Advice req

[cstrutt]

Hi, I've just been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. I went to the doctors as I was getting hive type rashes over my arms, legs, face and stomach. I was sent for a blood test which showed a dysfunctional thyroid. Has anyone else experienced these type of rashes which are linked to thyroid problems?

[Saggyuk]

Hello and Welcome

Just to quickly mention that you can post results on here if you would like advice on whether you are being optimally treated. GPs often don't test some of the more important things like T3 and antibodies to get a clearer picture of what's going on.

Also if you have thyroid issues, it would be well worth getting Folate, B12, Vit D, and Iron levels checked as many of us are deficient in these and are also often ignored by docs. You can post these if you already have as well. If you don't have any results, it is hard for us to give anything more than general info but you can ask for a print out from your GPs receptionist.

no, not typically but I did have rashes because of gluten which also caused my thyroid problems and other things. Does it look anything like Dermatitis herpetiformis which can also often be on stomach and those places? Can cause other more general skin complaints also.

Sorry just a suggestion, not necessarily saying this is the cause but bear in mind coeliacs blood test is unreliable as stated on NHS website.

Other than that, not sure. I know that for rashes in general, if it is symmetrical in nature down both sides of body, it is generally coming from within and something your immune system doesn't like getting into your body or an immune reaciton - often food but sometimes meds too or immune conditions etc. Patchy unsymmetrical rashes tend to be more often caused by something external which your skin doesn't like?

Also, if only just started more recently in the hot weather, it could be heat rash/prickly heat?

Sorry I can't help more than that but hope it gets better soon

[Saggyuk in reply to Saggyuk]

Also, just in case I misread. I assumed that you went to docs about rash before getting thyroid diagnosis? If I read wrong and the rash started after you started taking meds for thyroid, this could be allergic reaction to fillers in the meds. Many of us have had issues with a brand called TEVA for example.

[cstrutt in reply to Saggyuk]

Hi, sorry for delay in replying... Only just figured out how to sign back in! The hives appeared before taking the thyroid medication. The rash was the reason I had the blood test, when they stumbled across an underactive thyroid. Funnily enough, I've just come back from 2 weeks in Spain, and haven't had one rash or anything for the duration. I'm wondering whether it's some form of hayfever?

Just been back for another blood test to establish whether they need to increase the Levothyroxine. No too sure what they tested for... I know TSH was on the list, along with electrylites and Cholesterol

[Qwerty12345]

I have read that hives can be a symptom I'm sure. Moreover, a year before I was diagnosed with graves (overactive) i developed hives all over my body, for the first time in my life. They occurred daily for weeks. I saw a nurse who thought an allergy to washing powder or the like. After a few weeks the doctors tested my blood for allergies and that showed I was allergic to just about everything so I was referred to immunology. They said the bloods tests were often misinterpreted and as I had no problems before with allergies told me not to be concerned. They said it was likely an autoimmune response perhaps triggered by a virus and to take daily antihistamines for several weeks. That sorted it. Fast forward to a year later. A month into starting carbimazole for graves the daily hives came back. Doctors thought the medicine could be responsible and changed the drug. But I believe it could have been due to fluctuating thyroid levels and I suspect that caused the initial occurrence a year previously. I definitely believe there was a connection with the original outbreak, as I've never in my life had extensive and daily hives like that.

[pixiefeet12345]

Hi yes i suffer terribly with hives, for what seems like no reason appear! Firstly i have a prickling sensation then overwhelming urge to scratch what seems like forever then the big bumps come up! I take an antihistamine and find putting said itchy area on a cold wall/surface helps tremendously! I have been diagnosed for 5 years.

[HLAB35]

My niece gets these reactions - they were told it was a milk intolerance, but there are autoimmune liver problems in their family too (as well as thyroid). Another family friend spoke of her husband having this too due to milk. Liver issues often manifest themselves in the skin as the liver's job is to detoxify the blood and if it's overworked (probably due - in your case - to a weak digestive system allowing more allergens into the blood stream due to an underactive thyroid) then the toxins are directed to the skin as the only possible means of escape.

