Itches and twitches

[cjsmith]

My shins itch. It started several days ago, invisibly, and now it is a rash that looks like I've attacked the skin with sandpaper. I know I sure would LIKE to attack the skin with sandpaper. In fact, how about those wire brushes you can attach to a power drill?

It quiets briefly with Caladryl or Sarna, and is only slightly improved by Benadryl. Wearing clothing is torture. Concentrating on anything is difficult... anything but sandpaper, that is. I could think of sandpaper all day. Bliss! Sadly, I do not earn a paycheck by loving contemplation of sandpaper.

The only thing worse than having such a rash on one's shins is also having an affectionate cat (or three). All you cat people pictured it instantly, didn't you? You know EXACTLY what those furballs are continually trying to do. I should note that cat fur sticks to Sarna, but Caladryl sticks to cat fur.

EDIT: Enough with the doctor comments, people. Would you believe I almost wrote in the original post, before anyone said anything that anyone ordering me to see a doctor would be summarily unfriended for insulting my intelligence? I know it's a caring thing and not meant as an insult, but enough already. If I were a better writer you'd all be laughing at the image of a Caladryl-covered cat instead. The humor in the situation was part of the point of making a post at all. Some day I'll be more skilled....

Comments

what to do to make it stop itching (for a while)

[moriamerri.livejournal.com]

I have WAY WAY too much experience with this sort of stuff, including the distracting/obsessive nature of itchiness.

Let's assume for a moment that your rash is anything like the ones I get (which is likely, I think):

Here is what helps for immediate relief:
Get very hot water sprayed on the itchy bits.
Best way is with a shower with a flexible arm-thingie (like a cord-like thing), so that you can direct water exactly where you want.
Procedure: get in shower w/ warm water. Then get the water as hot as you can reasonably stand it (but don't burn yourself obviously) and direct it to itchy parts. NOTE: this will feel like scratching :) like WONDERFUL OMG. (When I was new to this, I worried that because it felt so good it would make itchies worse BUT IT DOES NOT. It is safe pleasure!) Anyway, keep that hot water on the itchie bits. If/when you overheat, change water temp to cold for a minute or so. Then back to hot. Continue at least till there is no itchieness left or ideally longer.
Depending on severity of the condition (and how long you had hot water sprayed at it) this will eliminate itchiness for different amounts of time -- might be half of a day or more or less. For bad conditions, I have been known to take 3 half-hour showers a day. Quite inconvenient, but better than feeling itchy all day.
Many more details available on request.

Oh-- and the other thing that actually WORKS for me is to take Chinese herbs formulated for me by my very smart acupunturist. That makes the whole condition go away, in about 2 to 4 days. I just take showers in the meantime. And do a few things to try to prevent the situation. Many more details available on request.