My RNY was June 1. I itch like CRAZY! My ankles, shins and arms mostly. Sometimes my breasts as well. But I am tearing up my legs and arms with scratches. I take a Benadryl when it's really bad but what's going on?

Past thread indicate that this problem has occurred in others. It is not common. The causes discussed were:

* Reaction to pain medicines

* B12 deficiency

* New allergic reactions to foods. Since you body has been surgically changed, you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to some foods that you did not experience prior to surgery.

* Increase in bile salt in the gall bladder

I had that problem - for me, it was the ursodiol (Actigall). Hives aren't a particularly common side effect, but they *are* a potential side effect. But hives can be a reaction to lots of things - meds, food, bug bites...

I had my surgery August 2014. It has happened to me three times, twice the third day after surgery. We ruled it down to the protein powder I was using. I at first thought it was the pain meds so I stopped it and when I drank my next protein it happened again. Then it didn't happen again until about a month ago about 20 minutes after I ate a protein bar in a new flavor....

Edited July 5, 201511 yr by justwondering

I found my chest was really itchy -- and even 2+ months out I still get a little itchy -- though not as bad as just after surgery.

I developed a rash on my chest and groin area like where my thigh meets my abdomen. I ended up having to get a steroid cream from my doc. If I stop using it for a while, the rash comes back. Surgeon seemed to think it was an allergic reaction to the disinfectant they put on me before surgery. You'd think it'd be gone by now as I'm almost 3 weeks out though!