Possible angioedema?

[Brieabailey]

Has anyone with Hashimotos ever been diagnosed with Angioedema as well? I've been having these hives that turn into blister looking hives, which then look like a bug bite if I itch them. It seems like every time I get myself warm, more appear and are very itchy, a long with me having a scratchy throat. This also happens when I'm in the cold for awhile. So I'm curious to know if angioedema can react more when pregnant with hashimotos to where you can see you have it. Or if it just occurs whenever it wants to show?

[startagaingirl]

Hi - what you are describing doesn't sound like angioedema which is more like a local or generalized severe skin swelling. But it does sound like it could be some sort of an allergic or intolerance related issue. Coeliac, for instance, is known to produce watery blisters as part of a reaction. Also a relatively large proportion of us Hashis are intolerant of gluten - some have other intolerances as well. Have you trialled a strict gluten free diet to see if that helps? Or maybe try keeping a comprehensive food diary to see if you can spot any pattern on when it appears.

If anything you are less likely to have allergy problems when pregnant as I understand the body turns down the immune system. Certainly my daughter, who suffered badly from eczema (before exclusion diet), found that her skin problems declined dramatically during pregnancy and re-emerged shortly after giving birth.

Gillian

[Brieabailey in reply to startagaingirl]

I am pregnant as well. I just started my second trimester, and around 3 weeks ago when I found out I had a UTI, I've been getting these hive like symptoms, with headaches, and a very dry and scratchy mouth. I don't decal eating anything different, other maybe my vitamins I've been taking? Which I had just switched about a week ago. I also am now taking 100 mg of Levo, instead of 75 to make sure my bodies making enough hormone for my baby. And it seems like ever since I started the higher dosage my bodies been sort of reacting funky.

[Brieabailey in reply to Brieabailey]

100 MCG sorry xD

[startagaingirl in reply to Brieabailey]

So you had a UTI - did you take anti-biotics for it? If yes and symptoms started about the same time, these have probably disrupted your digestion system (they kill good bacteria as well as bad), which could well have left you more sensitive to an allergic reaction. It certainly sounds like a reaction. If the symptoms started after you changed your vitamins, then look to those. If they started with your levo dose being raised then it is likely a reaction to that brand. I see you queried this before and it was suggested you try a different brand - did you manage to do so?

Seek advice from a pharmacist before trying anti-histamine to make sure you get one that is safe during pregnancy.

Congratulations on the pregnancy btw.

Gillian

[Brieabailey in reply to startagaingirl]

I wasn't able to switch my brand of Levo due to my insurance not seeing it a good of enough reason. I think I'll just stop taking my prenatals for a little while and eat foods that will give me the nutrients and vitamins that way. I'll be seeing my OB/GYN tomorrow when I call in and let her know about what's going on. I was taking a new prescription I've never tried, and it's been about 3 or 4 days since I've been done with it, so I'm not sure it's that medication. Which I was prescribed One now I've taken before. Also, Thank you! I'll keep trying to get my insurance to help me cover Synthroid instead of Levo, that way I can see as to whether or not this is the problem. Or even a different brand.

[humanbean]

Are you on Levothyroxine? if you are it is quite common for people to be allergic to some brands. There are 4 different brands of levo in use in the UK. Start keeping records of the brand(s) you are given by pharmacists. If you know you get a reaction to one brand, phone around and ask different pharmacies which brands of Levo they have available. If they have something you haven't tried then ask if they can dispense the dose on your prescription.

I think three of the four brands available in the UK have acacia as one of the fillers, and it is extremely common for people to be allergic or intolerant to this.

One thing you can do in the meantime is to try taking an anti-histamine (the tablets people take for hay fever) before you take your Levo. It might cut down your problems. It's worth a try, anyway.

[Brieabailey in reply to humanbean]

I have actually thought about whether or not the hives are caused by my levothroxine, because every single time my doctor ups my dosage, even if UT's just a tiny bit. I get hives. And I could be taking that dosage for weeks before it shows symptoms. And I have talked with my pharmacist and doctor and they both tried getting me on synthroid itself, instead of Levothroxine. But I've never had problems with my mouth being so dry, and my throat being scratchy when I talk or eat. I wonder if all of these could be caused by my Levothroxine, and especially since I take 100 MCG now instead of 75.

[humanbean in reply to Brieabailey]

Since you mention synthroid I'm guessing you are from the US?

I think helvella knows about USA brands of Levothyroxine. Synthroid is just a brand name for a Levothyroxine product. It is well-known because it has a huge marketing budget. I believe that the makers of synthroid also offer incentives to doctors to prescribe it.

All brands/generics of Levothyroxine have to adhere to the standards laid down in the US Pharmacopeia, whether it is synthroid or something much cheaper.

