The hive lady

Just to clarify I don't own a hive. No no I have hives. In fact I have had acute urticaria or hives for the past week. If I did own a hive I'd probably be in a much worse state as I'm allergic to bees and honey. It results in swelling and uh coming out in hives. Hahaha.

So yesterday I posted about itchy skin. Well a week ago I had this reaction. My skin in one patch came out in this itchy rash. When my doctor checked it she initially thought scabies. So I did the whole treatment thing but it didn't go away. I actually got itchy up my arms and across my back, on my scalp and neck.

Yesterday after all this time itching I had another big reaction in the same place on my wrist. I took photos and to me it looked like hives so I put antihistamine cream on it and in an hour it had gone.

When I went today and showed her that I have these red spots on my upper body that I thought were bites and little red bumps up my arm and along my legs making me looked like a plucked chook she said that I'm having an allergic reaction to something and I'm continuing to react.

She thinks that initially on my wrist I've reacted to something like pulling weeds or been bitten by something and because I was treating it as something it wasn't it didn't get any better. In fact my doctor said because I initially reacted so badly to something my body has since been on high alert hence the spots, itching, bumps and my skin staying white when I itch (dermographis).

She said when this happens even regular day stuff I never react to causes my body to be defensive. Heat, soap, clothing anything can make my skin worse when I'm already reacting to something.

So big relief but at the same time ugh. But in comparison to my nephews who are sick at the moment this is nothing. Those poor little guys. There's been so much stuff going around.

I've come out in hives before just from random things but it's never lasted this long. I'm now on high dose steroidal anti inflammatory stuff that my doctor says can either make me high and happy like I'm drunk or it can make me sad and moody. So I said to Andre. 'may the odds be ever in your favor!'

I have high dose antihistamines too to take. Fun times.

But hey it will all go away and I'll eventually be hive free.

The boys seem to be getting better so that's a relief though Harper had fever off and on through the night and vomited a bit in the car today I think he was hot from it just being warm rather than being sick. I hope anyway!

The boys played in the water this afternoon in the warm wind and sun.

After we had dinner and put the boys to bed I sat on the doorstep having an affogato and chatting with my neighbour who was in her garden across from me.
She works at a garden center and her yard is just beautiful, full of dwarf fruit trees, herbs and flowers. She gave me 2 lavender plants and has some basil for me too.

So grateful as a haven't had the time or spare cash to get my gardening bits and pieces or start in my garden. I had almost resorted to just leaving it this year but the lavender plants have given me motivation again!

I do so love gardening and it's the one thing I have that's for me. Just me. It's calming and relaxing and when im in my garden I can zone out from everything - all the appointments, therapists, meetings etc. I can just be one with nature!