Formication/Bugs Crawling on Skin Options

[BestLife]

I don't feel the crawly thing really, but I do have buzzing. Bottom of both my feet sometimes, sometimes just the left. It changes around from day to day. I also get an icy kind of feeling in my outer calves (always both at once) once in awhile, THAT is really unnerving. I, too, am glad I am not the only one experiencing these weird sensations. Truth be told, I'd rather have hot flashes than these weird feelings. I feel as if I have something terrible that the doctors will discover too late. I really hate peri!

[bimmergal]

I don't feel the crawly thing really, but I do have buzzing. Bottom of both my feet sometimes, sometimes just the left. It changes around from day to day. I also get an icy kind of feeling in my outer calves (always both at once) once in awhile, THAT is really unnerving. I, too, am glad I am not the only one experiencing these weird sensations. Truth be told, I'd rather have hot flashes than these weird feelings. I feel as if I have something terrible that the doctors will discover too late. I really hate peri!

I agree with you, hot flashes would be better but I have not had those yet.. just woke a few times sweaty and then got cold. Buzzing.. to me that is hard to describe I guess.. but my calves and feet must buzz and flutter and get that icy feeling too (esp. the calves).. I feel little twinges in them too.. yea this isnt fun and I know I go on and on about it but most days it is hard to stay sane... thanks all!
hugs!

[Calamy]

I get the weird flu like chill/tingles through my body for a few seconds, just makes you feel so sick all over then goes away. I get hot and cold flashes. Last night I got up at 6 am and had the weirdest sensation of being cold but also being tingly like I wanted to rub my arms and make it go away. It felt like the kind of cold under your skin that won't go away even when you put a blanket over you. I get the whole extremely depressed feeling too:( And I get the weird tingles and actual goosebumps. Mostly I freak out about the cold and hot chill tingle sick flu sensation that comes and goes.

I have sensations like ants are crawling on me, too. It has come and gone quite a bit today. I'm always swatting at my body somewhere looking for ants. (We have ants in my apartment right now so it's not helping! I never know if it's my skin or a real ant! -- we had a big thunderstorm and some ants from outside have been seeking shelter from the patio:(

[fluxe]

Hi all,

I typed in 'bugs crawling on my skin' on google and here I am. Thanks to all these post, I can sleep better now. Its 2 am and I have been on the internet all weekend trying to find a reason for what I am going through.

At first I thought it was itching and had been reading all about it. But I don't need to scratch all the time - a hard rub will ease the discomfort at times.

Like most of you, I thought I had been exposed to bugs and have read a lot about itching caused by them but i know that is not true. I dont have any rash and I have laid awake trying to see what was moving on my skin but to no avail. It seems like something moves between the hairs on my skin sporadically. Its now all over my body and it is worse at night time. Sometimes I get it on my back alone, and it'll be as if I am covered in sand. Or it could come lie pins on the sole of my feet, in between my fingers, my thighs, knees, face, nostrils, etc. It is driving me mad!

I took Piriton an off the counter anti-histamine and it worked for a day but i cant keep taking this because it makes me drowsy and i'll be useless for the day. I am off to see the doctor tomorrow and will keep you updated. I really hope it is not a sign of peri-men as I am only 37 and.... I am not ready.


Thanks again for sharing your experiences.

[Eternal Sally]

Just found this thread. Coz the past couple of days I've been SURE I have lice!

LOL

(us poor women)

[Eminar]

Now that I know what it is, I have stopped slapping at myself wherever I feel something. Instead I've trained myself to calmly glance at the affected arm or leg first and sometimes I won't even have to scratch it.
But I've had to invest in a backscratcher when the crawlies hit hard to see/reach areas.

[moonlight]

I don't have the feeling of bugs under my skin,it's more like a random flea or bug crawling on my skin.Last night after i went to bed,it kept feeling like a(one) bug was crawling on my leg,i kept rubbing my leg,tried to find the critter,but couldn't....it kept happening,but in different places,sometimes on my butt,sometimes my leg,the side of my face,the back of my head....it about drove me crazy and i couldn't sleep....

[amicrazy]

I don't have the feeling of bugs under my skin,it's more like a random flea or bug crawling on my skin.Last night after i went to bed,it kept feeling like a(one) bug was crawling on my leg,i kept rubbing my leg,tried to find the critter,but couldn't....it kept happening,but in different places,sometimes on my butt,sometimes my leg,the side of my face,the back of my head....it about drove me crazy and i couldn't sleep....

