Itchy, periodic, bee stinging sensations all over body?

[sammycung]

Hi, I wasn't quite sure of what topic to put this under, so I think neurology is the closest, if not, the right one.

Ok, so for ages, like maybe 2 years now. I have been experiencing these Itchy-bee-sting like sensations all over my body, and when I say all over my body, I don't mean all at the one time, it's more of a periodic type of sensation that just 'pops' up in different places around my body, for example; I just had one on my leg, then 5 seconds later I got one on my stomach, and then my foot. These prickle/stings that I feel do not have any visual symptoms, such as bumps rash, etc. It's just invisible pain "literally the feeling that a bee just stung me real quick". Right now, it is 1:52 AM and I am awake because these stings are too intense, and can not be ignored, no matter how tired I am. I take anti-histamines (claratyne) and it doesn't seem to rid them, not even in the slightest. These 'stings' have been going on for 4 days now and I have lost so much sleep. They don't seem to go away, not even for a little bit during the day. I'm really not sure as to what is causing them, like I can’t think of a trigger, maybe my soaps? Who knows, but all the soaps I use are soap free. When these 'sting-things' happen, I feel I have to scratch them for them to go away, or it turns into an intense sting, it just gets really strong and painful and then slowly tapers off.
Please help me, when I explain this to my GP, he says he has never heard such a thing!
Any insight would be great, thanks kindly, Samantha.

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, There can be several reasons of your generalized body numbness or stinging feeling although without being able to examine you I can not offer you the specific advice on diagnosis and treatment that you need, but I would try to provide you some relevant information about your health concern.

Most likely your symptoms could be due to peripheral neuropathy such as injury to a nerve, pressure on spinal/peripheral nerves (neuropathy),diabetic or alcoholic neuropathy,  vitamin deficiency ( esp. Vitamin B12, lack of blood supply due to cholesterol plaque from atherosclerosis in the extremities, viral infection and use of certain medications.  Please consult your doctor to get all these possibilities evaluation in your case for further assessment. Hope this helps.

[chrisbobby]

yes you would want to ask about any drugs like claritin for instance someone has taken and test B12 levels in blood..blood sugar..CBC...recent flu shot or gastroenteritis..

[sammycung]

Thank-you very kindly. Your advice is very much appreciated. I will mention those things to my Dr next time i make a visit. Thanks again, Samantha.

[Krissyb627]

Did you every find out what was causing this stinging sensation. Bc I have the same exact thing happening to me. I see this post was years ago. But I would love to know if u figured it out. Bc I have no idea!!  Thanks for any info.  Hope u are better!!

[Namermed]

I had this same problem with stinging sensation around the body.
Tests showed B-12 deficiency.  
If your stomach does not produce Intrinsic Factor, you can not absorb B-12 from food or supplements and you get nerve injury due to that.  
You need B-12 shots once a month, that is the only cure and it will take some time for the nerve injury to recover and the body to have sufficient B-12, so you should expect it to take a while before your symptoms subside.

[Gabbi116]

I have something similar to what Samantha has described above.  My allergist gave me a prescription for Xyzal to fight it, thinking it was hives.  They last about 2 hrs at a time, but there are no visible hives-just bee sting like itch-pains.  Mine happen bilaterally too. Usually they are on the underside of my arms, and if on one side, then it will be on the other.  My nerves get horrible emotionally as this happens. I will scream at anyone who tries to even talk to me sometimes... It happens on my waist-again both sides.  It's always like that. I feel I have to scratch it, but if I do, it goes nuts, and spreads even more.  Then after a couple of hours it goes away.  While it happens, it's unbearable. Usually for the rest of the day I feel wiped out, but my skin will be hypersensitive to touch for hours.   I have Celiac Disease too, so that may help to know.  It seems to be related to what I eat.  Do you have any suggestions on how to make this stop?  Thanks!

[sammycung]

Hey, can i just say, that celiacs disease can cause those itchy stings. And also, if you wish to get an answer to your question, your better off writting your own question, then using mine, because Dr's rarely read back through the same post once they have answered it!

Take care.

[Gabbi116]

Thanks for the advice.  I'll post it separately.  Hope your symptoms go away soon!  
You take care too,
Gabbi

[sammycung]

Thanks, mine finaly ceased the other day, after having them NON-STOP! For 2 weeks straight! It was so bad, i lost sooo much sleep! It was horrible! I am so scared they will come back, i get them allot. The only way i could sleep every night was by taking 3 sleeping pills & even then, sometimes they wouldn't work because the itches were so bad!

Hope u too find a 'cure'!