If you had a list of the brands/generics available you could look up their ingredients online and find out which ones have acacia in, then try to get a prescription for one of the others.

Obviously it might not be the acacia you are reacting to, but it is one of the commonest problems amongst people who take Levo and other thyroid meds.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to humanbean]

Have a look at dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/

[humanbean in reply to helvella]

Wow! So much more choice in the US than in the UK!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to humanbean]

Actually not that many more levothyroxine tablet formulations than us.

Lannett and Unithroid are the same product.

Many of the apparent makes are just packaged for major companies like Kaiser.

Thyrolar (a T4/T3 combi) hasn't been available for many years.

[Brieabailey in reply to humanbean]

I am from the U.S.! And honestly reading what you just wrote makes complete sense to me now. I had no idea Synthroid was just another brand! I'll definitely look into the ingredients in the Levo I take now, that way I can try a different brand that might be better for me to take.

[humanbean in reply to Brieabailey]

Good luck.

[humanbean in reply to Brieabailey]

You might find it interesting to do a Google search for "history of Synthroid".

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

nytimes.com/2001/07/24/scie...

thyroid-info.com/articles/s...

[Brieabailey in reply to humanbean]

I just looked at the ingredients that were in the brand of Levo I'm taking. That site that helvella gave me is REALLY helpful. I hadn't realized there were so many brands! And I'll do that right now!

[Brieabailey in reply to humanbean]

Wow O: Just by reading what's in Synthroid, I already know that will cause me problems. I guess I just have to try a different brand from a different manufacturer, and see if it works better for me. There's so many so I hope we find the one that is best for me in a timely manner.

[Brieabailey in reply to humanbean]

Well I really appreciate you helping me understand the difference between brands. I honestly heard about people being allergic to certain brands, but I never understood what people meant by that. I'll be talking with my doctor tomorrow, a long with my pharmacist to see if they can change manufacturers! Thank you a lot!!

[Saggyuk in reply to Brieabailey]

I know some people have issues with acacia or lactose but I seem to have a problem with some of the sugars used especially ones with mannitol or not just bog standard sugar. Can't have sweetners or any products with them in either so I request the ones with lactose instead. All you can do is keep trying different ones for a few weeks to see if reaction dissipates

[Brieabailey in reply to Saggyuk]

I'm lactose intolerant so that may not be the best for me. But I'll experiment with different brands and let everyone know how it goes (:

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Brieabailey]

If I were in the USA, and could afford it, I'd probably choose Tirosint gel caps.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Brieabailey]

We have seen so many USA folk not appreciate that simple fact! Synthroid's marketing has been incredibly effective over many decades. Thank you just for reading!

[jgelliss in reply to humanbean]

humanbean you are so right . Synthroid is #1 script to be handed out for thyroid patients . Synthroid has many fillers and one being acacia . Many patients have lots of symptoms from Synthroid . Allergies ,palpitations . Yet Dr continue pushing it . It's called "FOLLOW THE MONEY" . Changing to a different brand with the least fillers and or even dye free would be great . I dose with the Dye free . The 50mcg T4 all come dye free . You need to take more than one pill to achieve your dose and it might be more costly but it's worth it . Most pills have the yellow dyes in them and a lot of patients are allergic to them not being aware .

[cthaffy1956]

google.com.au/search?q=Angi...

[Hidden]

Hi Briebailey - congrats on pregnancy - your pharmacist should be able to recommend

an antihistamin cream for your skin, and a preparation which will stop the hives blisters getting

infected. Othrer folk have suggested you have an allergy to anitbiotics - and you mentioned

you thought it might be the vitamins you have taken. Other hashimotos have skin problems

linked with their autoimmune disease, such as vitiligo which can be helped by vitamin B12

and naturally occurring B6 in food. Vitamin B 3 is the new vitamin now being given to pregnant women in the uk.

The trouble with some vitamin products is that the capsules might contain metals ammonia

and titanium dioxide, and may contain fillers which can give you allergies. helps. Even food colourants

in vitamin tablets can give allergy. You could take folate in food kale spinach and chicken wikapaedia is a good source of information telling you how much vitamin there is in lists of

food . You could also drink milk which contains many vitamins but the most helpful vitamin

is vitamin a to be taken in foods - carrots apricots, have betacarotene, which helps to

assimilate vitamin a . Retinol a cream is good for hashimotos and is used as a beauty cream.

Neutrogena has an antiwrinkle cream with retinol a which you might get in the US.

Other people who have excema problems use vitamin F in primrose oil in health care

stores or as a tablet. Someone I knew had fantastic results with vitamin f primrose oil but could not get a prescription for it. I find Manuki honey medicated wound gel helpful for dry skin

patches, It can heal the blisters and mops up necrotic tissue.

I think you have hit the nail on the head with the vitamins or a recent change in diet.