So I just picked up two new meds. Prednisone because I have hives and I'm itchy like H! I was prescribed pancreatic enzymes from my gastro doctor. I was asking him about the steatorrea and how embarrassing it is and how I did take some digestive enzymes before and I think they might have helped but they are so spendy. He said I probably have a little bit of pancreatic insufficiency and it could be causing some malabsorbtion. He said he would prescribe my something and it would be better than the supplements. I went and picked it up. 350 dollars without insurance, I have insurance but I still have to pay 40 bucks. But between the cromoyln costing me 40 and I will be starting singular soon and thats going to be 65.00 and this doesn't include the 4 other meds I have to take. I'm thinking of stopping cromolyn because I'm not so sure it's helping anymore. When I first tried it, I thought it was helping me breath better but now I'm not so sure. My new allergist says he really only prescribes it for asthma patients. I have also heard some other doctors say it works well in test tubes but not that well in humans. My allergist suggested I could start singular and then after a few weeks wean myself off of the Cromolyn. I'm thinking should I try it or not. I'm scared I will stop it and then I will get a bunch more spots. But honestly I have gotten a few more spots since I started it and my stomach hasn't been good for almost two months. Has any of you out there stopped cromolyn and had a good experience with it or did you get worse? I'm kind of nervous to take this new med called Pancreaze, It had some not so nice side effects.
I'm so sick of feeling crappy this is day 3 of hives and flushing and I have been taking extra hydroxyzine, zyrtec, liquid benadryl. I hope this stops soon. Hope the prednisone kicks in soon.
Melissa

Hi Melissa,

  Have you tried bromelain?  I use it to help with digesting fat and protein.  I use a dosage of 2000-2400 GDUs, 1/2 hour before meals, and prefer the Blue Bonnet or Country Life brands.  It helps with digestion a lot.  It's made from pineapple stems, so you have to make sure before you take it whether you react from pineapple.  I also take sublingual B12, vitamin C, and some other vitamins/minerals, and they help me feel better.

  Hope you can find one of the "cheap" meds that works for you!

Joan

20 mg at a time isnt enough to pull you out of a big reaction--but 40 should have done it--unless this reaction is bigger than you knew OR you are actively itching your skin (it can cause more mediator release and become a viscious circle of reaction. First, do NOT itch even though its driving you nuts, it will be worse if you do. Get a lotion that you dont react to and when you want to itch, gently smooth the lotion on your skin (replace a bad habit with one that wont hurt you, to take your mind off of it).

Next call your Doctor. Youre gonna need another round of cortisone, explain to him whats happening. It would be my suggestion to take the cortisone in the AM one dose a day--because if you dont, it will cause insomnia and you dont want to be sitting up at night itching.  Also remember whatever dose he gives you to ask him about tapering you off of it by 5 to 10 mg a day (after being on it over 5 days). A 20 mg decrease is too quick (unless you have been on it 5 days or less then its ok).

One more suggestion Hon, do you have anything for your nerves? Now is the time to use it if you do, or to ask your Doctor for it if you dont have anything. Taking a xanax and watching a funny movie helps tremendously--you MUST take your mind off of it to heal and stop itching. It will also help you sleep at night--when you are going through a reaction. Debbie taught me that  Chill out to heal!  

Joan can tell you about some other natural products for your tummy. She is a wealth of knowledge

Hugs to you and let us know how you do,
Ramona

missy:
I'm jumping to say that, I take zrytec, with tramadol, gastrocom & valium at night without any problem except sometimes I'm a little spaced when I wake up, but I think the hydrox is an older type than
zrytec & as I remember a little tiring. I still think the zantac or in my case valium is an important med for me at night when my chronic skin pain is the worst. May be if you could put the hydrox at a different time, the other situation is the liquid benedryl at the same time.  For me if you have fibro, you have pain at bedtime & an anti anxiety med at night would helps me but you have already a lot of drowzy type meds at same time.
mikev
mikev

Mike has some great advice!
I take the Vistaril (hydroxyzine.) twice a day because it also helps my brain fog (calms mast cells in the brain) and helps my IC bladder spasms. Xanax isnt going to hurt you Hon, you get it as low as a .5 mg pill and you can still break that into half if you want. Chilling out is important when youre reacting--or it wont stop.
hugs
Ramona