@gardeningjunkie I specifically asked two of my dermatologists if I could be having a reaction to my new mattress. Both said absolutely not because I did not have direct contact with the mattress, (sheets and pajamas would protect from that) BUT the itching / Grover's coincides to the EXACT week I bought a new mattress! SO, I changed out the new one for another supposedly (hypoallergenic mattress) but I think it still contains a lot of the same chemicals the first one had. I REALLY think this could be the problem. BUT I have also tried sleeping in a different room for a few weeks and that didn't clear anything……so???? Who knows. Off to the Mayo clinic it is! or else I buckle and pay for the 5 day [patch test!
It takes months to calm a body down from exposure to allergens. Once I knew what to avoid it took my burning feet 6 months!!!! No more foot pads burning. Heavenly.
Look up off gassing of chemicals. For me my True Test showed a major reaction to Mercaptobenzothiazole, MBT which is used to blend materials like poly/cotton, elastics, spandex and memory foam and a host of others. You have heard of latex allergies, that is another element in rubber and MBT comes from rubber. Until you get tested get a large piece of vinyl (clear heavy vinyl is sold on line).Vinyl is free of MBT and latex. Or you can order a large plastic bed pad, as used for bed wetting. Cover your mattress, then put on a thick pad or 2 of 100% cotton or a cotton cover with 100% polyurethane fiber fill (no blended materials) so sleeping is not too hot. This vinyl or plastic will block the off gassing. With MBT or latex allergies you can't even share your laundry loads with family members who clothes are blended or elastic as this contaminates our clothing.
Got to lawsuits about mattress chemicals, memory foam allergies, Tempurpedic Memory Foam Mattresses is a major offender as well as others. Loads of folks are allergic. 100% cotton sheets or blankets or pajamas do not protect, they are porous. Also our skin is porous. These off gassed chemical enter inside our bodies, not only while breathing but though our skin raising our histamines throughout our bodies.
I had both a skin allergy test and a patch test for chemicals. The patch test was only for three days though and negative for everything. As I understand it, I can be intolerant of certain things even if not full-on allergic, and I believe that is true. Thank you for the tips! I have been following this site for a while but this is the first time I posted.
Liked by gardeningjunkie, MariannJ
@gardeningjunkie Question: Not knowing ANYTHING about chemicals in bedding, I thought Polyurethane would be something to avoid or as part of the problem, why do you recommend a polyurethane fiber fill pad?
@gardeningjunkie I found a Dr locally that does a 4 day test. Could this be the same? They said they don't do a 5 day test T.R.U.E. TEST website recommended him and I also don't see a specific 5 day patch test on their site.
I can tolerate certain plastic or synthetic materials, it depends on if MBT is used. MBT is to accelerate the blending or combining of materials and comes from rubber. This was not done until the 80"s. Previously fiber allergies were normally to wool or if rubber was used as floor pads or rain boots or slickers, In England a "Wellie Rash" was common as from an early age children wore little rain boots made from rubber which contains an assortment of allergens, like latex and MBT. Maybe a dozen allergen. Poly/cotton is less expensive than 100% cotton and in many cases desirable as it wrinkles less. Even high end hotels normally use poly/cotton sheets and towels, not because they are cheaper and wrinkle less but they are stronger. Vinyl and plastic I don't react to as they are not a blend. Polyurethane fiberfill or foam is synthetic, like vinyl or plastic but since it is not blended no MBT. Basically all materials like memory foam, nylon, poly/cotton, satin, nitrite, neoprene, all elastics, spandex and many others need it to be made. It cannot be washed out. I can wear 100% polyester, once again not a blend, with no reaction.
All synthetics don't breath like good old 100% cotton. I prefer to use a 100% cotton covered and 100% cotton batting filled mattress pad as it is cooler, but as mentioned the polyurethane fiberfill is fine for me, it's thicken and lighter and doesn't tend to clump like the cotton batting. Yet I don't know about others reacting to polyurethane because it probably has elements others could be allergic to.
kimass1 as I mentioned without testing it's hard to guess what is causing our allergic symptoms. For years I had avoided common allergens which I wasn't allergic to and exposing myself to allergens I didn't even know about or ever heard of. Even if the doctor discounts his cost to administer the test which he is only a part of briefly the last day the test kit is the big expense. A tech puts the patches on a tech reads the reactions day 3 and day 5 and then the doctor comes in to verify their ratings the last day for a few minutes. Most insurance companies approve this testing. I had just started Medicare and with my supplement which my allergist accepted it paid for this test. Medicare does discount it, like all plans but in 5 years I have never had a doctor not accept Medicare and I have doctors in different states. If you could get a good insurance plan you could take advantage of their assistance. Maybe a rumor but one blogger said the Mayo wasn't accepting anymore Medicare dermatology patients.
