Severe itching

[Trower]

Is anyone experiencing a severe rash and constant itching?

[SN23]

High PTH and phosphorus can be a reason for itching.

In addition you can sooth some of this by avoiding very hot showers and applying coconut oil on your skin before showering and using mild soap ( coconut oil or other oil based). Hope this helps.

[Trower in reply to SN23]

Thank you. My husband has tried everything.

[SN23 in reply to Trower]

Ok🙏

other options that I have read about are Antihistamine such as Benadryl. And Cremes that contain Capsaicin, camphor, lanolin , witch hazel or vitamin E can also help. But going by your reply below you may have tried these already. I assume that you are consulting with a dermatologist too. And the vitamin d level, phosphorus and pth level are within range as these could also be a cause for itching.

My very best to you🙏

[Trower in reply to SN23]

His labs are good. He has had cancer for 8 years and dialysis for 1. We have been to every dr trying to change meds to see if something is causing this. I am just afraid the kidney cancer and kidney failure with the dialysis thrown in are what is to blame. Today I ordered a vest online with gel pockets so you can put it in the fridge and it could cool his back where he can't reach. Thank you for your concern.

[SN23 in reply to Trower]

sending my good wishes and prayers🙏

[drmind in reply to Trower]

Aside from electrolyte imbalance, I also get very itching when I haven't been hydrating well. I don't take Benadryl orally, but I keep Benadryl gel in the fridge and use that where I can. The vest sounds like a good idea. A few years back, I was able to buy a device thst had a changeable sponge on a long stick and used that to apply gel to my back and others places hard to reach.

Best to luck in finding a solution.

[drmind in reply to drmind]

They have one on Amazon:

LFJ Lotion Applicator with Long Curved Handle for Back,Legs,Feet Self Application of Sunscreen, Sunless Self-Tanning, Skin Cream, Acne a.co/d/6eLieFJ

[Miss-guineapig in reply to Trower]

An antihistamine may help. Claritin is ok for people with CKD, not sure about other types. X

[bumblebee_tuna]

It's common in dialysis patients, but you did not provide the state of your kidney disease.

[Trower in reply to bumblebee_tuna]

My husband has stage 4 renal failure. He had 1 kidney removed with cancer and it has spread to the remaining kidney. The cancer doctor put him on Keytruda to help his immune system fight this cancer but I suspect it may be causing the rash. So far we have tried every product available but he is itching 24/7 and since he is on a blood thinner drug, he has skin full of blood blisters now. Just hoped someone knew of a good anti itch treatment. Thank you.

[bumblebee_tuna in reply to Trower]

You needs to look at his labs and make sure phosphorus is not high. Taking gabapentin/pregabalin might help - ask the clinic about those drugs.

[Trower in reply to bumblebee_tuna]

Phosphorus has been low for months. We did try gabapentin too.😪

[Miss-guineapig in reply to Trower]

That sounds really awful, an itch is the worst thing. Hope he gets something to ease it soon xx

[Trower in reply to Miss-guineapig]

He has been on high dosage of prednisone and antihistamine for several days. The rash and itch have mostly gone away. Thank you.

[Miss-guineapig in reply to Trower]

Great news x

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

If on dialysis it could be a reaction to dialysate. Ask to pre rinse with 1-3 bags saline prior to beginning treatment. High phosphorus can cause severe itching. Watch diet and take any binders. Blessings

[Trower in reply to KidneyCoach]

His phosphorous is low every month. He has heparin antibodies so they had to quit using that. I don't know about the dialysate.

[Glyndwright]

Hi I am stage 4 19% , I take hay fever tablet's antihistamines, they work for me.

[Trower in reply to Glyndwright]

What is the name of the tablet you take?

[Glyndwright in reply to Trower]

I have the antihistamines tablets of the doctor, and I buy the hay fever tablet's from the chemist-allacan10mg ceturizine hydrochloride, hay fever and allergy relief

[Darlenia in reply to Trower]

Yes!! Agree with Glyndwright. In severe cases, antihistamines help. My hubby, on dialysis at the time, was told to take child-sized Zyrtec and that worked the best. (It was child-sized because dialysis influences meds.) I'd often spray him down with Dermaplast too. I'm convinced the itching and restless legs are related to the kidney failure and their inability to make hormones and enzymes. Immediately after my hubby's transplant, both disappeared instantly. Total magic.

[Trower in reply to Darlenia]

We are trying benedryl today. So far no relief.

[Darlenia in reply to Trower]

If nothing happens over the next few days, maybe ask your doctor if you can try Zyrtec next. It has a different composition. There may also be some prescription types that a doctor can give you too. It's a horrible rash. That, and restless legs, was very hard on my guy and me, too. I feel for both of you.

