a better drug that Zyrtex or, uh, what's the other one that starts with a C? Claritin, that's it. No one I know has had any significant drowsiness with Allegra, it's marketed as non-drowsy. And if Allegra doesn't work, apparently the nasal sprays can work even better http://blog.iodine.com/post/116397441423/youre-probably-taking-the-wrong-allergy has an explanation why.
DeleteAlso, most cases of urticaria do go away, so she might just have it for a little while, hopefully
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-urticaria/basics/definition/con-20034524