Hi. I'm new to this website. I came across neurotalk through a link about nickle allergies (which I have).

Anyway, since around November 2010 my eczema has been acting up. I have become very itchy on my thighs, groin and hands. I then noticed a swollen lymph node on my groin. I went to my gyno on December 2010 and he told me that it is a swollen lymph node and to go to my regular doctor. My gyno said that I am fertile and that everything else is good (healthy). He also gave me Neevo prenatal vitamins (I'm trying to have a baby).

So I went to my regular doctor and had him examine my skin. He said that it was very dry and also took a look at my lymph node. He then told me to get a a biopsy done cause it could be Lymphoma (cancer). I got my blood test done first and everything came out fine. Except that I was lacking just a little bit of vitamin d. And so, my doc prescribed me vitamin d pills, Valtrex (for my cold sore, and mini blisters that I developed on the bottom of my lip and hands), and another pill that I had to order online for my allergies called "Defend Ol". He told me that it is safe to take all 4 pills (prenatal vitamins, vitamin d, Valtrex, and Defend Ol).

About a couple weeks later I got a really bad itch around my neck and woke up with multiple swollen lymph nodes around my neck. The itch got really bad. It spread to my face (mainly my forehead, chin and jawline), the top of both my feet, arms, legs, groin, hands, scalp, stomach, back, neck, etc. I was just constantly itchy. The itch got worse at night, morning, after showering, and after I ate.

A couple days after the itch, I started to feel dizzy and my heart began to race. My legs got extremely itchy, I was having trouble breathing and I felt like I was going to pass out. My mom took me to the emergency room and the doctors told me that I got an allergic reaction (cause, unknown). They prescribed me Benadryl, a steroid and pepcid.

The next day I went to my dermatologist and he told me not to take those pills, but instead to use hydrocortizone for my skin. So I did what he said. That same day I got another bad allergic reaction. I started to feel dizzy (light headed), my heart began to race, I was having trouble breathing, and my face got really itchy. I thought I was going to pass out, so I went to the emergency room again. The doctors gave me Benadryl and told me to take the pills that they had prescribed me. So I ended up taking the pills and not hydrocortizone. The only thing I ate that day before the allergic reaction was: morning: bowl of Special K Cereal (original) with cow milk; before lunch: Claritin pill; lunch: bowl of Raisin Bran with cow milk. I was on the computer right when I started to get the reaction.

I then had to make an appointment to go see my allergist. Turns out I'm allergic to trees, grass, dust/dust mites, mice, horses, hazelnuts, eggs, and nickle. There are foods that I am sensitive to as well, such as dairy, chocolate, candy, sugar, wheat, etc. Those foods came out negative, but I still get itchy after eating them.

I also went to get a biopsy done on my groin (swollen lymph node). The results came out as "reactive" (not cancer). I still have the lymph nodes around my neck and groin. They are still swollen and the itch remains (just not so severe since I have been trying to avoid foods that I cannot tolerate).

I went to my regular doctor again and asked about what else can be causing all of these swollen lymph nodes. He said that it is my eczema and nothing else. He said that my immune system is fine and that I have no signs of Lupus or any other serious illness.

I'm still very concerned though because I never heard of eczema causing multiple swollen lymph nodes. I still remain very itchy, probably because of all the nickle that I am surrounded by everyday. But almost everything has nickle. Even water! Are there any other tests that are available for me to see what else can be causing these swollen lymph nodes?

I also want to mention that I haven't had a fever or sore throat. I just have a cold sore that has been taking about a month to heal (that is pretty strange).