Itching for years feeling let down.

[nannybarb08]

I have been itching for years. I saw 3 Drs. One did a liver function test came back normal, 2 others Drs told me to take allergy tablets, told them it was so bad when I got out of the shower, I didn,t know what to do with myself, if I had a gun I would have shot myself. Went for a hypertension routine blood test in Jan, that night a hospital Dr. phoned me asking me if I felt ok, advised me to see my Dr. in the morning, she told me to wait for the results, do another test in a week or so, On Friday the same week an other Dr. phoned me telling me to go to the hospital that morning for a venesection, told me it might me polycythaemia vere, more blood test confirmed that I do have polycythaemia vere, with the JAK 2 mutation. still have venesections weekly at the moment and taking asprin daily. Going to have a another blood test in 3 months to see how things are going, was wondering if any body else has had the same trouble getting an answer if they had a server problem itching and told just to take allergy tablets which didn,t really work Thanks for reading this.

[mikerodol]

Hi

I suffered the same problem. Dr recommended taking " normal " antihistamine ( cetirizine ) and ranitidine which is normally used to stop acid production as it is also an antihistamine but works on different receptors. This did the trick after a couple of months. Might be worth a try

[nannybarb08 in reply to mikerodol]

Hi thanks for that will go and see Dr again and ask for some

[Roger41]

Hi, sorry to hear of your skin irritation

Tell your team as they may give you a medication to sooth the itch.

Like the others on here I find that the cetrizine helps but only take it under advisement.

[Ebot]

I am sure if you scan this Forum you will see all kinds of people have got fobbed off with all kinds of responses until they got their MPN diagnosis! Aqua pruritis - severe itching after contact with water - is a very common side effect for anyone with an MPN. There’s loads of advice in various posts about how to deal with it. Also check out MPN Voice online. It may well subside now you’re getting treatment. Good luck!

[piggie50]

Hi,

You have to find what works for you. I didn’t find a antihistamine that worked for me. I itched terribly if I showered in the morning but if I had a hot bath or shower in the evening I was fine. I don’t know why but that worked for me. I also found that if I was on holiday in a warm climate I didn’t itch at all whatever time of day I showered. Going from warm shower to cool air can occasionally start the itching, I always wrap in two warm towels after a shower. Since starting Hydroxicarbamide almost 5 years ago itching is now very rare.

I hope you find something that works for you.

Best wishes

Judy

[bjay22]

Hi. Many years ago, I started having bouts of severe itchy skin & sometimes hives, especially bad in winter or when cool air hit my skin. I would even wear a thermal shirt every day under my reg clothes so air would not hit my skin & trigger the itchiness. I would drive myself crazy trying not to scratch because once I did, the itching would drive me mad & I would scratch till I bled. Kept me up at night & drove me to tears. I tried every cream and lotion & allergy med and nothing worked until I tried regular OTC Claritin tablets.. Stopped the itching and without any sleepy side effects. Now I only need them occasionally, went from taking 1 every day, to taking 1 every few weeks or so. I always have them in the house & will not even travel without them. Don’t know if they will work for everyone, but for me they worked like a charm. My dr said taking reg Claritin with my other meds is fine, but maybe ask your own dr first. I hope you find something that works for you because I know how awful it can be.