General Medicine

» tndgirl - Fibromyalgia, CFS, itchy skin connection?

Boy did I ever have itching feet and hands. This was just prior to being diagnosed with FM. At the time of my diagnosis, thyroid function was tested and normal. The itching was hideous. It started as a deep itching in the palms of my hands. Then overall itching of palms. Then itching of feet. Sometimes itching of face and neck. This went on for about a year. The itching was also burning, like fire ant bites. Each episode would last 1/2 hr - hr. The hand itching would happen any time during the day. Feet itching usually, but not always, prior to going to bed or as I was trying to go to sleep. Also a strange reactive rash which would be large welts - white interior with pink halo. Without blistering. Anytime plastic touched my skin. Had to give up any clothing with elastic and even then the pressure of waistbands, bra straps, shoe straps would cause the welts in a mirror image of the surface touched. Sanitary pads were horrible. Skin actually would peel off from contact with the plastic lining. The welts on my arms (from plastic or pressure contact) were usually on my left side only, face welts usually on right side only. Sometimes the welts would be one solid mass from wrist to elbow, like when I carried a platicoated pet food bag on my bare arm. Talk about thinking you're going crazy! My doctor, who has treated FM for many years hadn't seen anything like it. I started a regimen she recommended...improve sleep hygience, eat meat protein (for tryptophan) at every meal, magnesium malate, and a multi-vitamin she sold me. Plus stress modification. The itching subsided but I will still have flare-ups sometimes if overtired and overstressed. What's so weird is that about a year after the itching started, the bottom of my feet started to stink...I mean really rotten smelling. Not a chemical smell...a biological smell. Ruined shoes, socks would be stiff and sticky when I removed them. Nothing worked. Then suddenly they just stopped stinking. The smelly feet lasted about a year as well. So it's been three years since my diagnosis. The itching ran for a little over a year, then the stinky feet for about a little longer than a year, and now for about 7-8 months no stinky feet. Generally I'm doing better: I've improved my nutrition, sleep habits, stress coping. Still have body aches until about 10 am every day and fatigue everyday. If given the opportunity, I can fall asleep at anytime and sleep as long as my bladder will let me. Luckily I can manage to work, so I am blessed. I also have an older sister with FM. Hope this was helpful.

-- posted by tndgirl