(1) Support digestion so allergens don't even make it to the liver is a good start, so take digestive enzymes with meals to increase the potency of your stomach's ability to neutralise nasties (n.b. low stomach acid occurs in all hypo people).

(2) Have liver function tests done to check how well its working. You may need some nutritional support there... I'm no expert, but a obvious one is to avoid alcohol as much as possible and things that give the liver a hard time.

(3) Go dairy free for a trial period (I would also say go gluten free too, but that may be asking too much in one go).

(4) Do all the obvious stuff like keep well hydrated and take sea salt baths etc and avoid drying soaps.

[cstrutt in reply to HLAB35]

Thanks for the advice, and apologies for delay in replying... Just figured out how to sign back in.

The strange this is, I've just come back from 2 weeks in Spain, and never had one rash, hive or anything! They didn't really have any cereal out there, so didn't have that with lashings of milk, so I'm wondering whether it is dairy. Saying that, I have milk in my tea and have had cereal and porridge since I got back with no affect so very puzzling. I don't really drink any alcohol, probably have about 4 glasses of wine a year - and that's no exaggeration. It's just strange that it seems to have disappeared as quickly as it came.

[HLAB35 in reply to cstrutt]

A holiday is definitely going to take a load off the body in general, so your gut is probably functioning better now. In my mind, mental and physical health are inseparable - both being affected by gut health in particular and being relaxed helps keep us nourished and regular. Physical or mental health problems (particularly in the elderly and young people) are often rooted in poor gut health.

[MariLiz]

I had very bad skin problems before and after my thyroid problem was diagnosed. It still flares up from time to time, and I especially notice rashes on my arms if I have been working in the garden. Probably due to something I come into contact with triggering an immune response.

[CSmithLadd]

Hypothyroidism is most often caused by a simple iodine deficiency. COnventional doctors fail to check this most common cause of hypothyroidism, as they have been taught such is rare. It is not. In fact, it is common. But with the way they tell it, we get the impression that the dysfunction is the fault of the thyroid: it is not. The thyroid needs certain things in order to function properly. Iodine is the most important of those vital needs for the thyroid. "Disease" in medical terminology is merely dysfunction. Something isn't working right. Yet they never get down to exactly why that is. So simple, yet they make it so complex. It is not.

As others have said, other nutrients can also be deficient that will prohibit the thyroid from being able to function properly. With those, I would highly recommend you check your iodine levels and make sure you are cross-checking many resources to determine the "optimal" range of iodine and not just that it is "in range." Reference ranges were never meant to determine what is considered "optimal" for good health. They merely reflect the averages of persons (both sick and well) who visit the lab for testing.

With hypothyroidism, histamine levels are commonly high. This makes you allergic to just about anything and everything, depending on how severe the height of the histamines are. For me, it first started with rashes and hives, then eczema was at full force. Then a casein allergy (milk protein). From there, I did my research and got my histamines back down. Giving up gluten and dairy are key. Also, look at what's in your toiletries and cosmetics, what you wash your clothes and dishes with, etc. When histamines are high, so many things are irritants. Find them and remove them.

As histamines return to normal to lower levels, then many things you can possibly add back as your tolerance will be incredibly better. However, gluten and dairy had to stay gone (I tried to add back dairy to no avail). I am now vegan and feeling so much better! Meats are full of toxins due to the farming processing.

For me, it was essential to get things under control by doing that which I never thought I'd do!!

What we must do to be well... well, do it.

Healing Hugs!!

[cstrutt in reply to CSmithLadd]

Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it and think there is a lot of truth in what you say.

[lucylocks in reply to CSmithLadd]

Hi

do you mind me asking how you reduced you histamine level.

Last year I started with eczema and hives which I have not had before.

I was taking NDT at the time but now back on levo.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thank you.

[CSmithLadd in reply to lucylocks]

It is common for histamines to buildup in the hypothyroid body.

Everything slows down with hypothyroidism, including the ability to rid histamines and other toxins. Histamines are normally controlled by the secretion of DAO enzyme. Just as stomach acid is needed for breaking down foods, the DAO enzymes break down histamines so we don't become overloaded with them and thus symptomatic of allergies.

