Formication?

[cris]

Hello. I am new here and i apologize in advance if Im not posting right. Not quite sure how to navigate around here yet. 

Anyway, I started getting crawling sensation in/on my skin about 2 weeks ago but dont seem to have accompanying rashes. When i try to scratch the "spot" the sensation stops. First i thought maybe it might be scabies but like i said, so far no rashes. Plus technically, i dont really itch. Its more the sensation of something crawling on or under my skin. I researched a bit and found info on formication as a possible symptom for menopause. I am 47 years old (will be 48 in a few months) and considering maybe im already in perimenopause. I still get my periods regularly though the bleeding itself has changed a bit. I went to see my GP yesterday to discuss possibilities and just about all that i brought up, including this, was shot down. He says if i am still getting my period regularly then I'm not really in menopause yet. But, i thought ive read otherwise.

all other info ive googled seems scary...from parasite infestation, to delusions' to just about everything under the sun. My question is, if any of you have experienced this, at what age did it begin for you, what were the symptoms you felt, how long did it last and did it really ever go away? And did you experience it while you were still getting your regular periods? I sometimes think im losing it. I keep asking my husband to check for bugs or bites or rashes on me and he doesnt find any. I look my skin over and somestimes see solitary tiny red bump (yes, just one at a time) and wonder if this could be from a mite but again, it does not itch. But i feel the sensations all over...my scalp, arms, shoulders, back, shin, feet (sides, bottom and back/heel area), knees, behind the knees, by the armpit. Like i said everywhere. Help?

[jacksfullofaces]

hui Cris
A couple of years ago we had bed bugs and boy they felt different to formication with the raised weals and constant itching from the bites. It sounds to me though that you have formication and your doctor is being very stupid. When I was 48 I kept being woken in the night with the sensation of sun burned skin although not a mark on it.It might be worthwhile buying an over the counter FSH test (available from Boots) you could arrange a hormone panel but it does solund like menopause is starting. I had some symptoms aged 47 - I'm now 52 and still get regular periods although using continuous progesterone.
I can't say how long untreated formication lasts for because I ran yelping for the hormones. Two books I recommend are Uzzi Reiss Superwoman and Thierry Hertoghe Hormone Solution.
One last thing if you are afraid you are being bitten by bed bugs check your sheets for tiny black dots which resemble the point of a felt tip pen.
Jacks
Jacks

[cris]

Hi Jacks. Thank you for your response. Back in May, I did have a few bites on my leg which led me to a cleaning frenzy of my whole house, thinking we had bed bugs and/or fleas. And yes, the bites were itchy. I never really saw any bugs, nor traces on my mattress, though that didn't stop me from buying mattress and pillow covers for the whole family. I did all the spraying, vacuuming and laying DE all over. Thankfully, I haven't had any bite sinces, at least none that I've seen. I am leaning toward formication, or at least something of that nature, due to the absence of bites and/or rashes. It's really more like the tingly feeling all over, randomly, and intermittently. Not so much itching.

I will have to see what corresponding OTC FSH tests we have here. We don't have Boots here so I'll have to check with our local pharmacy.

[littlemiss]

Jul 24, 2013 17:55:44 GMT cris said:

Hi Jacks. Thank you for your response. Back in May, I did have a few bites on my leg which led me to a cleaning frenzy of my whole house, thinking we had bed bugs and/or fleas. And yes, the bites were itchy. I never really saw any bugs, nor traces on my mattress, though that didn't stop me from buying mattress and pillow covers for the whole family. I did all the spraying, vacuuming and laying DE all over. Thankfully, I haven't had any bite sinces, at least none that I've seen. I am leaning toward formication, or at least something of that nature, due to the absence of bites and/or rashes. It's really more like the tingly feeling all over, randomly, and intermittently. Not so much itching.

I will have to see what corresponding OTC FSH tests we have here. We don't have Boots here so I'll have to check with our local pharmacy.

[littlemiss]

Glad to hear I really am not going nuts! Like my mom, pre-menopause has started very early. I still have regular periods, but nasty mood swings, hot flashes, weight gain even though I'm not eating differently, complete and total exhaustion no matter how much I sleep, and the most recent, this creepy crawly feeling of bugs crawling all over me, to the point it keeps me up at night, has me scratching like crazy and checking and stripping bed linens constantly! Has anyone found any sort of relief from the formication issue?

[gobe]

I often experience a sort of crawling tingling almost electrical sensation that comes over me in a wave and then subsides. Mostly in my head but sometimes down my body. I think it is a little like when you get a sudden attack of goosebumps. This has been going of for a couple of years now. I am now three and a half years post menopause and have never been on HRT.

It does not affect me so badly as you Cris but I think that is because I am so used to feeling itchy since I have chronic eczema. Having said that my chronic eczema has gone form severe to mild and I am only bothered by the odd patch of it now whereas before I only had the odd patch of good skin now I only have the odd patch of bad skin! It is quite weird what the menopause does to our bodies. I am due to see my dermatologist in a week and he has also noticed the positive effect menopause has had on my eczema.

I used to often experience a very similar sensation when my eczema was bad but only after I had been scratching myself for a long time in bed. That is a known side effect of scratching and I can't remember the name but I do know it feels very similar to formication and that is probably why it does not disturb me because I am so familiar with the feeling having been an itchy bunny for most of my life.

Quite fascinating really - well it is to me. At the very least I hope this reassures you knowing that someone else is experiencing a similar thing.