Re: incurably itchy skin....help!

[Guest guest]

Hi Kirsten (I guess that's your name?)

I've been trying to get a doctor to diagnose me with Hypothyroidism for over ayear, with my test results showing a consistently high level of tsh, but i'vehad no joy.

How high is your TSH? Do you have the figures and ref range?

recently my health has taken a significant downturn with the worst symptom nowbeing that my skin is constantly, incessantly itchy and there seems to benothing i can do to relieve it. I've gone to the dermatologist and she sent mefor yet more blood tests for tsh, but I'm now left with this itching for twoweeks until i have an endocrinology appointment and i can't bear it!It's now spreading to my face, soles of my feet. neck and chest and it' drivingme crazy! I've tried everything i can think of and it doesn't seem to workanymore.

Itching `can' be a symptom for Hypothyroidism, but it could have other causes – diet might play a pivotal role (Candida albicans), toxins building up in the liver, which might be unable to cope and pushing out toxins through the skin could be the culprit, or it might be some kind of neurological complaint (and you saying that the itch is `spreading' might be an indication for some neurological problem (small fibre neuropathy??) .... there are many possibilities, but since you say your TSH is high, Hypothyroidism should be looked at straight away as a possibly cause ....

I don't understand – if your TSH is high, why is your GP not starting thyroid treatment? You don't need an endo for that.

As an immediate help, please cut out all obvious sugars from your diet (that includes alcohol and grains –bread, pasta etc), get some milk-thistle from a health food shop and start taking this plus 2000 mg of Vit C every day and take a good quality probiotic to replenish the good bacteria in your gut. If the itch were diet related, this should help.... if it's some neurological problem it might not help, but it won't do any harm either, on the contrary.

With best wishes,

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I don't know my figures and ref ranges exactly, but it is generally around 7-8

tsh (not as high as a lot of peoples but still. I have a strong family case of

hypothyroidism and have been tested for all other possible causes. My GP refuses

to treat me though.

thanks for your suggestions, I'd already decided to cut out alcohol but I'll do

the same with other sugar content

thank you

Kirsten

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>

> Hi Kirsten (I guess that's your name?)

>

>

>

> I've been trying to get a doctor to diagnose me with Hypothyroidism for

> over a

[Guest guest]

> >

> >

> > Hi Kirsten (I guess that's your name?)

> >

> >

> >

> > I've been trying to get a doctor to diagnose me with Hypothyroidism for

> > over a

>

Hi, i've had this itching since i was 17, i'm now 56 . The only thing that has

helped me, is to cut out as much sugar in my diet as i can.I have never got to

the bottom of what causes this.Regards Helen

[Guest guest]

Hi there

I agree that the itching skin could be neurological

but having experienced this myself – I found it was my liver – due to

toxins building up in the liver and not clearing. It absolutely made me

miserable – it is awful – so I know how you feel All possibly due

to low thyroid hormone or even high thyroid hormone see below:-

Generalized Pruritus

In those

with generalized pruritus, or itching all over, a systemic disease may be the

cause in about 50 percent of people. Symptoms also may be caused by medication

use, various infections (including parasitic infections of the intestines),

iron deficiency, liver disease, kidney disease, high or low thyroid function. Chronic

urticaria (hives), especially dermatographism,

and systemic

forms of contact dermatitis, are also common causes of generalized

pruritus, even if no visible rash is present.

Medications

that are well known to cause itching include opiates, such as Vicodin

(acetaminophen/hydrocodone), morphine and codeine. Other groups of medications

causing itching include Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine), aspirin, NSAIDs,

and any of a large number of medications that cause itching by affecting the

liver.

Tests for

generalized pruritus, especially when no rash is present, may include a

complete blood count, kidney function, liver function, thyroid function, iron

level.

http://allergies.about.com/od/skinallergies/a/pruritus.htm

regards

Mandy

[Guest guest]

Hi Mandy,

I'm interested at to whether you ever developed any rash or outwards symptoms,

as much of the info relating to pruritus and liver says there was never any

rash.

Thanks, Kirsten

>

> Hi there

>

>

>

> I agree that the itching skin could be neurological but having experienced

> this myself - I found it was my liver - due to toxins building up in the

> liver and not clearing.

[Ed]

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I get itchy everywhere when I'm hypothyroid - either prior to meds or when I

become under-medicated.

However, I only seem to get intensely, horrendous, " agh! " itching on my arms

when I've had too many carbs - the more refined the carbs the worse it is - so

this accords with what Helen said. Consequently, I limit my carbs a lot to save

my sanity and ripping my arms literally to shreds - it's a kind of itching that

won't scratch and more akin to needles/electricity than an ordinary itch and

stabbing my arms with a fork or somesuch is the only way I can stop it for a few

seconds - oh and my arms go bright red too if I've had too many carbs.

However, to help with itching I can really recommend BALNEUM PLUS - its' an oil

which can use on itchy bits or bath in it; it's brilliant. Note the 'plus' -

that's the itch bit as you can get just Balneum. You can get it over the

counter but my daughter got it on prescription when she was little. Highly

recommended.

Carolyn

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> > > ....... The only thing that has helped me, is to cut out as much sugar in

my diet as i can.I have never got to the bottom of what causes this. Regards

Helen

[Guest guest]

I now know it's thyroid related, my gp basicaly told me yesterday that I am

hypothyroid and should be on meds, but he wasn't going to give them to me as it

depends on the endocrinologist.

If the endocrinologist doesn't help me I don't know what i'll do....

thank you for your rsponses, I'm going to try Balneum and try to cut out carbs.

Kirsten

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>

>

>

> Hi ,

>

> I get itchy everywhere when I'm hypothyroid - either prior to meds or when I

become under-medicated.

>

> However, I only seem to get intensely, horrendous, " agh! " itching on my arms

when I've had too many carbs - the more refined the carbs the worse it is - so

this accords with what Helen said.

[Ed]

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I hope you get the meds you need; I can't believe your Dr says you need them and

yet won't give them to you - usually, the battle is to get them to agree you

need them!

Just to say - don't cut carbs completely of course, you do need them, but just

try to reduce them and particulalry refined ones, eg white flour, sugar, and

when you do eat them, have them with proteins and fats - ie surround them with

non-carb food and that'll help (if it is that that's part of the problem of

course!).

Good luck with the Balneum Plus.

Carolyn

>

> I now know it's thyroid related, my gp basicaly told me yesterday that I am

hypothyroid and should be on meds, but he wasn't going to give them to me as it

depends on the endocrinologist.

> If the endocrinologist doesn't help me I don't know what i'll do....

> thank you for your rsponses, I'm going to try Balneum and try to cut out

carbs.

>

> Kirsten

>