Liked by kimass1
I may be using the old name 5 Day Extended Patch Test. 4 or 5 years ago that was the name my doctor used and it did take 5 days. Just 2 months ago my same allergist ran more True Test panels which were not administered the first time and it was for 4 days. I wondered if that was because he was working a 4 day week, but with your information perhaps 4 days is the new normal. Another person mentioned a 3 day test, however on my 5 day test some allergens that showed up as mild on day 3 were rated high by day 5. Also some mild reactions didn't appear until day 5. Perhaps the recent tests have chemicals or natural elements that can be read sooner. Good questions other may know the answer to.
Liked by kimass1
Our postings may be confusing as we are discussing not only Grover's Disease, GD, but also other forms of eczema which overlap.Often ACD and Grover's minic each other. I was misdiagnosed for years as my doctors believed my torso rash was my already diagnosed ACD. I believe kimass1 is having testing for Allergic Contact Dermatitis, ACD, I'm not aware of biopsies that can identify allergen's for ACD. She also has GD. They can do a biopsy for GD, but even that for me was inconclusive as my breakout was not in the active stage.
Liked by MariannJ
I am so happy you are going ahead with the expensive ACD patch test. Please don't think you wasted your money if results are negative, at least now you will know to search in other directions, figuring ourselves out is a process of elimination. Glad you got the mattress cover and pads, your bed is the one place you spend the most hours per day in one location.
I had a biopsy and Grover's was found but I have additional Hives like and blistering rashes that popped up at the same time. I am trying to figure out what is triggering them or IF it's just associated with the Grover's … I just don't know and neither do any Doctors to this point. Since taking cilantro, the "typical" Grover's rash has gone, but the other rashes remain.
Liked by gardeningjunkie
It seems many of us have secondary skin issues in addition to the Grover's diagnosis. I suspect I may be in the same boat. In my late 20's-early 30's, I would get hives every time I took a hot shower, but that was so different. These were big welts, all over my torso, front and back. Nobody every figured out why and they mysteriously went away. Now, 15 years later, this pops up and is possibly also related to heat and/or sweat. Have any of you seen an endocrinologist and had a thorough work-up? My derm thinks that's going to be my next step if this week's blood/urine tests don't show anything abnormal. Also, (just venting here), I find it discouraging how outdated the research is considering how many people this affects (compared to the 70's) and how uncomfortable it can make us. I still have half my life ahead of me and may have to deal with this for all of it? Someone please study this further!
Liked by gardeningjunkie, kimass1
Have you looked into food testing for allergies? I wish I knew more about food testing My sister-in-law has an obvious flare up with hives after eating strawberries. I am convinced giving up processed sugar and severely limiting my gluten since Oct 18 has directly contributed to my internal skin issues calming down, as well as my female tissue area no longer burning and returning to normal healthy skin. I don't think I am allergic to processed sugar or gluten, it's that they breed yeast whose waste products elevate inflammation Could food trigger your hive like rashes? Based on another bloggers recommendation a few weeks ago I ordered a food allergy test kit on Groupon, it's only $35.00 and simple. Normal price is $135. At Groupon you register with site, get a code and send off your own hair sample. It's been weeks since I sent it off but a few days ago received confirmation they are testing it now. It checks for an assortment of food allergies like dairy, nuts and many more. I ordered the Silver Kit the middle priced one as it seemed thorough enough. After report is sent to me I'll report back if I think it's worth it. If you don't want to wait go to Groupon: Check My Body Health Food Sensitivity and Intolerance Test, offer expires Oct 17, 19.
If anyone knows of good food testing available with an MD let us know.
Liked by kimass1
@gardeningjunkie
Dear kimass1- you have got to figure out how to get the 5 Day Extended Patch Test. You have learned only a few derms or allergists are licensed in any area to perform the test. Get in to see one and see if you can work out a payment plan or a discount. Ask you derm for reference to a testing doctor. If they don't know one, run the other way, this doctor doesn't want you tested and wants to keep you as a patient. I think that is what happened to me for 10 years. I wasn't even told about this test. My derms advice as to stop washing my hands. EGAD. I can wash my hands, I simply needed a soap free from my allergens. Try contacting the True Test Kit company as they may have a list of licensed doctors in your area. Both derms and allergists test for this. I saw an allergist as the wait time was less.
With Allergic Contact Dermatitis, ACD, which each additional contact with an allergen your body will not get used it instead your reaction time will lessen and will become more severe and it is for life. I muddled along for 10 years with hand and scalp eczema only using the go to doctors prescription of steroids until my entire body was on fire. I was toxic from my exposure to allergens It began to react inside my skin, burning, stinging, itching. Sleep was impossible. If you have this form the sooner you find out the sooner you can get your life back. You know I have both GD and ACD and autoimmune diseases collect in our bodies if we are prone to them. There is no reason to believe you don't have both of these forms until your get tested. You can never guess all your allergens. I was allergic to elements I didn't even know cause allergies.
Liked by kimass1, MariannJ