Help with hives

[thyroidmom84]

Hi, thyroid friends. I tried posting in the skin group but didn’t get any replies. Since I know hives is linked to hypothyroidism/Hashimoto’s- I thought I might ask the group. I started noticing my chronic hives in November. I had never had them before and they happened to occur at a time when my TSH was high (around 6. My T3 is 3.0 with a range of 2-4.4). I have recently had my levo dose increased to try to address this.

Well after feeling like a freak going to a ton of specialists who seemed confused by my hives (“they must be an allergic reaction, they could be autoimmune related, did anything strange happen before you got them?”), I was first given a medrol pack that didn’t do much. Then I started taking generic Zyrtec which has really helped in that it has eliminated the hives from popping up and for quite some time was controlling the itching. Well recently the itching seems to have returned, although minority, all over really but mostly on my scalp. Wondering if maybe I should switch to a different antihistamine.

I also notice that I flush in the face and chest sometimes and sweat more than normal while at work. This makes me a little nuts. Initially I didn’t think it was related but then I read an article about how histamine production can make you feel warm.

Lastly, also curious if anyone found that gluten seemed to trigger their hives or if anything helped make them go away?

Thanks in advance!

[OrangeGirl]

I have Hashimotos and developed hives. My TPO antibodies were off the charts when tested- over 8,000 and the range was under 34. I asked my doctor to prescribe Low Dose Naltrexone. I started at 1.5 mg several years ago. My hives disappeared and my antibodies are now over 4,000, so halved. I currently take 3mg.of LDN and will likely stay on this dose.

[Serendipitious in reply to OrangeGirl]

OrangeGirl,

Good to hear that LDN helped you. Are you in the UK? Was this a private doctor or an NHS GP that prescribed LDN?

[OrangeGirl in reply to Serendipitious]

I am in Canada. My endo didn't know anything about it but was willing to look at the research I gave him from the LDN site. I think he was okay to prescribe it since there are so few side effects. I am happy that it has resolved my chronic hives and halved my antibodies although there's a way to go to bring them down to normal. That may never happen though.

[Serendipitious in reply to OrangeGirl]

I’m also taking it but it was given to me by a Clinic here in London in the UK. I doubt my GP would offer it to me.

I have skin issues which occur in the summer but it hasn’t resolved those. It has lowered my antibodies. Skin issues are always related to the gut and liver. Clearly I have other things to look at.

[Batty1]

I suffer with hives off and on and I have no antibodies and thyroid levels are "normal".

[Serendipitious in reply to Batty1]

That’s quite possible as skin issues originate from the gut and liver.

[jgelliss]

Do you have recent labs with FT3 FT4 TSH ? It may have some answers if your optimally dosed . I found from my own personal experiences that the dose that works well for me in the Spring /Summer . Does not work for me in the late Fall /Winter cold weather. I need to adjust my dose and raise my T4 dose in the Fall/Winter months to avoid breakouts and itching . It's an adjustment I learned from my experiences that helps me .