Itching skin

[luluskiptomylu]

I am also on thyroid medication and from October until April I have an uncontrollable itch on my arms I could scratch them until they bleed .I have tried everything but to no avail it is very distressing .I didn't give it a thought that it could be my medication though. wish i had some good advice for you sorry

[shaws Administrator]

Have you tried taking one anti-histamine tablet one hour before you take your thyroid hormones.

If you try this and it relieves your itchiness ask whoever gives you the thyroid hormones if they have another make. It could be the fillers/binders in yours that may be the cause.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Similar post from earlier today ...with many replies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Please add how much levothyroxine you are taking

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were thyroid levels and vitamin levels last tested?

[Lucieb01 in reply to SlowDragon]

i have thyroid prob and i,m on 200mg thyroxine i have a terrible itch but i also have chronic kidney desease i get tested yearly for my thyriod n ckd but i dont have a glue what stage my ckd is at ty

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lucieb01]

Presumably you have Hashimoto’s

First step is to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing,

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 (plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies if not been tested.) Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue to.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

List of hypothyroid symptoms

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

When adequately treated, TSH will often be well below one. Most important results are ALWAYS Ft3 followed by Ft4. When adequately treated Ft4 is usually in top third of range and Ft3 at least 60% through range (regardless of how low TSH is)

Extremely important to have optimal vitamin levels too as this helps reduce symptoms and improve how levothyroxine works

Come back with new post once you get results

[Carys21]

I had this on both my forearms some years ago, it was unbearable as the itch didn't stop even when I scratched it raw, mine was Dermatitis herpetiformis which is linked to autoimmune reaction to gluten, could be the medication woke up your immune system a bit. I used capsicum cream on it, was the only thing that worked at the time, I had it for about 3 years on and off then it went away. I avoid gluten now BTW