Help me, PLEASE....itching problem

Factual Questions
1

It’s 5:30 in the morning, I’ve already talked to the pharmacist, who says I should call my doctor, but I don’t want to piss anyone off.

I’m going nuts. I’ve never had hives or rashes or been prone to unusual skin problems or allergic reactions. Today was a day exactly like every other: the foods, the activities, the products I used were all familiar, things I’ve used and eaten and done before, not even a new package of a familiar something. I swam (my own, pool, cleaned last Wednesday, nothing new added since, I swim daily), I showered right after using the same soaps and products, I slathered my body with Neutrogena body oil, as I always do.

Hours later, at bedtime, I’m suddenly having itching problems. First in my left foot, which is a site where I’ve been battling persistent athlete’s foot, so that’s explainable. But then the insides of my thighs start to itch. I scratch, I scratch, and still I need to scratch. Then I notice my (forgive me) crotch is itching. I don’t SEE anything. So I just try to alleviate hte problem. I wash my feet and slather athletes foot cream and cortisone cream on them. I use the cortisone on my thighs, and on my crotch. I feel better, I go back to bed, I get to sleep.

Well, 3-4 hours later I’m awake, clawing at both my crotch and my ELBOWS now. And my foot is starting again.

So I go through the same ritual in the bathroom, cleaning and slathering ointments, now including Benzocaine. It takes awhile to kick in on the feet… I look at my elbows, and they do appear bumpy, but since I never look at my elbows, maybe they always look like that. My thighs are a little itchy again, and now my HANDS are starting to itch! I’m going crazy!

Anyone have any ideas?

stoidela…losing it!

2

I’m not a doctor, and you should see one, but I’ll relate this. Please take it for the uninformed idiocy that it is.

about 4 years ago I had unexplained itchiness on my hands and feet, then my ass, then all over, within about 2 days time.

I ignored it for another day, then the itching became unbearable. i finally went to the doc, and it turned out to be mono (after blood tests and much worrying). i had itchiness/fever for 3 weeks, then all was relatively well.

anyway. i hate to even post this, as self-diagnosis can be dangerous. go see a doctor.

but the unbearable sudden itching struck a chord with me.
are you between the ages of 14-30? have you been exposed to saliva from another person about 2 weeks ago? if i recall the gestation period was about 2 weeks.

i’ll shut up again. go see a doctor.

3

one more thing… i was like you… never allergic to anything. then sudden constant unbearable itching. i’m betting on mono. but please see a doctor. i’m just a dumb programmer. and check back with us.

4

I agree with Zuma. Go get checked out by your doctor. It’s been a long time since I had mono, but I really remember the itching. It’s better that you call your physician instead of guessing and medicating yourself, and possibly putting yourself in danger. Your itching may have nothing to do with mono at all, and I am NOT a doctor, but I am concerned and wanted to put in my $.02. Good luck…hope you get relief soon.----Tabithina

5

Of course you should see a doctor, you idiot. There may not be anything serious wrong with your body, but attention must be directed to your mind.

Is it possible you were exposed to poison ivy? Did you notice any smoke yesterday, which may have been the burning of shrubbery or the like that could have contained poison ivy? I just raise this as a possibility.

6

I had an itch attack similar to yours in college (and a handful of times after): middle of the night, one body part starts itching frerociously for no reason, then others follow suit.

Turns out I was allergic to crabs (the aquatic kind, you perv). Funny thing was, I had never been allergic to them before; the allergy only kicked in when I was about twenty.

But, in any case, all the other posters are right… see an MD ASAP. If it’s a food allergy, he/she can stop the reaction real fast. (Then get used to keeping some Benydryl handy in the house – it’s with me at all times in case my body decides it wants to be allergic to something new.)

7

Every time you get in bed you begin to itch. Did it occur to you or the other people here you might have bed mites?

They are mighty common & way tiny.

8

barbitu8, we do not call each other “idiot” in GQ, even out of concern. Please do not do this again.

9

I remember my freshman year in college thinking I must be going crazy because I felt itchy like I had bugs on me all the time.

Then I remembered the feeling I used to get after a Mr. Bubble bubble-bath when I was little: the same feeling. But how? I didn’t take bubble baths in college, and I used the same soap I had used at home. Laundry? Same Tide, same Clorox 2.

Wait. Those sheets. Those little sheets in the dryer. That damn Snuggle bear had lured me into his web of itchiness and scratchiness. I dropped Snuggle from the team, and the itchiness went away.

What a relief!

10

turns out its not just itching, I have visible hives. Insides of thighs, elbows, buttock creas, hands…

I’ve been taking Wellbutrin for smoking cessation. The doc seems to feel that I’m having a reaction.

For those who are of like mind on how and why we become ill (especially with allergies) I must really not wanna quit smoking, huh?

Well, tough. I’m gonna quit with or without it, body! These damn hives ain’t gonna be my excuse!

Thanks for your help. Now I’ve gotta go take more Bendryl, rub more ointments, and have another Aveeno bath…

This sucks.

11

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by manhattan *
**

I was just kidding - no offense meant. I apolgize if anyone took that seriously.

12

Stoidela: I admire that spirit. I watched my mother go through quitting smoking, and I have to say that, wellbutrin or not, I don’t envy your position. I hope you’ll make it. Good luck. :slight_smile:

LL