[dtingraves]

#1059610

I had the RAI treatment 2 1/2 weeks ago. The day after, I felt better than I have in months. I was extremely excited, although I wasn’t sure if my sudden burst of energy was from lacking hyperthyroid symptoms or from sleep and stress relief from finals being over (I am in college). I continued to feel pretty well for the next few days and got to live a fairly normal life, something I haven’t done in the months since my diagnosis of Graves’.
Four days after my treatment, I broke out in hives like I’ve never had before in my life. I quit taking the medication I was on (atenolol, methimazole, iron supplements) because I had no idea what caused the hives. I took every allergy medicine imaginable before finally going to the ER and receiving a steroid shot that finally made the hives disappear (this was after 3 days of having hives).
Ever since, I have felt worse than I have since being diagnosed. My doctor suspects the way I’m feeling and the hives has been caused by a thyroid storm.
I was on atenolol for 2 months and methimazole for 1 month before my RAI treatment and my doctor advised that I continue taking both of these meds until a week after my treatment. I stopped early because of the hives, but I feel very dependent on the meds at this point. I’m waiting on my blood work to come back so I can see my counts.

Has anyone had an allergic reaction to methimazole or hives at any point after having RAI treatment?
In addition to this, if anyone has experienced a thyroid storm, insight is appreciated. My doctor told me at this point to be patient, but I honestly don’t know how long I can continue to feel the way that I do.

[Naisly]

#1176144

Do you think it is possible you are allergic to iodine? Some people are, that could be it. How are you feeling otherwise? Blood pressure, pulse, fever, etc. I would recomend to keep daily tabs on those while you wait for your blood work and if they go abnormally out of wack, go to the ER because thyroid storms are life threatening.

~Naisly

[snelsen]

#1176145

Hi, with all respect to your doctor, I am wondering if he/she knows what a thyroid storm is. I’d review that with him/her again. Doubt if you had one, but you can discuss that with the doc. Hives are unrelated. Following is a brief description from the University of Wisconsin:

. When thyroid hormone levels become very high, the symptoms worsen and can result in a serious condition called thyroid storm or thyrotoxic crisis. One major sign of thyroid storm that differentiates it from ordinary hyperthyroidism is a marked elevation of body temperature, which may be as high as 105-106 F (40.5-41.1 C). Thyroid storm is unusual, but is a life-threatening emergency when it does occur. People experiencing symptoms of thyroid storm should be promptly taken to an emergency department.

So, as Naisly mentioned, and I want to reinforce, a thyroid storm is a medical emergency, and a person can easily die from this rare situation if not treated, and in a hospital.

Regarding your hives, that really is a puzzle. Did you receive any other meds, or are you taking any other new meds, that might have caused the hives? Food allergies you did not know about? I am not sure how long after receiving iodine a reaction could occur. The only ones I have seen have occurred very shortly after receiving iodine, and/or within hours afterward.

Do keep track of how you feel-not sure if feeling crappy means feeling hyper for you, or not. Because you had hives, and they were significant, I do understand why you are reluctant to go back on the meds. But do keep track of your blood pressure, check with the doc, for if it is high, you should be on some beta blocker. Maybe you and the doc will know more after you get your labs. I sure hope you feel better this weekend.
Shirley

[Kimberly]

#1176146

Hello – To reiterate what Naisly and Shirley said, here is some additional info from the National Institutes of Health about thyroid storm:

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001437/

As this document notes, thyroid storm “is is an emergency condition. Call 911 or another emergency number if you have hyperthyroidism and experience symptoms of thyroid storm.”

Hives can potentially be a side effect of anti-thyroid drugs, or they can sometimes occur as a symptom of hyperthyroidism. The good news is that you finally got some relief — hopefully, you won’t have to deal with this again!

[Author]

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