post tx itching...what is it?

[azgrl]

I ended tx about 2 weeks ago.  A few days ago I started itching everywhere with no rash or redness.  It is just a deep itch and scratching rarely helps.  I get itches everywhere all day.  My head, my eyes, my fingers, toes, ears, southern areas(if you know what I'm sayin) I can't stand it.  Did anyone else get this and does it go away?

deb in az

[WillPower]

I am 4 weeks post treatment (tx).  I have been through this hell since 1-4-2005 after getting infected from a doctors office along with 6 other unfortunate people.  

I suffered incessant itching the whole time.  HCV brain fog, malaise, and depression illness stopped my life; but "itching" was equal to these three put together!  I would always think an insect was crawling on me.  Itch spots were everywhere in the form of small spots or an erupting dime size rash.  

This disease has exercised my willpower to the max.  On itching I just pushed the spot with my fingernail without scraping.  The itch gratification was so great, it took max willpower to just press without sliding.  These "spots" would stop if I did this.  

On itching patches, which became rash-like areas, I put tree tea oil on them.  Again, great success with this tx.  

Within a couple of days of stoping tx, I became full-blown symptomatic, but TMA tests negative after one month.

(By the way, I suggest only TMA testing!)

The hearts I feel in this board are wonderful.  If I had this forum available since 1-4-2005, life would have been tolerable.  I am up now, from insomnia, but going back to bed.  

Just joined, take care, keep the chin up and nurture your will power to the point that it becomes one of your best friends.  

Love to you all, WillPower

[bobbyullc]

3 months and i still have itching and some psoriasis that i never had.
well it gives me something to do while i sit on the couch with fatigue.
i wish all the drs. who recommend tx so litely could go through this ****.

bobby

[DougV]

Another possibility is fungal.  Pretty common post and during tx, especially as you mentioned the southern regions.  Try getting a tube of medicine for jock itch and spread it on the affected areas.  Won't hurt and most of it has really good anti-itch stuff in it so it will immediately ease the itching part.

Jock itch and athletes foot are the same thing but not restricted to the feet or aforementioned southern regions.

Doug

[GrandmaA]

Another forum someone recommended extra strength gold bond lotion in the green bottle. I have it ready for my tx.

[mkeela]

I was just curious...long shot here, but ya know how a wound itches when it is healing? Ya know how deep of an itch you describe? Maybe it could be the body healing from and ridding itself of the Riba/interferon??? I dunno, and probably a dumb theory, but maybe somethin to think about.

[GrandmaA]

The pushing the itching point sounds interesting. I will try it and also the tea tree oil. Thanks for the information.

[azgrl]

The itching is a very deep itch that scratching doesn't seem to help.  It's like I have to push down and rub.  The itching is everywhere and anywhere.  There is no rash whatsoever.  I called in to my doc and am waiting for a call back.  It is keeping me up at night and I had to cancel yesterday and today's meetings with my clients because the itching is so bad.  I can't sit still.  Hopefully it is just from the meds leaving my system or something simple like that which will go away soon.

deb in az

[Morgaina]

Yup, I'm with you. Those drugs couldn't live in our tissues without effect, there has to be physical sensation to their existance and passing. These drugs just aren't benign in any way!

[cuteus]

welcome to the forum and congrats for finishing the tx marathon!   when will your next TMA be? odd that the itching returned! did you ever get tested for the rheumatoid conditions?

[susan400]

I've had the itching, too.  And the insomnia.  Both worse post treatment.  I didn't have much itching at all on treatment and no Riba rash, or any rash.  The itching is worse when I get any sun or if I exercise (which is just about daily).  I don't have it when I'm just sitting here in the A/C and not exercising.  It also bothers me slightly right after a shower.  But, my skin is not all that dry, so I don't think it has anything to do with dry skin either.  

Susan

[azgrl]

I agree with you it's not dry skin.  I don't have dry skin either and this is way worse than tx was.

deb in az

[louisianawomen]

I take prescrib. Zyrtec for the itching. I had the itch before I even went on tx the first time. They said it was because my liver wasn't filtering out the impurities it should or some kind of junk. And then after the first round of tx it got worse. The Zyrtec works so I'm planning on taking it for life. I can't even go a day without going nuts from itching if I didn't take it. Benedryl worked for about a year and then I went on to the Zyrtec.

[friole]

Boy this sounds familiar.  I had developed several favorite itching places during tx and after tx they continued to itch even more, and additional spots. (and I know EXACTLY what you mean by the southern areas and they have driven me nuts too post tx)These new areas, just like you said, Deb were under the skin - not on them like the others.  One of the worst areas was on both hips. Nothing helped these itches - no salves or cremes or lotions or suppositories.

Now at 5 weeks post tx the itching is  beginning to subside.  Not only are the New places no longer itching but my favorite places from all during tx are starting to heal.  I am assuming it is an indication that the Ribavirin is finally leaving my system.
Don't slam the door when you leave...

AZ - how are you healing overall post tx.  Are your blood counts good?  I hope we get back to normal soon!

kathy

[azgrl]

Hey there.

I am really feeling great.  I am actually smiling again.  I am able to tell jokes again and I feel like I have finally emerged from my little cavern of darkness.  Hahahahahaha.

My counts are back up except my whites but they should rise soon.

The only problem I have is this damn itching.  I don't even care where I am anymore...I just scratch and make some comment about fleas or parasites or I knew that guy was bad news etc you get the drift.

