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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Right now you don't know what is causing your rash, until you do take extra precautions with your grooming products. Even Dove Sensitive Skin Soap has over a dozen ingredients and most of the names are not simple to understand without an internet search, avoid them. I already recommended my safe, go to bar soap because it only has 2 ingredients. Grandma's Lye Soap for face and body in bar form. Please do not be alarmed seeing the ingredient lye. This soap only has 2 ingredients, lard and lye. During the soap making process, just like soap has been made for centuries the lye is converted into glycerin. Thus all that is contacting you is lard (moisturizing) and glycerin (moisturizing). This is all I use and keep at each sink in my house, shower and keep a bar in my purse. i also use this as a shampoo and it works great, but I also have soft water so I get lots of lather just washing once. If I don't have soft water will take 2 washings to get a lather. I order a 4 pack on Amazon. This soap is odor free and not drying to the skin. Best of all with all my allergies it is safe for me. Great for those with itchy scalp.
When my Grover's torso rash is active hot water hurts, also water pressure hurts. Thus I keep the volume low and the temp lukewarm. I am surprised heat doesn't feel bad on your rash.

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@gardeningjunkie

Right now you don't know what is causing your rash, until you do take extra precautions with your grooming products. Even Dove Sensitive Skin Soap has over a dozen ingredients and most of the names are not simple to understand without an internet search, avoid them. I already recommended my safe, go to bar soap because it only has 2 ingredients. Grandma's Lye Soap for face and body in bar form. Please do not be alarmed seeing the ingredient lye. This soap only has 2 ingredients, lard and lye. During the soap making process, just like soap has been made for centuries the lye is converted into glycerin. Thus all that is contacting you is lard (moisturizing) and glycerin (moisturizing). This is all I use and keep at each sink in my house, shower and keep a bar in my purse. i also use this as a shampoo and it works great, but I also have soft water so I get lots of lather just washing once. If I don't have soft water will take 2 washings to get a lather. I order a 4 pack on Amazon. This soap is odor free and not drying to the skin. Best of all with all my allergies it is safe for me. Great for those with itchy scalp.
When my Grover's torso rash is active hot water hurts, also water pressure hurts. Thus I keep the volume low and the temp lukewarm. I am surprised heat doesn't feel bad on your rash.

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@gardeningjunkie , I checked my records on my portal...this actually started in 2013. Thankfully not steady, yet that 1st outbreak lasted over 10 months. This time, most severe. Awful chills.
Since then I've had these 5 yrs to experiment with omitting many many products, both topical and environmental, I have named some previously.
The heat definitely hurts my skin, and I dont take hot showers or baths. I'm finding lukewarm then rinse with cool water helps. Hot seems to sting and make me want to scratch. That's why I mentioned I'm limiting my outdoor activities. Sweat feels AWFUL. Thanks for your tips. Hope you stay well!!

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@dazlin

@gardeningjunkie , I checked my records on my portal...this actually started in 2013. Thankfully not steady, yet that 1st outbreak lasted over 10 months. This time, most severe. Awful chills.
Since then I've had these 5 yrs to experiment with omitting many many products, both topical and environmental, I have named some previously.
The heat definitely hurts my skin, and I dont take hot showers or baths. I'm finding lukewarm then rinse with cool water helps. Hot seems to sting and make me want to scratch. That's why I mentioned I'm limiting my outdoor activities. Sweat feels AWFUL. Thanks for your tips. Hope you stay well!!

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I have the same issues...worse at times. Water makes it worse. I am diagnosed with fibromyalgia, Lyme, EBV, mycoplasma and other coinfections that can cause the itching.

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@dazlin

@gardeningjunkie , I checked my records on my portal...this actually started in 2013. Thankfully not steady, yet that 1st outbreak lasted over 10 months. This time, most severe. Awful chills.
Since then I've had these 5 yrs to experiment with omitting many many products, both topical and environmental, I have named some previously.
The heat definitely hurts my skin, and I dont take hot showers or baths. I'm finding lukewarm then rinse with cool water helps. Hot seems to sting and make me want to scratch. That's why I mentioned I'm limiting my outdoor activities. Sweat feels AWFUL. Thanks for your tips. Hope you stay well!!

