I have this issue often. I know if I scratch, it will wake me up and take longer to sleep because of my body movement. If I don’t scratch, my mind only focuses on the itch. Sometimes I’ll wait 5 minutes for the scratch to go away and then I just cave and start scratching any minor itch I have on my body. Has anyone just not moved and let the itch subside or does everyone scratch?
If I’m awake enough to notice an itch then I’m scratching it
As someone who suffered from restless leg for more than ten years before the doctors had medications to help, I can tell you that it doesn’t matter which answer you pick, you’re going to be up all night.
Do the medications help?
It was the only thing that ever helped! I went for quite a few years getting maybe 3-4 hours of rest every night, I was a walking zombie. Up until that point I had found that leg stretches before bed were helping to ease the symptoms but eventually that stopped doing any good, and I didn’t have the energy to get out and walk or do anything else. Meanwhile marijuana got legalized here and my wife has been making edibles to help me sleep. That helped a little but I never really woke up feeling rested, you know? So between these meds and the cookies things have really changed in the last few years. The meds let me actually sleep, and the cookies make sure I can go back to sleep when I wake up in the middle of the night. I’ve been getting out for walks again and have dropped 30 pounds this year so things are really looking up.
That’s amazing to hear. What are the meds called?
This one is Gabapentin, although I’ve heard there are others available too. Definitely worth talking to your doctor about, they might send you to a specialist. That’s who figured out what would help me.
How do you know you’re itchy if you’re not already awake? Also maybe you need less itchy sheets or pajamas.
Saving up for 500 thread cotton
Why do you itch? What is causing you to be itchy. You should not be waking up itchy that is not normal. Diagnose what is causing the itch, and then remove that thing, then you don’t have to even deal with the itch conundrum.
But also… scratch that sum’bitch.
Put the phone down, scratch your nuts, and go to sleep ffs.
Am I the only person who thinks this question sounds like it’s from the Voight-Kampff test?
Put on body lotion before sleep to make it a non-issue. Also, scratch it.
Lotion is the only thing that helps, especially in winter. If my skin is too dry no amount of scratching will save me, it will only get worse. OP, you may want to try it before going to bed.
I also have a bonus lotion on my bedside table as a backup
Yes, for the dry skin
I have a dog that sheds. I’d wake up looking like Cousin It.
Ooh never tried that thanks for the suggestion
I have this often when I go to bed directly after showering. I get itchy all over, but scratching makes it worse. I know the itch will pass eventually, so I just wait it out. I hate it though, so I try not to shower before bed.
Try checking if your shampoo or bodywash has Sodium Laurel Sulphate. A lot of people including me are allergic to it, and it can cause itchiness. There’s a lot of options out there free of SLS, so try using products without it.
It does contain sls. I don’t have anything in house without sls, but I’ll try it. Thanks for the tip!
Like how often? Could be your soap is causing skin dryness. Maybe try a different brand, or use moisturizing cream after showering.
wait until you take too much niacin - full body itching
Some pre-work out powders make you feel like you have fire ants crawling in your skin. It’s kind neat.
scratch
Scratch.
I get suicidal trying to choose and end up not sleeping.
I currently have two mosquito bites on my ankle. Last night was completely ruined and tonight isn’t looking much better.
Have you tried the X trick?
Please elaborate
Depends where the itch is, but usually I’d scratch
I’m pretty wiggly until I get into deeper sleep. Got to find that spot and position of maximum
