Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • Krisann79
    Participant
    June 18, 2011 at 8:08 pm
    Post count: 32
    #1061512

    My friend had a nodule on her thyroid in the past and had the surgery to partially remove her thyroid. She has mentioned that she takes Benadryl every night because she breaks out in hives without it and itches. I now wonder if these two are linked. She said she didn’t know why it happened but never really looked into it either……..

    Bobbi
    Participant
    June 18, 2011 at 8:22 pm
    Post count: 1324
    #1061513

    We often experience itching while hyperthyroid, because of dry skin. Try putting a good, dense moisturizer on your skin while it is still damp after a shower or bath for the next few days. The moisturizer will hold the moisture against the skin and help to keep it from becoming too dry.

    If that doesn’t work, then perhaps the itching could be due to a drug that you are taking. If that seems to be the case, then you need to talk with your doctor(s).

    mom2pups
    Participant
    June 18, 2011 at 11:54 pm
    Post count: 14
    #1017895

    Hi everyone,

    Ever since I had the virus in April and then became hyper-T (recently dx with GD), I have had itching starting in the evening. Abt 10PM I get very hot and the itching becomes intense. It was getting better, but then 10 days ago I started the Methimazole (Tapazole). That 6th or 7th night I thought I was reacting to the drug since the itching started happening intensely again. But I don’t itch after the other 2 doses (in fact the last dose is at 11PM). So it may have nothing to do with the med?

    I know itching can be part of GD, but I am wondering why it starts a little in the evening, but then becomes intense around 10PM? Does something happen with the thyroid antibodies at that time?

    I started taking Benadryl and it’s helping. Of course I will mention this to my endo, but just wondered if others experienced the same thing?

    Am I just weird? OK, I mean weird abt this itching. I know I can be weird in general. LOL.

    mom2pups
    Participant
    June 20, 2011 at 3:15 pm
    Post count: 14
    #1061514

    Hi Bobbi, thanks so much for the reply. I am doing as u said, and it does seem to help during the day, but dang if it doesn’t get between 10PM-11PM and I suddenly feel a very hot flush and get extremely itchy. I’m taking Benadryl now right before 10PM.
    No worries I will ask the doc abt it.

    I wondered if any others with GD suddenly get a hot flush with intense itching-esp in the evening?

    My thyroid tests came back today, but my ACTH stim test to diagnose Addisons wasn’t back- so hopefully it will be back tmw-then the doc calls with the results and I have a list of questions/concerns.

    Thanks again for the help!

    Cindy

    mom2pups
    Participant
    June 20, 2011 at 3:20 pm
    Post count: 14
    #1061515
    Krisann79 wrote:My friend had a nodule on her thyroid in the past and had the surgery to partially remove her thyroid. She has mentioned that she takes Benadryl every night because she breaks out in hives without it and itches. I now wonder if these two are linked. She said she didn’t know why it happened but never really looked into it either……..

    Interesting Krisann. Hmm I wonder what her doc would say-related to thyroid-or something else.

    Thanks for the reply!

    Bobbi
    Participant
    June 20, 2011 at 7:48 pm
    Post count: 1324
    #1061516

    I don’t know where the itching is, Cindy, but another thing I used to do with itching on my lower legs was to put on the moisturizer at night, AND wrap them with plastic wrap. You must NOT do this if you are using a cortisone cream for the itching. But if you are using only a moisturizer and the part of the body that’s driving you nuts is amenable to wrapping, the plastic wrap will help keep the moisture on the skin.

    Krisann79
    Participant
    June 21, 2011 at 7:55 pm
    Post count: 32
    #1061517
    mom2pups wrote:

    Krisann79 wrote:My friend had a nodule on her thyroid in the past and had the surgery to partially remove her thyroid. She has mentioned that she takes Benadryl every night because she breaks out in hives without it and itches. I now wonder if these two are linked. She said she didn’t know why it happened but never really looked into it either……..

    Interesting Krisann. Hmm I wonder what her doc would say-related to thyroid-or something else.

    Thanks for the reply!

    You know that’s a good question. This girl hasn’t been back!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank God she feels fine but she’s obviously neglecting something that should really be checked regularly…..her remaining thyroid levels! She’s not on medicine because she said the took out the "right amount". Well I’m sure they did but it doesn’t mean you stop checking on it yearly to make sure your results aren’t or are normal. Lol!

    susan
    Participant
    June 23, 2011 at 7:48 pm
    Post count: 22
    #1061518

    I also had severe itching. It preceded all my other symptoms and diagnosis. I was told it is a rare symptom and even though I had always moisturized I still itched and yes, it was at night as well. I also started taking Benedryl at night. The problem was when I had to get up in the morning, it was hard to get out of bed-especially if I took it after 10 PM. A friend suggested Allegra and it worked right away and I was fine in the morning.
    Once I had RAI, 95 % of the itching stopped.Good luck!…Susan

    mom2pups
    Participant
    June 23, 2011 at 10:39 pm
    Post count: 14
    #1061519

    Hi Bobbie, what a great idea with the plastic wrap. I will have to try that during winter months when my skin is so dry. My itching the last couple weeks is oddly for the most part from the waist up. I am finding that moisturizing isn’t really taking the itch away (even the itch before I started the Methimazole).

    I spoke with the endo Tuesday eve. That night before I didn’t sleep from 2AM-6:30AM-I felt like I had a severe sunburn and from the waist up I was on fire. The itching and heat brought me to tears several times.
    We decided to stop the Methimazole for 48 hours, and I am to call in the AM and let him know if I am still having intense feeling of heat and itching.

    I had a little itching today when I was out in the sun-but any itching the past 2 nights has been what I have had since becoming hyperthyroid-definitely not what I experienced while on the Methimazole.

    So, I guess I will start the PTU tmw. I am praying I don’t have any side effects with it. Not sure what I will do if I can’t take it. I know RAI would be the next step, but my mom is in hospice and this past week we had a scare. So…I am scared something will happen to my mom and I couldn’t be near her (I realize exposing her at that point wouldn’t matter-but maybe it would expose the staff, family or other patients). Also God forbid if there was a funeral…
    So please send up some positive thoughts I can handle the PTU.

    We have to redo the ACTH stim test for Addison’s in 4-6 months. He said to continue to increase the Prednisone if I am sick or stressed-so he is still treating me as someone with Adrenal Insufficiency.

    Hi Krisann, oh, my, that really isn’t a smart move not getting levels checked when it is needed. Hopefully she gets a kick in the butt to get her to take care of herself!! LOL.

    Hi Susan, yes! I have itched starting before I became hyper-T. For the most part the only thing that helped was Benadryl. That’s why when the itching became even worse after starting the Methimazole, I just thought it was a progression of the itching i have had since before the GD began.

    It doesn’t seem that the itching is due to dry skin-my skin looks fine-my hands aren’t even dry looking like happens in the winter. I think the moisturizing is a little soothing, but doesn’t actually stop the itching.

    my doc’s nurse practitioner said I can take Claritan in the AM, and Benadryl at night. I know what u mean with that drugged feeling in the AM after the Benadryl. I’ll have to see if Allegra would be OK for me.

    At least now since off the Methimazole I am back to my "regular" itching and not the drug side effect itching too!
    I’m truly sorry u have dealt with the same symptom- but it’s also nice to know I’m not alone-so thanks for telling me.
    take care, Glad u got so much better with RAI!

    Thanks everyone!

  • Author
    Posts
Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.