I need the Wise Hive's Perspective--sporadic unexplained itchiness

[38carrots]

DD8 (who's been taking recorder lessons for a couple of years) claims that when she practices it at home, her whole body itches. She says it doesn't itch at other times. She's quite adamant that she still wants to practice and is very upset.

 

It doesn't happen at the teacher's.

 

There was a period of time when she didn't want to go to her lessons because they were late in the evening and it was dark and cold, and she contemplated quitting. But in the last weeks she's inspired again and talks about her recital exicetedly.

 

Is this something psychological? Is her imagination? (she's very imaginative). Could there possibly a physical cause?

 

How to help her out?

[catz]

Interesting.  My dd has repeatedly said she itches while practicing just CERTAIN violin pieces that I suspect she doesn't like and she was about your dd's age.  She likes her lessons and orchestra, but is not a super enthusiastic practicer.  She's been very adamant about it, but I always assumed there was a psychological aspect to it.  I actually don't doubt she feels itchy.  But I think it like a hyper focus distraction thing going on. 

 

If it's a huge distraction from practicing at home, could you lotion her up ahead of time and be very confident that will solve the problem and see what happens?  My own daughter kind of grew out of it and is still playing violin at 11.  :)  I hope you figure something out!

[happi duck]

Does she play the same spot? If so, I wonder if something is vibrating just enough to affect her but not enough to 'notice'.

 

I'd try sitting, standing, outdoors, upstairs, downstairs etc and see if it keeps happening.

[38carrots]

Interesting.  My dd has repeatedly said she itches while practicing just CERTAIN violin pieces that I suspect she doesn't like and she was about your dd's age.  She likes her lessons and orchestra, but is not a super enthusiastic practicer.  She's been very adamant about it, but I always assumed there was a psychological aspect to it.  I actually don't doubt she feels itchy.  But I think it like a hyper focus distraction thing going on. 

 

If it's a huge distraction from practicing at home, could you lotion her up ahead of time and be very confident that will solve the problem and see what happens?  My own daughter kind of grew out of it and is still playing violin at 11.  :)  I hope you figure something out!

 

Wow. That's interesting. DD does say she really likes those pieces, but they are challenging for her.

 

I don't doubt she feels itchy either. But she's crying for a solution, literally. I did ask her whether she liked the pieces, and she says she does. And she's improved with them greatly recently too, and her teacher is very excited about her progress.

 

I like the idea of lotion and telling her that it will help for sure, and then seeing what will happen. Thanks.

 

[happypamama]

I'm wondering if she's breathing in a funny way or something, and hyperventilating or something like that, which might feel like itching. I know sometimes with asthma, I can have that happen, and the sensation is very strange. A kid might equate it with itching. Maybe when she's with the teacher, the teacher automatically corrects whatever she's doing that causes odd breathing patterns. I think I'd discuss it with her teacher, just to make sure it's not something like that.

[Tap]

There can be a histamine release during exercise that causes hives.  If this is a particularly difficult piece that requires a lot of air, I would suspect that it could be related to a similar response.

 

I would try giving her loratadine (Claritin) for a few days in the morning or at night before bed and see if it makes a difference. 

[38carrots]

I'm wondering if she's breathing in a funny way or something, and hyperventilating or something like that, which might feel like itching. I know sometimes with asthma, I can have that happen, and the sensation is very strange. A kid might equate it with itching. Maybe when she's with the teacher, the teacher automatically corrects whatever she's doing that causes odd breathing patterns. I think I'd discuss it with her teacher, just to make sure it's not something like that.

 

Hm...Thank you. I sit in the lesson and I don't notice anything different, but who knows. I'll look into this.

 

[38carrots]

There can be a histamine release during exercise that causes hives.  If this is a particularly difficult piece that requires a lot of air, I would suspect that it could be related to a similar response.

 

I would try giving her loratadine (Claritin) for a few days in the morning or at night before bed and see if it makes a difference. 

 

She says it stops itching when she stops playing.

 

I'll start reminding her to play like at the teacher's--she doesn't itch there, and see if this makes a difference.

 

I hesitate to give her allergy meds just for this, but I'm glad to know that there could be a physiological basis. Thank you.

 

[Mergath]

She says it stops itching when she stops playing.

 

I'll start reminding her to play like at the teacher's--she doesn't itch there, and see if this makes a difference.

 

I hesitate to give her allergy meds just for this, but I'm glad to know that there could be a physiological basis. Thank you.

 

 

If it stops instantly when she stops playing, it's most likely not an allergic reaction. Those take a while to go away. So probably a psychological reaction. (And as someone with OCD, I know just how powerful a psychological reaction to something can be. ;) ) 

[Starr]

I remember my ankles itching in elementary school when reading in front of the class. And I was a good reader, Still some kind of being nervous??

[foxbridgeacademy]

Could it be vibration?  When my skin/body gets vibrated (like riding on a train) then my skin will get numb/itchy.  Maybe where she stands /sits at the teachers has a different surface than at home?  That's the only thing I can think of other than psychological.

[happi duck]

I also suggested vibration upthread.

 

Can you have her play in different places, both standing and sitting to test it out?

[flyingiguana]

Is it a wood recorder?  And she's allergic to the wood?  Maybe she's more "up" at the teacher's so the allergy doesn't hit her as hard?  (I often find allergies get worse as I'm relaxing to sleep or something along those lines)

 

If it's a plastic recorder, is there mold growing in it?  You might not even be able to see it.  It could be washed out with warm soapy water, probably.  Vinegar might also take down the mold (so you don't have to go with bleach, which would be bad for breathing problems and probably not great for the recorder either)

[flyingiguana]

And which are these CERTAIN violin and recorder pieces that are causing trouble?  Maybe some of us could try them at home to see if we get the same reaction.