Fibromyalgia has us unsure of where exactly our body is hurting, but for some of us, pain isn't the only symptom we have. There is one other that vies for our attention: itch!
My body itches everywhere.... my face is so itchy that I scratch at it until it bleeds. I use a ruler to scratch my shoulders, back and nape.
Sometimes in the morning my nails have blood under them where I have scratched my scalp. For this reason, I cannot get my grey hair dyed as I would get chemicals in my scalp.
Tags on my clothes cause me to itch unbearably so I cut them off. My hair blowing on my face or neck drives me insane with itch, so I keep my hair very short these days.
After all these twenty plus years of suffering with fibromyalgia, it has now gotten very personal. Very. And I have spoken to a few women I know well enough to ask, and who have fibro and they all agree that it has progressed from what we all discuss to now becoming very personal. You could say: intimate.
We have found that regardless of whether we have just showered or bathed, we suffer intense itching in our personal areas.
So intense is this itch that it wakes us up and whips us into an itching frenzy. We are not satisfied until we have scratched ourselves raw.
Likewise, under our overhang on our lower abdomen, we have itch that drives us insane as well. And irregardless of hygiene- we have itching in the groins and back of the legs where the leg joins the groin.
It seems that fibromyalgia is a syndrome that annoys one to the inth degree and delights in attacking every phase and aspect of our life and body.
It gives one a new found compassion for the poor dog scraping itself along the ground with extreme personal itch. One can relate. Nothing gets more personal than fibro!
© Glenys Robyn Hicks
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2
I didn't realize that itching was also a symptom of fibromyalgia. :( I have had an itchy scalp for several years and I can attest that it is a major irritant to trying to sleep. God bless those of you who have so many things to contend with. Most people can't even imagine.
ReplyDeleteItching is a major problem for a lot of fibro sufferers. The problem with itching, of course is that once you start, you can't stop. The histamine reaction takes over and the skin is on fire with itch. I know a lot of lady fibromites suffer from personal itch but it's swept under the carpet because it. is. so. personal.
DeleteSo sorry to hear this. My itching changes to great pain if scratched or rubbed. Sounds like I have the lesser issue at this point.
ReplyDeleteMandy, we scratch until it hurts... that's preferable to itching. There's really nothing nice about having fibro is there?
ReplyDeleteGlenys, I don't have fibro but my husband has horrible itching related to systemic yeast quite often, on legs and lower body. It is almost unbearable, as you say! And scratching only makes it worse. I make up a solution of TeaTree Essential Oil and Lavender Essential Oil and add to a carrier oil, such as Olive, Coconut or Almond (or combination). Spraying this on the effected areas after a shower and drying brings almost instant relief. It only takes a few drops of essential oils to a couple of ounces of carrier oils - about 10 or 20 drops of each. You can spray on anytime, even when not itching to heal the area. Between the two essential oils, they are antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungus, increase blood flow and so many other good properities. I hope you can find some essential oils and try this solution and see if it helps you! Yes, it is very personal - thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGwen/USA
Gwen, thanks so much for sharing that. I am definitely going to try it. Blessings, Glenys
ReplyDeleteI take a piriteze daily. Lessens the itch. Wish I could say who recommended, but duh, brain fog !
ReplyDeleteI definitely will try this. Thanks for much for letting me know and also for sharing a cuppa with me today. Be blessed, Liz!
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