[Gabbi116]

With me it usually happens when I exercise--not always though.  Sometimes it just happens.  But frequently it's after I get home from the gym.   It's horrible.  I was told it was probably hives, but there are no hives.  It seems more like a nerve thing to me.  Hope yours or mine never come back again!!!

[sammycung]

Yeah, yours actually could be a heat allergy, they are quite common after doing a work out when you get warm and hot! ...I have noticed that they get really bad for me after i go out for a suntan, so maybe we both have heat allergies. Weird hay! Who would of thought that people can have ann allergy to heat!?

[francesemily]

I have had symptoms exactly like Sammycum's for about 13 years now, gradually getting worse.  At first it was a few times a month, then gradually more often, usually at night, until finally it was every day, day and night, off and on.  

About six months ago I also started getting a periodic all-over stinging sensation, kind of like stinging nettle or tiny cactus prickles, along with the intense sudden itch described above at random places all over, and occasionally stinging sensations like ant bites or being poked with a needle.  

It is not an allergy (does not respond to antihistimines) and there is no rash or skin discoloration).  Blood tests show that it does not involve the liver, and there is no diabetes.  It is helped by Lyrica, which is also used for shingles and neuropathy in diabetics, so the official diagnosis (by my GP) is neurogenic itch, but we don't know the cause or cure.  

I am finally seeing an alternative practitioner and am trying such things as a parasite cleanse and homeopathic preparations.  I think exercise has also helped.  I will add more if and when I get results from the alternative treatments that I am trying.  Meantime, Lyrica definitely helps, especially at night so I can sleep.

[Schifette]

OMGoodness u just described what I'm experiencing right this minute.  I do have Osteoarthritis and I do go to a rheumatologist and I have taken gabapentin but on when we it's really cold here in Alabama and that's not until January thru March.  So reading this I know I'm not going crazy.  Great page for this info

[sam_amilia]

Thanks for your reply, i started to lean towards a nervous system cause of my "stings" as there just purely wasn't any other cause. I feel like i have MS, but all my MRI's are normal....i gave up looking for answers! I hope yours eases a little.
Take care, Sammy

Ps this is my new account, i don't use sammycung anymore.
x

[rafal_9]

I have similar symptoms but only in abdominal part of my body, i am just wondering if you found something that may make it better

[CindyGirl123]

I have been having these same stinging episodes within the last week for the first time. that's why i googled it and found this thread. it makes sense that it's the nerves bc my neck was out and i learned long ago how to gently place the C2 and C3 back into joint. The stings stopped for the night. It's 3 days later and i have a 'crick' in my neck and i'm stinging in lots of places on my body, random in appearance and very annoying. i'm grateful to know it's 'something' but not related to my liver bc i'm at a Cancer Center about to go thru a bone marrow transplant and they've found nothing in my liver. An enzyme was increased but is not decreasing and transplant is back on schedule. This tells me in might be a pinched nerve as someone mentioned above. But also glad to hear someone might have a name for it 'neurgenic itch'.

[chrisbobby]

makes a good band name too..  Al Ergic and the Neurogenic Itch :)

[Geronimodusty]

I have exactly what everyone here is talking about, the sudden pinch, like a bee sting, and the stinging, itching ect. I went to an allergy doctor, was tested for 400 things, and I am allergic to nothing! It can get so bad, I could cut my skin off in that area. I went to 3 other kind of doctors also, dermatology, ect. after about 3 years of hell, I discovered how to help it by accident. one day my arms were going crazy, and actually bleeding some from me gouging with my finger nails. I had to go somewhere, so I changed my short sleeve top and put on a heaver long sleeve T shirt. Within a minute it stopped stinging! I have figured out that to keep it calmed down most of the time, I take a shower, slather my arms and legs with CereVe thick cream in the little tub, and VERY quickly put on a fairly snug fitting thin long sleeve stretchy t shirt, and whatever else I am going to wear over it. I also do the same with my legs. I put lots of body powder every where else. I can't have any fabric soft like Downy, and a free and clear soap. For soap in the shower, I use Nivea body wash. I tried Dove bar soap, and the minute I stepped out, my skin went crazy. I started thinking that I was allergic to the darn air! I am starting to think I am allergic to what is in the air. Last month, my son got a job in a large super store doing loss prevention. He had to quit because it involved holding a hand scanner all day. even on the first day he came home with what he called burning spots on his skin in various places. He was off for the next day, and it stopped. He came home the next day doing it again. He had places where it got red, and the hair on his arms and legs looked like it had been burned off. He tried to last to try to work through it, but it kept going, with scanner in his hand the sting started, take a day off, and no stinging. We believe he is allergic to this 4G, 5G, or Bluetooth or whatever the scanners are. After that happened to him I am thinking I really am allergic to what is in the air, its just I don't have to touch a scanner, I just react to that being in the air all around us. By the way, one doctor told me it was my imagination. The 5 G industry have not done any testing for that, all these towers that are everywhere. Keep that in mind when in the near future, everyone is reacting with all these skin problems, ect.

