Oh my goodness, I had never read about this before now...

Since my 2nd pregnancy, when I was still nursing my toddler and under an
extreme amount of stress (from things other than the toddler), I've suffered
(and suffer is the exact word to use here) from intense itching -- patches
that come and go, all over my body.  When stress is relieved, the patches go
away.  It was horrible immediately following my lat two births, then lessens
considerably while I'm on leave from work, then rages again when I start
back up...during more quiet times in our work season or when I tend to have
more control over how I spend my hours (I can exercise, eat better, sleep
more), the patches go away, sometimes completely.

The doctor said I have lichen planus and laughed at me when I said stress
makes it worse...and didn't really believe me when I told her the
super-potent steriod ointments only give me partial relief for a short time.

I had never suspected oxytocin before but now it makes perfect sense.  I'm
thinking it's a threshold effect, like oxytocin + stress = a certain
quantifiable measure in order for my body to react as it does.  Oxytocin
alone doesn't cause the problem, and the amount of oxytocin can be through
the roof (like when I'm nursing a newborn) but if stress is low (like when
I'm at home), there is no reaction.  Pair moderate oxytocin with moderate to
severe stress and I'm an itchy mess.

*sigh*  Chalk another problem to "otherhood!"

--Diana in NY (whose 4-year old is jumping on my yoga ball as I sit and try
to type!)

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