I am now 40 years old and about 5 months ago (at age 39) I started to experience irregular menstrual cycles, not too bad, just not regular. Each month that passed I had something new, hot flashes, started losing my hair (A LOT!!), couldn't get to sleep and couldn't stay asleep. I would be up at least 4 or 5 times a night and it took me sometimes up to 2 hours to fall asleep. And finally, the mood swings which were much worse than they have ever been around the PMS time.... I went to the Dr. They thought I was crazy and just wanted sleeping pills until I had a hot flash right in front of her. We both decided that I would try and go back on the pill to see if that would help any of the symptoms... and it did... slightly. My hair is growing back in, sleep is not that much better but the hot flashes have subsided some. Okay, on with life.... until, I find a few fleas on my dog. Okay, I use to work for a vet, bought some foggers and was done with it.... then the feeling of bugs crawling on my legs. It started just on my legs and it happend to coincide with my dog having a random flea (needless to say, there are no fleas in my house after fogging, vaccuming a hundred times all the rugs and mattresses as well as washing the sheets at least 5 times in 7 days... thought I was going nuts). It went from my legs to all over my body... arms, legs, torso... everywhere. Terminex came in and exterminated the entire house. I thought the feeling would go away, NOT. It's been about 5 weeks since and I still have this horrible feeling that things are crawling on my skin. I only noticed it at night because there was nothing to occupy my mind... but when I started to think about it during the day to see if I felt it then as well, sure enough, I did. A co-worker told me that she read somewhere that it could be a symptom of perimenopause so here I am.

I seriously thought I was going crazy and I'm really, really, really glad I found this post....

[amicrazy]

Oh, by the way... I had to laugh when I read some of the posts... I did almost everything that everyone else did....

Exterminate, scratch at the spots (even though they don't really itch)... I think they itch and there may be a bite there... but then the itch goes away... I would jump up out of be at all hours of the night, turn the light and and I thought for sure I would find the little buggers just jumping all over the place.... NOTHING...

It started very minimally on my legs... and then quickly spread to all over... it's really not fun and I have a call into my Dr... AGAIN!!

If I couldn't sleep before, I really can't sleep now.

[dixiegirl]

[/size][size="3"]

I always feel those creepy, flutters in the leg area too.. also buzzing..
ANYONE ELSE?

HEEBIE JEEBIES

I have just learned last night after finding this site that I also have "formication". For about 4 days I have been about to go crazy trying to figure out what was wrong...I have been itchy on my face ( the T area )..my ears..my left arm especially from the shoulder down to my elbow...my lower back. ...All Over!!! It has felt like bugs crawling. I even said it kind of felt like I had insulation on me ( fiberglass). And I have just recently in the last 4 or 5 months been having hot flashes...and I asked my BF if it could possibly be another symptom of menopause ...so I started searching and found Power Surge..I am so relieved to find out what is going on. Not that the itching has stopped because believe me I am going nuts down here in Georgia.LOL!!

[psychopause]

[quote name='dixiegirl' date='Sep 3 2009, 04:58 PM' post='307597']
[/size][size="3"]
HEEBIE JEEBIES

I'm so thankful I found this blog. I for sure thought I had something terribly wrong with me, but to my surprise it's just another pause symptom. I've been having them for a few years but didn't make the connection until this year when a co-worker suggested that my body may be preparing for menopause after countless trips to the doctor turned up nothing. I can just check this off my menopause symptoms list. I promise I have almost every symptom. It's funny because I've changed linens, sprayed the house for bugs, changed laundry detergent, used a variety of anti-itch creams, and sadly I blamed my poor dog Dwight! Well thanks ladies for letting me know I'm not alone on this rollercoaster ride.

[travel_laughter]

