Ok, this is what I learned about so far from the itchiness that has taken over my life in the last few weeks:
1-Scratching does make it worse and yet I wonder, how do you not scratch when the urge is so overwhelming. I have been trying to have a “Happy Place” when the urge hits but I am pretty much in the preliminary stages of that. Once I even tried a Buddhist chant.
2-Aveeno products are pretty good. I have bought the Soothing Bath Powder and the soap and so far they have brought me a little relief although it does take some time to get used to smelling like Cream of Wheat or whatever that hot oatmeal breakfast thing is. Honestly, all I need is the maple syrup and voila, I’m a breakfast treat!
3-I now spend a better part of my day either worrying about itchiness, obsessing about itchiness and dealing with itchiness. It’s an all-consuming thing.
4-Do not but the Cortaid liquid under any circumstances. It burns. I mean, it really burns and usually I am all good with small amounts of pain. Much better to go with the ointment or cream although I will say the cream is better for that “cooling” effect.
5-Obsessively vacuuming everything (including cats) on a daily basis is am excellent way to pass the time in the evening when you don’t have cable or internet.
6-Don’t wait too long to see your doctor. I did and look where it got me. I now post updates about my itchiness on my blog for cripes sake!
7-When it starts to bleed it stops itching. Horrifying, I know but I do anything for relief.
8-Gold Bond, you know the stuff that they advertise for the old people or people with extremely dry skin is an excellent product. It may not help heal the rash but it does provide a tingly relief.
9It’s acceptable to look upon those who don’t have the itchiness with contempt.
10-If you do scratch because you have no other alternative then you should really put something like Polysporin to make sure you don’t get an infection because if you then it will somehow spread to your entire body and make your life a living hell and then you will have to rant about it like an insane person so as not to feel too alone in your pain… And itchiness.
2 comments:
Ah yes, itching! I've had my fair share of that thanks to fleas and bed bugs or something when I was in Panama the other year. Remember, I even took pictures of my swollen and bitten legs. Gold Bond was my friend then too.
Sheena, you're insane. Honestly.
And yet, I love you still.
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