posted
I itch head to toe. There's no rash or hives. It started on Wednesday in my feet and has travelled up my legs and into my torso, arms, neck and scalp.
It is unbelievably painful and burns. I've tried baking soda cool bath, Benadryl, calomine lotion, hydrocortisone cream and ice. I've also taken diflucan in case it's yeast. Nothing at all relieves it.
But it's BAD. I'm really really suffering and I don't know if this warrants an ER trip. The fact that I am even considering that shows me how terrible it really is.
Of course all my abx list itchiness as a serious side effect (Biaxin, Suprax and Alinia) but I've taken them all for long periods of time with no problems and I don't have trouble breathing or swelling.
I may go to the ER/ urgent care tomorrow if it doesn't improve. Any ideas on what might be causing it or how to relieve it?
Posts: 236 | From Washington | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
might want to take it easy on baking soda baths. over-use can cause problems (you absorb the bicarbonate part through your skin, and can make you too alkaline)
are you on tyroid meds? thyroid imbalance will cause what you are talking about
usually (not that anything wiht lyme is usual- i know) itching from antibiotics will have itching WITH some kind of rash. then you are into allergic reaction
the ithcing you are talking about is freq. with thyroid levels out of whack- esp too much thyroid
hormoe imbalance will cause this as well.
bio-identical hormones helped me with that symptoms long before we knew it was lyme
-------------------- i am not a Dr. any info is only for education, suggestion or to think/research. please do not mis-intuprest as diagnostic or prescriptive, only trying to help. **
dx in 08:lyme, rmsf, bart, babs, and m.pneumonia. Posts: 422 | From TX | Registered: Oct 2008
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
You can develop sudden allergies. I would ask your doc. Or stop all and reintroduce till you find the culprit. Of course it could be your pancreas. If stoppage does not relieve it It is something else.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
solei116, definitely let your doctor know about this.
I agree that you can develop an allergy to something at any time. I recently had this horrific itching and burning also.
It took some time to find out what was causing it, but it seems to be Plaquenil (even though I have taken it for a long time). I have stopped taking it and have been taking anthihistamines prescribed from my doctor. It is much better.
I hope you can find the cause soon.
Posts: 4680 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
It sounds like an allergic reaction to me, too. I get that way whenever I was given percocet. No rash, no hives just a really horribly itchy body.
Posts: 103 | From Northern VA | Registered: Apr 2009
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Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
I have suffered from something similar for years, but only on my arms.
My LLMD said it is Bartonella-related. Once I started on Rifampin it improved a great deal although the last few days it has been horrific again.
He suggested making a paste of crushed aspirin and water to relieve the itching.
Best of luck.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
Thanks all for the advice. Sounds like it could be an allergic reaction so I'm off to the ER. My feet and hands are swelling and my face feels puffy.
I've been sitting in the bathtub sobbing because my skin itches and burns so bad and I can't stand going to the ER for another lecture about my Lyme meds. Guess I'll just get it over with. Wish me luck.
Posts: 236 | From Washington | Registered: Jul 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
soleil, PRAYING you get relief for your full-body itching and for once they will listen to you.
hugs/kisses my friend; glad you are going ... hope it will be PRODUCTIVE on helping to control it and going AWAY.
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Sammi
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Good luck soleil16. Please let us know how your visit went and how you are doing.
Posts: 4680 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Thank you everyone for the support. It's terrific to know people care so much.
I'm back from my visit. Dr said a definite allergic reaction and to stop all abx until I can talk to LLMD.
He told me to take benadryl, claritin and cimetidine (actually an antacid, but it works for itching as well).
Very nice doctor and he was very sympathetic. Didn't lecture me at all, actually. I'm going to sit in an Aveeno bath now, try to stop scratching and wait for the meds to kick in.
Posts: 236 | From Washington | Registered: Jul 2008
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
soleil16, I am glad you had a nice doctor. I hope the meds kick in soon, I know it is miserable.
Posts: 4680 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
DEFINITELY love it when the doc is good. The funny part is that he remembered me from my meningitis scare in December... bad when the ER docs remember you!
Pretty sure this is from the Alinia. I stopped all meds and doctor said to slowly add them back. Biaxin was okay for the past two days. First Alinia this evening... itching is unbearable again, just 1 hour after taking a pill. There's my answer.
Posts: 236 | From Washington | Registered: Jul 2008
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
soleil16, I am glad you were able to find out the cause pretty quickly. I hope your days are now itch-free!
Posts: 4680 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
Have you thought about the itching being caused by yeast. Are you taking antifungals?
Posts: 19 | From New York | Registered: Apr 2009
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posted
I did take Diflucan for several days as well as olive leaf extract and tons of probiotics.
I actually broke out in hives all over my body about two hours after the Alinia last night. As my feet, hands and face were starting to swell, I spent the night in the ER getting IV Benadryl and anti-nausea meds because I started throwing up uncontrollably.
Just a word of caution for anyone else because this allergy developed very suddenly, even though I'd taken this before with no problems.
Posts: 236 | From Washington | Registered: Jul 2008
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
soleil16, I am sorry this happened. I hope you feel better now.
I agree with your words of caution, I suddenly became alleric to Plaquenil even though I had been taking it for a long time.
Posts: 4680 | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
I had an intense reaction to Alinia last night. I've taken it before, about a year ago with no problems, but yesterday was a big surprise.
Woke up from an after dinner nap(and after meds) with an itchy arm and then within a few minutes I realized I had a increasingly horrific rash all over my body, raised itchy red bumps everywhere - legs, buttocks, arms... Even the palms of my hands were itchy.
I quickly took some benedryl and got out my epi-pin just in case. The benedryl kicked in within about 30 min and I left a message for my doc. I haven't heard back yet but I'm wondering if this was an interaction with other meds, or an allergic reaction or maybe the dose was too high. In any case, it was pretty scary.
These meds are amazing.
Posts: 57 | From oregon | Registered: Jul 2008
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