Body itching
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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I wish you the best and must admit I understand how you feel about getting a diagnosis with a name, at least now we have a name for our tormenter and can start thoroughly researching it. Also we understand why we get our symptoms. Yet what will frustrate you is that even with our best attention this chronic disease will return, it's just the way it is. The torso cells have lost the collagen that holds them together. You'll have to seek sympathy here form us. Like you make every effort to not burden others with my health, it truly is boring for others to listen to, nothing they can do and I don't want to drive them away.
Wish Vanicream soap worked for rme, it should, because it doesn't have my allergens in the soap ingredients but still my skin feels itchy when I use it. Bring a bar of Grandma's Lye Soap for face and body, sold on Amazon into your derms office next time. Just 2 safe ingredients, Lye and Lard and as mentioned the Lye is converted into glycerin in the soap making process. Google the Vanicream unscented cleansing bar, over 12 ingredients. Also Vanicream is twice the price. I keep a bar of Grandma's at each house sink and one in my purse. Price still not a big issue, but remember Vanicream sends reps out, provides free samples and solicites dermatologist, buys the entire office lunch and gives them freebies and this is expensive. Not saying it's a bad product, but just learn to read ingredients yourself and make a decision. Expensive isn't always better. I've been using Grandma's for 3 1/2 years now and just recently Mayo added it to their new Skin Safe product line. I was surprised when soap came with this info on the new labels. I love it as shampoo too. Yet not enough money in this for those good looking, well dressed reps who come wheeling in their product samples to take up our doctors time to send out reps for Grandma's.
If you are getting rashes on other parts of your body, forgive me for asking again, but have you had the 5 Day Extended Patch Test? I have 3 forms of eczema and each is unique with different triggers and treatments or avoidances. Your scalp itch may be Allergic Contact Dermatitis, ACD, this was my greatest tormentor I spent my sleepless nights planning the best way to kill myself while laying in bed suffering, but no more because of test results in which I learned what contact I must avoid for the rest of my life. Those of us with eczema often have multiple forms of eczema.
I just noticed new packaging on Grandma's Soap has also change the name. Instead of Grandma's Pure Soap, Lye Soap for Face and Body, the new package has dropped the Lye in the title. Now reads Grandma's Pure Soap for Face and Body. Exact same ingredients. Perhaps Mayo told them having the name of Lye in the title scared folks.
A note of appreciation, thanks. I just looked papules versus pustules. You mentioned you got papules whereas I said I got pustules. Because of you I now know I have been mistakenly using the term pustules to describe my rash. I do not get the white head associated with pustules and do get the papules instead. Always more to learn.
@gardeningjunkie ..I dont what mayo thinks about the grandma soap you mention. My dr was insistent on using only Vanicream. I'm very picky about my personal care, and I LOVE aromatherapy in my products, but cant touch it anymore. I'll say, the Vanicream cleansing bar leaves my skin very silky and clean...or I would've tossed it. Not bad at all.
Glad you looked up papules...
@gardeningjunkie ...I have not had the 5 day patch test. My previous derm at mayo, now retired , discussed it with me...but he always felt something more, or other was going on. So we never did it. He also told me a little story about seeing something from a distance and not quite able to make it out until we get closer. I believe that's my story. For now, I'll jump on the remedies, and all we can do is watch my blood tests.
I looked up Grandma's soap...I may try it. Just ordered 6 bars of Vanicream. Nothing seems to make a difference as far as topicals ..I dont feel irritated, but I understand I need to apply a more gentle approach to protect my diseased skin...so I'm doing what doc said.
Honestly, I could have taken my razor and gladly shave off this rash if I could...pain and blood would have been the lesser of the evils. But let's not look back, and try our best to think positive thoughts and keep searching and trying new products and lifestyles to offer relief to this misery. If you ever have those bad thoughts during your uncomfortable nights, talk to anyone that'll listen, and come here. Sorry to hear you had those thoughts.
