Well.... I'm trying to decide just exactly what I did to myself!

On Tuesday I was making mashed potatoes for dinner. Well, when I went to drain the potatoes I was holding the strainer in one hand (not too smart for someone who sees double) and the pan of potatoes fresh off the stove in the other. I'm sure you can see where this is going! When I went to pour the water into the strainer I apparently poured the water over my arm! It only felt like maybe a little steam hit me but it didn't feel like it really burnt me. But, my hubby happened to be watching, while busy with something else, and said I poured boiling water on my arm.

I didn't think anything of it after that. The next day I showed up with some red spots on my arm, in that area. They didn't hurt and I didn't think anything of it, didn't even remember about the water. Thursday it started to hurt. Yesterday I was at my Mom's when I realized that it was probably a burn. She gave me burn free to put on it. It relieved the pain right away, then 45 minutes later it started forming blisters!

I tried Benedryl but the blisters kept forming. I called the dr yesterday. They said if I develop a fever, the blisters start forming outside of the burn, or the burn grows to call the on-call dr back.

I'm wondering if it really is a burn or not, then are the blisters an allergic reaction? It was a little ironic that the blisters formed right after putting the burn free on there.

The weird thing is that the blisters form a ring, and they're still growing. If they're still growing by Monday I will probably be going to the doctors. As it is right now it hurts to bend or extend my wrist in any direction.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any idea if it could be something different or if anyone has any advise? Thank you in advance! Sorry this is soo long.

Good Lord, Nem, you should get yourself to the ER..

That sounds awful..

I second the thought that you should go to the ER.

Hi,
An allergic reaction to Burn Free would itch, like a giant hive might, with edema.

The blisters came about because the med you put on it closed and sealed the pores. Nature (the brain) sends the fluid to the sight of the burn as a protective fluid in the form of blisters, like a bad sunburn would do the same.

Don't break them. Your skin underneath is probably very tender and raw. Put a anti-b cream over it easy, and cover it.

Then see the doctor or go to the ER. It may not hurt until the blisters break. You have to be careful so as not to get it infected. Boiling water is extremely hot.

Let us know how you make out. Good luck.

Thank you all, it is itching so bad tonight. I'm going to have to cover it tonight just so I don't rip it apart in my sleep. I'm having a hard time catching myself while I'm AWAKE, let alone when I'm asleep. I am babying it so that I don't pop the blisters. I know to be as cautious as possible about infection.

If I don't see improvement but Monday or things get worse I will be going in. I just can't win, I didn't put anything on it right away (as in the first couple days) to try and avoid it causing more problems. The pain was just getting bad yesterday and Mom has used this stuff before. Obviously I will never put something on my burns again. I'm so tired of things getting worse no matter what I do! Sorry, just whining now It will be fine, we're keeping a close I on it.

That is at least a 2nd degree burn even if its not all up and down your arm can be VERY painful. 3rd degree would be tissue death from the under layers of skin. PLEASE go to the ER. you are risking a serious infection from this. Burns are NOT to be played with. Even if you feel silly GO! The fluid shift that happens in burns causes your electorlytes to go whacky and can throw you into some trouble. PLEASE go to the ER.

By the way, a damanged nervous system can confuse pain for itching. What you are feeling could be nerve pain from damage nerve tissue from the burn. it means its on the edge of a 3rd degree burn and you need help. please go.

I have only one question.... how large are these blisters?
Shingles blisters tend to be small. Burns tend to be large.

A delayed reaction like this, might in reality be a Shingles attack.

Shingles comes after a stresser of some type. Sometimes it is immune, others fatigue, or injury. (my husband developed shingles a week after a bee sting).

It really should be looked at by a doctor, to determine if the blisters are indeed from the burn, or possibly something else.
Shingles can itch and burn and may have clear fluid heads that leak fluid, or sometimes they involute after the blister stage and turn black, after a week or so. If these are shingles blisters, you will need antiviral treatment quickly to prevent permanent nerve damage which can cause substantial pain in the future.

If it were me, I'd be already at the hospital.

The one is a big ring, the top side of it is as big as my pinkie nail. These are not small, the whole burn though is only about as big as a silver dollar.

I did talk to the doctor Friday, she told me what to watch out for. I'm really babying this thing to try and protect it. The burn itself is actually a little smaller today.I will go in tomorrow to be seen.

I guess you could not really feel the boiling water, am I right? Numb arms.

Means you have to be careful pouring boiling water, use the head and not the
proprioception.