Since the vast majority of histamine exposure comes from the foods we eat, the first thing to do in order to lower histamine levels is to choose to eat foods that are lower in histamines. Supplementing with DAO enzymes will also be helpful when highly sensitive while histamine levels are problematic.

At the link below are lists of high histamine foods and those that are relatively low. Steering clear of alcohol, fermented foods, cow's milk, preservatives and food additives (among others you'll read about) is key to allowing your body's histamine levels to eventually reduce. After they have returned to normal, you'll be amazed at what you can slowly add back to your diet without issues (when used in moderation, of course).

mindbodygreen.com/0-11175/e...

Learning about histamine intolerance from a "do or die" perspective was certainly excellent for me as I was highly motivated by severe and debilitating allergies. Seemed I was suddenly allergic to just about everything! So I pored into this subject. I learned about how synthetic anti-histamines "work," and thus are so bad for us. Most of medicine out there on the shelves is there to hide symptoms that we really need to listen to and get to the root of just why they occur. I've found that my myriad of symptoms over decades were all attributed to hypothyroidism and its effect on slowing down the processes in the body. This is why hypothyroidism can cause almost any dysfunction.

If you have any gut issues, look into a stomach acid replacement such as HCL (or Betaine with HCL) because being hypo means having reduced stomach acid. That keeps us from absorbing the nutrients we need to convert thyroid hormone.

We're all different, so please remember to be methodical with change and write them down and how you feel a week after the change. Those notes were so valuable to me throughout my journey. They are still helpful to this day. History repeats itself, and we often make our own history. Learning what we need to do and why is what will bring good health back to each and every one of us.

You can do this. I can see your brain figuring it all out. The thing is that if you can make sense of something, then you will know when you have found the remedy. What we know in our heart will help us does because we have faith in it.

The key is understanding it. If you have any questions at all, I'm here for you.

Healing Hugs!

Charmaine

[lucylocks in reply to CSmithLadd]

Hi Charmaine,

many thanks for replying and providing excellent information and link.

I will certainly look into what you advise and read the link you kindly provided.

I am glad you have found improvement in your health.

Thank you again and best wishes.

[cstrutt]

I went to the doctors on Tues to have my 2nd blood test to establish whether I was on the right dose of levothyroxine. I had a phone call yesterday (Friday) only 3 days after blood test to say I had to have another one! She said the first was insufficient? Does this often happen? I'm awful at having blood tests so you can imagine my reaction

[cstrutt]

I've now been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease stage 3 on top of hypothyroidism. I'm wondering whether that could have been the reason behind the hives, although not had them for months. Anyone experienced anything similar?

[CSmithLadd in reply to cstrutt]

Please remember that "disease" is just another word for "dysfunction." Remaining calm and understanding that you can reverse Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) will help you get all the information you need in order to do so.

It's not two thing as you might think, as you say you have "CKD on top of hypothyroidism," but more likely just one:

"Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by a low T3 syndrome..."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

It is easy to understand that Low T3 will cause dysfunction in the body, as the cells cannot function properly without ample T3.

"Multiple systems, including the kidneys, are often involved in the pathophysiology of thyroid diseases. Thyroid dysfunction, or hypothyroidism could hamper renal functions predominantly in the aspects of hemodynamic changes, tubular dysfunction, and bone metabolism disorders. [1] Possible mechanisms leading to impaired renal function were:

1. Significantly reduced systemic metabolism due to thyroid hormone deficiency resulting in organ dysfunction, reduced protein synthesis, weakened muscle contraction and myxedema caused by increased interstitial mucin accumulation, and water trapping. Sodium retention and increased capillary permeability would further lead to hypovolemia."

(See entire list and full text: journal-ina.com/article.asp...

Many who are hypothyroid have been diagnosed with CKD and have reversed it by getting effective treatment for their uncontrolled hypothyroidism.

To put it in perspective, many hypothyroid sufferers are told they have Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). The heart is often enlarged and encased in water. Conventional doctors see that as being CHF. What they don't know is that when the edema of hypothyroidism wreaks havoc in the body... fluid builds up.

Congestive heart failure is defined as "When the heart weakens and pumps blood less effectively, fluid can slowly build up, creating leg edema. If fluid builds up quickly, you can get fluid in the lungs.

