constant itching

[Bobbobby]

Has anyone experienced severe itching out of no where with RA? I’ve had it a few years and been on the same medication for a year without issue a bout three weeks ago I started itching like crazy. I’ll be fine and get these explosions of itching all over my body and it doesn’t stop. My Rheumatologist seems clueless and suggests possible changing medications again. He gave me prednisone but I can’t take it longer than a day or two with severe chest pains Anyone have any ideas on what to do?

[rmros]

Have you seen a GP about the itching? It could be completely unrelated to RA or medication and maybe they will be able to help.

[Deeb1764]

I got a lot of itching and my ago gave me antihistamine and this helped a lot. He thought medication was a possibility.

[Amnesiac3637]

If your rheumatologist hasn’t a clue it’s unlikely to be related to your RA as consultants will have seen it all and treated most of it. Though of course you could become intolerant to a drug which is why he’s thinking about changing your medication again.

Go back to your GP who will probably refer you to dermatology initially and onwards to different specialities like immunology to discover why you’re itching so intensely. Good luck cos it must drive you insane!

[Bobbobby in reply to Amnesiac3637]

I don’t have a GP but a bunch of doctors for other conditions. I’ll have to see one or a dematology doctor. Been taking antihistamines and they help with the overall itching but not the weird explosion itch. It’s like nothing I’ve experienced. At first it was constant itching in spots and now I get like waves of it and it feels really weird

[Madmusiclover]

worth trying an antihistamine til you get a diagnosis. Only one works for me (the expensive one still under licence!) so don’t give up if the first type you try doesn’t work.

[welsh12]

What meds are you taking

[Bobbobby in reply to welsh12]

A lot. Sulfsalazine Leflutomide. Celocoxib also tirosint for a thyroid disorder. Arnuity ellipta and Spiriva respimat for breathing problems

[Fruitandnutcase]

The constant really bad itching that my husband had turned out to be a symptom of liver damage when his doctors were treating the itch as a response to his Covid vaccination. He ended up in hospital for a week on an antibiotic drip with a liver, gall bladder and pancreatic infection and eventually had his gall bladder removed so ask to have some blood tests. It could be serious.

[cathie]

or it could be a reaction to something simple like shower gel. Or dryness of skin

[sunshineday]

Hi, my hubby has had really severe constant itching for years on and off. He's had this since a child and it came along with asthma and it was diagnosed as ezcema. It cleared for decades but started again a couple of years ago with very very dry skin. He's on sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, ventolin, seretide, terbutaline, uniphyllin, levothyroxine, none of which are the cause. The GP has prescribed Epimax, epaderm, Dermol lotion, Dermol cream, Doublebase and he has also tried Aveena and baby lotion. None really work and in fact can cause itching within an hour of being used. Dermovate for the body has been prescribed for a couple of weeks and an antihistamine and things have greatly improved. The GP is following up with hubby at the end of the two weeks. Hubby doesn't use shower gels or soap just uses Doublebase as a shower substitute. I always use Fairy non bio and never use fresh air sprays, perfume etc. Good luck, hope you find the solution. Joy

[LesJames]

I had this but is was around my genitalia. I tried alsorts, but in the end it was a medication for Jock itch which I bought from Amazon that sorted it

[sylvi]

Buy a antihistamine from the chemist like me.xxx

[Luna20]

I did, but only a couple of episodes of really severe itching and only my thighs. It was so bad I scratched then raw. I thought at the time it was a side effect of one of the drugs I was on - hydroxychloroquin or methotrexate. I am no longer on those.

[MomentoMori]

Yes I've got itching and have been told that due to my RA and EDS there can be a co-morbidity of MCAS, so have been pre-diagnosed with MCAS as a possibility. Especially with the change of weather. Have been given strong anti-histamines i.e. Fexofenadine. So maybe you have a comorbidity or medication related. I tend to get itchy for a little while after my Mtx injections for a few days, then it goes and the cycle continues. Never know if it's coming or going lol.

[Bobbobby in reply to MomentoMori]

What’s MCAS

[Spanelmad]

When was your thyroid last checked?

[Bobbobby in reply to Spanelmad]

been a while since my levels been checked

[Spanelmad in reply to Bobbobby]

Worth a blood test maybe?

[Bobbobby in reply to Spanelmad]

Do you think if my dose is too high it would cause this? I get these explosions of itching and burning. It’s maddening

[Spanelmad in reply to Bobbobby]

Not sure but it's worth checking as thyroid can cause itching

[modoogan]

Hi there maybe get your thyroid checked same thing happened to me mo

[modoogan]

Ahh I see you already said about thyroid mo

[CeeCee101]

have you been tested for other autoimmune diseases? I say this because I have both primary biliary cholangitis and RA. RA is new. Had PBC for 15 years. One of the big symptoms of PBC is itching. Reason I mention is many in PBC community have other overlap A/I diseases like Sjogrens or RA or Poly RA. Might ask your doc for at least screening blood test, AMA antibodies, NOT ANA but AMA.

[Bobbobby in reply to CeeCee101]

I have RA and hypothyroidism. What’s PBC?