Remember the symptoms go away at some point in time, so try to stay focused on the things you love. You sound active, like me...I love my garden. I have lots of Rose's, love being outside and at the beach here in Florida. I own 2 horses as well. I do have to limit what I do, as you have mentioned...not happy about that. But I always look forward to when I'm well knowing I'm going jump right back in. Keep us posted on what you research...and your personal tips I'm finding you most helpful!
Thank you, Linda
Maybe this is source of my chronic pain. Been to Neuroligist EMG tests. All good.
Feels like nerves tingling burning all over my body. I do get burnig hives. Etc I’m making this short.
Right now. I’m going to look for this testing. Had other allergy testing. Twice. One said I was highly allergic to everything. Another dr trsts showef only small reaction. These were the standard tests. Neither time was I using any Meds like antihistamine
I think mine is environmental issues. Like metal toxins etc.
so that’s what this tests looks for ??? Rubber etc. plastics. Lead. ???
Another thing to watch for "body Itching" is taking the medication Xarelto for blood thinning I am changing from this medication today. Peach
I was on Gabapentin and this did it to me Woke me up at night I was tingling all over weird feeling like I was shaky
Be sure you research the difference between the environmental skin prick test and the 5 Day Extended Patch Test for elements and chemicals. The environmental test is a 30 minute skin prick in the doctor's office with immediate results and it tests for environmental allergens like dust, pollen, cats, dogs, mold, grasses and so on. I have suffered with environmental symptoms, hay fever, since childhood and just cope with it like most and take antihistamines. The 5 Day test checks for things you mentioned like metals, rubber, and a host of other elements in common daily contacts. Antihistamines don't help me much for my Allergic Contact Dermatitis ACD. (Research about this chronic form of eczema). My test kit contained patches for 78 different chemicals and elements. This test gave me th names and were the reason for my internal skin issues. You mentioned that you were tested. Was it the 5 day patch test. You won't forget this uncomfortable, but not painful, test. If so you should have a specific list of results. Before you see a dermatologist or allergist do you homework about this test. Like you I had much to learn when this internal pain started 4 years ago and necessity forced me to keep searching.
Yes I had the tests you mentioned that showed all the
Environmental allergies in September 2016 and the results were I was severely allergic to everything in the environment dust mites Sage just everything severely allergic So I did the drops For a little while but I was just having such bad itching still and pain It showed staph allergy candida allergy just everything was very very high
But with the drops I was breaking out all over my stomach. Stopped using the drops in Dec 2016
Just been a very confusing situation since 2013. In 2011
We were doing a lot of remodeling in an old house that had a lot of dust moldy old antique furniture in etc. that have been closed up for years it was my husband’s father’s home so we were trying to restore it Staining floors with polyurethane in I’ll kind of stuff of cleaning cleaning cleaning Then I was also working on Estate Since that was executrix for my aunt will. I was cleaning a commercial building that had been closed up for a while with a lot of mold and exposure to where some rodents
Had been. So anyway in the end of last year 2017 which would be the winter months I went and had an allergy testing by another allergist and he did extensive testing on my back ( The first testing was on my arms ) Hec did a trial run on my back at first test not much reaction and then He had me come back on my Friday and did more extensive testing for environmental allergies and it was just very small reaction to couple of weeds and beef Dr. just said take some anti histamines.
So I followed up with another allergist. Who reviewed his testing said that his test were good and just take zyretc or Claritin. So I tried each of those not together just trying to figure out which one would work the best and each time I would try them I had severe pain in my bladder area and I would have to sleep with a heating pad over my bladder at night So I quit taking these drugs and I guess thet helped I don’t remember but the pain was not worth it When I tell the doctors this They just look at me like I’m nuts I’m beginning to wonder if I am
So my spine Doctor (I have spine issues Cervical disc)Who is also holistic had a urine test done with Great Plains Labs showed. I had the highest levels of mold exposure that they had ever seen plus
Plastics and lead showed up in my body according to this urine test so I guess it was accurate I don’t know anymore what to believe. So I think I found a Doctor Who was a professor at Baylor University here in Houston Texas that does The test you have mentioned the five day test
Is that called that sure test ? I looked it up and it checked for so many different chemicals and metals and stuff
Also in August 2014 I got a mouth guard because I had such chronic pain in my neck my dentist said it was TMD
My hives started in January 2015. Also got dental work done during this period. Of course involves the glue that they use for the crowns and the metal that they Use underneath that white porcelain they put on top. Insurance won’t pay for all Pocelain crowns.
