| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| pianoshrnk |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 09:30:50
Well...here I am again with a new symptom that is driving me crazy. I first experienced TMS "symptoms" approximately 15 years ago and it has been quite a ride- from severe fibromyalgia- to numbness, tingling, and pain in feet and hands....to eye twitching and painful dry eyes,and intermittent localized pain such as in my left foot, or weird headaches....Through it all has been underlying anxiety...(always lots of fun) with the ruminating thoughts, shallow breath, upset stomach,feelings of hopelessness, etc. I've gone through long periods of "remission" and have been relatively successful in using prayer, faith, refusal to accept "incurable" diagnoses" and Dr.Sarno's "this is temporary" methods. I've had periods of years go by without major symptoms. I'm lucky.
Now, however, I have a brand new symptom that is driving me bonkers...intense itching throughout my body- it moves around but I've never had anything like it and I would love to hear some shared experiences and positive words of encouragement. this forum rocks- has always helped me. I'm scared- can't seem to do anything to relieve the itching- not too crazy about going to a bunch of doctors and hearing scary diagnoses like "autoimmune disease", etc. Can some of you share your stories with intense itching and hopefully tell me some successful outcomes? I admire and appreciate you all so much. thanks for everything - I know the body is capable of healing itself from just about anything....I'm just having a hard time focusing on anything but my crazy ithing! (I AM going through a huge time of stress in my life- lots going on- hoping this is a temporary symptom ...fingers crossed)
Thank you one and all! |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| johnnybill45 |
Posted - 03/10/2010 : 12:58:27
Well, it's taken me awhile to get resgistered for the forum. I've tried several times for about a month.
My TMS pain has subsided quite a bit, so now I get hives instead. My brain just won't give up! The weird thing is I get hives around 8PM almost every night. I'm not allergic to anything and never have been and I don't believe there is any medical condition causing it. Read: "I don't believe". I know it's just TMS using a new distraction.
I've been working on TMS for 20+ years now and it's usually well controlled although I've never been 100% free of back pain. But I exercise and can run 4-5 miles, so it's not stopping me from staying fit. |
| mom2aidan2002 |
Posted - 03/01/2010 : 13:12:59
I had TMS itching. Developed an unexplained rash too. Nothing helped. I went back to my doctor and she explained that sometimes the mind gets caught in "the itching cycle", where it anticipates itching and can't let it go. She prescribed some REALLY strong steroidal ointment and atarax for at night after other meds didn't help. (I was waking up bleeding from scratching in my sleep)! Once she mentioned THE MIND as being involved I got that it was TMS. I took the atarax to help me sleep and within a week or so it was gone.
Every time I wanted to scratch I just reminded myself that TMS is real but the need to scratch was based on unconscious emotions. And focused on how I was feeling emotionally.
Hope this helps!
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| almost there |
Posted - 03/01/2010 : 09:21:36
Pianoshrnk,
When I was perscribed Atarax my first reaction was that I couldn't take it because it would make me drowsy....the doctor assured me my body would adjust and after about a week I wouldn't feel so sleepy....he also reminded me the price I was willing to pay taking steroid medication long term....Atarax is a much safer medication....he was absolutely right....I got complete relief from the itching and the anxiety while my nervous system calmed down and I worked on fixing what was going on in my life....I never would have believed in those days that one's mind could cause such symtoms..I thought only a physical cause could be the culprit....I know differently today....I hope you get the same relief....itching is miserable!
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| catspine |
Posted - 02/26/2010 : 22:25:40
Pianoshrnk
My wife had it very bad and had to sit on her hands not to scratch she went to see doctors and heard it was yeast infection then it was scabies then it was thyroid then it was a virus then it was an allergy to God knows what...etc etc.
The truth is they did not know, only one young doctor took a tissue sample on her insistence and put it on the microscope and concluded it could not be any of the above but still couldn't tell what it was. so she told her it was nervous. Anxiety is part of her life so it could be true but the itching went away and we will probably never know what it was.
I would guess that if yours is anxiety related treating the anxiety would not hurt anyway and may bring some relief after a while if it is the cause of it. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
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| pianoshrnk |
Posted - 02/26/2010 : 16:29:06
So everyone- I went to the dermatologist today.
She doesn't know what's going on- agreed it could be induced by stress/anxiety (not enthusiastic about it, but at least she is a doctor that will consider that!) She talked about dryness- and ordered a metabolic blood panel as well as TSH to test for thyroid imbalance- she said 1 out of 7 (don't know if it is people or women) have thyroid imbalances which can cause itching. Hmmmmm...Also Dave, I asked her about phosphorus levels- she wouldn't mark that on my lab tests- that's weird..think I should just check it myself?- hahaha
And Almostthere- I asked about Atarax and got a prescription as well as a prescription creme (Derma-Smoothe FS Body Oil) that costs about $35- thanks for the info...will start tomorrow -
Will give updates periodically- not that I want to bore everyone out of their minds..... Thanks for all of the input once again everyone!