[Geronimodusty]

I forgot to add. NEVER

[Hezett]

Here is the STUPIDEST question...
Could this be from a childhood vaccine?
... I only ask because I've been seeing a lot of adverse reactions from these new vaccines coming out and stabbing pains ARE one of the side effects but they say they'll go away pretty fast. But the thing that REALLY makes me wonder is how the doctors REFUSE to acknowledge these weird problems other people are reporting could possibly be related to a vaccine.
MY doctor told me "Your Pain is All in Your Head"  and she was extraordinarily dismissive. Didn't want to know anything about the severity of my pains, didn't ask ANYTHING about them. just dismissed entirely.

I also have CMT disease but the traditional science has said there's no pain with this condition.. I have SO MANY KINDS OF PAIN that I really am starting to suspect something else is going on here.
Anyway that's just my 2 cents.

[MikeYarbroTx]

HELP I have been feeling like im being stung by hundred's of bee's all over my body and face and have numbness under my left arm and sometimes in my hand's

[Channyyoung]

I have the same symptoms as sammy. In addition I have been recently told that I have fibromyalgia. I had neither of this stuff however prior to 2 years ago when a whelpy, patchy rash appeared first on my back and side and have now made its way to my extremities. It is unresponsive to steroids and other meds. I have seen 3 dermatologists, done 2 biopsies that are inconclusive for mitosis fungoidis and I bruise very easily. Could all this be related. None of my doctors, not the GP, dermatologists or Rheumatologist can give me any answers. Any idea guys? I am just a big mess right now.

[2purplegirls]

Help. I am writing on behalf of my 13 yr old daughter. About a year ago she started having these bee sting sensations on her stomach.  She can go months without an episode, but the last few weeks has had several episodes.  These episodes seem to occur in the warm weather months. She does have some red bumps on her skin but also has had eczema since she was little. Could these be related? She is afraid to go outside because in her mind this is related to the sun.  

[alf_jjn05]

I have these itches 24/7 feels like I was just playing with insulation ugh help me pleaseits been almost two months was thinking I had bugs invisible bugs I'm going crazy

[paulagsel2]

Oh my God, I too am experiencing this itchy, tingling and pinching sensations at different locations of the body, I cannot get a good nights sleep. My scalp and face are itchy as well, sensations of having hair on my face and tingling in the nose. I'm completely baffled by what to do. I have had these sensations throughout my life time, but they would past rather quickly, it seems they have become more frequent and lasting for longer periods of time. I can't imagine living like this, because it's completely maddening! Where to turn next. I have to wait for a dermatologist appointment, 2 months away. I may just take myself to the local ER at this point. It's nice to know others are experiencing this as well, I thought I was going nuts!

[amazinggrace1001]

Did you ever find a diagnosis for the sensation of bee stings.  I have had them for years now.  I think mine started up after I had had shingles.  Mine have always been on one arm running from the top down to my writst.  It
is torment, seems to be worse for me in the fall.  My daughter has them
really bad on her arm as well.  There is no outside signs until it over and then there are tiny scabs like bee sting size all over the area.  Doctor says come in when you are having them, easier said than done.

[amazinggrace1001]

Did you ever find a diagnosis for the sensation of bee stings.  I have had them for years now.  I think mine started up after I had had shingles.  Mine have always been on one arm running from the top down to my writst.  It
is torment, seems to be worse for me in the fall.  My daughter has them
really bad on her arm as well.  There is no outside signs until its over and then there are tiny scabs like bee sting size all over the area.  Doctor says come in when you are having them, easier said than done. I have found if I immediately treat an outbreak with mineral ice and refuse to scratch, it it helps shorten the outbreak.  If need be I pinch the area.  

