Itching

[bowler]

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 ?

[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 in reply to googie]

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]

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]

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 in reply to phillen]

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 in reply to baby_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 in reply to phillen]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 in reply to phillen]

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]

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

[bowler in reply to phillen]

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

[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 in reply to barbaraannw]

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.