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Sweat stings my sensitive skin when the pustules are present. Now free of them I'm amazed at how sweat is not irritating, is it the salt in sweat? With Grover's one loses the collagen connections between the cells which block substances from passing through our skin and easier to get into our bloodstream. I will say I have never felt chills with any eczema I have ever had and have not heard others mention it either, but I have never researched that. Could be if you did have pustules that got infected I imagine one could have chills. Remind me, were you ever given antibiotics for your rash? Your photos looked just like my Grover's Rash and when the pustules get to that severe stage I am prescribed either tetracycline or doxycycline to take for about a 3 week period. It's hard to judge if it helps, put at the very least the pustules seem no worse.

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Have you had your kidney function evaluated? Just a good idea.

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@dazlin

@kanaazpereira , I have used my portal in the past, I'm familiar with it. I'm not sure requesting a sooner appt on there would help, but maybe expose my frustration
When you say, Care team...who would that be?
Dermatology? My oncology dept?? They already know, and told me call dermatology...so who do I write to? Thank you for your help

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Hi @dazlin,

Here's what I'd recommend

Click on..
– New Message
– Send a secure message to your care team
– To the office of (Choose recipient) – Select from the list that appears which will have names of physicians and nurse practitioners in the relevant departments
– Select a subject (perhaps visit follow-up question)
– Type in your message.

One other option is to click on the "Get Care Now" tab, in the upper left corner of the portal. That tab opens up several resources such as "Problem Follow-Up Visit" or "New Problem Visit," where you can then type in your concerns about getting an appointment.

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@kanaazpereira , thank you!! I have sent a message this morning. My oncology office repied back, saying there are no current openings, but scheduling will contact me if something comes available.
@tinasue60 , I get blood work ups every 6 mos...everything looked good this june.
@gardeningjunkie , I dont see any pustules and some on my back and abdomen are fading a bit, yet I'm experiencing new ones on my chest and neck, right forearm. To me they look blotchy bumps right now, but seems they go through phases and sometimes just disappear. My neck and chest itch and burn...kicking in now at 2:30pm. Just took 1 hydroxyzine. No antibiotics have been prescribed, just the hydroxyzine. I'm told I can double up on dose. One thing that concerns me is, this overall not feeling well, and uncomfortable chills. Thankfully I'm still plugging along, able to do all my chores, errands etc.
Thank you all soooo much for your help and concern. I hope mayo believes me, they dont seem to think it's a big deal...but hubby took pics to bring with me, as the rash keeps changing or may just fade. I'm no hypochondriac , and certainly not one to baby myself. I actually turn down tests because I never make a big deal.
This time...I sure would love some care.

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I am not a Mayo patient, great that kanaazpereira has given you helpful pointers. With chills is your temperature off either low or high? If so seems if you mentioned that they would try harder to see you sooner.

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Very sorry to hear that . Does your skin turn to red ? Did it started and then spreads to whole your body ?

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@dazlin

I've gotten these rashes before. I was seen at Mayo clinic. Had blood work, and biopsies done since 2014. I usually see my dermatologist once a year, or longer if I can. So this time it's mainly on my back. Large red itchy patch over both kidney areas, red bumps on entire back stomach, and chest. Looks like measles?? Few on my arms and legs. Strangely, the arches, and ankles of my feet go wildly itchy during the night too. I called mayo, but they said my dr retired, and pushed me off until November , with a new dr who recently came on board . I went to my local physician, and only was able to see a nurse (they said dr booked up).
After looking at me, dr came in for a quick peek. They dont know what's causing it. They put on Hydroxyzine 3x day, said continue all my home care, cortisone prescription cream, baths etc. Nothing helps. The medicine does knock me out, but I wake up needing to push up my next dose. I'm miserably itchy and exhausted. The bumps burn a bit, and I have chills. No fever. Getting depressed. Been severe for over 2 weeks. Going on 3 weeks now. I need to see a dr at mayo clinic ASAP...they have all my records and I am an MGUS patient in oncology. I called them too...they said it's not related, to see the dermatologist. I cannot wait till November. I'm wondering if mayo in Florida has an E.R...maybe go there??

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Just try to help that appear like my grown up daughter they you desribe but end up to be scabies but try to see a dr but hardly you find a dr know about that

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