We also bought new furniture from lazy boy and a new truck. So I thought maybe I was allergic to something in those so I thought maybe I was allergic to something in those (It’s Ironic while waiting for a doctor to come in I could hear the conversation from another patient in the other room A woman she was so loud she was saying that all the sudden she’s broke out in hives and she’s changed her detergent and her new sheets and do this and that. just changed everything she’s got all these hives all of a sudden and she was wondering if it was a new furniture she had bought. She was saying that when I To pick it up they said it wasn’t in yet that it was at the docks and Shecthought that they meant the docs at the store and they said no at the port of Houston so what they were telling her is that her furniture was coming from a foreign country which she was not aware of and she was wondering if something in her furniture had made her break out in the hives She was saying that her husband was not effected.!!! Which is the case here my husband doesn’t seem to be effectrd !!! ). The lady was so loud I could hear every word she was saying Of course I don’t know whatever happened to her )
My immune system was already weak maybe from exposure to some anabiotic‘s three different times that I was given from 2014 to 2015. I had reactions to it each time I took it which was Cipro
All the doctors keep saying my thyroid test is fine. my hormones are fine go to the Neurologist tell me
I’m fine as far as EMG testing. One Neurologist the last I just saw told me that I have Tardive dyskinesia.
That’s a reaction to a drug Which could’ve been the anabiotic I was given three different times
And all this the last few years I have not had a cold or flu or anything like that. Just chronic pain from head to toe
Legs burning feet burn body burns doctors tell me I don’t have MS I think they’ve ruled out fibromyalgia
(My ANA is already normal. All my test are normal all the time. Except I have SIBO with his very high this last time it was 81 for the Methane.) Brain mri good
During this time Period i was also using chemicals for something called the Rasberry crazy ants. Which had invaded our rental property that we have and our home. Finally after three summers of trying to control them myself I called exterminating company and they sprayed with some kind a new chemical that Texas A&M had approved for the crazy ant and it worked. The whole area where we live was being effected by these horrible ants.
They don’t bite you they just are attracted to electrical in your home or your business thet get into the switch plates. Computer equipment etc. And when you kill them the live ones just pile up on top of the dead ones and it looks like a pileof rust. They were horrible Plus I’ve used gallons and gallons of Roundup over the years for my home in our rental property grounds. Etc. But that round up chemical Has not shown up in any test that I’ve done.
So anyway since 2014 I’ve had plastic mouth guard in my mouth 24 hours a day
So I wonder if I’m allergic to it or something about the dental work I had done or the chemicals
Or The antibiotics triggered my immune system
It’s just been like a living death the last Going on five years. Everybody keeps tell me I look good but my toes
Swell burn. when I stand up my legs burn I can’t walk far my spine hurts I can’t stand to be in the sun my body tingles. My legs burn all the time.
I just saw another neurologist last week.
She said we could do a small cell biopsy but that’s not always a good test and if I do have some kind of small cell neuropathy they won’t know the source of it but then again they might find the source of it
In the beginning April 2014 Doctors thought I had Sjogren’s syndrome
I reacted very badly to the pilocarpine they gave me.
So after several months I finally went to Baylor here in Houston Texas. They did a lip biopsy and it did show negative for Sjögrens.
I’ve had tremors. Body and facial.
It’s just been so miserable. I’m trying so hard.
