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Do you have times when you itch alot?/update

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Posted 3/16/2008 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
I go through phases when I itch like crazy. I notice it mostly when i'm trying to sleep. I wake up in the morning with bruises all over my legs and stuff from scratching them. They don't hurt. They are just under the skin. One of my rheumy's said I have PBC which is auto immune liver disease and I know that can cause horrible itching. But my regular doctor says I don't have PBC. So anyway does anyone suffer from itching and if so what do you do for it besides scratch?
thanks in advance

carol
Posted 3/16/2008 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
okie, I itch but mine might be from dermatomyositis or very dry skin the derm. perscribe me amlactin it works very well for me . Hope this helps. Debbie
Posted 3/16/2008 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Carol,

 

That's funny. I get that too.  Not very often, but it does happen to the point where I think I'm going to go crazy!

 

I was told that Fibro can cause that too. I attribute my scratching to that.  Not sure what else it could be!  Annoying!

 

Posted 3/16/2008 3:42 AM (GMT 0)

Hello....

Me too! I get the itchies a lot...even my nose itches :-)  My doc said it was a side effect from the pain pills I was taking vicoden etc.  I'm not sure if he is right but aside from scratching I try and rub the itchy area (like my arm right now!) gently sometimes it helps make the itching go away...and I try to make sure I have lotion on so I don't have dry skin to aggrivate it.  It is a pain though because scratching leads to bruises and cuts and its not like our skin needs any more problems you know. :-) Hope this helped.

Posted 3/16/2008 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
YUP . . . it is too deep for scratching to help. I think someone said it is inflammation. *sigh* I've found some pretty bad bruising form scratching too. Especially on my thighs. *sigh* Blessings!
Posted 3/16/2008 4:24 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Debbie, Ginny and Catzz. Thanks for the comments. I had heard that vicodin could cause it and I had been taking it the last time I was batteling the itchies but I havn't taken it this time and I got the itchys everywhere. My back my side my neck. yes it does make you crazy. Than with all the other meds bruising is so easy to get. I look like I got in a fight or somthing all over my legs. Glad it's not shorts weather out yet. I'll try to find some good lotion. I have some that I carry in my purse but it's just some cheepy stuff. Maybe aloe would help?

hugs

carol

Posted 3/16/2008 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Rosie, looks like we were posting at the same time. Oh yeah the thighs are diffinently the worst. I just cut back on the steroids today sure that couldn't cause a problem already.
ERRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGG! lol
I can hear this echo in my ear from when I was a kid with my mom saying. "Don't scratch it!
love ya gal
carol
Posted 3/16/2008 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
I was reading about scleraderma because my pattern is nucleolar and the spots once on my hands back and neck are now on my face and chest. I just got a new one that is purple on my lip.

Anyway while I was researching it I ran accrossed an interesting article re: scleraderma and itching.Sorry I couldn't get the link to work so I copied and pasted. If somone can fix the link for me so it doesn't take up so much space please fix it. thanks here's the link but it doesn't give me the right thing.

http://scleroderma.jhmi.edu/about-scleroderma/scleroderma-f-a-q.html

I thought it might be of some interest to some of you even if you don't have scleraderma. I havn't been DX'd with it but I have several of the symptoms. I have a rheumy appt next month with yet another new rheumy. I'm wondering if this is some type of flare with all the new spots and the chronic itching.

anyway I hope this helps someone

hugs

carol
Posted 3/16/2008 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
i have itching problems too, especially after showers and after i wake up, what i did found that helps is gold bond lotion, it works very well but i think mine has more to do with dry skin but i am on pain meds so with all the other meds who knows. hope you feel better soon.
Posted 3/16/2008 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
(((Carol))),