And then there's the bane of pharmaceuticals that can worsen that edema:

"Many medications can cause edema:

NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen and naproxen)

Calcium channel blockers

Corticosteroids (like prednisone and methylprednisolone)

Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone

Pramipexole"

webmd.com/heart-disease/hea...

The heart "weakens" as hypothyroidism slows it down. Hypothyroidism eventually slows down all systems. The thyroid is the regulator of the heart. If the thyroid hormone provided doesn't have adequate nutrients to facilitate conversion of T4 to T3, then the heart doesn't get the T3 in its cells so as to be properly regulated by the thyroid. Fluid build up around the heart, lungs, and anywhere else in the body is a common condition of edema caused by a sluggish thyroid.

The same goes for the kidneys. Sluggishness from hypothyroidism creates a decrease in renal function.

The thing is that doctors mostly look at every cause except the thyroid when they find fluid build up in the body. It's a shame, because most of the time the reason is thyroid dysfunction. Hypothyroidism and edema are bosom buddies. Even more than that, as the original name for hypothyroidism was Myxedema. Today, that term is used for severe hypothyroidism.

I can't count the times my knees had to be rid of water, called knee effusion. I had no idea it was a sign of hypothyroidism. I thought it was from playing too much tennis. Nope.

"Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease associated with antimicrosomal antibodies. Thyroid failure from any cause can lead to hypothyroidism which has numerous manifestations, including rheumatic. Rheumatic or musculoskeletal symptoms may be the initial presentation of hypothyroidism. Knee effusions are a common sign in hypothyroidism with a sluggish bulge sign, which is due to highly viscous synovial fluid."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/120...

This all should be good news to you. The entire body can undergo massive dysfunction when the cells are not getting the T3 needed for smooth functioning. Edema is rampant. Therefore, by any other name, a vast number of illnesses due to low T3 in the cells exist that continue to go undetected by most conventional physicians ignorant of thyroid dysfunction and how it can adversely affect all aspects of health.

Functional doctors do understand such things and know that "most chronically ill people have some level of thyroid dysfunction:"

holisticprimarycare.net/top...

For example: Gallbladders are removed each and every day due to gallbladder "disease" that really was only a slow thyroid that prohibited cholesterol to move through in an optimal manner. As the bile slowed and thickened, gallstones formed. It is a shame that doctors do not look into hypothyroidism as the cause, even though their protocol tells them to do so. When they do look into it, the TSH mentality often shows numbers that don't match for hypothyroidism.

Even if doctors aren't aware of it, more are becoming aware each and every day and leaving conventional medicine (GPs) and turning to holistic and functional medicine.

I wish more people knew all these things so that they would no longer suffer at the hands of those ignorant souls they trusted most to help them. It took me a while to pore through all the medical journals and reports to get to the bottom of what as needed for me, after 40+ years of severe and debilitating illnesses that just didn't add up to me. I didn't know there was anyone out there to trust again, so I did all my own research and reached the same conclusions I now know that physicians in functional medicine carry out in their practice. It worked for me to do this, but most people don't have the time or inclination to dedicate to such an undertaking -- especially when hypothyroid.

I learned that doctors don't know everything -- not by a long shot, as most are back in the dark ages. They are strictly "Treating by Numbers." Please look into what you've read here and investigate for yourself how your health situation can be corrected.

Find an enlightened functional or holistic physician. Conventional medicine is full of idiots who blindly follow a protocol they keep bashing their head and telling their patients to follow even though its basis is wholly illogical and has proven to be ineffective.

The plethora of sick people attests to the fact that their standard practices simply do not serve their patients well. They cannot replace vitamins and minerals with pharmaceuticals. It will never work. But it's probably the best snake oil scam in the business -- making us think we need pharmaceuticals and not nutrients. I too was a sucker for that. We all were mostly raised to believe that the family doctor knew what he was doing -- all the time.

The body needs nutrients to function properly. Thyroid hormone is made from iodine, yet any GP in the US or UK will tell you there's no problem with iodine deficiency in their respective countries -- which means they also lie:

lifeextension.com/magazine/...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

Healing Hugs,

Charmaine