Last 2 WDW trips = horrible case of hives!!

[bexareaglecheryl]

I have had an unusual problem the last 2x we've visited WDW. On our Nov 2004 trip we stayed at the All Star Movies. I developed this horrendous case of hives. My legs were covered in these horrible huge swollen red welts. They itched, they burned, they hurt. I slathered myself with antihistamine cream but I was miserable. The oral Benadryl made me so sleepy I actually slept through Fantasmic. I have bladder problems so I drink only certain brands of bottled water and eat only my usual foods brought from home. I had never experienced hives such as these, although I have had a light (oh so light compared to these) case of hives before. They occur only on my legs from ankle to upper thigh and maybe a dab on my arms. I do not have any on other parts of my body. The hives cleared up a day or two after returning home from Orlando.

I had not had any hives between Nov. 2004 and Nov. 2005. Then my DH and I had to go to Florida for a few days and decided to do 3 days at WDW. This time we stayed off site at the Nikki Bird Resort Holiday Inn (this was a last minute unplanned trip and we were a bit short on funds since we hadn't had time to save. Suffice it to say that we will never stay there or off-site again!). Well, within a day of arriving, my Orlando hives were back with a vengeance! I did all the same things. Ate only my regular foods, brought my own bottled water from home, etc. Hives made another trip miserable!

My dr's can't really given me an answer. We are planning another big trip in May 2005 and I do not want this to happen again. I know you're not a dr., but I was hoping you might have an opinion.

Could it be the water? Does WDW have their own water system that does not share water or do they get their water from the county or regional water supply system? Are the beddings/towels at WDW Resorts laundered on site or sent to a laundry facility in Orlando? If WDW does not have it's own water district, would the water from the All Star Resorts (which I believe are in Osceola County) be different than that at other resorts?

I am just wracking my brain trying to come up with some reason and of course some answer to this. If it has something to do with the environment, I would love to hear opinions as I truly believe I have done all I can to try to prevent this from occuring. I take prescription allergy medication and even consulted a dr before my last trip and he said there was nothing more that I could be doing. After our November 2005 trip, I actually thought about never going back again and cried and cried. For me, the WDW nut, this is blasphemy and shocked my entire family. But I felt like the Disney magic was gone and I was destined to be miserable while on my much planned for Disney vacation.

I would so appreciate any info concerning Disney/Orlando/Osceola County/Kissimmee/Orange County water and the laundering of sheets and towels in local and Disney hotels.

I know this is very lengthy. And I thank you for reading this long query.
Chery San ANtonio, TX

 

[Sleepy]

I do remember this being discussed several years ago and can't remember the reason. I think it had something to do with the pavement?????????

 

[safetymom]

I agree. Don't remember the exact name but it is something to do with the sun reflecting off the pavement.

 

[pampam]

I'm not saying this is the cause of your problem, but it may help. Every night at the MK and perhaps at the other parks, they wash the streets down, using detergent and high pressure water. If it rains heavy, very often you will see bubbles on the pavement. This is because of a residue of the soaps. It can cause hives on some people, but I must say your case seems to be quite severe. If you go again, (and I hope you can) perhaps try keeping your legs covered, and see if that helps.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Interesting. I got a case of hives at WDW when we visited last May. We split our stay between SOG and the Poly. As soon as we switched to the Poly I got a rash on the inside of my lower arms and wrists. I just chalked it up to a fluke. I do not have overly sensitive skin and I have never had any other problems at WDW. Maybe it is the detergent they use to clean the towels and sheets.

Hope it doesn't happen again.

 

[Dustball]

Hi,
I have similar problem with hives only not as severe....mine is caused with sudden changes of temperature....if I bundle up and then run really hard to catch a bus, driving up my temperature, I get hives....

Ok, I'm not a doctor and you definitely have a much different case from mine...but do you live in a northern state...could this be caused by a sudden rise in temperature?

Something to maybe mention to the doctor...

I wish you heartfelt best of luck....there is NOTHING worse than what you are going through,,,,I know!!!!

Good Luck!

 

[mickeyfan2]

My nephew developed this and we took him to a Dr. while at WDW. They said he was allergic to the sun. Yes that is what they said. They gave him prescrition strength cortaid cream and an oral medicine that cleared it up. It was extremely itchy. They said to start the medicine the next time he was in the Fl sun again. I would see your Dr. and see if he can give you something.

 

[java]

My ds gets a rash from the chlorine in the pools down there- they use such a strong dose that he breaks out all over- freaked me out the first time and then I figured out why. My Mom got the welts all over-I never knew about the sun and the cleaners stuff but that makes sense I guess? I would think you need to come in contact with the stuff(were you rolling around on the ground? )

 

[Tegra89]

How horrible. I hope you get the answers you need.

 

[mickey's cousins]

I have recently had the same problem. I've been to the doctor three times and was finally given Zyrtec. At first I took it everyday, but now I can take it about every third day and stay hive free!! I was told stress, temperature, pressure , etc. can cause them. My advice would be to go to your Dr. before you trip and explain the situation, maybe he could give you something to take with you just in case. Good luck.

