Sheets....A Serious Question

[packedandready]

Here's the situation...

 

Dh has developed hives, now being classified as chronic hives. This is not 2 or 3 little hives that pot up, but HUGH, raised, bright red, itchy, stingy hives from the top of his head to his feet. Not only very uncomfortable but makes him feel bad in general. After many, many doctors and tests nothing can be found as the cause.

 

After trying many drugs and combination of drugs we've finally found something to keep it somewhat in check.

 

We just returned from a hotel stay and 2 weeks on celebrity and he had a HORRIBLE reaction. We're thinking it was triggered by the sheets ( detergent, bleach etc) even though he slept with long pants, socks and long sleeves. He returned to normal (his normal) when we got home.

 

Now for the question....We've cruised about 20 times and really don't want to have to give it up. We have a b2b booked with royal Caribbean. If we brought our own sheets/blanket do you think we'd have a problem using them? I know it would be more luggage and more hassle but we're willing to try it. Do you think contacting special needs would help in any way?

 

Don't want to have to quit cruising.......

[champagne123]

Oh my goodness..awful. By all means, bring your own bedding. There should be no reason why you would not be able to bring them. Your poor hubby.

[SilkySal]

Not sure but I would contact special needs @ RCCL first, as they may have dealt with this issue in the past and have a solution for it. Good luck!:*

[marci22]

Are you sure it's detergent? Maybe it's dust/mold. Check the air registers and make sure they look clean. We have found some pretty dirty ones in bathrooms, air conditioning units, etc.

[reallyitsmema]

Absolutely, bring your own sheets!

 

One question for you about the hives, do you have a new memory foam mattress? I have a family member who started having terrible issues with hives and it was the gases that the memory foam mattresses put out. They finally figured out the cause after three months when they went away for a long vacation. Just thought I would put that out there.

 

 

Edit: Reread your post, was there memory foam mattresses where you were? Missed the he got better at home part.

[PortSideCruzan]

 

If we brought our own sheets/blanket do you think we'd have a problem using them? I know it would be more luggage and more hassle but we're willing to try it.

 

Hi Packedandready :)

 

You certainly won't have any issues using your own sheets. We bring our own pillows & pillow cases for all of our sailings. No need to contact special needs, simply mention it to your cabin steward on day one. Have a terrific day!

 

 

:)

[packedandready]

Absolutely, bring your own sheets!

 

One question for you about the hives, do you have a new memory foam mattress? I have a family member who started having terrible issues with hives and it was the gases that the memory foam mattresses put out. They finally figured out the cause after three months when they went away for a long vacation. Just thought I would put that out there.

 

 

Edit: Reread your post, was there memory foam mattresses where you were? Missed the he got better at home part.

 

No, no memory foam. Dh has been keeping a very detailed logged since this has been happening and NOTHING makes sense. It's very frustrating.

[gerif]

I’ve seen in travel catalogs what looks like a sleeping bag but made of thin silky fabric that packs easily. Specifically made for use in hotels, etc. Might be worth checking out.

[Reina del Mar]

Just a thought....

 

If you take your own sheets, pillowcases towels etc, you'd have to take several sets..otherwise they might be'contaminated' during laundry. RCCL does not have self service laundromats.

[shirleygr]

When my youngest DD was much younger, she would break out in hives at the drop of a hat. Couldn't use different detergent, fabric softener, soap, etc. You get the picture. We always traveled with a silk sleep sack for her. It had a pocket to put the pillow into so her face wasn't in contact with the pillow case. Worked great and took up very little room in our luggage. (Towels were another story) Thankfully, she outgrew this sensitivity around age 9 or 10. She is still sensitive to perfumes, but she no longer has issues with sheets, towels, etc at hotels or on the ship. Anyway, highly recommend using a sleep sack.

[Grandma Dazzles]

Would assume you would also need to bring your own towels. Towels I am sure are laundered the same as the sheets.