[Vickyshealing]

Hi, I work as a healer and psychic and have just started to experience the same thing... I thought it was a physical thing and so visited my dr who also told me I must be imagining it as there are no visible signs of anything untoward. fortunately as I am able to see things that are not always visible to the naked eye, I think the pain is actually caused by an 'energy' attachment, which are really common but you really need to find a healer who is able to remove reptillian energies. Dont worry, sounds more frightening than it really is, but you do need to have it removed as it can have a very negative effect on your life. I find that working with rainbow light is really good. Hope this helps, and has not completely freaked you out! Vicky

[Izeh]

Had the same problem of feelings of bee sting but no rash or discoloration ,my doctor gave me Vitamin B12 supplement along with anti allergic tablets and I am fine.I had the sensations for about 4 to 5 days and I am fine now.

[kharriton]

Think twice PLEASE before returning to ANY physician who claims he/she never heard of a condition such as this and did NOTHING to help you especially since itching/stinging skin is a well known symptom of several serious medical conditions (kidney or liver disease, lymphoma etc), and a symptom of MANY less serious medical conditions such as B vitamin deficiency (not just B-12 btw)!  A blood work up would be mandatory for anyone experiencing this condition over a period of time.  Once your Primary would rule out serious conditions via blood work, I'd head to the dermatologist while continuing to search reputable internet sites (Mayo Clinic, etc) for information that may provide clues.  As far as itching/stinging being nerve related that's very possible especially if your dermatologist has ruled out other possibilities.  Heading to a neurologist IS important once your your GP and dermatologist have no answers. (In other words, it's not adequate to say a patient has "neurogenic itch" as the CAUSE is important and often curative.  Itching can also be a reaction to stress, so you might want to ask your doctor for a small dose of Xanax (etc) to see if it's helpful.  If so, consider finding a good psychiatrist in your area as they are  more qualified to treat stress & stress related conditions that your GP...and they'll offer MORE time than the 8 minutes GP visit!  Lastly, remember that not all physicians are alike/experienced so it's important to visit docs who have treated MANY cases of your condition. Your best bet to do this? Go to a University/ Research Hospital where the level of  expertise is often higher.  

[NancyDrew50]

What's interesting is that I've been on 100 mg Lyrica for last 5 years for nerve injury in my C5-6 neck/back area.  Two years ago I noticed that IF I did not take the Lyrica almost exactly at the same time every day, my skin would start stinging, similar to a withdrawal type symptom (which I've gotten if I've taken codeine/tylenol for 10-14 days straight and stop on day 15. I've since learned that I need to take a small amount for another 2-3 days until my body gets used to the withdraw and then things go back to normal.  BTW This is not "additction" withdrawal...just normal body withdrawal similar to what happens with MANY medications (ie) Zoloft, anti-seizure meds etc.  Body line, my pain doc decided to taper my Lyrica down to 50 mgs. and within 5 days my body started stinging here, there and everywhere...like tiny bees...It can start anywhere...in the corner of my eye, under my armpit, in my vagina, my thigh, inner toe etc...gets VERY intense for a day or so, weakens for another several days, almost disappears, then restarts again.  It's been going on for 8 weeks non-stop.  Yesterday went to dermatologist who said it's definitely NOT a dermatological problem (no rashes, irritations, redness at all).  He recommended and my family doctor concurred two lines of research.  I'm getting a head MRI and EEG (and possibly see a neurologist if testing confirms it's neuro) and I'm seeing a dermatologist who specializes in "pscho-somatic" dermatological conditions.  (yes, I know...I thought WHAT...psycho-somatic? Will she think I'm making this up? but have been assured that MANY legitimate & real problems have no available known causes BUT that mild psychiatric medications have been known to help.  I'm open to everything at this point.  I will say that one .25 mg Xanax helps at night so I can sleep, and one the two days that it's very intense daytime, I take .25 mg. Xanax (which I'm told is the amount given to children for anxiety when needed).  It has SAVED me from going crazy.  At least I know that until we find an answer OR my body manifests additional symptoms to help the doctors find out what might be causing this, the Xanax is helping me to cope.  (Note:  I've never taken Xanax before and the doctor who gave it to me said that medications such as this get a VERY bad rap from people and doctors who do not understand that it is NOT highly addictive for people who use it properly BUT rather IS highly addictive for people who use it to get HIGH! Lastly, my family physician ran a full blood profile as kidney and liver diseases can cause intense itching/stinging like symptoms.  Yesterday the results came in the mail and I can see that those are all normal so THAT's good news (nothing serious there) but I'll continue the quest for an answer and will get back if I find an answer.  Lastly, although this is odd, I sometimes feel like bugs are crawling on my legs in between the stings.  I remember having this very same symptom but on my back when I went into peri-memopause, and my skin would sting like heck the day after a shower.  Once I started HRT (hormone replacement) the creepy-crawly symptoms left. I was able  to manage the stinging by using Neutrogena Sesame Oil right after the shower.  With this in mind, and knowing that I stopped HRT last year, I'm going to my GYN to talk about a trial of HRT to see if it helps.  (You never know? Strangers things have happened).  I'll keep you abreast.