I have chronic hoarseness all the time so I’m seeing a specialist downtown at Baylor tomorrow morning because that’s been going on for over two years now
I have to eat very slowly because it affects my swallowing. Last year after 4th endoscopy G.I. doctor told me that he thought I had general Periphial Neurapathy. And into 2014 when I first started having the facial spasms I have these tiny little sores on me and when I went to the dermatologist he told me they were neuropathy. So my doctor told me to go back and ask him again what the sores were and again he said it was neuropathy. I wrote it down on a piece of paper because I want to make sure I didn’t misunderstand the first time.
I’m not diabetic. So I just don’t know what’s going on what is triggered what. I’m trying to swim therapy now
Trying to keep my muscles flexible.
So I don’t know if it’s my spine my digestive track allergies reactions to stuff or what is going on with me
Still get these tiny little scab sores on me. They are the size of a head of a Straight pin
I have tested positive for Epstein-Barr virus CMV and I just did a test that showed my HSV1. Was very high
I used to get very bad Cold sores center of my bottom lip
I still get the little tingle but I’ve not had one erupt in it while. I’m taking a lot of probiotics and I’m taking something called Aller C. which has bromelain and quercetin in it. Along with 900 mg of vitamin C in IT
Plus I take Metagenics Ultra G.I. replenish
Just trying everything to build up my immune system
It was funny because right before I got sick I was thinking I’m going to turn 65 this year to turn 65 and I feel so great my joints I don’t have any pain anywhere everything was great still mowing my yard working outside working like a fool and I enjoyed every minute of it. Keeping up with our business that way I am keeping up with the bookkeeping etc.
And I just got some kind of weird Vertigo in dec 2013 and and by January 2014 had the worst sore throat I’ve ever had in my life. GI told me I had esophagitis
Candida I had that colonoscopy and endoscope that day. And then that night my family doctor called and after a routine urine test he said I had very bad UTI which I had no symptoms of and told me to take Cipro
So I was taking fluconozole and 500 mg cipro
Religiously for 10 days not together I had to take it a few hours apart from each other. Sore throat never went away
So that gave me 20 more days of fluconozole and it still did not work. So GI dr set somethings going on I want to test you for HIV So got that test and it was negative
So from December 2013 to April 2014 I went down from 136 pounds and 99 pounds and they put me in the hospital and put peg tube in. And when they were prepping me for the peg tube they put Cipro in my IV in my arm turned bright red and I broke out in hives so they took it out right away. While I was in the hospital that’s when They thought that I had Sjogren’s syndrome and they started giving me the pilocarpine.
And two weeks after that hospital stay Whicj was only two days. started having the facial spasms my face with draw up that I was having a stroke went to the ER three times they didn’t know what it was send me home with Valium and my face hasn’t been the same since. just this year when I was having physical therapy on my neck and scalp etc. it triggered the facial spasms again. So then I tried Massage Therapy. and when she was working on my neck and on my scalp again it triggered the facial spasms
So I don’t know if it’s maybe my Vegas nerve which leaves all over your body and the nerves in your body causing all this tingling and stuff in my spine and All over my body. And I don’t know what the chronic hives are about although they’ve gotten better they used to be horrible. I have all those little hives that are like little mosquito bites that form in a row I had pressure hives
Anybody with Chronic hivesknows what I’m talking about
One dermatologist gave me a tiny little baby dose of a steroid and it made my hives worse so that didn’t work.
I’m hoping that whatever is going on with someday get better because my life is going by and I’m going to be 70 this year. My golden years are not what I expected.
I thnak God for every day that I’m here and for my family but this is just too hard on my family. My poor husband I feel so bad for him. It’s gotten to the point that I can’t even drive anymore the last couple years and he has to drive me everywhere which is very depressing for me
I can’t even walk to the grocery store and thank God for Amazon so I can order most of the stuff that’s not perishable. Well this ended up being a lot longer than I intended I’m so very sorry about all the rambling but I’m going to look into this 5 day testing but what do you do if you are allergic to all these chemicals and etc. do you live in a bubble. !!!