Crazy Itch and General Jitteriness HELP

[flanbyjan]

Hubby has been on dialysis using NxStage about 2 months now and we've been doing it at home about 2 weeks with good results while on the machine.  Problem is he still has this awful itch and jitteriness.  He is on 5 times a week, off two days (but not back to back) and even sometimes during a treatment he gets the itch all over.  He takes binders with every meal, watches his diet (I cook from the DaVita website) has discussed it with his doctor and no change.

When he first started dialysis, the itch had pretty much subsided, as well as the constant chilled feeling, fatigue, etc.  He is at his dry weight, but this itch is really a killer.  Last night he did not sleep at all, up all night.  Said he could not lay still.  Everything else, BP, etc is good.

Any advice out there?

[Willis]

I've had the "itches" and it was horrible. In my case--and I think most cases--it's caused by a bad combination of high calcium and high phosphorus. If either of those are too high it may cause some itchiness, but together (according to my neph) they react with each other to form crystals at the molecular level which migrate to the skin via the nerve pathways somehow. Please don't ask me to explain the chemistry or biology of this if my explanation is not quite right! All I know is once I got my phosphorus and calcium down the itchiness subsided. During the worst of my itchiness I was prescribed Atarax (Hydroxyzine) and it helped some but each tab only helped for a few hours. So I had to keep a bottle next to the bed and take one every time I woke up.

I'm now taking a binder for phosphorus (Fosrenol) that has little or no calcium. Before, I was taking calcium acetate for a binder and had to be careful how much I took because of calcium levels. But then it was less effective against the phosphorus!

Now I know we roll our eyes when the dietitian comes into the room preaching about the "3 Ps" again and again... potassium, protein, and phosphorus. For me, the phosphorus has been the hardest to control, so I really have to watch my diet and avoid dark sodas (Coke, Dr Pepper, etc), chocolate, beans, cheese, and other high phosphorus foods.

 

[Annig83]

In my case, my phos. is good, and my calicium too. I chalk it up to extremely dry skin from D.  I have to use calamine lotion at times just to get sleep.  Even when I shave my legs I am in agony from itching because it causes more dry skin   I suggest using coconut oil, or I use a lotion called Hemp (anti-itch) it smells great and calms the skin really fast.  Also, suggest using Claritin during the day since it's non-drowsy, and Benadryl at night because it helps calm, (which could help the jitters), and help him sleep.  Hope he gets some sleep tonight!

[flanbyjan]

Thank you for the suggestion, I will try it.  We are just finishing a  dialysis session now and he is crawling out of his skin!  horrible.

[Rerun]

I've heard of people being alergic to the needles and have to order a different kind.  You may ask your Neph about that.

[lmunchkin]

J. itches all the time too!  Even with all the binders he takes, he still itches. He has tried many things, but has no luck. 

God Bless,
lmunchkin
 

[jshabanian]

I was so itchy and jittery and I tried all sorts of drugs to calm me down and stop the madness.  I couldn't even sit still in the dialysis chair.  My legs were moving and stretching and flexing and I was scratching like a crazy woman.  I finally got a script for vicodin and it works like a charm.  I take 2 before treatment and one about half way through and I can sit still for the whole treatment   I also take one or two before bed so I can finally sleep!  I bring a back scratcher to dialysis with me and keep one near my sofa so I can get to my back when I need to.  Ahh relief!!

[Hazmat35]

Ever since I started Dialysis, I've had the jitters afterwards, for hours, even all night until the next day.  It drives me NUTS.  I can't sit still, it's like I'm on edge all night.  I can't sleep, nothing. 

I've talked to other patients, my doctors, nothing has helped.  Finally, a nurse, told me to ask during the treatments for "BENODRYL" for the itching.  They can add it to your machine while you Dialysis.  It helps stop the itching, and it will also help you sleep. 

When I come home, my Dr. prescribed me a slight sedative to help me "stay asleep".  Finally, I've been able to relaxe afterwards and get some rest. 

My Nurse told me that the BENODRYL is a normal thing thing that your doctor will prescribe for them to give you if you need it.  It was on my list of doctor approved meds, and I didn't even know it. 

[flanbyjan]

We are trying a new binder, Renvela.  He doesn't sleep real well to begin with and I think when he doesn't sleep well the previous nite and we dialyze at night (after work) by the time we are done, he is beside himself with jitters and itching.  He's tried vicoden and hydrocodone and usually ends up with several xanax.

We are going to try to run earlier.  A complete work in progress.

[WishIKnew]

I had to have benedryl early in each treatment and an ativan after each or I was a jittery, trying to get out of my own skin, person.  Even with that I kept a back scratch er in my dialysis bag.  Wishing you relief!