[Rannison]

I just wanted to share my account, in case anyone else out there is suffering from the same thing.

I am a 24 year old Asian male.  I work full-time, remain fairly active, and although I don't eat healthy I'm by no means in bad health.  I have no history of allergies, though I occasionally seem to get hay fever, only a few days out of the year.  I live together with my wife and a few roommates, and we do have pets (cats, dog, and some caged rodents).  None of us have any allergies to the animals, and we have been in this residence for more than 2 years now, with no major environmental changes I can think of.

A few weeks ago, my wife started complaining about her arms and torso itching.  She described it as a stinging/itching sensation that would randomly prickle over certain areas of her body.  The sensation would come and go, but would be very intense, almost at the point of pain.  A few days later, she started developing hives.  They started at her hands, then spread to her arms, feet, legs, and eventually her body as well.  Over the course of 7 days, the "hives" spread throughout the majority of her body.  As we are uninsured and live paycheck-to-paycheck, we couldn't afford to see a doctor.  Instead, she took OTC medication, Claritin (daily) and Benedryl (every 6 hours).  They didn't seem to help much, but from our research online she was encouraged to continue taking them anyway.  After 7 days, the hives started to abate, leaving behind slightly swollen and "bruised" plaques across her skin.  They then went away altogether, but she still complains of the prickling/itching on occasion.

At the time, we wrote it off as some sort of allergic reaction.  Around that time, we had just gotten a new fish tank with exotic fish.  She was also taking antibiotics and Tylenol with codeine for a dental operation.  We assumed it might have been an allergic reaction to one of these.

Then, around last week, I started randomly feeling a sensation of itching across my back randomly.  They seemed to come and go, but does not occur very often.  I notice they happen most commonly when I move around a lot and my blood starts to circulate more, or I get more warmed up.  I work and office job and sit in a chair all day, so I thought my back was just getting irritated from sweat and poor air circulation against my chair.  I did not think at all that it might have been related to what my wife had.  However, over the course of a few days, the itching has increased in frequency and intensity.  At first, I wrote it off as my being paranoid and I thought it couldn't possibly be related to my wife's issue.  However, after discussing with my wife the exact sensations, she confirmed that it was uncannily identical and too much to be coincidence.

Thankfully, I did not break out into the hives as she did, but the stinging/itching is pretty hard to deal with.  She loses sleep over it, but thankfully I don't.  However, it does strike me most often while I am at work, and it hardly seems professional to be trying to scratch at my back while working.

After discussing recent events, we have come to the conclusion that, at least in our case, the cause is something environmental.  Our roommates did not suffer from the same issue at all.  Therefor, to my wife's doubt, I had expressed that the culprit was probably something in our room.  As we spend the most time in our bed, I deduced it might have something to do with our mattress.  To confirm this, we spent a night out at a hotel instead of at home.  To our surprise, we actually itched a LOT LESS and felt much better!

Now, I have been concerned that it may be some sort of mental or placebo effect, and I can in no way impartially confirm any of this.  However, my body is indicating to me that the above is true.  After doing some research, we believe the most likely culprit for our case is dust mites, as our mattress may be getting old.  We spent a few nights on the couch downstairs, then eventually I purchased a hypoallergenic mattress cover, vacuumed everything 3 times over, washed everything that was washable, and replaced our pillows.  It seems to have improved our condition, though it hasn't gone away completely.

Though we still occasionally itch, our case has become much more manageable.  I don't know if the above events may have had another cause and by pure coincidence was resolved around the same time we took those actions.  However, for those out there who are suffering, I figure it might be worth a shot!  Hope this helps, if you have any questions feel free to email me ***@****.  Good luck!

[mommanoo]

I also have the itchy bee sting sensation. I had Disc surgery in my neck, but the sensation has not gone away. I now see a neurologist for Dystonia. There are muscle spasms in my neck, shoulders and arms that pinch nerves causing the sensation. I hope anyone else experiencing these sensations will see a neurologist to find out where the pain is coming from. Most GPs have no knowledge of this and make the patient feel as though they are crazy since they can't find a medical reason after doing blood work and checking for allergies. One prescribed me prednisone which was a short term fix. After that the pain came back worse than ever and we learned of the herniated disc. Some people are better after the disc is treated, others have an ongoing secondary situation resulting in the return of the "Bee Sting" sensation.