I don't want to repeat things already covered on this topic, but wondered if others believe dropping levels of estrogen are at the root of the odd skin issues women have during perimenopause? I'm beginning to think there is definitely something to it. I haven't been diagnosed as being in perimenopause (I just turned 35) but have had odd skin issues ever since last spring when I had a very long & traumatic miscarriage while simultaneously weaning my 17 mo. old son from breastfeeding (I also had only had 1 menstrual cycle between my first & second pregnancy). Once the miscarriage finally ended (after 5 long weeks) and I ovulated (I practive natural family planning so I know when I ovulate) I began to feel strange -- tingling tongue & crawly/numbness around my mouth & near one side of my nose. Two days before my first post-miscarriage period began I had a full blown panic attack while driving & then had them all weekend for about 3 days afterwards. I was a complete basketcase. Throughout the past 6 mos. I've had night sweats some months, more sweating in general, more body odor, internal vibrations, sinking feelings, muscle twitches, tingling tongue, extreme anxiety, feelings of weakness & shakiness, & developed some OCD issues -- I don't have these things every month and they are all definitely much worse post-ovulation until my period comes & then for a few days into my new cycle; it seems like I get about 7 good days a month these days. I remember my Mom once told me that prior to menopause she basically had one "good day per month" but I believe most of her issues w/ PMS were mood related. I worry so much about the weird skin issues because I know they can be symptoms of other more serious diseases, but I've had every blood test known to mankind; a full thyroid panel, estradiol & progesterone testing (those came back basically in the ideal range), cortisol testing, neurotransmitter testing, a barium swallow test/x-rays & an MRI brain scan. The only things that have come back are very whacky cortisol levels (high when they should be low & low when they should be high) and quite low seratonin & epinephrine. My thyroid results (TSH & free T3 & Free T4) were all in the below normal or low-normal range. This past month (post-ovulation & during PMS & my period) I started getting tingling in my extremities and what feels kind of like little bugs not realy crawling on me but biting me. Things calmed down about 5 days before ovulation with the bug/tingling feelings stopping (although I still get this wierd crawly/numbness on spots on my face & next to one toe), no twitches, etc. and was beginning to feel "relatively" normal (normal for my life as I know it now!) and then yesterday I confirmed ovulation & today I woke w/ more tingling/bug bite feelings. I know estrogen drops after ovulation & stays low into the bleeding part of your cyle, so I'm wondering if there is a relationship? I honestly felt normal, healthy & all around pretty good before this all started; it sort hit me overnight or in a matter of about 10 days. It's like I'm a different person in a different body. I recently began seeing a holistic MD who has diagnosed me w/ adrenal fatigue & hormonal imbalance and says these issues are driving my very low thyroid numbers as well as the low neurotransmitter levels. She doesn't think I'm in perimenopause due to the ideal estrogen/progesterone readings whcih were taken via blood during the "right" time in my cycle. I'm sorry this post was so long, but I would love any input, ideas or just support. Some days I really feel like giving up. For most of the summer I had severe social anxiety and barely left the house except for work (this is NOT like me as I've always been referred to as a "social butterfly" type). That lifts from time to time & I am able to have fun, see friends & function, but it seems like just as soon as I feel "normal/good" this dark cloud descends over me again & I feel bizzare. Can others relate? Thanks.

[denni]

I have this tingly sort of feeling like I have a heat rash under the skin, I get it in both arms on the under side and both legs and sometimes on the edge of my face naturally you start to think I'm having a stroke, I know Im not but my god give us all a break meno just give us the night sweats at least our brain can cope with that.

[joyceveronica]

I am now 40 years old and about 5 months ago (at age 39) I started to experience irregular menstrual cycles, not too bad, just not regular. Each month that passed I had something new, hot flashes, started losing my hair (A LOT!!), couldn't get to sleep and couldn't stay asleep. I would be up at least 4 or 5 times a night and it took me sometimes up to 2 hours to fall asleep. And finally, the mood swings which were much worse than they have ever been around the PMS time.... I went to the Dr. They thought I was crazy and just wanted sleeping pills until I had a hot flash right in front of her. We both decided that I would try and go back on the pill to see if that would help any of the symptoms... and it did... slightly. My hair is growing back in, sleep is not that much better but the hot flashes have subsided some. Okay, on with life.... until, I find a few fleas on my dog. Okay, I use to work for a vet, bought some foggers and was done with it.... then the feeling of bugs crawling on my legs. It started just on my legs and it happend to coincide with my dog having a random flea (needless to say, there are no fleas in my house after fogging, vaccuming a hundred times all the rugs and mattresses as well as washing the sheets at least 5 times in 7 days... thought I was going nuts). It went from my legs to all over my body... arms, legs, torso... everywhere. Terminex came in and exterminated the entire house. I thought the feeling would go away, NOT. It's been about 5 weeks since and I still have this horrible feeling that things are crawling on my skin. I only noticed it at night because there was nothing to occupy my mind... but when I started to think about it during the day to see if I felt it then as well, sure enough, I did. A co-worker told me that she read somewhere that it could be a symptom of perimenopause so here I am.

I seriously thought I was going crazy and I'm really, really, really glad I found this post....

