Grover's disease/ Benadryl /Allegra

Submitted by Kaia on March 25, 2016 - 9:23pm
Body: 

I am new to this forum, but I was curious if anyone here has been diagnosed with Grover's disease, or Darier's disease. I recently found out that I have a cystocele. I also have had an itchy rash since November ( The rash sprouts up on my torso, arms, legs, or back. Sometimes it looks like a mosquito bite and then flattens, and sometimes it looks like poison ivy. And sometimes it is flat and flaky. There is no particular type of fabric that aggravates it, all types of clothing can irritate my skin. And an allergist said that it was not hives. N stress makes it worse.). The dermatologist, after misdiagnosing it, biopsied it, and the pathologies came back as either Grovers disease or Darier's disease. She seemed to think that I had darier's disease, but I don't really know. She said which ever one it was, she would recommend the same treatment, a topical steroid cream, and Allegra in the morning and Benadryl at night. Both are longer-term, chronic rashes that you just have to live with.

I only found out about my cystocele about three weeks ago, after the skin diagnosis. I think I may have had an a cystocele for a while, but I also think it got markedly worse since the end of January. I have never been pregnant. (Mom to two through afoption). None of the doctors seem to think there is a connection between the skin problems and my cystocele. I can't help but wonder if the tissues inside of my vagina are impacted in someway by the disorder I have on my skin. I do use the topical cream on my skin when I have a flareup, but I don't take the Allegra at all anymore, and I only take the Benadryl if I can't sleep because of the itching. I was wondering how the antihistamines might impact a Cystocele. I thought it was probably good to avoid too many antihistamines but then now I am second-guessing thinking that maybe I should be taking them and it might calm whatever is going on inside of my vagina. I am 46, but I am in menopause. (Confirmed- not peri menopause) If I am falling apart like this now, when I can it be like in 20 or 30 years?

Forum:

Surviving60

March 26, 2016 - 7:06am

Hi Kaia and welcome to Whole Woman! This is not a medical forum, and we can only give you our opinions and experience. I agree with you that this onslaught of drugs is probably not a good thing, and you should be pursuing a more holistic approach if you can. A consult with Christine, who is an RN and the founder of this progam, might be your best bet for medical advice. I sense your doctors are grasping at straws, but then again, we aren't great fans of the medical profession's approach to women's health.

Since you have only had this skin condition a few months, if I were you I would look to diet and to the various substances that our bodies are constantly under attack from. I know this may sound simplistic. But work on getting the chemicals out of your life, the processed food and sugar out of your diet (along with other potentially reactive foods - read up and try an elimination diet), and yes, stress is a major factor in virtually every physical problem we face. Allergic-type reactions can come and go over our lifetime. Try a calming Epsom-salts bath.

I doubt there is a connection to cystocele, apart from the overall effects of menopause, stress, and just generally ignoring our health and well-being. The Whole Woman posture work and other tools that Christine teaches us, are the best approach to that condition, and I hope by now you have had a chance to look around the site and see what we are about.

You haven't mentioned vaginal itching or irritation in your post, but menopause brings many changes to the tissues, and Christine's honey and vinegar regimen (which resolved her lichen sclerosis) is something to consider.

Congrats for finding Whole Woman - many of us with prolapse and related conditions feel we owe our lives to this work. - Surviving

pompom12

March 27, 2016 - 4:50am

Hi Kaia
I read your story and thought you might be interested in my experience. Several years ago, after a period of quite severe stress, I developed a rash similar to what you explain. It first appeared after the busy Christmas celebrations. It looked like nettle-rash/hives. It looked like large insect bites over certain areas of my body: upper arms, thighs, feet, palms of hands. The welts were quite large too, about 3 cm at times. They would appear regularly early morning after I got up, then they would slowly disappear to come back again towards the evening. These flat bumps were itchy too and I would scratch like mad.
I never found out what the rash was but it showed itself as explained for several months until it vanished comletely. I never used any kinds of cream at all. Maybe you can relate to this. I hope you soon find some relief.

Surviving60

March 27, 2016 - 11:19am

Kaia, you might also consider and research autoimmune diseases that affect the skin, of which there are many. Psoriasis and urticaria to name a couple (the latter looks and acts and lot like hives). Doctors, of course, have an arsenal of drugs to peddle for these conditions. They don't bother to discuss the importance of a clean anti-inflammatory diet, a healthy gut microbiome, plenty of Vitamin D, sleep, stress reduction, and all those controllable factors that make or break our health. - Surviving

everhopeful

March 28, 2016 - 5:50am

I agree with Surviving. My daughter suffered psoriasis and it appeared that her diet was missing the essential fats ,they help our bodies to work well , something like the way oil is needed in a car. Udo's oil has helped her greatly and when she forgets to take it the rash cones back. It might be worth adding that to your diet but takes time to work and u need to start off with just a teaspoonful a day and build up to a desertspoonful a day. I have that on my salad every day and am pretty healthy! Good luck :))

