I am verly relieved to hear I am not the only one. I am so embarrased as I just woke up with unbearable itchy hands and feet and then stood up. Feinted and as I woke up, I had bowel movement before I had chance to get up and go to the toilet. It is the middle of night and I am scrubbing and cleaning my own embarassing mess! It has happened before, but doctors have no answers. This is not normal - how can doctors just ignore this?
you likely fainted because of low blood pressure. Talk to your doc about an epi pen. If the doc approves try taking one Zyrtec and one Pepsid (generics are a LOT cheaper) daily. These are OTC with minimal side effects. It works for me.
So I think I had an incident with whatever this stuff is today. I was at a cafe, had drunk about 1.5 cups of coffee with a little half & half, honey, cocoa powder, and cinnamon, and then I ate lunch consisting of some raw carrot, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread. Shortly after finishing my lunch, I felt that terrible foreboding in my stomach. I thought it might just be gas. Then it started getting much worse. I left the cafe and headed home, my abdomen getting worse the whole time. I also started feeling a bit sick to my stomach. The cramps were so bad I felt a new empathy for the ladyfolk. I made it home just in time: terrible diarrhea. While pondering whether I was going to die on the pot, I also started feeling a little bit of itchiness on my stomach, and then on my palms. No hives showed up or anything. Now, about an hour after "THE INCIDENT" I feel just about normal except for some residual abdominal gurgling stuff going on, and I am even hungry, though at the time I thought I'd never want to eat anything ever again. So i'm guessing it was some form of food poisoning because I never had any type of allergic reaction to anything that i'd eaten for lunch, and I eat all of that stuff regularly. I think I still have a little residual itchy scalp going on though, very mild. Though, i've never had food poisoning accompanied by itchiness in the past. Wish I knew what caused it, cuz I never want to experience that again.
Backgroud
Diagnostics
What now
Self-medication
- I too have really appreciated this thread. Nice to know I'm not the only one with this insufferable puzzle of an illness.
- I am 25, male, in the UK and have been having "episodes" for the last 1.5 years. My symptoms are very similar to those many of you have mentioned, though which actually present vary with each episode. Each time, however, I have always had severe abdominal pain for about 20 minutes followed by violent vomiting and extremely liquid stool. After that is over I'm left with itchy hands for up to 30 minutes after.
- I have had a total of ~10 attacks now. In some of these I have also become dizzy and had hot flushes with severe sweating prior to vomitting, and in two attacks my arms and trunk have become covered in hives.
- The attacks were occuring every 6 - 8 weeks originally. They have now slowed to about one every 3 months, partly I think to preventative self medication (see below).
Diagnostics
- After about a year I finally decided to go to the doctor. Originally I though it may have been food poisioning. Having seen my GP I secured a referal to a private gastrointestinal doctor, who took a real interest. 6 months of diagnostic tests later and still no concrete answer, but here are what my doctors have said.
* He firstly asked me whether the pain I experienced prior to the attack made me want to lay still or be active. I have always found it a writhing pain that's made me want to move about, which he said is typical of the pain that comes from a blockage.
- * I had a Barium Follow-Through to inspect the connection between the large and small intestine. This was all clear.
- * I had a battery of blood tests looking for:
- 1) Parasites / worms potentially picked up while in India and Japan. That was (thankfully!) all clear.
- 2) Organ failure
- 3) Markers for angioedema. This was his main hunch. That due to a reaction in the body the lining of the intestine was swealling, blocking it, causing the pain and all the other symptoms. This was negative
- After those tests and a few further attacks, I was refered to an allergy specialist to get their opinion. There I had a prick test looking for a reaction to common allergens, as well as a consultion. The prick test was negative and the specialist thinks it is unlikely my symptoms are linked to a food allergy as the time between eating and the attack starting is so great - I've had attacks in the night over 8 hours after eating.
- She did however offer the opinion that the hives are Cholinergic urticaria - a reaction brought on by body heat and sweat (I think a previous poster has also received the same diagnosis). Her theory is that whatever is causing the GI issues triggers a stress reaction (dizzyness, hot flushes and sweats) and that causes the rash.
