Itchy skin and joint pain
Posted , 6 users are following.
I was diagnosed with SS last year. Since then commenced on hydro chloroquine. I thought this was my miracle medication. Recently though l've had so many problems with my neck and shoulders, and just recently I had a rash come up on my face which the doctor diagnosed as shingles. After a course of antibiotics it seemed to improve. But this last week my body has been covered in the most uncomfortable itchy rash that's just unbearable, especially at night. Does anyone have any advice. I've been in contact with my rheumatologist and he's not convinced it's linked to SS, but l can't think of any other reason for it.
0 likes, 9 replies
Xerxescat Warren_1966
Posted
aitarg35939 Warren_1966
Posted
Hi Warren
I call this whole body itching, which I've experienced off and on since 1988. That was a few years before my as DX. I don't use the medicine you take, just evoxac.
The only thing that works for me is benadryl. Fortunately yes, the worst itching is at night so it's not a problem to take the benadryl.
I wouldn't wish this itchiness on anyone save my worst enemy. Hope you can figure it out
amkoffee aitarg35939
Posted
I'm thrilled to read this post today. And it's very timely too. You see just today I talked to my allergist about my all over itchiness. And I have no rash, I just itch horribly all the time. I have been on hydrochloroquine for over two months and the itching just started. Could it still be the medication? My allergist was no good. But she did suggest that it might be a medication I was on. But I would never have guessed this one since I've been on it for a while before the itch started.
Warren_1966 amkoffee
Posted
This is why I'm so confused. My medication has been so successful up until now. I would have thought any reaction would of appeared sooner. I've tried so many different antihistamines but nothing appears to be helping. I hope you have more luck than me in finding some relief.
amkoffee Warren_1966
Posted
There are times when an allergy can start long after you've started the medication. It simply means your allergy to it is light so it takes more of allergen to effect you.
But I do want to ask you, about the rash that first appeared on your face and the doctor said it was shingles. Shingles are horribly painful and he should have treated you accordingly. Did your doctor treat you for shingles and were they very painful? If not my first thought when you were describing a rash on your face was that perhaps you have lupus which has a symptom of a rash across the bridge of your nose and on your cheeks in a butterfly shape. At least that's what I've read about it. And it is also an autoimmune disease. And once you have one you are ripe for more. I personally have 6 autoimmune disorders. I wonder if your rheumatologist gave one thought about it possibly being lupus . He or she may not have, simply because you had the rash all over your body as well .
Warren_1966 amkoffee
Posted
This is my concern, because the rash of my face didn't go across the bridge of my nose, just on the right side and through my hair. Once treated with antibiotics it still remained painful but it did improve. This rash however is raised, and in my hair and all over my arms, back and thighs. I'm going to get my GP to refer me to dermatology.
Tumtum1963 Warren_1966
Posted
Hi Warren. I'm not sure about the "mild allergy" comment earlier? For myself I did react to Hydroxy but I was taking it with Methotrexate (MTX) and it was the first day I had both that I got a facial rash. I showed my GP who suggested that I avoid taking it on MTX day which I did for a few weeks and then all settled down. I was eventually taken off both meds for other reasons and then Hydroxy was reintroduced on its own. For the first few months I did really well on it but then I started getting a facial rash again and it was really painful this time. Doctors initially assumed it was Rosacea, then thought Autoimmune Urticaria. Finally I noticed my lips were swelling just after I'd taken my nightly Hydroxy pill so the next day I stopped and the painful rash and swelling disappeared. My GP said that this was conclusive and if I'd carried on I would probably have full scale anaphylaxis.
My new rheum queried that I seem to have allergic reactions to drugs only after being on them for a few weeks - but this is certainly what happens to me and I suspect it's because my body slowly builds up toxins and I can't flush them away properly because I have Sjögren's and autonomic dysfunction so I don't sweat and suffer chronic dysmotility and have always had allergies that build up over time. When these itchy rashes occur my liver function tests go high so maybe my liver can't process certain medications well. Can't prove this theory of course but that's how it feels to me.
But certainly there is nothing mild about my intolerences - they have hospitalised me on five or six occasions!
If you're itching all over with no rash this does sound like it's either a shingles type of neuropathy/ parasthesia or possibly liver related? Have you had your liver function tested recently I wonder?
Warren_1966 Tumtum1963
Posted
Tumtum1963 Warren_1966
Posted
Yes I really think you should. Most GPs would want to exclude liver problems if you have Sjögren's or related autoimmunity and are itching and on Hydroxichloraquine.