Body itching

Posted by Retired teacher @specialteacher, Jul 31, 2018

I’ve had almost unbearable itching for over 3 months. Was prescribed hydroxyzine, but it doesn’t seem to help. It started when I was in the ER having a very frightening allergic reaction. I was given an epinephrine iv, and a breathing treatment. My legs started to shake uncontrollably. Then I couldn’t breathe, was given an injection of something at that point. I’m taking benadryl and paxil but don’t know how much longer I can deal with this.

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@gardeningjunkie ...thank you so much for your reply. I put another call into mayo, both my dermatologist and scheduling. They again said, nothing open until November. But said they'll call me back. I then called my local physician who saw me last and asked to increase meds or do something else for me.
Neither place has yet to return my call as of 2pm now. I'm beyond frustrated and yes, no one can relate to my misery. Top off things, no one seems to care. I just came home errands, and I honestly can say, I'm wiped out and feel exhausted.
I dont know who else to contact at mayo, but this seems so un-like them. I explained I'm an existing patient, yet they put me off until November with new guy who just came on board. My own dr here isn't making any exceptions for me either, yet he peeked quickly last week and saw the severity of my mass of red itchy rashes, that look to me like measles. I guess I have to wait and see if my local drs office calls back....what else is left?
A bridge??

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I am so sorry you have had so many issues. A while back I told everyone about HEMP lotions and oil I use. Believe me my Drs at University refuse to write scrips and leave this to my primary. She is very sensitive to my issues and will increase my meds but prefers not to. I found the Hemp store in my sports medicine building where I get my shots. First class shop. Not cheap but it works. The lotion takes my pain away. I just got shots in my neck this morning. 3 on each side. Lidocaine I believe. It takes everything out of me. I go home and sleep for hours. Next week my lower back again. Hang in there. If you live in a state where Marijuana is legal. Please please try the oil.

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@dazlin

@gardeningjunkie ...thank you so much for your reply. I put another call into mayo, both my dermatologist and scheduling. They again said, nothing open until November. But said they'll call me back. I then called my local physician who saw me last and asked to increase meds or do something else for me.
Neither place has yet to return my call as of 2pm now. I'm beyond frustrated and yes, no one can relate to my misery. Top off things, no one seems to care. I just came home errands, and I honestly can say, I'm wiped out and feel exhausted.
I dont know who else to contact at mayo, but this seems so un-like them. I explained I'm an existing patient, yet they put me off until November with new guy who just came on board. My own dr here isn't making any exceptions for me either, yet he peeked quickly last week and saw the severity of my mass of red itchy rashes, that look to me like measles. I guess I have to wait and see if my local drs office calls back....what else is left?
A bridge??

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@dazlin I hope there is a way for you to cope, besides a bridge. Have you tried acupuncture to address the energy system, that might help block some reaction.
@gardeningjunkie thanks for your post. Finding out things like you did gave you power to deal with the issues. And kudos to you for educating your Drs so they might be more open-minded and help other patients.
Ginger

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@oregongirl

I am so sorry you have had so many issues. A while back I told everyone about HEMP lotions and oil I use. Believe me my Drs at University refuse to write scrips and leave this to my primary. She is very sensitive to my issues and will increase my meds but prefers not to. I found the Hemp store in my sports medicine building where I get my shots. First class shop. Not cheap but it works. The lotion takes my pain away. I just got shots in my neck this morning. 3 on each side. Lidocaine I believe. It takes everything out of me. I go home and sleep for hours. Next week my lower back again. Hang in there. If you live in a state where Marijuana is legal. Please please try the oil.

