Itching

[Barbee]

I have developed a puzzling symptom... itching. My legs itch from the ankles to the knees and nothing will relieve it. It's driving me crazy. I've puzzled my doctor and her staff. They have tried antihistimines, cordizone creams and other pills... nothing phases it. Could it possibly be related to being on Atkins diet?

[Georgiana]

Re: Itching

Is this related to the water retention you were complaining about?

I never heard anyone on the Board having this problem.

[Barbee]

Re: Itching

At this point we are searching everything to find a cause. Just wondered if it was the diet.

I called the doctor yesterday and she is as miffed as I am. We thought it might be my new blood pressure med but I also had the itch problem back in July of 07. She rules out meds and water retention. I was on the Atkins then too. That's why I posted... just putting out feelers to see if anyone else had the problem. If not... off I go to another avenue.

I also have Restless Leg Syndrome... sleep has been very hard to obtain between the RLS and the itching legs. If I give in to the constant urge to scratch... the legs turn bright red and feel HOT. Cold water is the only relief from the itch... if only I could sleep in a pool of cool water.

Thanks for answering.

[theredhead]

Re: Itching

I've had that problem every winter for the past several years. It drives me crazy! Thankfully, it usually clears up when the weather gets warmer. My doctor wasn't sure what it was either, but believes it's eczema. I've always had it in other places, so that makes sense to me. And you're right. There really isn't any medication that helps much.

Cold water can sometimes help me, too, but as you say, you can't sleep in it. One thing that helps me quit scratching sounds absolutely terrible, but it works temporarily. I get my hairdryer out and concentrate it on the itchy spots until I can't stand it. It's kinda' like burning the itch out. It makes me feel much better for hours. HTH.

[Barbee]

Re: Itching

Thank you, theredhead, relieve to know it isn't the diet since I'm on it for life. I had eczema as a child but there was always a rash... my legs have no rash so I'm baffled.

Anyway , glad it isn't Atkins.

By the way, you look like you've been more successful with the diet than I have been... can you give me a few of your sample meals? I must be doing something wrong. I can't go by the Atkins diet sample menu's because I work 2 jobs and don't have time to bake those rolls and make the recipes. When I retire in July I will be able to do that.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Itching

Barbee, I'm moving this thread to the main forum seeing as you're doing induction. You should get more hits and answers there.

Hope you get relief from your itching and a solution to the problem. I suffer from "cold urticaria" (yep... allergy to cold) so I know how hard and frustrating it can be to try to find the cause of an itch!!

[Barbee]

Re: Itching

I'm not on induction... didn't know how to change it in my profile. Did my 14 days last year.

[Georgiana]

Re: Itching

I'm not on induction... didn't know how to change it in my profile. Did my 14 days last year.

To change your profile info, go to User CP (there's a link on top of the screen), then click on Edit Your Details in the menu you'll see on the left side of the page. A new page will come up and if you scroll down you'll see a field that says "Atkins Phase".

[JulieB]

Re: Itching

Hi Barbee,

At the top of the screen in the dark blue band it says 'User CP' - click on that. Then in the next screen, on the left hand side, it says 'control panel' - click on the first link (edit your profile - i think). You can change it on that page.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Itching

If you're in maintenance, and/or want this thread in the ADFL forum for a particular reason, I can move it back there Barbee, no prob... otherwise, you'll get more replies in Main, I reckon.

[theredhead]

Re: Itching

Thank you, theredhead, relieve to know it isn't the diet since I'm on it for life. I had eczema as a child but there was always a rash... my legs have no rash so I'm baffled.

Anyway , glad it isn't Atkins.

By the way, you look like you've been more successful with the diet than I have been... can you give me a few of your sample meals? I must be doing something wrong. I can't go by the Atkins diet sample menu's because I work 2 jobs and don't have time to bake those rolls and make the recipes. When I retire in July I will be able to do that.

You're lucky to not have a rash. I don't always have one, but scratching leaves me with scabs. Not pretty! Oh, well, I've never been one to wear shorts anyway. Hope you get better soon!

[theredhead]

Re: Itching

I'm sorry, I overlooked your request for menu ideas. I've been doing low-carb for over five years and I've never reached my goal. Menopause and low thyroid threw me off track. But I'm well-medicated now and have started losing again.

I eat really simply. I love steak, eggs, chicken tenders, pork steaks, and bacon. I love green beans, salad with ranch dressing, canned spinach, and cauliflower. We use a lot of Linda Sue's recipes for casseroles and quiches. I cook ahead and freeze some things to cut down on time in the kitchen. Here's a link to her site if you're not familiar with it.
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes - Home

Here are some of the recipes I make regularly:
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes (add bacon to this)
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes (sounds crazy, tastes great!)
Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes

[C P]

Re: Itching

Hi Barbee,

I get something similar, and have done for years - not only since Atkins - mine is always worse when the temperature changes 'around' my legs in some way - eg getting undressed for bed, getting into a bath etc. My GP confirmed that this can happen - something to do with the nerves reacting to the change in temperature if I remember right (it was a lot of years ago that I spoke to him about it). For me it is mainly between the knees and ankles too - and worse around the more delicate skin such as the back of the lower calves/ankles, top of the foot. In the past I have tried kelp tablets with some success. Read up on them first - if I remember correctly they are not OK if you are on thyroid meds for instance. Also, a mix of tea tree oil and lavender oil/aqueous cream helps to sooth the itching a bit - enough to let me get to sleep anyway!

CP

[redyarrow11]

Re: Itching

I wonder if this itching has something to do with age. I'm 65 also and every year lately I've itched more in winter. Its miserable. I bought oils such as almond (not coconut, it's drying) and I smear my back, my hands my elbows and the back of my arms. Even my cheeks were flaky this winter. It has improved with warmer weather but we still heat up here in MI. Also since I added more fats to my diet it helped.
While I'm typing I will tell you about my problem with vegetable oils, in particular canola oil. I have restless legs also and vegetable oils make it worse. Canola makes me walk the floors for hours. I actually avoid eating oil most of the time anymore. Maybe I need flax oil or fatty fish more often. There is a product I only found recently that has given me the most relief for RLS. It's 'Now Arnica Warming Relief Massage Oil' and I got it at Netrition. Wonderful stuff and if your legs are dry it will relieve that also. It may even stop the itching for a few hours. I rub it in and then walk through the house once or twice.

[kibskix]

Re: Itching

i'm 23 and have the same problem! my legs from my ankles to my knees itch like crazy. i can ignore it most of the time but if i itch it its pretty sucky. the only thing i've found that its related to is days when i'm bad to my skin. when i shower i -have- to exfoliate, i can't ever dry shave if i'm in a hurry, and i have to use lotion every day. and i'm in texas, we don't know what winter is around here. its bizzare that its just my legs though, my arms/face etc don't have any problems with that.