1. < Kidney & Bladder

Itchy skin

Posted by Candy @megwill100, Sep 21, 2016

Tonight I woke myself up clawing at my skin from top to bottom, does anyone have the itchy skin with their CKD? If so what do you use to control it? I'm allergic to benadryl so I can't take it.

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Gaybinator | @gaybinator | Aug 11, 2018
In reply to @beverlynm "Hi, I'm new here, and have CKD with Lupus. I had the horrible itching problem head..." + (show)
@beverlynm

Hi, I'm new here, and have CKD with Lupus. I had the horrible itching problem head to toe for over a year. It drove me nearly insane and I have scars from scratching. After being hospitalized and getting my potassium and phosphorus levels under control, the itching is almost gone! I believe I have read that extreme itching can be a side effect of the high blood phosophorus levels. I take a phosphate binder for now and avoid all dairy and foods with high phosphates. Hope you get some relief soon.

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@beverlynm Were your labs for both potassium and phosphorus with range? My husband has not taken binders, as his labs have always been good. He could not take food by mouth for almost a year because his salivary glands were destroyed by radiation. He has devised a technique of using bitty, bitty sips of water with food so he can chew. He is ready to get rid of the PEG tube. He eats many small courses throughout the day.

His itching is truly painful, but his labs remain within normal range. Wondering if normal is normal for the individual. The doctors are not very helpful, as IT IS ONLY ITCHING!

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Aug 12, 2018
In reply to @predictable "Hi @megwill100! I'm a little surprised to see your concern about itching in the Kidney and..." + (show)
@predictable

Hi @megwill100! I'm a little surprised to see your concern about itching in the Kidney and Bladder discussion, yet nothing seems to get less enduring attention than the itch. Maybe that's because itching seems to be far more discomforting than it is hazardous. In my case, the cause of interminable itching is still unknown, and we're not doing anything right now to identify the cause. In this discussion, we've dealt with chronic kidney disease and allergy histamines -- apparently without much success.

We started instead with the standard dry air of winter as the cause, despite the excellent humidifier on my heating system. No luck. Then we checked out soaps, both laundry and personal bath soap and shampoo and cosmetics, looking for the ingredient Isothiazolinone (a "biocide" or pesticide that soap manufacturers add to extend shelf life by preventing biochemical reactions -- the name is usually prefixed by such chemical signs as "metho-," "benz-," "octyl-," or "chloromethyl-"). A non-allergenic soap helped somewhat, but not enough.

So a dermatologist took a look, threw in the towel without any contact tests, and prescribed: an anti-itch salve to eliminate the symptoms, but only for a few weeks before it's limit on extended use kicked in. After that, the final tactic in the sequence has been shorter, cooler showers along with skin moisturizer lotions. Waiting now for Spring and higher humidities in the atmosphere. Fortunately, the itches are less intense and limited now to arms, legs, and belt line. If it continues in the summer, we'll take another pass at my kidney disease and histamine sensitivity with contact tests of my skin this time.

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@jin51, I want to welcome you to Connect. I am happy that you have joined this discussion about itchy skin with your compassionate message of hope and a virtual hug.
As a transplant recipient, I have had to endure periods of itching during my waiting time as my liver was failing. I know, too, the value of kind words like you have shared.
You are always welcome to read and/or participate in any of the activities on Connect. How can I help you to get started? What is a particular health interest that brought you to Connect?

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