Perplexing medical problem...help please?

cc-rider · #21 05/18/06, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbdoll

Since he's been on medication for the Diabetes, and taking cinnamon, he no longer has this problem. You might have your blook sugar checked. Just and FYI.

)

Cinnamon?? What does that do? How does he use it?

Jenn · #22 05/18/06, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Country Doc

Consider physical urticaria. Usually have welps. Treatment is zyrtec daily to prevent. If it stops with zyrtec , theres your answer.

Agree, or other antihistamine

mysticokra · #23 05/18/06, 12:11 PM

Is your hair brittle or falling out?
Are your hands cold?
What is your body temperature before you get out of bed? (Check it several days in a row)
Are your nails brittle?

Any or all of the above may indicate a thyroid problem.
Itching is another item on the checklist.

Find a good DO or naturopathic doctor. The allopaths may prescribe a topical creme, but that only treats the symptom. You are trying to get at the cause.

By the way, other possilbities include a severe yeast infection and other toxic overload in your home. They can check for that when they do the other tests.

It's not just in your head.

Jenn · #24 05/18/06, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bostonlesley

All that I can suggest to you is that you get yourself to a major medical center allergist or dermatologist..the value of that is unlike someone who practices in a small town, the people who are affiliated with major medical centers get to see pretty much everything on a regular basis..

as far as your endocrinologist not picking up on it..well, neither would a neurologist or an ob/gyn..but a Family Practice physician certainly should..specialists are supposed to be very well-versed in their own field and not expected to extend that knowledge into other branches of Medicine. IMHO, it would have been more appropriate for an Endocrinologist to have said "Gee, I don't know what that is..but I do know it's not related to Endocrinology..you ought to see either a Dermatologist or perhaps an Allergist."

This FP doc recommends your FP doc. Or maybe a general/internal medicine Dr. Or finally dermatologist if you haven't either.

cwgrl23 · #25 05/18/06, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc-rider

Cinnamon?? What does that do? How does he use it?

Cinnamon is supposed to help regulate your blood sugar. (not sure how or why but it does). This helps keep one from "crashing" after a sugar high. Hope this makes sence? I know that my health food store sells cinnamon in capsules (sp?) if you do not like the taste of cinnamon.

HTH

Carrie in SD

Lucy · #26 05/18/06, 01:06 PM

I was also going to say diabetes or at least glucose intolerant, which can easily turn into diabetes.
I would tell my doctor about the stinging feelings in my feet, then sometimes arms and legs. Yep, found out I am diabetic. My doctor told me I wasn't diabetic, but when I got so ill about 6 months ago, I went back and made him take a test. By then, my blood sugar was over 320. I have nerve damage. (I am changing doctors ! )
Can you get a meter and test yourself ? I know you can easily get a free glucose monitor, but they don't always give you test strips without a prescription. One of my free monitors came with 10 test strips.
You can also go to the pharmacy and buy an A1c test for about $25. It is the same test they do at the doctors. It will show how many glucose molucules have attached themselves to your red blood cells over the past 3 months. That is how they determined I was diabetic.
If it runs in your family, I would have the A1c test done. It is only one little finger prick and you get the result in 6 minutes.
Your thyroid is another possiblity, and it can also be a part of what is called syndrome X, part of being diabetic. My low thyroid disease actually showed up before the diabetes did.
Good luck on finding out what is wrong.

perennial · #27 05/18/06, 01:40 PM

I have horrendous allergies to food and outside everything and have had
the same. I find that if i make my own detergent and use vinegar in the
rinse cycle. Also, stress triggers mine and dust, my cats.

Mine have been much better since we got in our new house instead of our old rental with rugs and who knows what. I find keeping hte house very clean and vacuuming a couple of times a week helps alot. I have been taking
zyrtec for outdoor allergies and so haven't had a attack for a long while now.

I can tell you that when you have the itches an icepack is a wonderful thing.

flannelberry · #28 05/18/06, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc-rider

I get terrible itching all over my legs and arms. It usually starts in one area (my ankles for instance) and then works it's way up. When I was younger (maybe 25 years ago), the episodes would last for maybe 20-30 minutes, be only moderately annoying, and then go away.... now they are getting progressively longer, more intense, and covering more of my body. Last night's episode lasted at least an hour, had me writhing in pain the entire time acting like a crazed woman, and covered my arms, legs and lower back. That's the first time it has affected my trunk... usually just the extremities.
<snip>

Last night I was at a hotel a couple hours from home or I would have definitely gone to the hospital. I had spent some time in a cool (temperature) indoor pool, and then a hot tub. Then I took a shower and got ready for bed. Decided to practice some music for a bit, and WHAM, it hit.

It had never been that bad before. I practically rubbed my body raw trying to make it stop. After about an hour, it calmed down some. By that time, I was trying to use deep, slow massaging to stop it (since I'd already scratched and rubbed myself raw). It eventually went away.

And I really don't want to go through that again! The worst part is that I don't know what causes it. It was really embarrassing last night because I was with a friend.

Chris

I have a condition my doc used to call winter itch because it's more prominent in the colder weather. I have to make sure my skin doesn't get dry - at all or it gets way worse.

