[curiouskar]

I am a 27-year-old female, who recently attempted to donate plasma for the first time ever, and did not get to finish because I fainted. I was not scared or at all stressed, well hydrated, and had eaten a good, nutritious meal beforehand. Also, I was not allergic to Iodine or anything else that I was aware of. The nurse put my blood back in and revived me from the blackout with ice packs. I felt fine afterward and went home.

The next day I had three small bumps (hives) near the needle site, and the following day and currently, I have a few patches of bumps on several parts of my bosy and my skin itches more than ever. It also burns at times, but I get the chills during these episodes. My whole body itches, but there are no apparent hives everywhere, only in a few places.

I already had poison Sumac, in which I obtained from visiting my parents on their farm 3 weeks ago. This itches WAY worse than that and the area is nearly healed where the Sumac was. I know this is not related because it is entirely different and happened after the plasma donation.

I do not have insurance as I was recently cut from my position at work, and would appreciate any advice you can give me.

Maybe it is an allergic reaction, but I could not really find anything n the internet other than the allergic reaction may result in hives. Not sure how long it will last, or if I need something more than an Antihystemine and Cordisone (which is what I have been using).

Thank you so much!

[smoothy]

How long did you leave the adheasive tape that used over the cotton they put at the site they put the needle.


For some reason I can't tolerate the adheasive tape used at doctors and hospitals without a low grade allergic reaction more than an hour or two... but the stuff you buy at drug stores has no affect at all.

[curiouskar]

Hmm, well only about 20 minutes, and then I faited, and then he wiped off the Iodine and put a bandaid over it. The itchiness and hive areas are all over my body, even on inner thighs, back, neck, legs, VERY badly on both arms and underneath both arms. The hive areas are not pimple-like bumps, but they look like raised skin, a typical allergic reaction.


I have no clue what I could have been allergic to... perfect timing to not have insurance for the first time in my life ever too! Beats me, thank you for your post! Def could be the tape!

[J_9]

Besides donating, have you used any new soaps? Laundry or body? Any new lotions? New foods?

[curiouskar]

Thanks, J_9, I thought about that too, and no. Even when I went to visit my parents 3 weeks ago, I brought my own soap. I haven't eaten anything out of the ordinary either. I traced my steps about this, to see if I have used anything different, and I have never had problems with soaps, laundry, body products, or food allergies. I tried taking an oatmeal bath and using aloe afterward, which helped for a short time.

[J_9]

Let me get this straight. You say the nurse put the blood back in you, right? Had the blood that she took ever left your sight?

[N0help4u]

Longshot could you be allergic to iodine?

[J_9]

My question is, why did they use iodine?

[LadySam]

What are chances that some of the oil from the sumac plant came home with you on clothing, gardening tools, your pet? Contact with the oil on objects can bring it on again and sumac can break out for up to 2 weeks, just a thought.

[curiouskar]

The iodine was rubbed on the arm (vein), where they stuck the needle. I was asked like 10 times if I had any Iodine or Sea Food allergies, which I thought was weird. I have thought it was the Iodine, since he asked me SOO many times.

The blood was taken and just went through the tubes into the machine, where it is spun and the Plasma got taken out, then mixed the blood with Saline and put it back in me. So, no, the blood was just in that machine right next to me. That would be the scariest thing ever - getting someone else's blood!

[J_9]

Are you allergic to Saline?

[curiouskar]

Well, I don't know why my responses keep deleting. I answered to LadySam: I have thought about that, but the area where the Sumac was, boiled and bubbled up, like acid on my forearm, and pussed/oozed, whereas the "hives" in question started after the needle insertion, where I had 3 mosquito-like bumps, followed by my entire body itching and burning about 2-3 days later and currently. The "hives" are raised skin in spots, like a typical allergic reaction. It is very different than the Sumac. I covered my Sumac spot with gauze immediately and washed all my clothes, blankets, and dog :) . I guess it is def a possibility, but the two are just so different.

[curiouskar]

J_9, I also thought about that, since the hives are everywhere, it would make sense that I was allergic to something that went into my bloodstream, but I have worn contact lenses since like age 16, and have never had trouble. Unless that saline is different...

[curiouskar]

Well, I don't know why my responses keep deleting. I answered to LadySam: I have thought about that, but the area where the Sumac was, boiled and bubbled up, like acid on my forearm, and pussed/oozed, whereas the "hives" in question started after the needle insertion, where I had 3 mosquito-like bumps, followed by my entire body itching and burning about 2-3 days later and currently. The "hives" are raised skin in spots, like a typical allergic reaction. It is very different than the Sumac. I covered my Sumac spot with gauze immediately and washed all my clothes, blankets, and dog :) . I guess it is def a possibility, but the two are just so different.

It feels like the "hives" are burning and itching from under my first layer of skin, unlike the Sumac, which is def on the surface.

[J_9]

I'm wondering about a possible latex allergy.

[curiouskar]

I wish I could go and get tested for all my allergies again. I haven't been since like age 12, but have never had a problem with anything before. I worked in Cosmetics at Macy's for 5 years in college, and used so many skincare products, scented, etc. Nothing bothered me. I guess you can all of a sudden become allergic?

This may be TMI, but I can't really use condoms... it is hard to explain, but I do become a little itchy afterward and very uncomfortable, but no rashes or hives like this. Maybe I am developing a latex allergy? Maybe I am overthinking it.

I am just wondering what I can get to treat the hives, or if it becomes worse, I know that I should maybe consider going in... I also researched online and saw that if you have hives for a long time, it could be cancer! Self diagnosing is bad for me! Haha