Question:
I'm a newbie here and suffer from an anxiety disorder for which I take
xanax and imipramine. (Been on these meds for a few years). The last
few weeks I've been suffering SEVERE itching on my arms legs and
foreheard. Have not changed any detergents or soaps lately either. On
doing a search for itching skin -I was lead to this website.
I no absolutely nothing about this. (I also have a scalp condition
called seboric dermatis--for which I occassional use a prescription
med on the scalp).I don't believe this itching of the skin is at all
related to that.
Answer:
The Primary symptom of fibromyalgia is PAIN. Doctors use a "rule it out"
method to test for fibro, because there is no definitive blood test or
anything for it yet -- they test for other things to make sure you don't
have lupus, lyme disease and other conditions. But basically, if you speak
of pain on your left side and right side, above and below the waist (not all
at once -- it migrates) for a period of three months or more, they'll give
you a Tender Point test to see if certain pain spots are sensitive. They
use 18 Tender Points for reference and if you respond painfully to 11 or
more, you'll likely be diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
The secondary symptoms of fibromyalgia are too numerous to list in this
post, but they include sleep disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies
in some cases, fatigue and depression (from the sleep disorders IMO), lack
of appetite (from the irritable bowel IMO), and many, many other things.
Itchiness can be a secondary symptom, but I'd say if a fibromite is itchy,
it's probably either a food or soap allergy or a reaction to their
medication. It could also be stress.
You don't seem to have the primary complaints for fibromyalgia, unless
you're in pain a lot and didn't say so. Fibro probably came up in your
search because many fibromites have anxiety and some complain of itchiness.
But I'd focus on helping yourself with the symptoms you DO have, rather than
looking at syndromes that have a lot of symptoms which don't match yours.
I'd be looking into drug reactions -- itchiness can be a symptom of anxiety,
and I think some medications prescribed for anxiety might make it worse.
I'd talk to my doctor if I were you.
