Itching Issues

In reading the comments to my last post, I find myself thinking, "Why don't I get myself to a doctor about this immediately?" I know life is busy, but if one of my kids manifested such a rash (in fact, MS battled several severe outbreaks of eczema when we first moved here) I'd take them as soon as possible. I suppose partly, it is a mother's way (we often remember to take care of others, but forget to take care of ourselves). Partly, it is a distrust of ever finding a real solution or a true diagnosis.

My itching issues began about seven years ago, in various forms. I saw my regular doctor. Then I saw a specialist gynecologist. After multiple tests and blood work, nothing was determined. The itching may have abated for a while, then began to appear in more various places. I consulted a dermatologist who ruled it "dry skin." When this answer and his treatment didn't help, I went back and he did some sort of scratch test and ruled that my skin shows lines when you scratch it. I forget the medical term, but do remember that it had "graph" in it, which means to write. Anyone want to write a novel on my body? Illustrated Woman , anyone?

By my third visit to this dermatologist, I didn't really have much faith in him and basically just gave up. The rash must have gone away (or at least enough to lessen my drive to have it treated).

Then, I became pregnant with my third son and began the itching issues all over again (this time more intense than I had ever before experienced - incapacitating almost). I visited a specialist in Chicago and was given a steroid cream (the same one recently prescribed for my ES when he had an outbreak of poison ivy). I visited yet another dermatologist in the midst of our move to Indiana. She prescribed something, but we were very busy and I took a while to fill it and then didn't even use it before I entered the second trimester and the itching just disappeared.

It remained dormant through the rest of the pregnancy and into the months that I was breastfeeding. Six months ago, the itching resurfaced, but in a minimal way and I would alternate between treating it with the Fluocinonide - Lidex - that our IN dermatologist had prescribed for MS and the other steroid I had been prescribed. I've sought out natural cures for itching. I've tried drinking water with apple cider vinegar (something about improving the pH balances within your body). I've tried applying ice. With its sporadic nature, I wonder if it is somehow hormonal?

I guess I just doubt than anyone will be able to figure out what is up with my body. I should have called today, to schedule yet another doctor appointment (especially now that I have such visible evidence of my dilemma). Did I? No.

We had a wonderful day. We took a long walk in the park (side note: why must you other families bring your children to wade in the horrendous creek water every time we walk in the park? MS is convinced that I should let him wade in the creek just like those other families, but I know that my husband would be livid if I did that! ah the filth! the disease! the possible skin infections you could get!), did some grocery shopping, had lunch and fat naps, then headed off for a Customer Appreciation Party at a Chik-Fil-A in a nearby town.

They had advertised free samplings of their food, jump castles, pony rides, games, face painting and, the clincher, SUPERHEROES! We were not disappointed. MS had a blast talking to Spiderman, Batman, and a Power Ranger. He had worn his own Batman get-up, so Batman felt a bit of kinship with him. Of course, I don't think Batman appreciated MS's fervor entirely. Especially when he was up on the top of the building, throwing down stuffed Chik-Fil-A cows and MS called up that he wanted him to jump down so that we could watch him scale the walls!

After having so much fun today, I doubt I'll try to manage the free "Bee Movie" tomorrow. If MS complains, I'll just inform him that Mommy needs to schedule a doctor appointment for her unexplained rash. Of course, he will just look at it and say what he always says, "Mommy, you just need to put some BFI powder on it (this was found in the cupboards of this old home - who knows when my husband's grandmother purchased it - and it did help ES with his poison ivy, so MS swears by it now and wants to sprinkle it on every available itch). Anybody ever hear of BFI powder? Anybody know why it is no longer available?