What now
- * I am still waiting on some blood test restults looking for other allergy triggers. While unlikely to be food, it could be something else environmental. I get these results in a couple of weeks.
- * My GI doctor has said that the next phase of tests will be a CT scan on the intestine and a colonoscopy.
- So like many of the posters here, there are still a lot of unknowns and more tests to be done.
Self-medication
- Becuase of the symptoms and in part because of this board I too have started taking antihistamines. Rather than taking these daily, I take them at the first sign of GI discomfort, along with an anti-spasmodic (colofac in Britain) to calm the stomach and intestine. These have been successful in dealing with the discomfort which rarely manifests to pain and passes after about 20 minutes. The only issue with this approach in that when attacks come on during the night (like my most recent) then by the time I awake in pain it is normally too late for the drugs to act before I vomit. While on holiday I do take the antihistamines every day as an extra precaution.
- I will update the board once I get any new results. It's really comforting to discuss with others who are experiencing the same issues.
I just need to vent. I found this site about 6 months ago and I posted a reply at that time. However, I am still no closer to finding a diagnosis. I had another "episode" in December. My husband called the paramedics because it was a bad one and I didn't know what to do. The stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting lasted all day, but the dizziness, itching and flushing happened at night and lasted about 5 to 10 min. All tests were normal. Paramedics suggested it was a panic attack!!!! Had another attack a month later. Went to ER during the attack to see if there were any signs of something. All tests came back normal. Doctor in ER thinks it is perimenopause and listed it as HOTFLASHES (I am also only in my early 40's)! UGH!! Thanks for listening because this is extremely frustrating! By the way, for the previous guest who posted, I have already been through an endoscopy and colonoscopy, all negative. Where to go from here?!!!
Hi! I am so glad I found this thread! I also suffer from a lot of these symptoms and they come normally at night. I thought it had something with me starting Zoloft because 3 days after I started taking the medicine I started with itchy hands. The side effects say that can be an allergic reaction. Then when I had to increase the meds the next month, it happened again but now it went to the feet. Then 2-3 months later I had a really bad attack that hit my hands, feet, and body along with having terrible stomach pains, throwing up and diahrrea. I have been tracking them after that terrible episode. It came on again 3 months later, but then changed it's pattern of frequency. I got it 2 months in a row, then every other month. The last 3 times I have noticed that I have gotten it some where during my menstrual cycle. It is the strangest feeling and I am getting better with noticing that it's starting to happen. Once I realize it's coming along, I take benadryl right away and I always double up so it will only last about an hour. These episodes have only happened at night also. I have been taking note and watching what I'm eating but nothing is jumping out at me with this issue. I am going to the doctors soon to tell him more of what's going on and to show him these posts that there are other people experiencing this. My assumption is that most or all of these postings are from women, which then brings me to believe its some time of auto immune situation, but I am no expert. If I find anything out and find something that works, I will certainly post it! Thank you all for posting what you have experienced because it truly makes someone feel like they are not alone!
hi i wanted to share a disease that is not always diagnosed. it is called polycythemia. there is no cure but very treatable. it is a condition that causes the body to produce to much iron. so stay away from iron rich foods and the most successful treatment is blood letting. although sounding a lil scary it is simple to do. go give blood once a month is all that is needed. it is important to empty the body of the iron due to your organs having to overwork to get rid of it. hope this helps
Well, since my last incident in September, I've been avoiding foods which I associated with the attacks. Namely pickles and cucumbers (though I do eat things which have come in contact with cucumbers without issue.) Everything was fine until I was woken up around 3:30AM this morning by stomach pain and diarrhea. This lead to vomiting about four times and then the itchy palms and soles. When I looked in the mirror (after the vomiting passed and between rounds of diarrhea), my face and body were ghost white.
I felt awful for the next twenty minutes with unbearable bowel pain that was slightly relieved by burping and greatly relieved by each bout of diarrhea. When it finally started to settle down and colour started coming back to my body and face, it was odd. I felt itchy when I touched any part of my body. Armpits, thighs, back of my neck, back of my knees, but it would only be itchy so long as I touched them. Also, towards the later diarrhea bouts, the backs of my hands became red, as well. Only now, an hour later, are my palms returning to their normal colour and their itchiness subsiding.