I hope you get some relief soon. I itch alot too, but I have very dry skin. Please take care and keep us updated. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Love, Babs
Posted 3/17/2008 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
You know, I itch constantly and so does my brother who has AI disease also. We also are very prone to get boils on our skin. Does anyone else get them? The doc says they're from inflammation. Judy
Posted 3/17/2008 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
I itch quite often, I've posted about it before.  Mine feel like prickly bites all over my skin.  Last summer was the worst.  We finally figured out that mine is due to medications and certain foods.  For example, I was using a sunless tanning lotion last year.  I went through the worst case of itching ever, I thought I would lose my mind!  I was taking Zyrtec and Benadryl, but nothing helped.  My dermatologist and I accidentally stumbled onto the fact that sunless tanning lotions have a chemical in them that causes the skin to turn brown.  This chemical absorbs into the skin, and causes reactions a small percentage of the population.  Since Im the Queen of Reactions, I had one.  It took two weeks for it to completely go away, and as miserable as I was, there was never any sign of it on my skin, only deep inside.

Our immune systems are so incredibly sensitive, it can be hard to figure out what we are reacting to.  I even have problems with green dye of all things.  I have to completely avoid any medications that are green.

Zyrtec really helped me.  Its mostly non drowsy and is over the counter now.  Just try not to take it long term, it can cause a slight dependency, even though its not stated.  (I learned this the hard way).

I hope the itchies go away soon!!

Blessings,

Posted 3/17/2008 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi OKIe
I anm so glad that you asked this question! And thank everybody who answered. I just started itching within the last month off and on. It is worse immediately after showers and when I go to bed or am sleeping. It feels like pricling under my skin, pins and needles, I want to crawl out of my skin. I have scratched to a point of bleeding! My ankles get really bad at times, it actually wakes me up at night. I go to the rheumy next week, that is on my list of questions. But for now I found a new product from Aveeno, skin relief mosturizing lotion with cooling menthol, relieving itching and extra dry skin. It seems to temporarily help for now. I am not on vicodin, so it is not from that, and I also am on zyrtec daily. I'll keep trying new things, but for right now the Aveeno seems to be working. Good luck and God bless. Karen
Posted 3/17/2008 12:25 PM (GMT 0)
I itch all the time and no one knows why. Sometimes it gets so bad I end up needing a benedryl shot. I think I will bring this up with my rheumy as every dermatologist I saw said there didn't appear to be a cause.
Posted 3/17/2008 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
I have times when I itch too, and sometimes get bruises. It especially seems to bother me at night, probably because nothing else is distracting me. Sometimes I take Benadryl in order to sleep. Sometimes it's when I have taken Vicoden, but not always. I didn't realize the itching was connected with autoimmune diseases. I have tested positive for scleroderma antibodies, and didn't know the information you listed Okie. I'll bring this up with my rheumy at my next visit. Thanks for all the information everybody.
Posted 3/17/2008 5:33 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Suzanne, Bab's Judy,Victory, Karen, Redrose,and Harmony. Looks like we got enough to start a baseball team! We can be the Itchy Scratchy's. I'm shocked that so many people suffer with this. I was more shocked to find out it's a normal side effect from A/I disease.

Judy yes I believe that the boils is also another symptom of this lovely disease. :(. Your precious baby continues to be in my prayers.

Victoria it's sounds like you went thru H*ll with this. I'm so sorry. Thanks for the info though. There is so much I can't take with my lung problems. Benadryl will close my lungs up in a heart beat! Mucinex is about the only thing I can take and I don't think that would do anything to help the itchies.

I have to admit I sweat profusly too so I wonder if all the sweat that dries on my body if that would cause a problem?

Karen, yes the aveeno and menthol were on the list of things that we can use. Unnfortunately my itching its mostly at night in my sleep and if I take a shower at now it tends to wake me up instead of relax me. I do get rashes on my face that the aveeno oatmeal bar really puts a quick stop to. They are usually gone within 2 days. It's nice to have somthing that works. Please let us know what your rheumy saids.

Harmony, I'm sorry you have to deal with this too but I'm glad that you got some new and useful info. Hopfully your doctor can find somthing to relive your suffering.

