Hi Ladies,
I have been itching and scratching for over a month. The last 2 days the itching has intensified. I thought perharps it was stress or allergies. I have done nothing different in my diet or vitamin/med regime. The itching has now turned into clawing my skin at night and waking up a narled stratched up mess. I am downing Benedryl and hoping for the best. Its running from the tops of my feet to my neck and all areas in between. I had a brief brush of panic when I couldn't restrain myself from pulling up the legs of my jeans and digging at my skin. The more I stratch, the more violently I itch. Its a viscious cycle. My daughter looked at me and suggested it may be hormones. She just saw Suzanne Sommers on TV and she was talking about the terrible itching. DUH. I came home and got on the site and searched itching. Well, low and behold there are many meno sisters having this problem as well. Tonight, I will sleep with a peace of mind hoping that this is a hormone thing. I can't say I won't itch though.

Hi Debra,

That sounds awful and it must keep you up at night which would compound the problem (no sleep = very cranky me).
I don't have the exact same issue, but over the past few years, on and off I will go through bought of extremely itchy eyes. And it's just at the corners of my eyes. Very weird. I have seasonal allergies so I know what they feel like and this is not that.
I scratch in my sleep so violently that I wake myself up.
In the morning, my eyes are red, raw and very puffy. Lovely.
I can't put it down to anything more than hormones because like you, I haven't changed anything that I'm eating or applying to my skin.
Have you tried something like Reactine or another OTC allergy med? That might help.
If you scratch so hard that you open the skin, you risk infection.....:-O
Good luck. I hope you solve your problem and get some sleep!

Cathy

Debra...the itching is actually a form of formication. I still get it from time to time. Mine struck the shins, the abdomen and the breasts!! And I have scratched hard enough to leave welts behind!! The only thing that helped was keeping myself very very moisturized - and even that wasn't a cure. Drink lots of water too, to keep yourself moisturized on the inside as well. And cut your fingernails SHORT so you can't rip yourself apart!!

Floater, I was able to read a bit on this term formication. I remember going through this at 45. It only seemed to attack my calves, shins and thighs back then. Now its my whole body. My question is this: I have these raised bumps all over, they are not red like hives, they are actually kind of flesh colored round raised bump/welts. They are small and they are covering my body. They remaine hidden until I scratch and then they raise up into these ugly bumps. Thousands of them!! The only place (knock on wood) that I don't have them is on my face, palms and bottoms of feet. I also read this can be from an over worked liver due to peri/meno. Does that mean the liver is damaged? Grrrrrrr!!!! Debra

Debra, you poor thing.
I am going through the same thing right now. So I CERTAINLY hope it's not due to an overworked liver! I think it's really due to the dryness that this time of the year brings, the added stresses, and hormones. The three of them can really wreak havoc with skin, according to my doctor. I get it worse on my back (RIGHT where I can't reach!) and I too, get the little raised bumps/welts. If I can gather up enough will power and benadryl, I get past the urge to dig myself raw. I use Aveeno body wash and creams, which helps with the dryness (even though it doesn't LOOK dry, the doc said it can be dry), cortisone cream for severe areas, and drink LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of water to stay hydrated. This regimen seems to be helping me. Last week I was the same as you, thinking NOW what has gone wrong with my system????
I hope you feel better.
Hugs,
Kleeo

Dear'DebraD'
My itching was mainly confined to my scalp and back.Was convinced I had lice and had my daughter check on several times with a fine tooth comb !Nothing

I read several articles where other ladies were scratching away so used the Benadryl and yes it did help
Hope you have a scratch free night!

Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

Kleeo, I found out today from my regular Doctor that this is an autoimmune problem. My doctor has it too. He said his became so bad that his throat started closing up on him and he had to carry an epi pen with him. He has prescribed a strong antihistimine and some adivan and some medical cream to cover the open wounds from scratching. I am so sick of this and I am now having really bad fear and anxiety over this. I am miserable right now. I am glad your regime is working. I know I need to double up on my water..........Thanks Deb

Hi Elizabeth, I am miserable tonight and just took a xanax, even though my doctor just prescribed ativan. I am so worked up over this crap that I can't sleep. Maybe the xanax will make me drousy...............I already took Alavert today and its a 24 hour drug so I can't take my regular Benedry that helps me sleep..........UUUUGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deb, I'm so sorry that you are having this problem right now!!! The benedryl is a good idea to get through this tough period... It is definitely hormonal. My dd is 12 and since she started having periods, she has these episodes several times a month! Benedryl is becoming her friend...heavy sigh!

Please feel better soon!

TJ

Hi ladies
I had this all over body itching a couple years back. It just hit anywhere. My gyno said it was a rare symptom of peri menopause.
I did read where it can be liver related. It worried me being in the medical field. But there would be no real reason to be concern. I did liver tests and they were fine. So I assume it's more common then what the gyn said. Once in a while I itch like crazy but it goes away in a day or so. Although, it does keep me awake. Sigh

Kelly

I itched like crazy a lot. The name of this symptoms is formication (with an "m"). There are tons of posts on this, since many women suffer from this random itching that feels like ants crawling all over.