I looked at what I had eaten over the past 24 hours and none of it includes pickles or cucumbers or anything remotely related. It doesn't help that I ate some food around 5PM and then the same food again at 10PM, which leads me to believe it wasn't that food or the reaction would have occurred earlier. I did, however, eat some cheesecake around 1AM which has been in my fridge probably longer than is good. Food poisoning would account for the diarrhea and vomiting, but the itchy and red hands and feet? I dunno.
I'm inclined to think it was the cheesecake, simply because each previous incident happened roughly three hours after I'd eaten something. I'm totally stumped as to what the culprit could be, though. I never got a call regarding the Carcinoid Syndrome results, which I've taken to mean there's nothing wrong there (I've had to use clinic doctors for this stuff, and they don't tend to contact you unless there's a problem.) I think it's time to drive the hour and a half to my family doctor and pick his brain on the matter (previous appointment was canceled by him last minute.) I've yet to faint or pass out, thankfully, but I live alone and it scares me to think that I may encounter these kinds of complications should the attacks persist. As before, I'll update should anything arise.
By the way, does anyone else have a history of bowel problems? I've always had irritable bowels with no rhyme or reason, ever since I was little. Diarrhea is not uncommon for me, and many people have talked to GI specialists and mentioned gastrointestinal maladies, so I wonder if there could be a correlation.
I felt awful for the next twenty minutes with unbearable bowel pain that was slightly relieved by burping and greatly relieved by each bout of diarrhea. When it finally started to settle down and colour started coming back to my body and face, it was odd. I felt itchy when I touched any part of my body. Armpits, thighs, back of my neck, back of my knees, but it would only be itchy so long as I touched them. Also, towards the later diarrhea bouts, the backs of my hands became red, as well. Only now, an hour later, are my palms returning to their normal colour and their itchiness subsiding.
I looked at what I had eaten over the past 24 hours and none of it includes pickles or cucumbers or anything remotely related. It doesn't help that I ate some food around 5PM and then the same food again at 10PM, which leads me to believe it wasn't that food or the reaction would have occurred earlier. I did, however, eat some cheesecake around 1AM which has been in my fridge probably longer than is good. Food poisoning would account for the diarrhea and vomiting, but the itchy and red hands and feet? I dunno.
I'm inclined to think it was the cheesecake, simply because each previous incident happened roughly three hours after I'd eaten something. I'm totally stumped as to what the culprit could be, though. I never got a call regarding the Carcinoid Syndrome results, which I've taken to mean there's nothing wrong there (I've had to use clinic doctors for this stuff, and they don't tend to contact you unless there's a problem.) I think it's time to drive the hour and a half to my family doctor and pick his brain on the matter (previous appointment was canceled by him last minute.) I've yet to faint or pass out, thankfully, but I live alone and it scares me to think that I may encounter these kinds of complications should the attacks persist. As before, I'll update should anything arise.
By the way, does anyone else have a history of bowel problems? I've always had irritable bowels with no rhyme or reason, ever since I was little. Diarrhea is not uncommon for me, and many people have talked to GI specialists and mentioned gastrointestinal maladies, so I wonder if there could be a correlation.
I am so glad I stumbled upon this thread - I have been having these 'attacks' for the past 3 years, doctors dismissed it as 'maybe anxiety'. Attacks are not at any particular time - day or night, I have just had one now at work. Same symptoms as everone else - starts with itching in hands, hands to red, sometime feet and groin are itchy too, then feel very sick in the stomach, dissy and need the toilet. Sometimes it happens weekly other times I can go months without it happening. So glad that I have found other people with it - makes me feel less of a freak.