Surviving60

March 28, 2016 - 6:09pm

Healthy fats, I totally agree. It's easy to keep plenty of these in your diet - good quality olive, coconut, and avocado oils, these are good choices. Get a little grinder and use freshly-ground flax seed in your meal prep. - Surviving

Kaia

March 28, 2016 - 9:45pm

Thanks for all of the replies. I am planning on doing an elimination diet. I am waiting for the nutritionist to get back from spring break with her kids. My mom had RA, so the doctors kept testing me for Lupus when this rash presented, but my ANA levels were fine both times they checked them. I just feel like it is all somewhat related. Like I must have had a slight prolapse & then when my hormones fell off with menopause it set the skin stuff and vagina stuff off. My hairdresser told me that her mother in law was complaining about menopause and said everything dries up and falls down and that's been true for me!

Kaia

May 15, 2016 - 12:03pm

I just thought I would update in case anyone is ever searching the archives and has a similar rash. I did the elimination diet and it did not turn up anything in terms of making the rash worse (it helped me kick my 2-3 Coke a day habit, though!). I really do think it is Grover's though because now that it is warmer and the heat is not running, my rash barely pokes up, even when I wear socks or sleeves with elastic, which would have covered me with poison ivy like splotches before. (plus the onset of all of this corresponded with my first winter as a post-menopausal woman and Grover's seems to afflict mainly older people.) I found a cream on Amazon that works much better than the prescription steroid cream. So now, when I do get the occasional one to pop up on my leg (starts like a mosquito bite), I put the cream on it, and it goes away. The cream also, made the scaly skin from the old ones go away, which the steroid cream didn't do either.

Aussie Soul Sister

May 15, 2016 - 5:40pm

Hi Kaia,
My side of the family has skin issues. One of my daughters came out in a rash when she was about 10 and the Dr had the conventional approach and said it could take months to go away if at all.
I went home and was lead to use Tea Tree Oil I dabbed onto the rash straight, and in 3 days the rash went away never to return, maybe coincidence maybe not...

As I got older my allergies became worse and I believe that over time the liver becomes taxed with all the dietary and chemical products we use on our bodies.

I ditched the hairdye 15mths ago after wanting to rebel anyway along with getting more severe allergies on my scalp and thinking that it was cancerous..thankfully not just allergies becoming worse. I also stopped using chemical laden shampoo and conditioner and use a much safer one now and much less often.
I also use a deoderant not anti -perspirant which has no chemicals in it and rarely use makeup anymore.
I allow myself to perspire not stopping any hot flushes as that is the way the body releases toxins...we live in a sweat phobic society.
I don't wear a bra all the time either, and wear bras that are like bra tops, however they are often still tight on the upper chest, and unexpectedly irritate my skin under them, making an itchy misery which can take 3 days to go away...happening less often now...I used to use corn flour (starch) but recently found that coconut oil is far more soothing and effective. I use it daily all over after showering as much as possible now...
I make my own toothpaste.
With diet I avoid table sugar and toxic oils, and dairy products, no coffee and hardly any alcohol, never have soft drinks - I know how addictive they can be.... All these foods and products load up the liver and skin with a lot of extra work to eliminate toxins, antibiotics, excitotoxins, and antibiotics in food and excess estrogens.... I do have 2 pieces of my 90% cocoa chocolate daily though...

My allergies are much better, I and have some minor skin issues on my neck and scalp, but feel on the whole sooo much better, happier and natural, and strong.
The small red itchy rash on my cheeks that I used to use cover stick on has gone away recently.
So glad that your skin trouble is under control!
Skin issues are definitely a challenge to solve.

Best wishes,
Aussie Soul Sister

Aging gracefully

May 15, 2016 - 6:07pm

Great tips Aussie Soul Sister! Very much like my own journey in many ways.

Aussie Soul Sister

May 15, 2016 - 7:04pm

Thank you Aging Gracefully!
I forgot to mention that I only animal products I eat now are eggs and seafood ...have not felt like eating red meat and chicken or pork lately.
I base meals on these foods or a vegetable, but I have read too much about soy to go near it, except sometimes it is in bread...and I use a bit of soy sauce...
Have to have a go at making my own sauerkraut, as the one I was buying is just cabbage and vinegar the tricksters....& make my own soft, natural fiber skin friendly bras, and shoes and laundry powder....and bread....

One step at a time, LOL
Aussie Soul Sister

Surviving60

May 15, 2016 - 8:01pm

I agree Soul Sis about the soy......mostly GMO anymore. I admit I don't work as hard to avoid it as I should, but organic tofu seems to be OK according to most sources. Your commitment to clean healthy living is quite an inspiration!! - Surviving