Mine is a histamine response to temperature/air pressure and a number of things.

cc-rider · #29 05/18/06, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perennial

I can tell you that when you have the itches an icepack is a wonderful thing.

I tried a really cold shower last night because most of my body itched. It felt good (well...other than being cold!) while I was in there, but they came right back as soon as I got out.

Other responses that seem to be hitting the nail on the head....

I DO have thyroid problems
I AM pre-menopausal (ugh)
I AM very stressed at this point in my life
There IS diabetes in my immediate family and I have problems (although not diagnosed with diabetes)
I have chronic allergies, but don't take anything.

Hmmmmm....
I think I'm going to call a GP right now and make an appointment to have my thyroid levels and sugar levels tested again.

I really don't want to take antihistimes....they put me to lala-land instantly. I can't function after I take an antihistime. That's why I just suffer with the chronic allergies and don't do anything.

Thanks for your responses!
CC

seedspreader · #30 05/18/06, 02:08 PM

http://www.rls.org/NetCommunity/Page...61&srcid=200#2

Restless Legs Syndrome

cc-rider · #31 05/18/06, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZealYouthGuy

http://www.rls.org/NetCommunity/Page...61&srcid=200#2

Restless Legs Syndrome

Nope, I know it isn't that. I don't need to move, I need to SCRATCH. Last night I wondered it that was what it felt like to be having DT's...or whatever it is they call the things that drug addicts get when they don't get drugs.

I just scheduled an appointment next Tuesday for lab work... lipids, glucose, and thyroid. Then an appointment the next week with the doctor. I needed the appointment anyway in order to renew my synthyroid prescription, so it was a good time to have the other things checked out anyway.

Gosh, I sure hope I get some answers and ideas on how to prevent it! I was nearly suicidal last night. Scary.

mpillow · #32 05/18/06, 03:03 PM

Sorry I didnt explain myself well

itching starts as I start to go to sleep (I got the scratches to prove) and so I take Nyquil to stop itching and zonk me....but sometimes if I have to take it a few days in a row I get restless leg from Nyquil

Regular anti-hist dont zonk me enough to stop scratching in my sleep

turtlehead · #33 05/18/06, 03:22 PM

Might be eczema, too. I'm just discovering the joys of eczema. They call it "the itch that rashes" because the itch comes first and the rash only comes if you scratch a whole lot.

I know what you mean about the itch driving you crazy!! Mine started on my legs and extremeties, too, and it kind of moved around some, and eventually hit my chest and throat.

It's usually allergy related. My doc put me on a 9 days of prednisone and the itch was *gone* the first day. My 9 days are over and it's back just a little but so far Claritin is doing the trick (and no drowsiness!). So ask about eczema, too, when you have your appt.

That itching can make a person nuts.

chris30523 · #34 05/18/06, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Country Doc

Consider physical urticaria. Usually have welps. Treatment is zyrtec daily to prevent. If it stops with zyrtec , theres your answer.

My son has this and has the symptoms you described.Like Doc says he takes his Zyrtec daily and has no problems.No other antihistamines do the trick.Just the Zyrtec.(of course expensive)

moopups · #35 05/18/06, 07:48 PM

I suggest you purchase a blood pressure monitor and start checking it at verious times, both when your normal and dureing the sessions.

stef · #36 05/18/06, 10:09 PM

Hi CC
have you had a blood count done recently?
normal range is 4. to 12.
if low, one side effect can be the 'creepy crawlies'

just my 2 cents worth

Stef

insocal · #37 05/18/06, 11:11 PM

I get terrible localized itchiness sometimes, keeps recurring in the exact same patch........for three years or so (worse in the winter) it was the front of my right shin. Now this past year it's been my left lower back. I had a working theory that it was a food allergy (sulfites), but i am not so sure now. Could maybe be psoriasis?

Yours doesn't sound quite the same.

My patients (feline) with generalized itchiness often have food allergy (fish being the most common allegen in cats), or pollen allergies, and rarely contact dermatitis (with so few flea problems anymore, cats are rarely bathed, so no soap residue).

Sounds very weird, but these things are REAL, even if physicians don't understand what is causing a particular case............

chas · #38 05/18/06, 11:17 PM

I can only say for myself.My legs would bleed by times from the scratching.Putting socks on or taking them off could bring it on.Sometimes it would be on my arms or occasionally my trunk.
Winter was worse so we checked out things that could be wrong, Medicaly I seemed to be fine.
To shorten this it was nerves,in the winter I couldn't just go out and work it off that much.Gardening and weed pulling is my preasure release.If it starts to even seem itchy I just back off and try not to dwell on problems or what things I want to accomplish!
So in my case it was in my head

Chas

Tracy Rimmer · #39 05/18/06, 11:23 PM

Chris -- have you been checked for Multiple Sclerosis?

Tracy

Maggiemoo · #40 05/19/06, 12:51 AM

IF it turns out to be none of these things, you might want to look into some sort of autoimmune disease, such as MS or Lupus. I have heard of similar symptoms with both of these disorders. They are difficult to get diagnosed, and alot of people are told they are crazy for years before they find a doctor who knows enough about AI disorders to get them properly diagnosed.