why did i wait so long?

For the past two days i have been going through PURE HELL!!! I am usually not one to whine when i am sick. I usually suck it up and go about my business. But, I have never had an allergic reaction before. I mean never. I have (or had) no allergies.  so, wednessday after i worked out, i layed out by my pool and noticed my stomach and leg was sort of itching. I looked and had a few welts on my tummy, so i just thought i might have been bit by something or was just irritated by the shirt i had on. later that day the itching got worse and the welts started reproducing. DH went and got me some benadryl.  I passed out that night from the benadryl and woke up at 3am scratching so bad and had nausia, chills, and felt dizzy.  so, i got up and looked in the mirror! omg! the welts had spread over most of my body and i was itching like crazy. I took a shower thinking it would help.  I almost blacked out in the shower (now i know from the ER dr that the warm water dilated my blood vessels even more which dropped my pressure causing me to almost black out). I make it through the morning miserable wanting to peel off my skin. I went to the dr. at 10 am. she said i was having an allergic reaction to something. gave me a steroid shot and told me to take some more benadryl. she said if it gets worse to go to the ER.  so a few more hours pass. I take a nap (from the benadryl) wake up and I can hardly swallow! my throat, tongue, lips, and eyes were all swollen!! the welts have doubled and have made their way up to my ears, face and head! My hands and feet were swollen.  I looked HORRIBLE!!! The itching was way worse, chills, fever, nausia, dizziness, and I thought my throat was going to close shut! I rushed to the ER! They gave me an IV of steroids, antihistamine, and something for the stomach issue. Finally the welts and swelling went down a little and my throat started feeling a little better. They diagnosed me with ANGIONEUROTIC EDEMA.  which is an allergic reaction of the deep tissues, swelling, nausia, chills. ect…. gave me a script for more steroids and a list of the causes. Do you believe that exercise is a cause!!  also strawberries!! I had strawberries that morning, plus exercised hard that morning. Light is also a cause (hello) I was laying out in the sun when i noticed it was starting! so, now Im not sure if I should ever eat strawberries again! Dont worry, I am still going to work out, but giving it a rest for a few days. Im off work this weekend per DR request. When I woke up this morning the welts have gone down considerably, my throat is much better, but I still itch real bad and my hands and feet  are still a little swollen. My hands itch so bad today i wish i could just cut them off at the wrist!! ugh…. sorry for the totally off topic blog, but i had to shart my drama with you guys!  Just be aware, that even if you’ve never had an allergic reaction before in your life…… It could always happen at some point! now, Im scared to death its going to happen again. It was (and still is) pure torture!! I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy.  I hope you all had a better few days than i’ve had.  The good part is I’ve stayed on plan, actually sort of low on calories because i havent been able to eat much.

UPDATE: well, Its early Saturday morning and its been another day of torture. I am so sick of itching and the stomach cramps that i just want to curl up in a corner somewhere and die. OK maybe not die, but you get the picture.  Friday afternoon I was feeling better, thought i was on my way to recovering from this crazy reaction, but then later in the early evening the stomach cramps came back with a vengeance. also, the hives/welts started to spread again.  I almost went back to the ER because of the stomach cramping. The pain was as bad as labor pains! seriously! so, i just cried and moaned for hours. Finally the cramping subsided and I got a little sleep. as of now, the cramping is almost gone (please god dont let it come back) the hives are still there and still itchy, but manageable. OMG when is this going to end??? I am making an appointment with an allergist asap. I need to find out why this happened to prevent it from happening again. Friday’s food was this:

B- kashi cereal with soy milk

L- healthy choice sweet and sour chicken/rice

D- package of oatmeal

S- bowl of honey nut cheerios with soy milk

I know its way low on calories, but I was lucky to get this down

OK it is now saturday afternoon. I think it might have been my soap. I realized I took a shower with new soap right before I went and layed out by the pool. also, every shower that i have taken in the last few days has seemed to have made my hives worse. so, Im leaning towards the soap at this point. I hope it is the soap because that will be easy to stay away from.  as of right now, i am feeling a little better. the hives are still there but (cross fingers and knock on wood) I am not having any cramping or anything.