Choliner-Who What??? An Update on the Itching | Cancer Project
Channel: ZebraInParadise
Date: 2018-09-07

(I didn’t realize how bad the lighting in the video was until I was at home editing that night. Sorry about the sunshine!)

I realized something about the itchiness I’ve been experiencing. Taking note of when it happens, I realized that it only happens when I got hot and I begin to sweat.

I first noticed this when I was doing my property inspections. I have to walk around outside for a couple of hours and last week it was overcast but hot (about 85-degrees) and humid. As I began to itch, I noticed that my arms were also beginning to sweat. I should note that itching is like pin pricks, so I guess it’s comparable to prickly heat? Not sure…

As I thought about this, I began to notice that whenever I got hot, I began to itch. When I’m in a/c, there’s no itching. This is problematic at home since I don’t have a/c and my apartment gets very hot. There is only one corner with windows so there’s no cross breeze. Mostly I sit in front of a fan but it still gets really hot – the windows happen to face west. It’s a beautiful view of Diamond Head but the heat builds up in the apartment to where it can be unbearable. When I have to go outside on a 90-degree day to get cool, that’s a problem!

So, now I know when I itch. The issue is still why. There is no outward sign of the itch. No rash, bumps, hives, etc. I’ve found a few things. 

One of the first things to come up is Hodgkin’s Disease, which is a cancer. Not a good start, but what do you expect when you do your own internet research? Since I’ve just finished chemo and radiation, I’m scratching this one off the list. (Scratching, get it???)

Another is called cholinergic urticaria. There’s a whole web site devoted to this one. But then, there’s a web site devoted to just about anything these days, isn’t there? This one sounds pretty spot-on – you start itching when you’re exposed to heat. It’s like a hives reaction to outside stimulus but without the red, bumpy hives. And as soon as you’re away from the heat (such as go into an a/c cooled building), the itching goes away. One thing the website noted, “Individuals often feel compelled to scratch vigorously during this reaction, however, scratching does not resolve the itching.” Yes!!! WebMD also states that CU is caused by nerve fibers in your sweat glands, the body reacting to an antibody in your own sweat called immunoglobulin-G (IgG). 

Then there’s something called generalized pruritus, or dry skin. Okay, this is more plausible. I’ve just never had this pin-prick type itching before. I did go into one of the cancer boards and found that this is not uncommon. Other radiation patients have this and have been prescribed OTC lotions, such as Aquaphor. Since I’ve been using bar soap, which I’m reading tends to dry out your skin more than shower gels, I did buy some moisturizing shower gel. I’ll also keep applying lotions and Corn Huskers. And I’ll try to stay in the a/c as much as possible.

So, while the symptoms of cholinergic urticaria match to a T, the only treatment (other than not getting hot and sweating) is to take antihistamines. I’m not really inclined to take Zyrtek or something every day, although maybe on days when I know I’ll be out running around I’ll take something. For now, I think I’ll switch to that moisturizing body wash and keep slathering on the lotion.

American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/

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Music: Ukulele Beach by Doug Maxwell
Photos and Video: Marissa Culp