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I've been experimenting with CBD oil (which comes from the hemp plant) which is legal and reported to help reduce inflammatio, and both arthritis and eczema are inflammatory conditions. I don't want the THC, psychoactive ingredient in MJ. I can't say I saw any benefit from a break out eczema rash of Perioral Dermatitis last month, the antibiotic and Elidel helped and now gone, but the CBD definitely moderates the ache of mild arthritis pain, the deep issues related to pressure on knees or wrists when pressure is applied are the same. Biggest surprise is the mellow factor. I take the recommended method of placing drops under the tongue and then not swallowing for a minute, because saliva breaks it down for absorption. Stomach acids are inefficient, putting in food or using topically utilizes significantly less of the the CBD. I do sleep deeper and my stress level is lower. In fact I can't take more than 4 drops a day of the 1000 strength of CBD isolate pure oil without feeling too mellow and a bit lazy. After experimenting now for 4 months find I am better off dosing my 4 drops all before bed, not 2 in the morning and 2 at night. Everyone must find their own dosage strength. It is said to also take about 3 weeks to notice benefits. I now take more time out to smell the roses than worry about all my never ending and truly excessive projects I am dealing with or the future of my health. CBD oil is expensive, yet our federal congress just passed a law legalizing the growing of hemp for medical and commercial purposes. By this time next year with the crops coming in the cost should drop dramatically.

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@oregongirl

I am so sorry you have had so many issues. A while back I told everyone about HEMP lotions and oil I use. Believe me my Drs at University refuse to write scrips and leave this to my primary. She is very sensitive to my issues and will increase my meds but prefers not to. I found the Hemp store in my sports medicine building where I get my shots. First class shop. Not cheap but it works. The lotion takes my pain away. I just got shots in my neck this morning. 3 on each side. Lidocaine I believe. It takes everything out of me. I go home and sleep for hours. Next week my lower back again. Hang in there. If you live in a state where Marijuana is legal. Please please try the oil.

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@oregongirl I to m ked the hemp oil rather then cbd cream The crean doesn't last long but I had better luck with just hemp oil

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@dazlin

@gardeningjunkie ...thank you so much for your reply. I put another call into mayo, both my dermatologist and scheduling. They again said, nothing open until November. But said they'll call me back. I then called my local physician who saw me last and asked to increase meds or do something else for me.
Neither place has yet to return my call as of 2pm now. I'm beyond frustrated and yes, no one can relate to my misery. Top off things, no one seems to care. I just came home errands, and I honestly can say, I'm wiped out and feel exhausted.
I dont know who else to contact at mayo, but this seems so un-like them. I explained I'm an existing patient, yet they put me off until November with new guy who just came on board. My own dr here isn't making any exceptions for me either, yet he peeked quickly last week and saw the severity of my mass of red itchy rashes, that look to me like measles. I guess I have to wait and see if my local drs office calls back....what else is left?
A bridge??

