Hashimoto's and Hives

[littlemama1016]

I've posted before on another thread about my husband having hives for almost 4 months. He's been now diagnosed with Hashimoto's but his thyroid levels are supposedly normal. He's still taking Zyrtec, allegra, tagamet, vistaril, levothyroxin and now they just added zyflo. I'm wondering if his thryoid levels are normal, why is he still having hives so badly as well as episodes of angiodema. Any takers on this one? Am I wrong to think that once his thyroid medicine level gets to the "right" levels on mg that perhaps his hives will disappear? They upped his levothyroxin to 100 mg now. Is that accurate thinking or just wishfull thinking, anyone? Also, anyone have any experience with this Zyflo medicine?

I'm still trying to understand all of this thryoid stuff so I'll take any advice I can get. Thanks!!!!

[Clarissa234]

The Hashimoto's is what is causing the hives. There are other people on here who have posted about this. I have a friend who had Hashimoto's with borderline hypothyroid for years and she had hives every year during the Spring and Summer seasons for a number of years. Once she started levothyroxine, the yearly bout with hives stopped. I hope the same for your husband.

Things to consider:
Too many prescriptions - what are all those medicines doing to his immune system?

Daily sunshine - boosts Vitamin D and the immune system (natural Vitamin D from sunlight and nutrition is best).

A healthy way of eating and 30 minutes exercise per day - boosts the immune system. Staying away from chemicals and genetically modified ingredients is better for those of us with compromised immune systems (Hashimoto's).

I'm seeing an acupuncturist for immune system treatment including treating my Hashimoto's. She told me it takes a long time to treat, but that she can help boost my immune system. So far I've had 7 treatments. I no longer need my Allegra or Prilosec. In fact, I've been doing so well lately, that I'm not using my Flonase (nasal spray for allergies) every day.

I hope your husband's hives subside soon, but ask him to consider taking care of himself differently rather than just popping yet another pill.

[elmhar]

Having "normal levels" may not be enough to eliminate the hives with Hashi's. It's not uncommon to need the TSH to be suppressed to levels lower than normal, such as below 0.1, in order for the skin symptoms to abate. Of course, the free hormone levels (free T3 & free T4) must be monitored as well, to ensure that these do not go over the top of the normal range while working towards TSH suppression.

Thyroid antibodies have potential to bind to the mast cells in the skin. When this happens, the antibodies act like an allergen, causing the skin to release histamine, which makes hives.

There are a couple of ways to reduce thyroid antibody production, and lessen the hives. One way is to provide enough thyroid hormone by pill that the thryoid essentially is suppressed. Another way to reduce antibody production is by administering steroids -- but that is rarely done for hives.

The majority of medical practitioners utilize a rather simplistic flow chart for making decisions about thyroid meds. It doesn't account for individual variations. Your DH might consult with an MD who is board-certified in allergy & immunology, who might work with -- explain the mechanisms, wherefores, etc.-- to the doc Rxng your DH's thyroid meds.

A final thought -- it's not uncommon for folks to react to the dyes in T meds, or to some other excipient (inactive ingredient), in a way that promotes hives. The dye problem, especially, is a frequent offender. Most brands of T4 meds are dye-free at the 50 mcg. dose, which can be taken in needed multiples for the RXd dose. I got hives from the 75 mcg. Synthroid tablet which is dyed mauve. When I switched to Levoxyl, 1.5 tabs of dye-free 50 mcg., the hives disappeared.

Best wishes.

[pockets]

Elmhar
Thank you so much for that informative post. I have been trying to understand what the docs are telling me about my thyroid causing the issue with my hives for 2 months solid and counting and no one has been able to make me understand. Not that I'm stupid, but it just didnt make sense until you put it all out there. So, thank you.

Pockets

[Mar28]

Originally Posted by littlemama1016

I've posted before on another thread about my husband having hives for almost 4 months. He's been now diagnosed with Hashimoto's but his thyroid levels are supposedly normal. He's still taking Zyrtec, allegra, tagamet, vistaril, levothyroxin and now they just added zyflo. I'm wondering if his thryoid levels are normal, why is he still having hives so badly as well as episodes of angiodema. Any takers on this one? Am I wrong to think that once his thyroid medicine level gets to the "right" levels on mg that perhaps his hives will disappear? They upped his levothyroxin to 100 mg now. Is that accurate thinking or just wishfull thinking, anyone? Also, anyone have any experience with this Zyflo medicine?

I'm still trying to understand all of this thryoid stuff so I'll take any advice I can get. Thanks!!!!

I know what your husband is going through, because I have hives since August last year, and after so many tests, biopsy, and different doctors, the only thing that came up was Hashimoto Thyroiditis. The thyroid is working just fine, it's big, I am swollen all over, eyes, lips, hands, feet, and so far, nothing worked. It works when I start taking new prescription, but after one or two weeks, the hives come back again. I take Zyrtec, Atarax, Zantac, started Unythroid week ago, and the hives still here. It's frustating, I am taking Prozac to see if I can take my mind off of it.
The worse thing about going out, is when your face is swollen. Everybody look at you. The doctors say I can have this forever, or just like that, it can go away. We can go to the moon, but we don't have solution for hives from Hashimoto. Just crazy!