Hi everyone! What is happening to us? Ha :-)
My first episode was November 2011, and I have had one every month since. The first and second where the worst. Every time I have hot, red flushed, itchy, swelling hands and feet. Hands itch for me more then the feet. I can not get rid of the itch until - the stomach turns to liquid, bubbling, and bloating, erupting from the exits, sometimes both ends at the same time, real fun. Around the lips become numb and swell some, the tongue a little to, not every time but the first two times they especially did for me and a little less the others. I sit on the toilet with a gallon of water and guzzle until there isn't anything coming out either end anymore. Then the hives show up. You never itched like this before, oh and I shook alot after the diarrhea the first few times but not so much the last few. I haven't been to the Doctor yet. I don't think it is from food because of the time in between each episode. I will say that the year prior to this 'thing' happening my hands would show signs of itching, giving some kind of reaction to something I don't know and I couldn't figure out the cause. Now I have this going on. I do want to check out the health of my liver. Other then that, I'm going to explore the suggestions made in the previous posts. If I find out anything I'll let you all know! Best wishes and lots of love!
My first episode was November 2011, and I have had one every month since. The first and second where the worst. Every time I have hot, red flushed, itchy, swelling hands and feet. Hands itch for me more then the feet. I can not get rid of the itch until - the stomach turns to liquid, bubbling, and bloating, erupting from the exits, sometimes both ends at the same time, real fun. Around the lips become numb and swell some, the tongue a little to, not every time but the first two times they especially did for me and a little less the others. I sit on the toilet with a gallon of water and guzzle until there isn't anything coming out either end anymore. Then the hives show up. You never itched like this before, oh and I shook alot after the diarrhea the first few times but not so much the last few. I haven't been to the Doctor yet. I don't think it is from food because of the time in between each episode. I will say that the year prior to this 'thing' happening my hands would show signs of itching, giving some kind of reaction to something I don't know and I couldn't figure out the cause. Now I have this going on. I do want to check out the health of my liver. Other then that, I'm going to explore the suggestions made in the previous posts. If I find out anything I'll let you all know! Best wishes and lots of love!
I've had the identical symptoms. The itching palms give me a few minutes of warning, but when I'm away from home it's awful because I have fainted!
I've got the same think since about 4 years now. Didn't have any symptons during 2 years, thought I got rid of it but no... last Monday it happened again :
Itchy handpalms, stomach cramps, feeling weak, diarrea, dizzyness... lasted for at least 1 hour. On my way to the doctor I started vomiting. All this lasted for at least 2 hours. Stomach pain came in 'waves' and lasted till the day after. Over the past 4 years I've done allergy tests, blood tests, urine tests, bacterie test, gastroscopy, colonoscopy but all negative!!! It's scary, I've a 4 year's old son, just scared it will happen one day when I will be alone with him. I'm scared to loose complete consciesness. Apparently it's not an anafylactical shock because this is allergy related and goes along with breathing problems, which never occur to me.
J.
Further to my post today.. I start to believe that it's a digestion problem, combination of food that's not digested, along with some stress, anxiety which causes some kind of chemical reaction in the body that causes the sympthons. The scariest part for me is the fainting, after vomiting things get slowly on better though!
Hi all! Well I have been reading everyone's posts and I last posted in January 2011 after I found this link. I just recently had 1 about a wk ago-woke me right up in the middle of the night and again lasted 1-2hrs with all the same symptoms. Sometimes one symptom is worse that go around and others are not as bad-it's never the same exact thing. I have kept a food journal and nothing sticks out at me. I have been under a ton of stress for several years (4yrs)-between moving from another state to starting a new business and having children and expanding our business a good 2 times, but most of this was before last yr when this all started. The trigger for me(I believe) was the Zoloft because of having the first reaction happen 2-3 days after starting it and then again the next month when increasing. I do feel it is some for of stress issue but I am also wondering if it's a hormonal issue also. It just seems strange because those are the only similarities I find when I have the reaction. About 2 days after the episode-my cycle started, so I don't have an answer and it truly could be that different for everyone, but those are the things I have narrowed it down to-it's very strange, so maybe with everyone going thru it, someone will come up with some answer!
Hope everyone enjoys a safe and happy Memorial holiday wk end!
Further to my 2 posts yesterday I more and more start to believe that it could be related to the following :
Multiple Chemical Sensivity (MCS).
Unfortunately we don't know anything about each other, are we all too fat, eating too unhealthy, in lack of exercise, are we too stressed, going through a lot of emotional changes in life, in my opinion all this is related to these "strange attacks"....
J.