Ladies
Many thanks as you have just turned on the light in my brain!
I have been itching for the past 10 months - the back of my head, shoulders and shins with occasional forearms and waist. My daughter had to keep checking for headlice - nothing. I changed my washing powder, fabric softener, shower gel and checked my food intake for reactions - nothing. A small glass of red wine is fine but a larger glass gets my skin crawling. Getting too hot under too many layers of clothes can trigger it too.
My doctor prescribed high dose antihistamine but couldn't give a reason. The pills worked while I was taking them but it all returned within a few days.
I had researched thyroid problems (syptoms didn't fit), liver malfunction (not got any yellowing) and menopause (itching is a lesser side effect, but my periods are still a very regular). A blood test showed I was anaemic and iron tabs have sorted that problem.
A British website mentioned high histamine levels associated with menopause, a google search and I found you! Your words of symptoms were the same as mine - revelation indeed!
I like to keep only natural things going into my body so doses of Benadryl (et al) are a little daunting. I am trying a stinging nettle remedy and after just 2 days the 'burn' has reduced to a 'buzz'. I'm also increasing my vitamin C intake and trying to remember to get my 1.5 litres of water a day.
At not yet 47 I know I have a few years of these symptoms to come, with a few others thrown in for good measure. At the moment I am positive about it all and I hope to sort each problems as it arises. With the help of those of you who have gone before, I hope to remain that way.
I just pity my husband - my hormone decline and a daughter who is just hitting teenage - war and peace in our house!!

Wow I can relate to this thread. I have had the skin itching mostly in my arms and one leg for about two years now, on and off. In the last couple of weeks it has moved to a new level. My whole body feels as though I have been rolling in poison ivy! My husband gives me lovely hard massages (basically thumping my back, arms and legs as I lie on the floor). It really helps. Hope of itching stops soon. Have been drinking buckets of water hoping that will help too. Hang in there everyone.... and try the thumping!

Itchy crawly skin has been my worst symptom since becoming post menopausal. Mainly my neck, upper back and sometimes upper arms. A good antihistamine usually helps allot, and there are some days that are worse than others. It's absolutely annoying and sometimes I will scratch myself to the point of irritating the skin. I think it's all part of this crazy journey we are on. Damn journey.
Hugs

Hi everyone, I hadn't been on this site for awhile but am glad I came back. I have this horrible rash that will not go away. I have had it for over a year now. When I went to the dermatologist he told me it was a rash and prescribed something that did not work. My allergist is currently treating it like it is excema. He gave me a cream that has helped a little but a side effect is burning and itching if you can believe that. It starts out like dry skin with hard little bumps then turns into what look like mosquito bites. I have scabs from scratching so much. At first it was on both arms now is just on one arm and my neck. It travels up and down my arm. Nothing works. Does anyone have any idea on what to do? I will try the vitamin C and the additional water. I hate this!

Dear'rybsgirl'

These itchies and scratchies are the pits but very common amongst Menopausal women.Have you thought of taking an antihistamine.My Pharmacist gave me "Histazin' to take two tablets before sleep They have really helped as my itchy scalp was driving me crazy.Also I believe Benadryl is very good as some of the ladies here have mentioned using it with good results.

Make sure you avoid sugary foods and too many carbs as they can really exacerbate the problem.Have a warm-not hot-bath before bed and use baby soap.Then rub your body all over with an un-scented body lotion..

Hope this is of some help

Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

Thanks for the advice Elizabeth, I will look for that Histazin and give it a try. I'll also take a look at my diet and see how I can change it. I'll try anything at this point!

GAH I think I am just now getting this symptom....my head itches,arms, back, & personal area

I have been checking my head for lice....not sure what to look for but i keep checking.I can't stand this intense itching.it's driving me crazy.And at night it's worse,i feel like i'm covered with poison ivy from head to toe.

someone please give me advice on what to do about the itching....i can't stand it anymore....

Hi Debra,

I had this too, and thought for sure it was formication.
Please Google Dermatographism - starts like this and the welts and it's an allergic thing - your mast cells break when you scratch and
then the cycle gets worse. Skin gets ripped up, bleeding, it's awful, I know first hand.

I have been diagnosed with Dermographism ( the other term used) recently, after years of thinking it was hormonal formication - which yours could be either. An ER trip with eyes swollen shut from itching started a bad cycle - worst I had in 10 years since the bad ones started over what bug bites, I'd scratch ad they'd swell up so big.
A quick consult with an allergist and ask to be tested - it's sort of like they run a pen ( without the ink part_ down your arm or back.)
It can be quite serious, but easily treatable. Antihistamines help for example, as do many other thing.
. My husband has a much more mild case than I do, and my friend
Doreen has it, too.

But I always try and remember what Dearest has said - and say that I am not a Dr, so if you find relief with suggestions here, awesome!
If not, seeing a Dr. is good too.

Good luck and Benadryl did nothing for me except short term - it is absorbed into the skin.
And it made me soooo tired. I tried the strongest steroid creams from the Dr.

Wishing you well -

HUGZ
MB