[lgmalloy]

#1060576

I have broken out with hives everywhere.I am scratching myself to pieces! Is this a reaction to meds – methimazole and propanalol, or is this from GD? I also have lymph nodes swelling in my neck.
I went to endo but only saw PA and I think she was rude and uncaring. I told her what was going on and she asked if I was going through “withdrawl” (absolutely not), waking at 4 am starving – “Do you smoke pot” (no) and a severe sore throat – “well you probably picked up something from your students” –
I asked if this could be a reaction to the meds but was told to just stay on them. I am so miserable

[Kimberly]

#1183465

Hello – Wow, sorry for the terrible experience with the PA. Can you see someone else in that practice, or can you find another doctor? You really need someone who has a better “bedside manner” and a better understanding of potential side effects of methimazole!

If you still have the sore throat, I would get in to see someone ASAP, even if it is the emergency room or an urgent care center, especially if you also have a fever. Sore throat with fever is a potential sign of a RARE but serious side effect of methimazole that involves a lowered white blood cell count.

As for the hives, some patients do have this type of skin reaction as a side effect from anti-thyroid drugs. However, in other cases, the hives/itching are actually caused by the hyperthyroidism itself and will resolve once thyroid levels are stabilized. The latest medical guidance notes that for “minor” skin irritation with methimazole, you can keep taking the drug in conjunction with antihistamines. But you would need an expert medical opinion to decide if your reaction is “mild”.

This is obviously your decision, but personally, I would call your doctor’s office to report the PA’s behavior – both for not knowing about the side effects of the methimazole (which is a fairly common med) as well as for making insulting comments.

[lgmalloy]

#1183466

Thanks. I have been trying to report this for days but cannot get past the receptionist. I called and reported going to hospital, and it was a severe reaction. I had hives on top of hives, literally, and even had them in my mouth! My lips swelled almost shut – my husband said it was a cross between A Jolie and the Simpson’s – yeah, funny man. The hospital told me to stop the methimazole. When endo office called it was with a message from the PA telling me to increase meth! My labs came in and TSH was falling after a slight rise

Name
Standard Range
11/13/14 11/24/14 11/30/14 12/17/14
T3 Uptake Ratio
24 – 39 %
29 27
T4, Total
4.5 – 12.0 ug/dL
12.2 6.8
Free Thyroxine
1.2 – 4.9
3.5 1.8
TSH
0.450 – 4.500 uIU/mL
<0.005 0.005 <0.01 0.005

[jmkarlen]

#1183467

I broke out in hives about 2 weeks after starting methimazole, it was horrible and took several days to go away. I went to Urgent Care was treated for hives and told to stop taking methimazole. The sad thing was, I was starting to feel better. I ended up on PTU until I made the decision to do RAI.

So sorry to hear you were treated so poorly. Good luck as you continue to find the treatment that works best for you.

[Kimberly]

#1183468

Hello – Sounds like the hospital got you taken care of, but I would at least write a letter to that doctor’s office! If you have photos, I would include those as well.

The doctors’ office should also be aware of the medical guidance from the American Thyroid Association & American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists that states that Free T4 and T3 and *not* TSH are the benchmarks that should be used in making dosing decisions. TSH can remain suppressed for quite some times in Graves’ patients and is not a reliable benchmark.

Now that the hospital told you to stop the methimazole, do you have an appointment to talk to someone about next steps in terms of treatment? If your endo’s office won’t help, you might go back to your primary care doc to see if he/she can give you some guidance.

Take care!

[snelsen]

#1183469

You have two holidays coming up! You have a legitimate issue, and you are miserable. All of this has been discouraging, demoralizing and defeating. I am so darn sorry.
You were NOT treat well at all by the PA. NOT at all. I would take a look at your posts, compile hour experiences in a letter to the clinic manager, and the doc. BUT I also understand you are stuck with them for now. If you have a primary care doc, I echo Kimberly’s suggest to try to see that today. NONE of this is simple, and you want to feel better. I am so darn sorry.
Shirley

[AllieKatz]

#1183470

Igmalloy, I am So sorry you were treated like this by the PA. I hope you are doing much better now. Did the PA apologize to you? What I love about this site is that Kimberly et al gives the best advice. I was diagnosed with Graves 1 1/2 years ago and have been taking Methamazole. I also have itching and hives. The last 2 weeks I have had a fever and the hives appear more symptomatic of a rash and possibly Shingles. I had Chicken Pox as a child, Shingles 5 years ago and then again 3 years ago after my husband passed from Cancer. I am wondering since Graves Disease is an autoimmune disease and our immune systems are compromised, are we more at risk for Shingles from the Graves Disease itself or from the ATD or both?

[Kimberly]

#1183471

Hello – I’ve not heard of methimazole being connected with shingles; I think it’s more the autoimmunity in general that increases the risk for shingles. It’s believed that there is also a connection between shingles and stress. Hope that you *don’t* have to deal with that again!

[teresaaranieri]

#1183472

I got hives from the tapazole, maybe you should stop taking it? I was told to because its an allergic reaction! Yikes.

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