itching/light-therapy

[Guest guest]

Hi all

I just wanted to share the success that I have had with light-therapy

[like sun beds but with a narrower, and therefore safer, light

spectrum] to ease my interminable itching.

I have been suffering with pruritis for some time now [it was the

itching that led me to the doctors in the first place] and, after

receiving my diagnosis 2 years ago, I have tried many medications

including menthol aquaeous cream, Questran, Rifampicin, Naltrexone

and Amitryptilene. I have had some relief with a combination of

Naltrexone [ranging from 100-250mg per day] and 25-50mg per day of

Amitryptilene depending on the severity of the itch; but although the

itching improved, the side effects of the tablets meant that I was at

best irritable and at worst, homicidal[!].

After going on holiday last year, I found that my itching disappeared

after a couple of days sun-bathing [the relief also lasted for 3

weeks after my return] so I mentioned this to my consultant at the

JR - she immediately suggested that I be referred to a Dermatologist

for light-therapy. I have now been having low dose 'sun-beds' at my

local hospital 3 times a week since mid-January, and found that after

treatment 9 I was able to start to reduce my medication. I have now

had 16 treatments and have been able to stop taking all of

my 'itching' medication. I now feel back to my old self, am much

happier and definately less irritable - for which I am eternally

grateful and my husband and family are particularly pleased to have

their more even-tempered wife/mum back again. I know that this will

be a temporary relief, and that the pruritis will undoubtedly return,

but in the meantime it is so nice not to have to take so much

medication anymore, and even though there are risks attached to light

therapy [ie skin cancer], I would rather take the sun-beds and the

inconvenience of visiting the hospital 3 times a week than the huge

amounts of chemicals contained in the tablets and then suffer the

side effects of being so miserable and irritable.

This has truly been a break-through for me and I would recommend that

anyone suffering with pruritis should discuss this with their doctor -

it would not be wise to try to 'self treat' by booking yourself into

your nearest tanning salon as they are unregulated and could be

detrimental in the long-term.

Kind regards

Kym

Nr Oxford, England

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi all

>

> I just wanted to share the success that I have had with light-therapy

> [like sun beds but with a narrower, and therefore safer, light

> spectrum] to ease my interminable itching.

>

> I have been suffering with pruritis for some time now [it was the

> itching that led me to the doctors in the first place] and, after

> receiving my diagnosis 2 years ago, I have tried many medications

> including menthol aquaeous cream, Questran, Rifampicin, Naltrexone

> and Amitryptilene. I have had some relief with a combination of

> Naltrexone [ranging from 100-250mg per day] and 25-50mg per day of

> Amitryptilene depending on the severity of the itch; but although the

> itching improved, the side effects of the tablets meant that I was at

> best irritable and at worst, homicidal[!].

>

> After going on holiday last year, I found that my itching disappeared

> after a couple of days sun-bathing [the relief also lasted for 3

> weeks after my return] so I mentioned this to my consultant at the

> JR - she immediately suggested that I be referred to a Dermatologist

> for light-therapy. I have now been having low dose 'sun-beds' at my

> local hospital 3 times a week since mid-January, and found that after

> treatment 9 I was able to start to reduce my medication. I have now

> had 16 treatments and have been able to stop taking all of

> my 'itching' medication. I now feel back to my old self, am much

> happier and definately less irritable - for which I am eternally

> grateful and my husband and family are particularly pleased to have

> their more even-tempered wife/mum back again. I know that this will

> be a temporary relief, and that the pruritis will undoubtedly return,

> but in the meantime it is so nice not to have to take so much

> medication anymore, and even though there are risks attached to light

> therapy [ie skin cancer], I would rather take the sun-beds and the

> inconvenience of visiting the hospital 3 times a week than the huge

> amounts of chemicals contained in the tablets and then suffer the

> side effects of being so miserable and irritable.

>

> This has truly been a break-through for me and I would recommend that

> anyone suffering with pruritis should discuss this with their doctor -

> it would not be wise to try to 'self treat' by booking yourself into

> your nearest tanning salon as they are unregulated and could be

> detrimental in the long-term.

>

> Kind regards

>

> Kym

> Nr Oxford, England

>

Kym:

I've had PSC for 22 years now and although my liver tests aren't very

high at all a little under 2 years ago the itching returned for no

reason. I'm on Questran (up to 6 packets a day) which worked great 10+

years ago, tried Rifampin, Naltrexone, Atarax, and Neuronton and none

helped completely. The best thing has been virtually no fat in my

diet (2-8gms per meal max) and getting UV light.

Due to the convenience I bought an old commercial sun bed with

approximately 4.5% UVB lamps in it. I get from 4-8 minutes 2-3 times a

week and it's seemed to help. I could never have fit going to the

hospital 3 days a week into my schedule so it's very convenient to

just go to my basement. In the good weather I was just trying to get

10 minutes of Sun 3 days a week, but UVB is really only present in the

mid-day spring/summer sunlight as it's absorbed by the atmosphere (So

winter sun and late afternoon sun don't have much UVB due to the angle

and depth of atmosphere they penetrate).

I'm glad you found the magic cure.

[Guest guest]

It works wonders for me too and I have used a tanning bed 10 minutes several times a week, my dermatoligist even gave me her approval.

Bettyann (SC)

[Guest guest]

The tanning bed also works great for me, I go 8-10 mins. 1 day per week and have had no itching since I started. In my opinion it is worth the risk, there are risks to all treatments and for me the benefit outweighs the risk. SandsBettyann wrote: It works wonders for me too and I have used a tanning bed 10 minutes several times a week, my dermatoligist even gave me her approval. Bettyann (SC)