Itching: I am at stage 3 CKD [ 4... - Early CKD Support

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Itching

bowler profile image
16 Replies

I am at stage 3 CKD [ 40% ] and have awful itching all over my body which is driving me mad.

Anyone else have ths problem ?

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bowler profile image
bowler
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16 Replies
googie profile image
googie

heya, have you had your phosphate levels checked as this can cause itching. Do you take a binder? I used to take Calcichew, but I am now on renegel. You can take an anti histamine to stop the itiching, but please go get your bloods checked x

bowler profile image
bowler in reply togoogie

Hi

I take Calcichew, what is a binder?, I will ask about a phosphate test when I next see the nurse which is on on Monday.

vaw777 profile image
vaw777

I think you have had two Good replies I can only add to cut down your potassium which will mean no stone fruit no bananas

Only half a cup of milk and go easy on tomatoes. get in touch with a kidney dietician and things will be better for you. Good Luck...vaw777

phillen profile image
phillen

Calcichew is a binder my husband had these at first now he has osvaren he had terrible itching in stage 3 he used e45 anti itch his is caused by high phosphates, only cut out on things if your told you need to as you still need enough to keep your other organs healthy although on dialysis my hubby can eat any fruit & veg he wants its just his phosphates which is high in all dairy & protien stuff he has low protien so its very difficult to get the balance right he has to up his protien but in return takes more phosphate binders!

baby_01 profile image
baby_01 in reply tophillen

hi phillen! my underarms are itching and i also have sore mouth. my nephro prescribed me anthraquinone glycosides salicylic acid for my sore mouth but it doesn't seem effective. now i doubt if she really knows what she's doing. i didn't have my phosphates checked yet but my potassium is fairly on the average level. so is my creatinine. am i getting worse? what should i take to stop this itching? one thing more, i pass hard round stools. could i take fiber supplements for this problem? please help.

phillen profile image
phillen in reply tobaby_01

have you changed anything you use ie deodorant soap or washing powder sometimes it could be that i always stick to the same stuff for my hubby ie non bio washing powder etc you could try anti histamine also & is should think your gp could prescribe you something for constipation my hubby has something called optifibre which you sprinkle over food (he put it in his porridge) its tasteless & very good he only uses 1 sachet daily i think you can buy stuff like fibo gel which is similar not sure about the optifibre as it was prescribed by the renal consultant hope this helps

judystuddard profile image
judystuddard in reply tophillen

Miralax is a good thing for constipation. It puts water in your intestines. I take all the time. There are several generics out there too.

googie profile image
googie

A binder takes the phosphates from your blood and you pass them naturally. It literally "binds" them. The phosphate (which is what bones contain) can increase over time with CKD and it can be this that makes your body itch (as well some other reasons). I sometimes get itchy legs, but my friend used to itch all over and also found it very uncomfortable. A well balanced diet (like above) and a chat with your renal consultant and renal dietician (if you don't have one, insist on seeing one) will help you loads. Please get your levels checked as too much phosphate in the blood can also lead to other problems xx Let us know how you get on x

Lioncub56 profile image
Lioncub56

I had itching all over and my legs drove me mad as they bled with itching them my GP put me on an older generation anti histomine this is also like a sedative this has stoped the itch but my skin is realy dry and have keep it moisturised.

bowler profile image
bowler

Hi all.

Thank you for all your replies.

I have just looked back on a blood test result I had in April.

My Serum inorganic phosphate level was 1.00 mmo/L [ 0.87 - 1.45 ]

My Serum calcium level was 2.45 mmol/L [ 2.2 - 2.7 ]

I was alo told that my bone density had increased since my last one scan 2 years ago.

So maybe I dont need to take the Calcichew ?

After I was diagnosed with stage 3 CKD and with one kidney smaller than the other. I was never refered back to see a nephrologist, or had any follow up. When I asked my GP if I could be refered he said "that he would only refer me to a nephrologist if I go into stage 4"

I also have hypertention which I take medicaation for.

phillen profile image
phillen

the levels sound within range its a complicated thing kidneys! the toxins & high urea in the blood also causes itching! i don't see why your Gp can't refer you to a neph my husband was seeing one when he was stage 3!

they are better at managing your drugs than the GP maybe as your symptoms are getting worse you could ask again! my hubby went from stage 3 to 4 to 5 & on dialysis within a year after being stage 3 for about 15 years! its not the same for everyone i know but sometimes things can change fairly quickly!

bowler profile image
bowler in reply tophillen

I have stopped my calcichew for several days and my itching has stopped !!!!

I have been taking them for many years [ one a day ] so I wonder why they are now making me itch ? [ if it is them ] I will see how things go the longer I am off them.

phillen profile image
phillen

maybe your calcium levels are too high high calcium can also cause itching!

bowler profile image
bowler in reply tophillen

My Calcium levels were within range in April, so maybe it's altered.

barbaraannw profile image
barbaraannw

I do for the last 18 months. I wouldn't wish it on my worse enemy. I tried everything for some kind of relief. My neph prescribed panectyl.

bowler profile image
bowler in reply tobarbaraannw

I looked up Panectyl [ anti histamine ] which I had never heard of before and it's a Canadian drug. However I have been taking an anti histamine which I got from my local supermarket and that has helped with the itching.

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