<p>My face looks like a red pumpkin due to an allergic reaction to the intravenously administered dyes in a medical test that I took yesterday. </p>
<p>Tomorrow, I plan to audition for some amateur films. Any suggestions for what I can do to make the swelling disappear?</p>
<p>First thing you probably need to do is make sure that you aren’t in serious trouble. That kind of intense allergic reaction can be very serious. Have you talked to the doctor?</p>
<p>benadryl for the histamine reaction
drink lots of water to flush it out
with extra v- C or emergen-c in it can’t hurt
( its only your face? I would also call the doc to make sure there isn’t a systemic reaction)</p>
<p>black tea bags are a remedy to reducing eye puffiness- I don’t know how much that would help though-
but start with the benadryl.</p>
<p>I agree that you should call your doctor if you haven’t already. As far as benadryl, individual reactions vary but it can make some people very very drowsy. My coworker’s husband had an allergic reaction to a medication for an illness and was told to take benadryl and come to the doctor’s office. They should have told him to have someone else drive him to the doctor. The combination of his original illness, the allergic rxn, and the benadryl caused him to pass out while he was driving (with his wife, my coworker, who does not drive, in the passenger seat.) His car went across a busy road in front of oncoming traffic at rush hour and hit a pole. The car was totalled, but, miraculously, they were not hurt except for minor whiplash. After days hospitalization for medical tests, it was determined that he did not have a stroke, heart attack, or anything else - it was simply a reaction to the benadryl, etc. </p>
<p>Anyway, your doctor may also prescribe a “dose-pack” of steroids if your allergic rxn warrants it.</p>
<p>MotherOfTwo: I’m pretty sure Benadryl specifically says on the package that it can cause extreme drowsiness, and that individuals should not operate machinery or drive when taking it, especially if it’s their first time and they are unaware of how it affects them.</p>
<p>You are right, but the person’s doctor did not warn him when he called about his reaction. He was told to take benadryl and come to the office, and they should have warned him to get someone to drive him there. Northstarmom said she planned to audition tomorrow. I wanted to make sure she knew that benadryl might make her very drowsy.</p>
<p>I should have added that - I would advise to take it today & maybe tonight to help you sleep- that might be enough to help the reaction-
It does make you very sleepy- but its a great antihistimine if that is the primary problem
But it doesn’t make you so sleepy you would pass out unless you are one of those people who think if One dose works- then TWO doses will work FASTER!
<<<<<<<shakes head=“”>>>>>>></shakes></p>
<p>If all you’re doing is auditioning, I think you could explain the allergic reaction and take a “normal” picture with you. It’s amateur theater, so they’re not expecting perfection. Cool packs (not ice) might help. So might zinc oxide (diaper rash ointment).</p>
<p>Good luck on your audition.</p>
<p>I had an extreme allergy reaction several years ago to some unknown substance. I was covered from head to toes with hives. I went to the emergency services of my HMO and was put on one medicine–I forget what. It did not really help. Eventually steroids were prescribed, but it took ten days for the hives to disappear. I still don’t know what I reacted to as the dermatologist thought it would be too costly to be doing tests without some clear clues.</p>
<p>Might want to see an allergist. I don’t think that there are sure fire quick fixes. You should try and find out what you allergic to, so you don’t expose yourself a second time. Anyway, I had a family member taking Clarinex (desloratadine) for hives, and a topical cortisone cream. I have been told that benadryl’s downsides are drowsiness, and that it is short-lived (good to take at night). Clarinex is a Rx medication.</p>
<p>As long as you don’t feel any difficulty breathing, you probably don’t need anything ‘heavier’ than Benadryl, lots of water and rest. A bath with baking soda may help with any itchiness. However, if you start to feel like you can’t get your breath, seek medical assistance. </p>
<p>My worst reaction came when a dr. prescribed amoxicillin. Who knew I was allergic to the pennicillin family? Nobody, and it put me in the hospital for 3 days when they were afraid my whole breathing apparatus was going to shut down. Ick.</p>
<p>NSM–use “red pumpkin-ness” as a hook…</p>
<p>Same thing happened to me! After unsuccessful treatment with antihistamines, took prednizone. That worked very quickly. I also found out the name of the dye, made sure it was plastered onto my medical file.
Be prepared, though, my skin peeled for weeks. Look forward to some beautiful fresh skin eventually.</p>
<p>What a strange turn of events; Northstarmom is requesting advice rather than giving it!</p>
<p>Oh delightful world.</p>
<p>Make sure you find out what the allergen was. You may have become “sensitized” to it and, if ever exposed again, may have a much more serious reaction, ie, anaphylaxsis.
Iodine is used as a contrast element in some medical tests. Iodine is found in abundance in shellfish. If indeed iodine was used, you should determine if that was the offending agent - and perhaps avoid shellfish in the meantime.<br>
CONSULT WITH YOUR MD.</p>
<p>Woody, gives excellent advice. Hopefully you can get to the cause of the problem.</p>
<p>Northstarmom - I have no ideas, I just wanted to say get better soon! And good luck on your audition!</p>
<p>If you can, try to get to a doctor and get a shot. The pills take a few days to reduce itching and hives. The shot gives relief within hours.</p>
<p>Woody right on; Ive heard of reaction to dye before.</p>
<p>I react to some ingredients in food, so always carry chewable Benadryl with me. (Once throat starts to close, cannot swallow pills.) </p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>Make sure your doctor is aware of the reaction. If you should ever need this test again and or any other test that uses dye, you will probably be told to take Benadryl before hand or you may be prescribed a steroid like prednisone to take before. Many people are allergic to the dye used for tests, my mother for one. The first time she took the test she developed hives, the next time she needed the test she had to take Benadryl before and the third time she took prednisone. Some tests can be done without using the dye, but the xray will not be as clear. Check to see if it was an iodine based dye. Like someone posted before you may have an allergic reaction to shellfish such as shrimp. Hope all is well, but please check with your doc.</p>
<p>Probable reaction to iodine used in dyes. Take claritin first, or another 24 hour antihistamine. Claritin is a non drowsy antihistamine. You can take benedryl in addition to help sleep at night. Yes, this is double dosing, as claritin is usually a 24 hour pill. My allergist told me an additional benedryl on top of claritin or another 24 hour antihistamine would be helpful when I had a similar reaction. </p>
<p>I have had 2 such episodes. One idiopathic, and I itched for months off and on. The other, was more recently as a probably penicillin reaction. Both times I required steriods to get over it, long term antihistamines, but time was needed as well before my immune system calmed down. Your skin will not necessarily peel. Immune systems are so individual. You’ll just have to see what yours does. If antihistamines don’t work, call your doctor. Get to an ER if any respiratory involvement. Regardless, a session with an allergist is warranted to figure out if there is any shellfish allergy, and to verify that it is indeed an iodine allergy. In future, if iodine based tests are needed, there is a course of various medications that can be given beforehand to ward off allergic reactions. </p>
<p>Rest, let yourself heal. No fun, huh? I had to call in for work, as felt rather washed out in the process, as well as looking a bit frightening.</p>