 

[Idroveallnight]

You could try starting an allergy med 2 weeks prior to your trip and taking it through the trip. A prescription one that is non drowsy.

 

[wdwdavem]

This could be way off, but are you using a certain type of sun block that you don't normally use? This could definately cause an allergic reaction. Do the hives go down when you go inside in a cooler location?

 

[disneyfanfamily]

My DH breaks out in hives in the cold. Or if he gets out of a pool and the cool air hit him. Anytime his skin gets chilled, he breaks out in hives. (We should move out of Ohio!) So when we go swimming, he has to take Allegra D and that helps prevent the hives. He may break out a little bit, but he does not itch. He even will break out on a hot day if he is sweating and a cool breeze hits his skin.

Try to see if your Doctor will give you an allergy med such as Allegra D. It works for my DH.

 

[JB Jr.]

Do you have any mold allergies? We always had trouble with similar reactions when we stayed at most hotels, including WDW. We also brought food and water from home for this reason. Thanks to a tip from a plummer we had work on our home plumbing, we no longer use the hotel ice machines. Ice machines are the absolute worst source of mold! Amazinly, we no longer have any problems. It sounds simple, but it worked for us.

 

[DiznEeyore]

I might be completely off-base here, but is there any way they might have been insect bites?

The only reason I ask is that if I don't use bug stuff, I end up with huge, itchy, throbbing welts all over my legs (and occasionally my arms, too -- this is why I'm wondering if it's bug bites since the rest of your body is probably covered). The first time it happened, we went to Walgreen's for Cortisone cream and the pharmacist said they looked like no-seeum bites.

Some stayed relatively small, but some became absolutely huge. They throbbed and changed color with my pulse (my dh was fascinated by this, LOL!!). It took weeks for them to totally clear up.

Since that trip, I've been really careful to use bug spray and that seems to have done the trick. The only times I've gotten them is when I've left the bug stuff in the room and we're out too long.

Just a thought!!

 

[jennymouse]

I've heard of this several times on these boards and it happened to a friend I took down to WDW with me. It was on her legs right where her socks ended and up to her knees. There had been a downpour while we were walking around World Showcase to get to Japan for dinner and our legs got soaked. The next morning my friend came out of her bedroom with her gown on and her legs all whelped and red and she said "Acid rain." I don't think it has anything to do with rain but I think it does have something to do with the pavement, but I don't know what.

 

[phamton]

I get it too especially since I have moved here. It is not the sun in my case as it has happened when I was wearing jeans and even at night once when I was at downtown Disney. It has also happens at Universal. It happens most often for people who are in the 4 F's: Female, Fair skin, Fat, and Forty. But you don't have to be in all the 4 F categories.

Essentially, you get a little edema in your legs. The rash starts usually below the knees and ends at the sock line because the sock elastic stops the swelling at that point. If you aren't wearing socks, the rash stops at the shoes (although I have had the rash on my feet before). The edema plus the stress of walking on concrete and asphault causes stress on the capillaries and causes leaking of blood under the skin. The bleeding is bright red under the skin and burns. After a few days, it just fades away with no permanent damage. Getting off your feet and elevating them helps somewhat.

Neither sunscreen nor antihistimines have ever prevented the rash for me. It is quite common and is harmless. Wearing support hose helps as many diabetics get this quite often and support hose does help but only the kind that you get in the hospital after surgery to prevent blood clots. I refuse to wear that as it is too hot. Taking a diuretic helps prevent it as it stops the swelling but taking bathroom breaks every 10 minutes isn't an option for me. I just live with it and go so much to all the themeparks that I now feel it before it comes on too badly. I start to feel a burning first and elevate my feet at that point.

 

[jltwdw]

4 F's: Female, Fair skin, Fat, and Forty. But you don't have to be in all the 4 F categories.

Very interesting to hear this! I've experience the same burning, blotchy, raised welts on my lower legs from mid-calf to sock top the last couple trips I've made to WDW too. I'd guessed it had something to do with the 4F's (although not the 4th F yet...but too close for comfort!). I've never seen the dr. for it because it does just go away after being home a few days. Although unattractive and slightly uncomfortable (especially when I forget it is there and cross my ankles under the dinner table ) I don't get the hives bad enough to consider crossing WDW off my vacation list.

 

[ktglads]

Do you use a different soap when on vacation? I got some lovely hives on my arms last summer when we were in Disneyland. At first I thought it was sunburn, but when it stated to get worse, I figured out that it was not that.

Sure enough, I was allergic to the soap provided by the hotel. I usually pack my own but for some reason did not. I think I got lucky that it was just on my arms.

 

[Feralpeg]

I get the same thing. Not everytime I go to the parks, but on a fairly regular basis. I also got it when I used to go to the Worlds Of Fun theme park in Kansas City. It is blotchy and I get it just above my sock line up to about mid calf. It itches like crazy.

My doctor told me that it has to do with the reflection of the sun off the pavement they use in the parks. I have noticed that there are certain times of year that it is worse. It tends to be worse during the hot and very bright sunny times of year. During the winter months, I have very little problem with this.