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March 26, 2008
Am I too rash?
If I have one special ability that sets me apart from most of the people I know, it's my ability to develop embarrassing rashes at inappropriate moments. Usually they're on my face, because I didn't notice the coconut oil in some cosmetic product or I forget to remind the dentist that I'm allergic to her drugs. But today's rash is on my neck, and it's different than most because it has no known origin.
I started itching in the shower at the gym, after I worked out. There was a musty smell in the air and then I itched and then I scratched my neck vigorously. I often itch after working out, as the sweat starts drying on my body. So maybe it was just the scratching that made this happen. Or maybe it was a reaction to whatever caused the musty odor. Or maybe the gym's free soap - which has never bothered me before - has a new and different formula.
Whatever it is, from the bottom of my chin to the top of my collar bone I am now bumpy and red.
As I looked nervously at my neck in the mirror, I remembered something else that's new and different in my life: ADD meds. So I googled "dexedrine" and "rash" and found a page from my own pharmacy that says "if you develop a rash or hives, tell your doctor immediately." Awesome. It's 9:40 p.m., my "doctor" is a phd psychologist with prescribing authority who only works two days a week, and what does "immediately" really mean here? So I called the pharmacist. She calmed me down. The rash formed more than 8 hours after I took my last pill, and dexedrine usually clears the system within 5 hours. It's probably nothing. Take a Benadryl and stop worrying.
So I took a Benadryl, and then I read the dexedrine info page more carefully. I should monitor my condition especially carefully if I take antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, it says. The active ingredient in Benadryl? You guessed it.
At this point I filled Ben in, and made him promise to take me to the emergency room if I appeared to be dying or anything. Which I think alarmed him unduly. I'm fine, really. It's just that my neck is red. It's probably nothing.
Or if not nothing, maybe it's stress. Between all my obligations, I've been working 12 or 14 hour days, and yet I still feel behind. I am behind. I'm being efficient, I'm staying on task, there's just too much to do. I'm stressed. I'm having a hard time sleeping, because my dreams are all about work and conferences and cleaning the car and impressing the bigwigs and putting together the program that I still haven't designed. Everything starts coming to a head on Friday, and keeps coming to a head through the weekend, and I'm terrified I'll screw it up. So stress hives seem perfectly reasonable.
Given all the stress, the hives, and another long day away from home, I could really use a drink right now. But the Benadryl box says not to mix with alcohol, so I guess that's out of the question.
Maybe I should give up and just go to bed. Most of my problems won't be gone in the morning, but maybe this rash will be. If not, then at least I have turtlenecks.
Posted by Courtney_Sherwood at March 26, 2008 09:59 PM
Comments
The only thing that happens when combining benadryl with a minor amount alcohol is perhaps an amplified sleepiness.
Posted by: Rian at March 27, 2008 07:57 PM
Good to know. Anyhow, the benadryl pretty much knocked me out right away.
Posted by: Courtney at March 27, 2008 10:09 PM