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Hi everyone! I am so glad I found this forum.. I am a 55 YO female diagnosed with GD in January…2 weeks on Tapazole and my WBC dropped really low, so had RAI on 2/25. I am still overwhelmed from the diagnosis and have almost forgotten what it feels like to be healthy. The itching is absolutely overwhelming -100 mg of hydroxyzine a day doesn’t even touch it.
How long does it take for the RAI to kick in and to start feeling better? I would give anything to not itch.Well, "itching" isn’t a symptom that is associated with the RAI, typically, so I ‘m not sure how many helpful responses you are going to get.
I get itching from certain types of drugs, and it’s horrid when it happens, so I do sympathize with you. Usually, if you stop the drug, the itching subsides. So, you might consider if there’s any other drug that was added around the time of the RAI that might be responsible.
Many of us get very dry skin as a result of the hyperthyroid state, and if your itching is being caused by that, you might try using a rich moisturizing cream — even vaseline — over wet skin. This holds the moisture against the skin, and does alleviate the itching that dryness causes.
If the itching is on your lower legs, it might also be associated more with the Graves than with the RAI. I have had that along with my pretibial myxedema (a Graves added problem), and one of the things that helped there was to use a moisturizer and cover my lower legs with plastic wrap when I went to sleep at night. The plastic wrap helped the moisture to be absorbed into the skin better.
But if the itching is due to the RAI itself, you may have a much longer time to endure the problem. RAI has a half life of 8 days or so, so it takes at least a month, or slightly more, for it to dissipate from the body.
I do hope you find some relief soon.
Hi there – I think my question was confusing…I have been itching with the GD and wondering if the RAI I had on 2/25 will help to alleviate the itching. Also would like to hear about other’s experience with RAI and how long it took for them to start feeling better. Thanks!
Well, the itching is likely due to the changes that being hyperthyroid causes with the skin, so using the moisturizing procedures I described might help. It is important to apply moisturizers to WET skin. They then hold the moisture against the skin long enough for some of it to be absorbed.
RAI takes a good month or more to "work" its magic. I went hypothyroid after five weeks. Some folks don’t go hypo for five months. It varies, unfortunately, and so it’s not something any of us can predict for you. Try to look for improvement, rather than any absolute sense of "normal." That will help you to be patient through the process. Also, "normal" levels don’t necessarily bring normal "feeling" right away. That is because we have to be at controlled levels of normal for months so that the body can heal. The body doesn’t begin to heal until normal levels are sustained.
Pattimeg –
I am also recently diagnosed and so far have just been on the anti-thyroid meds for six weeks. I have had unbearable itching on my lower legs but also general itching everywhere since last fall when it seems my symptoms began. After the diagnosis it all started to make more sense. The general overall itching has passed now that my levels are coming down but I was (and still now) using almond oil, rubbed into my wet skin, before I step out of the shower. (If you go to a health food store, in the massage section, you’ll find a variety of body oils to use. I switch mine up and use what’s on sale. I like Home Health brand a lot, now I am using NOW brand). I also use a lotion that is heavy in natural oils, like safflower or sunflower or shea butter to add some moisture. All over, twice a day, and especially before bed as that was when I would start itching and couldn’t stop! Drove my husband a little batty! Oh, and warn others who use your shower that the floor could be slippery due to the oil.
My endo and now my dermatologist have both looked at my lower legs as they are still itchy. And when I scratch them, they bleed very easily. My endo didn’t say anything about them, just looked. But my dermatologist this week was concerned that I could get a secondary infection from the scratching. She prescribed me some medications to use directly on the scabs/wounds I am causing. After two days the creams seem to be helping some. But she also recommended an over the counter lotion for eczema and itchy skin called Sarna to use to try and avoid any more need for aggressive scratching. I had to ask at the local Walgreen’s where to find it as it wasn’t with the other regular lotions. It was near the anti-itch creams instead. It is pricey but you aren’t supposed to use it all over your body or for an extended period of time. You might look for it, it might help you out for now.
Hope this helps a little!Thanks for the tip..I will give the oil a try…my doctor has tried a number of different antihistamines. She also gave me a script for lorazapem for anxiety. Last night I took 25 mg of Benadryl and the .5 mg lorazepam before bed and my itching was minimal. I see the endo this Thursday 3/17 for my 1st appt after the RAI, I am hoping that as my levels come down the itching will get better.
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