Constant itching

Yesterday, I was 9 days post op and spent the previous night wide awake ITCHING! EVERYWHERE! I've never experienced anything like it. I took a shower....everywhere the water touched me caused intense itching and I thought I'd dig my skin off. I slathered myself in coritsone cream and finally got relief from a Benadryl (I've not been able to take them in the past d/t side effect of heart palpitations and intense anxiety) and that worked. Luckily, I didn't experience any of my past side effects from the Benadryl. I was immediately able to sense when the Benadryl wore off because I was back to chronic scratching. I took another Benadryl! I itched in places I've never scratched before! What's up with this? I read it can be caused by depleting the hormones in my body...I can't stand it!

Also, I can't sleep!!!! I sleep for a couple of hours after a half hour of trying to get comfortable and then I'm awake for hours. Plus I get hot flashes and night sweats that drench me. I have MS and feeling overheated causes me to have balance and speech problems!

They say that menopause, even surgical menopause, can result in mood swings! Given the symptoms I'm expeiencing I think I could probably turn into a serial killer without provocation (kidding of course).I'm already on an antidepressant for the MS but I think the dose is going have to jacked up.

I'm trying to stay positive and look on the bright side....eventually no pain, no periods, no fluctuating hormone induced migraines, etc. but when I'm laying awake drenched in my own sweat, digging my skin off....its hard to feel positive! I have a F/U appt. with my GYN on Thursday so I'll address all of this with him but in the meantime if anyone has any suggestions.....I'm all "itchy" ears!

I used lots of loation the one with oatmeal in it, it helped alot, and for some reason my stomach skin peeled after surgery which itched like crazy too . GRR . But the loation helped.
Hugs
Lisa

Are you still on pain meds? Could it be they finally built up enough in your system to cause you to start the itchy-scratchy process? And of course, there's always the usual to check for-new detergent, soap, etc. Glad the benadryl worked for you and gave you some itch relief and some sleep.
Any oatmeal based lotion will also give you some relief as well as the cortizone based stuff.
Are you not on HRT? You might want to buy yourself one of those "chillows" advertised on here to keep you cooler at night. Last resort-buy you a fan to keep by the bed that blows about 90 mph at 40 degrees. I have one (not that strong) and I've used it when I nap. The rest of the time I sleep in the den on the recliner with the ceiling fan on high and the thermostat set on 70 and I've actually started to get chilled at night-thank heavens. I lived through those night sweats (RA induced) and they are no fun. Not to mention you feel like you need to wash your sheets every day-which you obviously can't do!

I only take Motrin when I need to. I've been prescibed Percocet but it's contispating and Lord knows, I don't want to deal with that on top of everything else. I do have a fan in my bedroom but I ended up turning on the AC last night. I think I froze my dog out, I didn't see him until this am. It's pretty bad that I'm so restless and hot that I interrupt my dog's sleep and he gets disgusted and leaves. This am the itching is not as bad but I took Benadry as a precautionary measure and slathered myself in lotion. I slid into my clothes. I'm not on HRT because I'm at high risk for breast CA because it runs in my family. I guess I'll have to check out alternative therapies.
Thanks for the support. Hope everyone else is doing well.