Constant itching/scratching

brutusandsqueaky

My 83 year old mother is in advanced stage and is constantly itchy. The doctors say there is no physical reason for the itching. I read online that changes in the brain can cause the sensation of itchiness in Alzheimer’s patients. The dr prescribed Ativan, an anti-anxiety medication but does not to seem to help. She says she is itchy down to her core and is constantly scratching herself everywhere. Then she taps the ends of her fingernails on the arms of her wheelchair to get the flakes out and starts scratching all over again. It has affected her quality of life tremendously. Does anyone have any experience with this? Any advice? I will rub her down with lotion which helps for five minutes but then she’s right back at the cycle of scratching and tapping her nails on her wheelchair. It’s very distressing for her and not pleasant for anyone who witnesses it. Would appreciate any info or guidance here.

DTSbuddy

So sorry. Sounds dreadful. Maybe she has developed a new food allergy. At about age 68, my neck and my waist started itching, a deep, irritating, constant itch. The doctors took all sorts of scans and test, months of testing, and could not find any reason. I decided to try an elimation diet, and discovered that taking all dairy out of my diet made the itch disappear. Yea!!! What a relief!! I did love cheese and ice cream, but it's been worth giving them up to get rid of the itch. I enjoy almond milk, peanut butter instead of cheese, olive oil instead of butter, ice cream alternatives made from avocado.

Another approach. My husband has eczema, and uses creams with steroids to relieve the itch.

Good luck.

brutusandsqueaky

HMM!! It hadn’t occurred to me that she may have developed an allergy. That is a really great point. I’m going to try the process of elimination and see if we can get her some relief. Thank you so much for the suggestion.

towhee

Has she started or increased dosage of any medications. I started itching after a high dose of ibuprofen one time. Changes in shampoo, soap, lotion, laundry detergent used by facility another possibility. For relief you might try a cool compress, not cold, I have a little tiny water bottle I keep in the fridge (not freezer!!) that I will slide over mosquito bite areas when nothing else works. Sometimes you can confuse the nerves into focusing onto another sensation.

Emily 123

Hello,

I would also go back to her doctor and tell them that the Ativan isn't working as well as hoped.

brutusandsqueaky

Her medications get adjusted all the time so it is harder to pinpoint. I read that hydrocodone (which she takes for knee pain) can also contribute to itchiness. AND she’s also in stage 4 kidney failure which I think can also cause itchiness. So true about the confusing sensations. The other day she was complaining about being itchy and I changed her diaper and it stopped momentarily. This disease is so random.

harshedbuzz

@brutusandsqueaky

Getting to the root of this might be hard as she has a number of things going on that could cause itchiness.

A skin cream— not lotion— with 1% Pramoxine Hydrochloride might help reduce the itch.