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| yogaluz |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 13:57:27
I have a strange condition that causes my legs to itch when I walk long distances or run. I spoke to an allergist and he said that some people become allergic to various stimuli including fabric rubbing against the skin, heat (i.e. saunas or hot tubs), and in my case, the jiggling motion of running. I take a Zyrtec if I know I want to go for a hike or a jog. I don't believe this is TMS though it could have some genesis in a TMS process. I just take a half a Zyrtec and I have NO itching so I tend not to think about this symptom much. I would definitely talk to someone about whether you may be having an allergic reaction to something to rule that out. |
| Dave |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 13:18:52
Itching can be a symptom of high phosphorus levels.
This could be caused by a variety of factors including kidney problems.
As with any condition, a medical doctor should rule this out as well as any other medical cause before treating the symptom as TMS. |
| Hilary |
Posted - 02/25/2010 : 09:30:38
I've had horrible itching - bizarrely, it felt like it was under the skin. I still get it occasionally - hardly at all now, and now I automatically look to what's really bothering me. I must say though that it's one of the most distracting symptoms my strange little bodymind has ever dreamt up.
It's absolutely TMS. I help myself with the immediate symptoms by consciously relaxing my muscles. That seems to help - I think when you itch you tense up which probably creates more tension and more itching!
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| winnieboo |
Posted - 02/24/2010 : 19:22:50
Hi ps,
I had intense itching, along with a sensation that my skin was burning, when I took Celebrex years ago. Turns out I had developed an allergy to sulpha (in the Celebrex), something I had tolerated all my life until then. So, while it's confusing to deal with new symptoms when you know you have TMS, it's key to clear yourself with a medical doc before going down the psychological route. And yes, always good to stay off the internet. |
| pianoshrnk |
Posted - 02/24/2010 : 15:19:26
Thanks Catspine, Almostthere, Winniepoo, and Dave!
The itching is absolutely driving me up a wall- have had some relief after taking a benadryl - thank goodness. Have made appointment with my Internist- and waiting for dermatologist's call...
Dave - I've never heard of phosphorous levels out of whack - interesting...I'll check that out..
Almostthere- atarax is sounding pretty darn good right now (I've never heard of it)- even though I HATE taking pills, I do have my emergency valium which I have been using over the last several weeks- very low dosage. I don't think it is an allergy or dry skin (but I am not ruling out anything)I've had severe bouts of anxiety throughout the last 15 years- I just chalk up everything to that. I try to stay away from doctors (other than my check-ups) because I got caught in a huge downward spiral several years ago after seeing so many doctors, receiving so many different diagnoses, and then worrying constantly that I would never get better, or develop something even MORE serious- (many people on this forum know THAT rut)
I had great success staying away from doctors for several years, and just managing my anxiety whenever it came up (which it always does) BUT....when I get a symptom like my dry burning eyes, or now this intense itching- I have a hard time focusing elsewhere. And I start getting scared...no fun
Catspine- it's always nice to hear a story that ends well- I'm glad your wife's itching went away! I'm hoping I can nip mine in the bud soon...what did your wife do or try for the nine months she was suffering? Does she suffer from anxiety?
Winnepoo- maybe I am having an allergic reaction to valium even though I've taken it intermittently for many years? Will ask the doctor.
OR... maybe it IS my stress/anxiety/TMS sending me a message to take action.
If anyone else has had body itching due to TMS- please share - I'll admit to being , what is it called, a "bodychecker" desirous of reassurance...in other words...desperate....
PS- I know better than to check symptoms out on the Internet- but I did it anyway.....and of course, there are all sorts of horrid things that body itching can be a symptom of....when will I ever learn? |
| catspine |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 14:14:14
Pianoshrnk
A medical reason needs to be ruled out first of course but an other bout of TMS seems likely. You almost have the answer to your question at the end of your post: going through a huge time of stress in your life right now... I know by experience that tms can produce an itchy inflammation that comes and goes .
To Dave
What's the thing about phosphorus please?
My wife had a serious itch w/o any visible symptoms all over her body for months driving her up the walls and after ruling out all the common reasons for it the doctors concluded it was nervous reaction because they couldn't find anything else. It went away and we never got to know what it was.
She also has TMS based migraines and back pains occasionally.
I never heard of phosphorus anything but I heard of sulfur based allergies to med because antibiotics are made from sulfur or penicillin basis.
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| almost there |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 13:24:27
Could it be as simple as dry skin from all the dry artificial heat we have been exposed to indoors during this very cold winter....
I went through an episode of hives many years ago that went on and on....probably TMS....but I didn't know it at the time....after several months of agony and being on Prednisone almost continually a doctor put me on Atarax (Visteril) for 4 months to calm my nerves and let my system regroup....did the trick....
By the way....I felt wonderful while taking the medication.....
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| winnieboo |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 11:27:07
Are you taking any medications? Could be an allergy response, even to a med you've taken previously, or have been on for awhile. Worth checking with a doctor. |
| Dave |
Posted - 02/23/2010 : 10:04:57
If this symptom continues you should probably see a doctor. It may be nothing, but it could be a symptom of something such as high levels of phosphorus that need to be investigated. |