[Trower in reply to Darlenia]

Thank you!!!

[Uckle]

I found that Emuaid Max helped after a day or two. Very expensive

[WildIris]

I got such intense itching from Eliquis (Apixaban), a blood thinner, that I had to stop taking it. I have both CKD and occasional AFib. This is unusual both for me, and an unusual but not unknown side effect of the drug. The itching went away about the day after I quit. Best of luck, Itching can be overwhelming.

[Trower in reply to WildIris]

Dr switched him to warfarin for a month to see if that helps. We ate on day 4 and so far no difference

[Trower in reply to WildIris]

So your doctor let you go off blood thinners permanently? We would like to do that but they don't recommend he do it.

[barbara55109]

Sometimes. It has been greatly reduced with phosphorus binders and calcitrol. I had high phosphorus and PTH, the dregs have brought it down to near normal. I'm 69, my skin has gotten dryer as I've aged. I never remember to lotion up. I also stopped taking daily showers. During the phe I learned I don't have to take daily showers anymore. I perspire much less than I used to and my hair doesn't get greasy anymore. I think these are tied to age and being post menopausal.

[Trower in reply to barbara55109]

Thank you.

[Nana16]

I'm sorry your husband has to go through that. It's just misery to add such itching on top of his other major health issues. I don't have much to add, but I have found some relied by using Olay age defying body wash (made for women, but who says a man can't try it? I keep the water temperature in a comfortable range, warm, but not too warm. Also just dab my skin dry instead of rubbing it, and then I put Eucerin or Cetaphil cream on, preferably while the skin is still damp. When I get a spot that won't leg up, most often on my back, I have been using lidocaine gel with pretty good results. It stops the itch for a while. I have a friend who puts the lidocaine gel in the refrigerator so it's really cold when she puts it on. I haven't tried that yet. I also use some breathing techniques, mostly square breathing,which is a deep breath in to a slow count of 4, hold it 4, breath out 4, and hold 4 before starting over again. It doesn't make it go away, but it refocuses your brain on paying attention to the breathing. Even a brief break in itching (or pain of any kind) while your brain focuses on breathing can help. Sounds odd to try it for itching, but it does help me.

I really hope that the cooling vest will help. My brother had MS, had uncontrollable itching from that. and the cooling vest did help him. Hoping that something helps, for your sake as well as your husband's.

[Trower in reply to Nana16]

Thank you.

[Onebadkitty]

Hi I had a surprise stage 4 diagnosis in November 2023. It explained SO many symptoms I'd been experiencing. Last spring through summer I had an awful rash on my neck and upper chest area. I thought it was a heat rash. It eventually calmed down. In retrospect it was ABSOLUTELY what they call a "kidney rash". My understanding is that because of toxins not being processed and or filtered properly by the kidneys, they begin to be excreted through the skin, which in turn causes the itch and bumps. Mine did subside. It took months. Good luck. I felt like a maniac scratching myself all the time! At least now I know why!

[Trower in reply to Onebadkitty]

In addition to dialysis, he is on blood thinner which can cause itch and Keytruda which has itching as a side effect. So.....we are not sure what triggered this violent episode but thank God for prednisone and antihistamine! Right now he is ok.

[Pantwhite]

iam very happy and content that you found the correct medicine i itch as well as him iam stage 1 i believe have proteinuria protein in the urine no other synthoms except itch creams seem to calm a little the difference with taking pregablin at this momment it helps me but everyone is different and dont have the same effect or reactions as others the only i believe if it doesnt does anything i will need to try other medicine that hes boozing the right cap and that s awsome the reactions that affect the inmune sysem and getting the itch pricking with that hes alleviating of that

[Sammi_n_Munk]

Hello Trower. I’m sorry to hear about all of the distress you’ve been experiencing with this. Incessant itching is the worst! I see you have tried some different options, but have you considered calamine lotion? A few years ago (actually about 14 years ago to be more exact), I too had severe itching mainly on my legs which, at the time, I was sure were mosquito bites except there weren’t any. Calamine lotion was the only thing that provided me with any valid relief. Remember too, sometimes our itching attacks may not always be related to our health issues. It may also very possibly be related to something simple as, a new laundry detergent or a new cologne, body wash, etc. If Benadryl does not help, and you haven’t yet tried calamine lotion, it may be worth trying. I hope you will find this helpful. I’m wishing you speedy relief from this. You are in my thoughts and prayers. 🙏💕

[Trower in reply to Sammi_n_Munk]

Thank you!

[Pantwhite]

alleviates and without anything else blessing and charms with him 💕