Jump to this post

dazlin- Hang in there and wait for local doctor. I would recommend you search for another local dermatologist,but you have multiple issues going on causing complications and a new doctor will need time to get caught up still you need help ASAP. Like you I have been on the phone pleading with the scheduler begging for an immediate appointment; in tears. It's so hard to believe when we are in misery that a doctor can't work us in. I always ask for a call if they get a cancelation, but only occasionally has that benefited.
I have seen multiple derms over the years, plus as a 'Snowbird" I have the benefit of seeing one in each location and one derm often catches or tries a different treatment the other misses. Is there a way on this site to post a photo of your rash? I also blog on Inspire network on their eczema site and we can post a photo for others to view and help try to diagnosis. On Inspire I learned that my new rash area around my mouth was a specific form, a less common form not related to my other forms and this form actually fed on the steroids my derm had prescribed believing it to be contact dermatitis. True the rash in the photo was more severe than mine, but it gave me a search direction for a type of eczema less common which I never heard of before. I've learned so much from Inspire. They also have blogging sites for a myriad of other conditions.
The recommendation by gingerw for acupuncture is worth a try. Other than money spent I don't believe it can hurt you and it will give you hope to hang in there.
I am also not sure what dietary changes you have tried, for me dietary change was a last resort. If you have eczema or fungal conditions on your skin many, including me, have had success with restricting certain food groups. I always scoffed at the gluten free craze, but now believe it has merit. My biggest success has been eliminating foods which breed yeast in the gut. For decades I have dealt with female yeast issues and the burning and itching is a true misery. I also love eating fruit and as it turns out certain fruits I was eating daily were the issue. My burning and itching due to yeast is gone, gone, gone! Karen Fischer is the go to book for eczema suffers, yet it is expensive and few used copies are available. If you want a good free information source, an amazing, easy to follow chart is available to download. I printed off the 32 page copy for myself for reference. This chart is compiled by Melanie Avalon, author of The What When Wine Diet: Paleo and Intermittent Fasting for Health and Weight Loss- at MelianieAvalon.com. I have no interest in fasting or weight loss and no clue as to what a Paleo diet is, but this chart divides up our everyday food groups, then lists by the food what problematic compounds are found in each food, like under Fruits (my downfall) it lists just about every fruit you can think of. Then breaks down if high, med or low each type of problematic compound: histamine, sulfites, oxalates and so on. You also learn which compound breeds what symptom. For example the Histamine type amine is a vital part of the body's defense system, too much histamine yields chronic inflammation (thus my autoimmune disease eczema). The Sulfites breed yeast and now I know which foods contain sulfites and avoid them. I know you are desperate and grasping for a life line and you gotta try a new approach.
Acupuncture may give relief, but it will not take away what is causing your skin rash, you need to learn what is causing it so that you aren't always in the reactive mode, trying to treat it.

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@gardeningjunkie to add a photo just click the Add Media button at the top of the Post Reply box. You can upload PPTX, JPG, JPEG, JPE, PNG, GIF, PDF files at or less than 5 MB.

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@dazlin

@gardeningjunkie ...thank you so much for your reply. I put another call into mayo, both my dermatologist and scheduling. They again said, nothing open until November. But said they'll call me back. I then called my local physician who saw me last and asked to increase meds or do something else for me.
Neither place has yet to return my call as of 2pm now. I'm beyond frustrated and yes, no one can relate to my misery. Top off things, no one seems to care. I just came home errands, and I honestly can say, I'm wiped out and feel exhausted.
I dont know who else to contact at mayo, but this seems so un-like them. I explained I'm an existing patient, yet they put me off until November with new guy who just came on board. My own dr here isn't making any exceptions for me either, yet he peeked quickly last week and saw the severity of my mass of red itchy rashes, that look to me like measles. I guess I have to wait and see if my local drs office calls back....what else is left?
A bridge??

Jump to this post

@gardeningjunkie , I just heard back from my local dr, nurse...they said to double dose on Hydroxyzine. However, I just recieved a letter from insurance saying they will only give a 30 day supply. So, I again asked to up the dose, so I need not to double supply...that way, my prescription will last. Very sad, and disappointed Mayo has NOT returned my call for an earlier appointment.
I thank each of you verrrrry much for your time and detailed responses...helps.

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@johnbishop

@gardeningjunkie to add a photo just click the Add Media button at the top of the Post Reply box. You can upload PPTX, JPG, JPEG, JPE, PNG, GIF, PDF files at or less than 5 MB.

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Good info on photo attachment. It's a good thing the media button at the top of the post wasn't a snake, as it was right in front of me!

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For those who have shared personal results on hemp and other remedies...honestly, and respectedly, at this point, 4 years on after trying many, many remedies , I'm not about to take on anything else. I'd like to mention ..I went to the extreme of growing peppermint plants. One of many remedies
I boiled the leaves, cooled the water...and rinsed myself, especially my itchy scalp(biopsies done of scalp too). NOTHING HAS HELPED. I tried natural topicals from health food stores...I could go on.
Again I appreciate the suggestions...let's pray I get to the source and get some relief .
Hopefully you all, that experience any discomfort with skin issues, the LARGEST organ of our body..
can resolve any discomforting issues. Thanks to all that responded to me!!

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