Itching problem

[OllieO]

Hi Everyone,

I am experiencing itching which seems to be getting worse.  Unlike my other symptoms which are only on my left side the itching occurs on both sides of my body, pretty much head to toe.  It reminds of the itching I had after surgery when I was taking a painkiller.  I am not on any medications right now.   I thought that maybe my laundry detergent was bothering me, but that wouldn't cause my head to itch (it's driving me crazy!)  Have any of you experienced this?  I am going in for an MRI on Friday since I have been experiencing some numbness, tingling, and pain - I am justing starting down the road many of you have been on for a long time.

Thanks for your help!

[marika54]

What form of liver disease do you have? I have HepC but am in remission. This itching is driving me insane and I don't know where to go or what to do next. I have seen many doctors and have asked every single one about this maddening itching. My last experience was with my Gyno. He was obviously treating me for something different, so I asked him if he had ever heard of someone having this kind of itching. He said,sometimes pregnant women get itching from bile acids which are high, so he was going to test for that when I had my surgery. I was so excited that I may finally have something to relieve this insanity, but no, not so lucky. Back to square one. How does a person live a normal life with this? Do I take my shoes off at work, put my feet up on my desk and rub my feet with a washcloth?  I'm at the end of my rope!

[loverofdogs]

i have itching really bad on  the lower part of my legs and around my knees.  i itch so bad i take the skin right off , yep i look real pretty in shorts.  lol .  i went to the dr about 8 years ago for this and they said it was "summer itch" or dry skin and that i need moisturizer. well then i went back about 4 years ago in the winter, and can you believe it, they said it was "winter itch".  Well now that iv been diagnosed with m.s. about two years ago, my dr says it's the m.s.  justs drives my insane. i have cut my nails back as far as they will go and just try to not think about it when it's itching really bad.  iv gone as far as putting socks over my hands.  so believe me, i know what you are going through. but from what i understand about m.s. itching is that is localized to a certain area, not all over.  so you may be reacting to laundry soap.  good luck and may the good lord bless you.

sue (loverofdogs)  

[OllieO]

I am going to try a fragrance free laundry detergent and see if I can tell a difference.  I do notice that I have itching during the day even on parts of my body not covered by clothing.  So can laundry detergent have a lingering affect I wonder.  I am not taking any medication.  I take Tylenol from time to time, but haven't had any in quite a few days.  Oh well - it is not too awful so I will grin and bear it for the time being.  The weakness and slight numbness in my left arm and hand are causing me more stress!  Thanks for your feedback!

[aiMelissa]

I have itching related to my liver disease.  The itching is all over my body and there is a medicine call cholestrymine that helps.  It's a powder and the helping isn't instant but it does help.  I'm not sure why though so it may not help you.  

Other than that cool showers and cold lotion help. Although I have raynauds so I have to be careful, lol.  I keep my lotion (lubriderm) in the refridgerator.  =)

Hope you are feeling better!

[Quixotic1]

Yes, itching can be a paresthesia, but it would unlikely be all over your body.  I found laundry detergents, one in particular, to be a major cuprit for this (like I found it dozens of times.  It was T***.)

About your head, do you launder your pillowcases and sheets in the same detergent?

Also, are you on any meds?  A mild allergy will often cause itching, but without rash or hives.  It can even occur to a med you have been on for a long time.  For me it happened with aspirin and 2 decades later with all the NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammorty drugs) like ibuprofen, Celaxa, Naproxen.  I did get little hives, but that is not necessary.

Quix

[Satori1952]

Do you have any sort of rash with the itch?  Does a tingling precede the itching?

Satori1952

[essdipity]

Hey, Ollie. Overwhelming itchiness can occur with MS. If that's what's going on, your 'itchy' nerve endings are in overdrive. That would be the same kind of thing that causes numbness, tingling, etc., just different sensors.

Good luck with your MRI. Let us know how you're doing!

ess