Again thanks everyone for responding I apreciate all of you.

love carol

Posted 3/17/2008 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
It's weird I used to get these horribly painful huge purple lumps that would get the size of a silver dollar and if I didn't drain them they would burst. When they burst on their own I would get a sore afterwards and end up with a scar. When I would drain them we found they had grey to black stuff inside and the smell was horrid. Once I started on Imuran they stopped. While I was off I got one but none since I have been back on it. I am wondering what they are but no one could ever tell me. They weren't exactly boils because their life cycle was 24hours or less, some went through the whole development to burst cycle in less than an hour. I would have no sign of these things on my body anywhere and an hour later one would have already gotten to the burst on its own stage. My husband used to have to check everywhere I couldn't see at least twice a day.

Add to that all the itching and my skin has been driving me nuts for years.
Posted 3/17/2008 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thanx Okie,
Jenna Grace took a little turn in the wrong direction today. Her hematocrit went up instead of down. They are doing "blood letting" on her today again. Please continue to pray. Me and my brother fear so much that they will inherit our AI issues! It is very prominent in our family. Happy Scratching! Judy
Posted 3/18/2008 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
I itch like crazy a lot of the time and I have rashes on my forearms and lower legs - bruises on my thighs from scratching. I hate it. Protopic ointment has helped with the rash.
Posted 3/18/2008 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Okie,
I am so glad you brought up sweating. I sweat so much it is so embarrassing! I sweat to the point of my clothes being drenched. It happens all the time, during the night, daytime, sitting, standing, sleeping, it doesn't matter what I am doing. Is there anything that I can do for this embarrassing and annoying problem? I did not know that this was also a symptom, is it? Thanks, dumplin
Posted 3/18/2008 8:10 AM (GMT 0)

Its insane how some people can have the same identical issue and one thing works for one and not for the other.

Vicodin or percocet actually stops my itching. I take a half of one before bed. If I take more than that I can't sleep. It keeps me from scratching while I sleep.  Then I wake up in the morning and first thing take a Claritin Hives pill. Its a newer type of claritin and hard to find but it really works. My hives and itching are from scalp to feet and it works for me.

hopefully it worls for others as well

Posted 3/18/2008 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
I use ice packs when it hits me at night and it works great.
Posted 3/19/2008 9:06 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Redrose, Judy,Glory, Dumplin,Jenn,Denise.

Redrose, I'm glad you found somthing to help. Wow that sounds absolutely horrible! I hope the doctors can keep you out of the hospital and continue to keep you and the little one healthy. Just try to rest as much as you can.

Judy thanks for the picture of Jenna Grace! she is so beautiful. She continues to be in my prayers.

Gloryroad, I don't normal get a rash that itches it's just like my skin itches and the bruises look like I got beat up! Mine are mostly on my thighs as well.

Hey Dumplin, I don't know that Lupus itself would cause sweating but I have read about other organs that my become inflamed could cause sweating. I also read that predisone causes it too. I know many people here have said that they have issues with sweating. I can't even make my bed or anything like that without everything from my hair to my feet breaking out in a sweat! It's awful. I can be in a room with a hundred people everyone is fine and I'm dripping wet!

Hi Jenn, I used to give hives really bad. It looked like I was hit with a baseball bat. Thank goodness I don't get those any more. I have trouble sleeping when I take percocet as well but the vicodin doesn't really keep me awake.

Hey Denise, I may try the ice packs but I think that would wake me right up! I don't do cold real well. I usually have a heating pad going.

love ya all

carol

Posted 3/19/2008 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Carol, I do not have a problem with the ice packs I like it colder. I use 3 fans in the bedroom. Hubby is all bundles up at night.If you could stand it they really do work.
Denise
Posted 3/19/2008 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
OK...
This is one of those: funny, but not at all funny issues...

I have the itching also. Never been on vicodin. Am on prednisone. Never any rashes.
But, the itch is like it is really deep and you can't reach it...no matter how hard or long your scratch.

I too, have scratched hard enough to leave a black/purple bruise the size of a softball on my thigh. Definitely looking into capris this year instead of shorts!

I'll be the scorekeeper for the itchy/scratchy team!

lol

~Kim
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