Itchy legs at night

[atassi]

Hi. I hope someone can help. I'm an American that has been living in Qatar for the past eight months. This problem I have has been bothering me for most of this time. My wife isn't experiencing the same symptoms.

I often wake up at before dawn with extremely itchy legs. It usually happens at that time, and only when I'm at home. Only my legs display these symptoms. They do feel itchy sometimes after a shower, but not as severe (almost like an after-effect of whatever bothered me at night). I am a deep sleeper, and this itch on both my legs doesn't fail to wake me up night after night, month after month. I use moisturizer hoping that it helps (it doesn't).

I recently came back from a visit to the US, and I can say I never woke up from itching while there. A few days after getting there, I forgot that I had the problem at all. When I got back, I was going to sleep around dawn each night. Interestingly, the problem didn't come back until tonight. I went to bed earlier, and woke up with the same intense itching as before about an hour and a half before dawn.

I thought it might be bed bugs because of the timing of the itch, but as I understand it they leave visible bumps. I have none (just intense itching at that time of night).

Dust mites might be present here, and I may be allergic. However, I don't display any other symptoms of being allergic to something right now. And why is it only my legs that are itching? And why only intensely an hour before dawn?

It's not soap, detergent, or the fabric I wear (I've tried eliminating those things already). What am I missing?

Just in case someone thinks I may be crazy, I can now prove I'm not. I just talked to my father who was here for a visit, and he admitted to me that he had the same exact symptoms while staying here in my house an few days ago.

Please help...

[atassi]

Does no one have any serious ideas or suggestions? If the doctors don't know then I guess I'm out of luck. Although annoyed by my difficult situation, it is interesting in a way.

Regards

[shadowtear]

hi atassi
i dont think it is anything to do with the bed or where you are, but just incase have you got another room you can sleep in for a trial to see if the same thing happens?
the reason i say i dont think it is this is that i have suffered with itcy legs mainly at night for years and i have moved in that time an nothin aliviates it.
you seem to have the same sort of symptoms as myself and i have ruled out just about everything that it could be to do with the environment. i have read on one website that it could be pressure hives where it starts as an itch and the more you itch the more intense it gets. people have suggested antihistamines which i will be trying soon you can either try them to or wait for me to try them and write back.

hope this helps

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

This may be dust mites or bed bugs .However , you do not show any visible rash on the skin. Bed bugs would present with dark red , tender to itchy spots. They may also be terribly itchy. Dust mites may also present with itchiness. Do you have any known allergies?

Itchiness may also be a sign of an underlying disease condition such as liver or kidney disease. You have not mentioned of any associated symptoms in your post. This is likely to be an external trigger here as you have noted your father experiencing the same symptom also.  You may seek a complete physical examination with your doctor. Blood tests to determine kidney and liver function may be helpful if indicated.