Tingling under skin

[noregrets]

Hi everyone,

In the past week or so I've developed a tingling in my chest kind of like "pins & needles" under the skin.  One day last week I wore a new shirt to work without washing it first & all day I thought maybe the shirt was irritating my skin.  Well, I got home & changed clothes & I'm still having the same sensations a week later.

It doesn't really hurt & it's not painful, it's just "uncomfortable" & always there.  There's nothing noticeable that you can see & it "looks" fine, just tingly all the time.

I did a little research tonight & there's something called HIV-related Peripheral Neuropathies.  Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm wondering is this might be a side affect of the Atripla?  I've been on it almost 4 months now & it's been doing so well (my VL is down to 80 from 300k+ when I started), I'd hate to think this is my first negative side affect.

Thanks in advance for any info!

[jkinatl2]

What you describe ha absolutely nothing to do with PN. Not only are the current crop of drugs not associated with PN, but the very symptoms you mention are not diagnostically similar to Peripheral Neuropathy- as PN impacts the peripheral parts of the body - fingers, toes, et al - not the chest.

PN is, outliers notwithstanding, an issue that currently diagnosed and treated HIV'ers will likely never endure.

[Miss Philicia]

I think neuropathy is usually in your feet, sometimes your fingers. Not in your chest. Discuss this with your doctor.

[anniebc]

I can only repeat the good advise the guys have already given you.

Patients present with a tingling sensation and numbness, or neuropathic pain, this normally starts in their toes and spreading towards the end of the bones, i.e fingers and toes, the pain frequently is described as burning or aching and is normally worse on the soles of the feet.

Also the risk of PN is higher for patients with advanced HIV infection, I'm not sure how long you have been infected but my guess would be not that long.

Talk to your Doctor is you are worried about this.

Jan

[mikeyb39]

PN usually starts in the toes and feet and can work its way up.  My doc and Neurologist agree that something in the Atripla caused the nerve damage in my feet after having been on it for about 8 months.  Everything else was ruled out for causation such as vitamin deficiencies, Diabetes and etc.

I was switched off of Atripla to the meds i'm on now and it has gotten much better, it got worse before it started getting better.  I no longer have to take neurontin and/or pain meds for the pain in my feet.  Its not a 100 percent by no means, but i can now wear shoes and walk without being in horrible pain.

I don't want to scare you away from Atripla, its true that it doesn't happen to 90 percent of folks, but it can happen even with the new meds.  I'm almost certain what you have is not PN, probably just something else going on.

My HIV doctor says that almost everyone with HIV at some point with experience neuropathies, some folks aren't aware of the symptoms because its not bad, while others have real issues.

Either way see your doctor if it continues.

[skeebo1969]

Hi everyone,

In the past week or so I've developed a tingling in my chest kind of like "pins & needles" under the skin.  One day last week I wore a new shirt to work without washing it first & all day I thought maybe the shirt was irritating my skin.  Well, I got home & changed clothes & I'm still having the same sensations a week later.

It doesn't really hurt & it's not painful, it's just "uncomfortable" & always there.  There's nothing noticeable that you can see & it "looks" fine, just tingly all the time.

I did a little research tonight & there's something called HIV-related Peripheral Neuropathies.  Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm wondering is this might be a side affect of the Atripla?  I've been on it almost 4 months now & it's been doing so well (my VL is down to 80 from 300k+ when I started), I'd hate to think this is my first negative side affect.

Thanks in advance for any info!

What you describe sounds very similar to what I've experienced in the past.  While I was on Atripla when it started, I don't think it has anything to do with it because I still get it from time to time and I no longer take Atripla.

It feels like someone is taking sandpaper across your skin, and while somewhat painful, it's mainly annoying.  I've had episodes where it has kept me from falling asleep, so it can get pretty bad at times. 

One of my friends says he gets it at times too, and he's not even positive.  He attributes it to getting old.....

I wish I had an answer for you.....  it goes away after a few days and I find Motrin helps.