Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Recurrent Idiopathic Urticaria

Who'da thought that Itchy Spots would have an official name?

Don't you love the fact that the medical fraternity use latin to describe the symptoms and it sounds all official. 'Urticaria' apparently means itchy welts/hives, (i.e. high-falutin' itchy spots); and I particularly like the fact that 'idiopathic' means that no-one has a clue what's causing it. Gee I wish I spoke latin. I could sound so knowledgable and laugh at my doctors when they speak in this kind of code.

I did some research after my little 'the spots aren't going!' depression last week. The official website seems to indicate that I need to try the diet for between 4-6 weeks. Things may get worse before they get better, and after 6 weeks if there's no difference it probably isn't the nasty natural food chemicals. Sigh.

Of course, this prospect isn't as depressing as I thought it would be, because this week they do seem to be going. There's still the odd spot that isn't entirely happy, but it isn't so itchy I could tear the skin off, and all the rest are fading. I'm beginning to toy with the thought of reintroducing some things, but probably shouldn't until next week because itchy spots traditionally come and go, but are never entirely absent. So I probably ought to wait until they've gone completely. Also, I had a nose/eyes attack on Sunday night and took an antihistamine, which also helps to clear up spots - so I should give them some time to come back.

So chance that I'm going to get cheesecake this week?

... Approximately None.

5 comments:

Givinya De Elba said...

I saw on my blogroll you'd written a post called 'Recurrent Idiopathic Urticaria' and, sad to say, I completely understood the term.

It comes back again and again, we have no idea what's causing it and it's all about itchy spots.

Medical terms like this are taking up space in my brain, and the rest of it is empty except for a lone hamster running in its wheel to the music "A Walk Through The Black Forest."

Givinya De Elba said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dee said...

that Latin term sounds nasty! I hope the diet works eventually for you

Long dark hair, blue eyes said...

cheesecake sounds great but cheesecake followed by itchy spots may take the silver lining off the cheesecake

Swift Jan said...

I bet that cheesecake will taste awesome when you finally get to have it!!

((hugs))