Help..i Itch

[Sherryg683]

This has gotten ridiculous..I feel like a dog with fleas or something. This has been going on for about 3 months now. It will start with my scalp itching, then my whole body just itches. Feels like needles sometimes and if I scrach, it just makes me itch more. I have literally scratched myself till I bleed. It will last about 4 days, then go away for about a week then start up again. I went to the dermatologist and she couldn't find anything, said maybe my skin was dry but I don't think that's what it is. Don't really have any rashes. As some of you know, I had that horrible case of shingles that lasted 8 months but I never recall any itching like this. Although, through my itching..I do feel some residual nerve pain, not terribly bad though like before. I don't even know what type of doctor to go to with this,... a neurologist? Any advise or anyone had the same thing? I'm still on Hercepting but that's about it. No change in soap or laundry detergent. Is it just my nerves? ...sherryg683

[Mary Jo]

Hi Sherry,

Sorry I can't offer any help on your itching but I hope you find the reason for it. The reason for my post really is to say your new picture is awesome. You look like "one hot momma" Very nice picture.

Make it a great day Sherry.....Hugs to you,

Mary Jo

[Paris]

Hi Sherry,

I have something similar. It started between my second and third rounds of chemo. I would start scratching in one place and then my entire body would itch. The more I scratched the more I itched. Right after my third round of chemo I broke out into hives everywhere except on my head, thank God! I saw a dermatologist who did a skin biopsy that came back inconclusive. I was put on prednisone, zyrtec, attarax, and zantac. It's a year later and I'm on just zyrtec but if I don't take anything for a couple of days I start to itch like crazy. In fact I just went three days without the zyrtec and sure enough last night I was itching again. The weird thing is it starts at the end of the day and like you I hadn't changed anything that would cause an allergic reaction. The dermatologist, who I saw last week, thinks it's an autoimmune weakness. I wish I knew when this was going to go away. I don't know whether to see another doctor or just continue on zyrtec. I guess it could be worse in the grand scheme of things. I just wish I knew what it was!

Let me know if you find out anything interesting.

Good luck!

Jamie

[SoCalGal]

I started itching after I added Avastin into the mix. At first I was itchy without any rash but now I've had a rash that started as a recall rash in my radiated area - then resolved - and now I have a rash on my arms. I use a variety of things to treat topically (baby oil/Egyptian Magic/sarna lotion/lukewarm baths/dove soap/hydracortisone cream).

I also am worse at night but I think it's because I shower and use oil and lotion in the morning. I think it's an allergy to spring in the air for me. At least I hope that's what it is because I'd like it to pass.

Just a note - scratching is the worst thing you can do. Try using an ice pack to calm the skin down. And try only lukewarm baths and Sarna anti itch lotion. For me - none of the antihistamines helped. It seemed to help to drink a TON of water and also get back on my fish oil supplements and multi-vites.

I'm itchy just typing this.
--Flori

[lkc Gumby]

Hi Sherry.
Me too! I attribute it to being on Herceptin since Nov 06. My skin keeps getting dryer and dryer and my nails are hopeless!

[John21]

SOme medications cause ithcing. Have you started any new ones. I know Vicodin makes me itch alot.

[rinaina]

I went through terrible itching non shingles related and it took prednisone both times to break the cycle of itching. Nothing else worked. You sound exactly like I did, same thing. I was told it was nerve related and for where it was located, they said it was due to my neck. I had 4 level cervical fusion in 2002 so who knows. good luck!

[Sherryg683]

I took a benedryl last night and haven't itched near as much today but I'm probably just going on my "itch free" week and then it will start again. I need to go see my GP about it becase it's miserable. Rina, what dose predinisone did they give you? I've always been afraid of taking it because of the whole weight explosion thing. I have had so much problems with nerve endings and pain and stuff since the 8 month long shingles from hell episode. I had to get 3 epidural blocks to get rid of the risidual pain, maybe they are wearing off or something..tks..sherryg683

[sarah]

hello,
I've had itching and rashes and even open sores (ave scars from that) since when I started chemo and Herceptin. I stopped chemo over 2 years ago, still on Herceptin and I still have periodic itching problems. besides benadryl type medicine when mine is really bad and I know I can't stop myself from scratching, I put calamine lotion on it and almost instantly I stop itching. when it's not bad, I tend to put creams on the skin to keep it moist. ask the pharmacy for some good cream for exzema because it's rather like that.
good luck, it's terrible but won't kill us!
hugs and love
sarah

[rinaina]

Sherry, I was only on 2 mg of prednisone after trying everything else every doctor could think of. This was not enough to cause weight gain now any bad side effects and i wasn't on it that long each time. All I know is it worked and worked fast. I was so miserable before that. Good luck.

[Sherryg683]

Thanks all. My doctor gave me a cortisone shot (for an infection I have) and gave me a prednisone pack. Like I predicted, I'm itchy crazy again. He said this should help. No idea of why. I"ll put it down to stress or medications and hope it goes away quick...sherryg683

[Bill]

I'm sorry I can't help with the itching thing. Nikki had some itching from Dexamethasone. Maybe a side effect of steroid meds.? Just wanted to say how much I like your new picture. Best wishes, Bill