Dear 'amicrazy'
No you are not! This feeling of bugs crawling over the body and itchy scalp plus stinging sensations are reported by many ladies during Hormone fluctuations.
So no you are not crazy or bug infested The sensations of having been bitten are very common during Menopause.I know this as I was fully Menopausal at 39 and it was amongst many of my horrific symptoms.It cleared up completely after going on HRT but came back to haunt me as I was trying to wean off HRT-which I never did.
Anyway during that time I swore I had lice in my hair and made my daughter search my scalp with a fine tooth comb.Nothing.I mentioned it to my Pharmacist who said an anti-histamine might help.It did and it had the added bonus of helping me to sleep better.
I hope this is some help to you,my friend
All the Best
Elizabeth
Elizabeth

[joyceveronica]

I don't want to repeat things already covered on this topic, but wondered if others believe dropping levels of estrogen are at the root of the odd skin issues women have during perimenopause? I'm beginning to think there is definitely something to it. I haven't been diagnosed as being in perimenopause (I just turned 35) but have had odd skin issues ever since last spring when I had a very long & traumatic miscarriage while simultaneously weaning my 17 mo. old son from breastfeeding (I also had only had 1 menstrual cycle between my first & second pregnancy). Once the miscarriage finally ended (after 5 long weeks) and I ovulated (I practive natural family planning so I know when I ovulate) I began to feel strange -- tingling tongue & crawly/numbness around my mouth & near one side of my nose. Two days before my first post-miscarriage period began I had a full blown panic attack while driving & then had them all weekend for about 3 days afterwards. I was a complete basketcase. Throughout the past 6 mos. I've had night sweats some months, more sweating in general, more body odor, internal vibrations, sinking feelings, muscle twitches, tingling tongue, extreme anxiety, feelings of weakness & shakiness, & developed some OCD issues -- I don't have these things every month and they are all definitely much worse post-ovulation until my period comes & then for a few days into my new cycle; it seems like I get about 7 good days a month these days. I remember my Mom once told me that prior to menopause she basically had one "good day per month" but I believe most of her issues w/ PMS were mood related. I worry so much about the weird skin issues because I know they can be symptoms of other more serious diseases, but I've had every blood test known to mankind; a full thyroid panel, estradiol & progesterone testing (those came back basically in the ideal range), cortisol testing, neurotransmitter testing, a barium swallow test/x-rays & an MRI brain scan. The only things that have come back are very whacky cortisol levels (high when they should be low & low when they should be high) and quite low seratonin & epinephrine. My thyroid results (TSH & free T3 & Free T4) were all in the below normal or low-normal range. This past month (post-ovulation & during PMS & my period) I started getting tingling in my extremities and what feels kind of like little bugs not realy crawling on me but biting me. Things calmed down about 5 days before ovulation with the bug/tingling feelings stopping (although I still get this wierd crawly/numbness on spots on my face & next to one toe), no twitches, etc. and was beginning to feel "relatively" normal (normal for my life as I know it now!) and then yesterday I confirmed ovulation & today I woke w/ more tingling/bug bite feelings. I know estrogen drops after ovulation & stays low into the bleeding part of your cyle, so I'm wondering if there is a relationship? I honestly felt normal, healthy & all around pretty good before this all started; it sort hit me overnight or in a matter of about 10 days. It's like I'm a different person in a different body. I recently began seeing a holistic MD who has diagnosed me w/ adrenal fatigue & hormonal imbalance and says these issues are driving my very low thyroid numbers as well as the low neurotransmitter levels. She doesn't think I'm in perimenopause due to the ideal estrogen/progesterone readings whcih were taken via blood during the "right" time in my cycle. I'm sorry this post was so long, but I would love any input, ideas or just support. Some days I really feel like giving up. For most of the summer I had severe social anxiety and barely left the house except for work (this is NOT like me as I've always been referred to as a "social butterfly" type). That lifts from time to time & I am able to have fun, see friends & function, but it seems like just as soon as I feel "normal/good" this dark cloud descends over me again & I feel bizzare. Can others relate? Thanks.

Dear 'travel-laughter'
Yes at the age of 39 I could definitely relate to what you are going through now!
These dang Hormones have a lot to answer for as they fluctuate so often it is very hard to get an exact reading.
You know how badly you feel and that you need some help.That is enough medical proof for you
That is why I chose the HRT route.It really did and still does help.However I stress this is my personal choice and may or may not be what you wish to do.There are also the Bio-Identicals that you might consider or perhaps some Herbal remedies
The important thing is not to give up.
There is a lot more help out there than when I was your age
It will take time to find exactly what works for you but you will
Plus you are here with us and we understand
So please keep posting
Hopefully when your Thyroid numbers are balanced you will also feel better.This is one devil of a little gland and can lead to depression,fatigue,insomnia etc.
Warm Wishes
Elizabeth