How are you holding up?

deb in az

[friole]

My hemotologist said sometimes the whites never get back up to pre chemo levels.  She said it was not a big concern (altho I think that doesn't sound good).  I forgot to get my CBC this  week and need to call and reschedule.  The hemoglobin flattened out at about 12.8 for 3 weeks and I am hoping it is higher now.

I am most amazed at how quickly my old bad habits have returned.  Not worrying about what I ate for 56 weeks is starting to have some bad bad consequences.  Need to stop buying icecream!  And work is really busy and I need to pick up my speed.  So far, that is not back.  

Other than that I feel pretty darn good.  It was worth it.

[strator]

The itching that kicked in a few weeks before I stopped tx 7 weeks ago is still with me. It's mostly on my neck, lower jawline, and scalp, and will show up 'anywhere' from there down during the day. For some reason it's worse at night when I lay down(and yes I do wash my sheets. When I'm at work and doing the physical stuff it doesn't seem to bother me as much.
A couple weks ago I posted about the itch and lack of sleep at night bothering me, and they seem related. I was using aveeno anti itch which calms it but only for a couple of hours if I'm lucky. I finally started using the ambien cr the dr gave me. Took 10 over a course of 27 days, usually every 2-3 days. Some nihgts I may have slept deeper on ambien, but even on nights I took one I still woke 4 to 7 times a night. It ususually takes me about 1/2 hr to get back to sleep so I'm pretty suprised how much energy I've had during the day. I'm able to work harder and longer and the afternoon fatigue isn't hitting me, but the lack of sleep is still driving me nuts. Tomorrow I see the dr about it, and want him to know that I want his goal to be to get rid of this itch, not knock me out so I sleep through it.
All in all I'm feeling a lot better, and thankful for it but I'm tired of sitting there talking to people and suddenly the itch explodes on my chin or scalp I look like a dod with fleas scratching.
Be well,
Don

[WillPower]

Next TMA in three to four weeks.  I use K..., a HMO, who will not test or treat for six months after successful tx.  I was concerned about stopping at 48 weeks and concerned about mitigating liver damage if I relapse, which K... would not allow. So I went to CPMC hepatologists for second opinion.  They want a TMA monthly and will immediately jump on some form of tx if relapse.  

Never tested for rheumatoid conditions.  How does this relate to HCV assessment or possibly additional treatment?

Months 2-6 of tx had ongoing itching, among, obviously, many more problems.  As stated, itching mitigated by fingernail pressing on the exact spot for 30 seconds.  Rash origination was from broader areas that were itched by mistake.  Tree Tea Oil (TTO) fixed those "dramatically".  In fact, I have had a quarter size red elevated area that periodically itched on my back, sometimes erupted (Dermatologist said not serious.) which lasted 7 months.  Two weeks ago I put TTO on it twice daily for five days and it disappeared COMPLETELY!  

2-3 days after stopping drugs, interferon and Ribavirin, I suffered a very serious repeat of initial infection conditions, especially itching!  After five weeks, gradual resolution of all the symptoms, including itching.  It was horrible.  Now, 6 weeks later, two TMA that are negative.  

Susan400 posted after your post re post tx itching and insomnia.  Totally the same happened to me all over again, but itching is almost gone and insomnia is still a problem.

[goldyn]

Ive heard this by a few people that the insomnia gets worst and also anxiety , as i suffer with bouts of both and im on 41/48, im a little worried, do you have any insight as to why this happens to some poeple.......

[goldyn]

Thank you for telling me to concentrate on making it through my tx, I have been so sick im just getting over strep and walking pnemonia (pneumonia), and sinus infection, just started feeling better from antibiotics in time to do my shot on friday which dragged me back down , ive worked clear through tx with small kids and i have 5 of my own, im just so phyiscally and mentally exhuasted, these last 7 shots are going to be the hardest on me, did you  feel that also towards the last of your treatments, i really just feel like im not going to make it, sorry to whine to you but i know you have the knowledge,of what im going through...

[susan400]

Goldyn,

I have no idea as to why that happens.  In my case, my viral load never cleared.  And post treatment viral load and LFT's are both heading back up.  So, I assumed that it was the virus kicking back in to high gear.  But, I don't know this to be true.  I don't know if other who have been SVR at the end of treatment have the same symptoms. Don't worry about it right now, just try to get through with your treatment. Maybe you won't have this happen to you.

Susan

[susan400]

Hi there again.  I think everybody feels that way a some point in treatment. For most of us, the treatments are SO long and just seem to drag on and on and on.  It's really a test to see what you're capable, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  I'm sorry that you're suffering so.  I would put your last shot date on a calendar and each week put a big huge X over that shot in a bright happy color, to try and encourage you that you only have 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2- 1    NOOOOO SHOTS left.  That's about the only advice I have for now.

Take care.

Susan

[FlGuy]

If not a rash and a 'more deep in there' itch, mabye it has something to do with the heat/temperature.  Deb's in the desert, Susan's in Florida and it is summer for both???

[Not 4 Gotn]

I only went through 2 weeks of treatments.  One of the reasons they took me off the tx was the itching, not just rashes.  They told me it was pruritis, and I felt like my skin itched so bad it burned.  They gave me a drug called Atarax, within 20 minutes, the itch and pain was gone.  Ask your doc if that will help.  I still get it, even after stopping tx in December 2005.  Hope this helps!