Ive been wandering around this site and have gleaned much knowledge as well as wisdom regarding the symptoms of CFS. I see some people have had problems with burning skin. Has anyone had itchy skin? Ive not experienced it now for some time, but for many months I was plagued by horrible itching. It would start with my toes and fingers, which made me think it might be a manifestation of the neuropathy I have had since chemotherapy. From there it spread up my legs and arms. These episodes usually started in the evenings, sometimes before I went to bed and sometimes after I was asleep. The itching was so intense, it could not be ignored. I could do nothing but scratch (I used a long-handled brush made for scrubbing dishes) and cry. No cream, lotion, or ointment had any effect. I remembered that many years ago in childbirth classes we were taught that the mind can comprehend only one physical sensation at a time, so I plunged my limbs deep into ice water. That wasnt pleasant either, but it was better than the itching! When my skin became numb from the cold, I would take a couple Benadryl tablets and go to bed, hoping to fall asleep before the itching returned. By morning the symptoms had resolved. I soon learned that taking one or two Benadryl tablets at the very first inkling of a tingle in my toes or fingers could stop the itch before it became unbearable. I experienced these episodes every night for a several months. Eventually I found that the episodes decreased to four or three nights a week, then two or one. I have had no episodes now for about a year. My PCP diagnosed it as neuro dermatitis, but I never had a rash or leathery skin. She wanted to prescribe an antihistamine to be taken every day, but I preferred just taking the Benadryl only when I felt the symptoms begin. That worked for me.
I am curious to see if anyone else in the CFS group has had a similar experience.