Could it be phosphorus?

[renalpenguin]

I'm pre-dialysis and at my last blood draw (3 weeks ago or so) my phosphorus was 7.2. I started reduced phosphorus eating and taking Tums and my only symptom (itchy red eyes) disappeared after a few days. I thought that meant my phosphorus had gone down a little (I still pee). But now I have body wide itching. It's not intense (one light itch takes care of it in one spot) but then it comes back in another spot. Does that mean high phosphorus again, or since it is so mild could it mean something else? (My itchy red eyes are gone.)
 

[YLGuy]

Yes, it could be high phosphorus.  Do you limit your phosphorus in your diet?  Do you use binders?

[kellyt]

Itchy skin can be high Phos.  How many Tums do you take?  And are you taking them after every meal?

[renalpenguin]

I take one Tum just before I eat anything. I try to keep between 500-1000 mg of phosphorus a day and I don't eat more than one really high phosphorus food a day (4 ounces milk or 1 ounce of cheese). I know itching can be a sign of high phosphorus, but I've always thought it's a very intense itch (my dietitian said it's the kind you feel like you have to itch and it's so bad it can wake you up at night... mine is mild compared to that).

[*kana*]

Whoa!  That is a very high phos level so I wouldn't be surprised if you were itchy all over. 

[Brightsky69]

Sounds like Phos...mine was 7.1 and I was itching like crazy. It would wake me up at night. I used a round hair brush to scratch all over. No more itching..I take my binders no mater what.

[murf]

Do you suffer from night cramps? Another sign of high phosphates.

[kellyt]

I agree that 7 is really high.

[Malibu]

It affects everyone differently, you might just have a minor itch...

[RightSide]

There are several causes of itching, including:

1.  A high calcium-phosphorus product:  If both your calcium and phosphorus are elevated to the point that the product of one multiplied by the other is large, the calcium and phosphorus can combine in your bloodstream to form insoluble crystals that collect in your skin and drive you batty with itching.

2. A high parathyroid hormone (PTH) level.   That was my problem. And there wasn't anything much I could do about it; I just had to wait till the meds my neph prescribed lowered my PTH.  And that took months.

3.  An allergic reaction to the heparin or to the dialyzer or to the tubing or any of the chemicals used.

[Zog]

My wife and her secret Pepsi and cheese addictions have gotten her phosphorus up to 9 or 10.  She never complains about itching.  She used to have really bad red eyes, dry skin and hair when she was on incenter.  She hasn't had that with short daily at home, although her phosphorus has been high and her PTH was in the thousands for about 2 years.  She just had a parathyroidectomy.  I hope labs improve.

[RichardMEL]

Can't be a secret addiction if you know about it! 

The thing is if she wants to have a pepsi or a cheese plate - if she takes one or two binders with it then it should be (mostly) OK. When I have a craving for something bad like that I pop a Renagel and my phos figures are in the lower range of normal....

[Zog]

I've seen the Pepsi cans in the recycle bin.    Too her credit she switched to Mountain Dew for her caffeine fix.

She has taken Tums, Renegel and is currently on Fosrenol.  She was spoiled on daily dialysis for 4 hours while pregnant.  She had low phosphorus numbers for months during that time, but that changed when she went back to 2 hours x 6/week.  I am hoping her surgery inspires her to remember to take her Fosrenol and limit her intake.

If I could only get her to like coffee or tea. 

[RichardMEL]

Coffee contains potassium (tea has less) and if you have milk or cream well that's phos anyway.. You're damned if you do and you're damned if you do it seems.

It's difficult when someone you see not following the rules properly and potentially doing more harm to themselves that is something that can be controlled by meds or choice. Still it is a choice and we're responsible for ours. I know I can have a coke on occasion if I take my binders responsibly (and the labs prove it ). Lucky me! I know it's harder for others.

On the bright side - she's using the recycle bin!!!

[Bub]

I have struggled for a long time with high phosphorus.  7 was the LOWEST its been in several months.  The itching was terrible and turned into small sores on my back. Once the phosphorus is deposited under the skin, dropping your phosphorus numbers does not reduce the itching right away.  It takes months. So its much better to never let it get out of control.