Itching on pegasus.

[soomoo]

Itching on pegasus. Hi I'm 48 and started peg mid Aug 45mcg whilst reducing hydrea and anagrelide. Now on just 4 anagrelide daily and inject fortnightly. Platelets plummeted from 600 to 132. Main problem is itching, mostly after a shower. Please is there anything to ease this torture? I've tried antihistamines, cooler showers but any other advice much appreciated, thanks sue

[Paul123456]

What is your WBC? My ‘itching’ has decreased in line with my WBC, currently 1.5 after over doing the Pegasys.

Just had a holiday in the sun, made massive difference. Exposure to UV/sun reduced itching to virtually zero.

Now that on Pegasys I only get itching after exposure to water. Best result is keeping water temperature as close to body temperature as bearable and limiting exposure to water to the minimum time possible. No soaking in the bath!

The weirdest advice is try jumping straight under duvet after drying/shower. Don’t know whether being horizontal or uniform body temperature but helps me.

However the Forums are full of other equally cranky theories, everyone has their own theory of what works best!

[soomoo in reply to Paul123456]

Thanks Paul for the tips and will try them out. Itching is mostly after water contact. Have had bloods done today so we shall see. I was on very hefty doses of hydrea and anagrelide so wasn't sure if it was a reaction to being weaned off them, but believe it to be the interferon now.

Regards sue

[Kinsale]

Hi Sue - I too am on PEG and get itching after my shower. I put on coconut body oil straight after drying and it seems to help. Cheers Mark.

[JackLina]

I too used to suffer this severely. I still do but nothing like as bad. I have my long soak in a bath rather than shower, due to the needle effect from the spray. I do this further from my injection as possible and I use Oilatum bath formula in the water.

More extreme however, I have cut certain foods out of my diet. These include oranges/juice, raspberries and strawberries. I found that these (all favourites) were definitely making my itching worse and longer lasting.

I always use a good quality body lotion such as Lancaster after a bath or Oilatum cream. the latter is available on prescription, so no cost necessary. I hope these help. when I was first on Pegasys, it was a nightmare but is now bearable and last no time at all.

As a last resort, you could take a mild anti-histamine prior to getting in the bath or shower. That definitely works but I try to keep away from 'more' medication. All the best.

[soomoo in reply to JackLina]

Thankyou I shall definitely try your suggestion. As it's only been 2 months since starting peg I'm hoping it will reduce, if not, atleast I'll have ways to deal with this horrible side effect, sue

[lebowski42]

Best solution I have found is air dry your self with something like a hair dryer and immediately wrap an ice pack around the itchiest limb and it eases symptoms quickest that way after a shower. Windows open after help too of its not too cold.

[soomoo in reply to lebowski42]

Very good ideas thankyou, sue

[piggie50]

I’m with Paul on this one. I wrap myself in 2 big towels and get under the duvet. Oddly, when I’m abroad I don’t get the itching, I think because the air is warmer.

I also find I itch less if I shower at night rather than the morning.

[soomoo in reply to piggie50]

Thanks...how long do I stay under the duvet? All day?! Good suggestions thanks, sue

[piggie50]

😂🤣 I just stay until I get warm. Then quickly dress. x

[Otterfield]

I find it helps to let as much of my body as possible dry naturally without rubbing with a towel. If I dry my legs with a towel it is agony afterwards. I haven't found a complete solution though.