What does it feel like?

The topical steroid withdrawal itch is pretty brutal, the itch isn't just an itch I can easily ignore.  

When I ignore it, I start feeling the itch crawling all over me, but the itch isn't just an itch, there's pain associated with it.  When I try to ignore it, it feels like pins and needles being jabbed into my skin and then sends me into spasms.  The burn feels like it comes from underneath the skin, it makes it incredibly hard to sleep.  Some people say this itch is a good thing, it's the skin repairing itself and that repair comes from underneath the top layer of skin.  

Interestingly enough, during the day the itch or burn isn't bad.  It is only when I change environments when the itch/burn acts up.  The moment I change clothes, I immediately feel itchy.  The worst itch is the one in the middle of the night.  I can't lie on my back because its itchy, can't lie on my side because my arms and torso are itchy. I can really rest my neck on my pillow because that's itchy as well.  It seems the itch is worse when it's around 3am in the morning.  It not only stings, it actually feels like it burns, it feels like my entire skin is on fire and pins and needles are attacking me.

The thing with the itch is that if I start scratching it feels good, but then it travels to somewhere else on my skin and I have to scratch there as well.   It's hell.  Of course the lack of sleep is really brutal, I slept maybe two nights completely through since I started TSW.  Sometimes I actually dread falling asleep because I know that horrible itch is going to come.  I really want this to pass.  I think my flare is waning, but the itch/burn are still very intense.  

Topical Steroid Withdrawal - Day 9

My this point, I was concerned about possible bacterial infections because of all the wounds I was inflicting on myself.     I've tried using isopropyl alcohol on my eczema (really stings), apple cider vinegar (also really stings), hydrogen peroxide (omg stinging), and salt water (hug-the-pillow crying out loud stinging).

Then I realized, I should actually be watering down this stuff.   I tried different combinations of water plus the stuff above (except the salt), but it seems like the apple cider vinegar (ACV) works best, it stings a little but it also soothes afterwards.   My neck was starting to ooze.  That night I saw my girlfriend's parents saw me at dinner and her mom gave me some bee pollen both to put on the eczema and also some for digestion.  The bee pollen does seem to have a nice soothing effect.

I haven't been sleeping well.  I can fall asleep alright, but within a few hours, the entire body starts itchy and there's pain.  The pain is unlikely anything I've ever experienced before.   It's like the skin is on fire, needles and pins pricking me all over but coming from underneath the skin.  The scratching is just a side show.  People on the ITSAN forums say that the pins and needles stinging is actually the skin trying to repair itself.     I try resist scratching but it sends my arms or back into involuntary spasms.   Plus, how could I possibly get sleep when I can't even rest my neck on my pillow?   :-(

Day 9 - 2014-04-09