itching

[odchacon]

Is the itching deep or superficial? In a particular part of the body or the whole body? I 'been itch twice where it hurts. (Upper side quadrant)

[PBCRobert Partner]

Hi,

I am afraid to say the itch (or pruritis) seems to be very individualistic and can affect people in many ways. I am sure members will offer their own experiences.

Are you on any medication for your PBC or for your itch?

Robert.

[butterflyEi]

My itch was both. Particularly in the forearms was a deep itch that could not be ignored. I get an odd sensation in my feet but I cannot say it is an itch. When I am not taking medication I get a web like sensation on my lower face which has to be scratched or rubbed. Even with medication when under stress the itch will still be noticeable.

Currently I am taking Cetirizine at 2 tablets twice a day (so four in all) morning and evening I then take all my Ursofalk at bedtime. For the time being this is working quite well.

I tried to sort my difficulties out myself but after a couple of years I gave in and went to the doctor so the Cetirizine is a prescribed dose.

x

[liver-bird]

At present my own itch is superficial and not very bad. It is normally around my head and neck and often starts in my ears - even my tongue itches at times and I scratch that with my teeth !! I notice it is worse if I get hot and/or eat rich food, sweets and chocolate so I expect to itch after Xmas. Sometimes I get small red lumps around my neck which itch.

Thankfully it rarely affects my sleep - many on this site are not so lucky and are often tired during the day which must make the itching harder to bear. I always moisturise my skin as I get mild eczema if I don`t, and that too can be itchy.

I take urso for the pbc but nothing for the itch as in my case it is quite bearable at present. Good luck and hope you are one of the lucky ones who are not too badly affected.

[Hidden]

In my experience odchacon the itching is any place on the body!

Some say it feels like things crawling beneath the skin. I liken it to being rubbed with nettles or having wasps attacking me.

I feel prickly later in the day and it tends to be in areas where we bend like elbows and knees for eg that I put down to restricting the blood flow as it is sasid to come from used bile reacting, in my opinion more than likely with the nerve endings and that is why it is throughout the whole body at various times.

I tend to itch at night from my waist down to my toes. During the day I often find myself feeling prickly at my elbows. My head even itches at times.

So far I've not taken any medication thought to perhaps ease the itch (like Questran or colestryamine) as I have never wanted to take any medications and over time had to accept the urso is here to stay. If Questran was said to be a resolver of the itch in all cases then I'd go for it but it seems it is hit and miss and unless I reach a pretty desperate state with the itch then I am not at present prepared to give it a go.

[dollydaydreams]

I have had a very bad two weeks with the itch, i have had it for a couple of years but nothing like i had the last two weeks, I have started to take cholestyramine and it has calmed down about 75% in just under a week, I know they say it tastes bad but I think it's okay, mine is orange flavour unsweetened.

[odchacon]

Thank you so much for answering my post. I have liver and GI appointments next Thursday. I have a lot of questions for my doctors.