Itching,is it HHT related?

[Supernoodle]

I suffer from HHT and since Jan I have had two bouts of all over itching/stabbing sensations.The first was bad and lasted for a few weeks and now I have begun to itch again over the last couple of weeks and it is a nightmare.

I itch 24/7 and anything I have taken for it does little to alleviate the symptoms.My mother who suffers from HHT v.v.badly (amongst a number of other life threatening illnesses) has said that she has had some bouts of itching and that both my uncle and great grandmother have also experienced this.

What I would like to know is if any other HHT sufferers have experienced this and also if any of the specialists they have seeen have told them that this can be one of the problems caused by HHT.

Any help would be most appreciated as I have numerous other health problems going on and my doctors are v.unhelpfull/unsympathetic to my needs and I am effectively having to determine the cause(s) of my illhealth/symptoms myself.

[philbarto]

It may be an under active thyroid gland as this is a main symptom I dont think it is hht related as I have not suffered with itching still I could be wrong

[lenny]

Ive never come across this problem myself do not think its HHT related

[Jess]

About three years ago my father (who was in the hospital for three or four months at a time at that point) came down with a tremendous whole-body staph infection that, as time went on, he just couldn't seem to shake. If you have to, grab your doctor by the shoulders and shake him until he fixes it. Itching sucks. 

[kathy]

My mother has very bad HHT and as a result of AVM's throughout her liver she has now developed cirrhosis of the liver.  One of the symptoms of liver disease is itching but I would assume that if you had liver disease you would know about it....nontheless....see a haematologist and ask to have a multitude of blood tests. Perhaps, also an immunologist to determine any allergies etc.  For many many years I was itchy all over until I stopped using all products that contained sulfate.  Sulfate is used as a foaming agent in shampoos, soaps, laundry detergent and it is highly irritating to the skin (look for names such as sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate....try the process of elimination.  I hope this may be of some help to you. 

[Carol]

Hi
Yes I have suffered itching.  It is generally when my blood count is low and particularly on my lower arms and front of my calves (especially if I shave my legs!).
My HHT manifests itself in my GI tract. I had some AVMs zapped in May, but have just discovered that my blood count has dropped in 6 weeks from 10 to 7.7.  Not good.  I am swallowing a camera on Tuesday, to establish whether I have any AVMs in my small bowel.  Dont know what they will do if I have, but either the procedure in my stomach did not work or I do have them in my small bowel.  My large bowel and upper GI tract is absolutely clear. 

HOpe this helps!

[charlyn]

Yes. My dermatologist says "anemic people itch." He says it's because the heart has to pump faster, making the speed of the blood flow faster, which kind of flings the blood against the skin. Iron infusions (I get one gram every two months) really help me stay ahead of the itching. Doxepin is a good medicine some docs forget about, and it comes in a topical form also: zonalon. Both forms cause sleepiness.

[Moley]

That explains why after losing 400mls last night (much easier to catch it all in a jug!) my arms were itching like crazy!