Hypothyroid and Cholinergic Urticaria (hives); also my OTC solution

[antihives]

Update: Just read an interesting paragraph from the book: Living Well With Hypothyroidism by Mary J Shomon:

Urticaria is particularly common in thyroid patients. Studies have found that a significant percentage of patients with urticaria also have high levels of antithyroid antibodies, even though they may not have clinical thyroid disease.  Interestingly, in one study, ten patients with chronic urticaria had normal thyroid blood test levels--but seven of the ten had elevated antithyroid antibodies and three controls had no antithyroid antibodies.  After being treated with levothyroxine, the seven patients with antibodies reported their urticaria symptoms went away within four weeks.  The three controls did not respond.  In five patients, symptoms recurred after treatment was stopped; these symptoms again resolved after treatment was restarted.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Get yourself tested folks!


I made a post awhile ago that eliminating Dust-mites had been the cure for my hives. That was "kind-of" it. They would still sometimes come and go, but less frequently. Then I started doing some research about different OTC medicines.  One interesting article was about how there are different "Histamine" blockers. Zyteric -- blocks one type, and Zantac -- blocks the other. I have found that if I take one Zyrtec in the morning along with one Zantac 150, it will keep my hives away for the full day (sorry didn't mean to rhyme there). If i miss it, then they can arise that very day. Its definitely working for me. One other interesting thing, I can take generic Zyrtec, but have to use namebrand Zantac 150 -- otherwise it doesn't work.

So conclusion #1--See if this OTC combo works for you. (BTW---I can lift weights, and run etc. no hives with the med, without them, walking to a car they can come back).

Also--just wanted to let everyone know about something interesting. I had some blood work done, it looks like I have sub-clinical Hypothyroidism.  With some google searching I found a very strong link with Urticaria and Hypothyroidism.  I haven't started any medicine for it yet, but some of the studies out there show that with treatment hives will go away.

Conclusion #2 --See if you can be tested for Hypothyroidism (get your T-3, T-4, and TSH tested). My T-3 and T-4 normal, but TSH was high.

If i start medicine for this, I will experiment and try to stop taking Zyrtec and Zantac to see if it was the cause of my hives. Dr. said it may take about 4-6 months to see results, so I will post then.

Has anyone been tested for Hypothyroidism? My allergy doc didn't test for it, and its not a part of normal blood work; but its easy for them to add it to the test.  My new family doc tested for it because "when you told me about the Uticaria, it made me think your immune system is acting funky, and one major cause of a lot of immune system wackyness is the Thyroid".

If anyone has any questions for me; ask away.

[HivesGuy]

Thanks for the great update antihives!

That is very interesting about the thyroid testing and results. Please keep us updated as to how this helps (if at all) the hives. Good luck and be safe,

Hivesguy

[thecheezit]

Interesting, I have also read this somewhere. There does seem to be a high correlation between high thyroid antibody's and Cholinergic Urticaria. I myself have high thyroid antibody's, double the high end of normal range. I am currently on Levothyroxin (sp?) and have been for over a year and my thyroid antibodys have only gone up and my rash has also gotten worse. This is something I am going to start researching and discussing with my smart doctors   . I wish I could say more on this topic but I know nothing about thyroid antibody's and what they actually are and what causes them to fluctuate.

This site is very interesting, with the few threads I have read it seems a lot of people all have similar problems, vit d/thyroid etc. This is a good starting point, but more tests need to be done.

Now time to go do some researching!

[thecheezit]

Read up on antibody's, from my understanding if you have elevated TPO than that means that your antibody's are attacking your thyroid and that you do in fact have a thyroid problem or is a sign that you are close to have a thyroid problem and medication should be considered. So definitely make sure you get your tpo checked along with tsh t4 t3 etc.

Also, to the original poster, do you have the case study on the relation to elevated thyroid antibody's to Cholinergic Urticaria? Can't find the actual case study on it...