[packedandready]

Yes, would need an extra suitcase just for linens :o. Thankfully our next cruise booked is from a port we're driving to. Will look into the sleep sack. The mystery of this is about to drive us crazy!!!!!!!! It came out of nowhere. The doctors all said we would fall into 1 of 2 categories. 1..we'd be able to determine the cause very quickly, 2....we might never determine the cause and he'd have to just keep trying meds hoping to find something that could cause some form of control. Guess which one he's in????? :loudcry:

[queenfrostine22]

I feel so sorry for him! I know what it is like! I have had chronic hives on and off since I was 5. I have been tested for everything under the sun and with the most recent bout, finally figured out that it was the water.

(went on a trip to NY and didn't have a single hive.) Now I only drink purified water. - and no hives. (for now) I often think I am just allergic to myself.

Don't give up on trying to figure out what it is!

[carolitis]

My DH has a problem with chronic Hives or urticaria also. If you need to bring extra linens on your cruise /flights. If you have a letter from your doctor they will allow the luggage with linens on your flights with at no charge. You will have to contact them in advance and only put medically needed items in the luggage. So far he has not reacted to linens on ship. At home we use only allergy sensitive detergents and if we do not do an extra rinse cycle on all clothing and linen items he has a problem and definitely reacts. Have a cruise coming up so will see how do on RCCL. In 2012 did fine on X linens. Do call ship special needs also. They may have linens laundered already for those with sensitivities. It is worth a try before you bring your own.

[dacsmom]

I feel for your problem. Hubby had the same issue, once we switched to scent and dye free laundry detergent he had no problem. We use All free and clear. I even tried regular detergent without him knowing after a while to see if the detergent really was the culprit and sure enough the rash came back. I imagine there are other people with the same problem, maybe special needs department can help.

[motherof]

I second the silk liner. A double-sized one packs down to a few inches and weighs almost nothing. If it has to be washed during the cruise, it is easy to hand-wash (I machine-wash ours at home) and dries quickly. Not only will it protect your husband from any leftover detergent in the bedding, it also feels wonderful. Just do a search for sleeping bag liner.

[ObstructedView2]

Definitely bring your own sets of sheets. If your husband is ok with the sheets he is sleeping on at home, use them, and don't take a risk with sheets that special needs might provide. Use the sheets that you are certain about. When in doubt, don't.

[OCruisers]

Wonder if you should also bring your own matttress cover?

[Snit13]

Have also suffered over the years and one issue was the soap I was using to bathe. I too use only scent free laundry soap. We were on Majesty in January and in April and there were NO covers on the mattress, just a single sheet. I insisted cabin attendant put 2 sheets on bed as I considered this a health hazard.

 

Side note, a dear friend just came down with hives all over her body and was in hospital last week and now in rehab center as medicine her doctor gave her almost killed her (her words). She told me the exotic name they came up with for cause but I had never heard of it. DH needs to see a specialist not a primary care doctor. Hope you live near a teaching hospital. We live 45 minutes south of U of FL and Shands hospital in Gainesville so have access to the specialists.

 

Agree with those who concur you should take your own linen. I presume the use a harsh soap to launder the linen.

 

Good Luck and hope all goes well for the two of you.

[packedandready]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Yes, he is under a specialist and is controlled to a “livable” degree (at least for now). It’s sad to hear about others who have the same problem but good to know there are others that actually know what he’s going through.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[lenquixote66]

Here's the situation...

 

Dh has developed hives, now being classified as chronic hives. This is not 2 or 3 little hives that pot up, but HUGH, raised, bright red, itchy, stingy hives from the top of his head to his feet. Not only very uncomfortable but makes him feel bad in general. After many, many doctors and tests nothing can be found as the cause.

 

After trying many drugs and combination of drugs we've finally found something to keep it somewhat in check.

 

We just returned from a hotel stay and 2 weeks on celebrity and he had a HORRIBLE reaction. We're thinking it was triggered by the sheets ( detergent, bleach etc) even though he slept with long pants, socks and long sleeves. He returned to normal (his normal) when we got home.

 

Now for the question....We've cruised about 20 times and really don't want to have to give it up. We have a b2b booked with royal Caribbean. If we brought our own sheets/blanket do you think we'd have a problem using them? I know it would be more luggage and more hassle but we're willing to try it. Do you think contacting special needs would help in any way?

 

Don't want to have to quit cruising.......

 

Due to something similiar on our last cruise we brought a sheet to put over the bed and removed the sheet every morning .