unbelievably itchy hives for mos. now

[Guest guest]

HELP! Have been on Armour for approx 1.5 years and 15 mg of Cortef

for 1 year. Under tremendous stress since November 1. (In addition to

work/family became caregiver for Mom who was in/out of hospital.)

Began as a rash, itch under bra then arms, whole back, legs,

buttocks, etc. Dermatologist did a biopsy and it the itch is drug

related (and those are the only two drugs I take.)

I wondered if, maybe, I got a bad batch of Armour and keep dipping

into the same batch with refills (because I am the only person at my

local CVS who uses Armour.) Then I wonder if I should have " stres

dosed " the Cortef all along.

Anyway, doc suggests I get off of the Cortef to rule that

out...although he says it is highly unlikely that it is cortisol.

Once we know THAT is not the problem, then he can try me on a

synthetic T3/T4 (thyrol?).

My Armour runs out Sunday anyway....

Anyone else with this issue? My body looks beaten up from scratching.

Is driving me nuts.

Thank you!

[Guest guest]

There are other natural thyroid meds such as Westhroid and Naturethroid

that have different fillers than Armoru. That is what I would tyr though

I doubt it is the Armour either. I imagine it is stress and more HC

would be in order.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

[Guest guest]

Another thing.. Do you take any supplements? Vitamins? There is NO WAY a

doctor can tell it is drug related. NO WAY. This is a doc that simply

does nto liek Armour.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

[Guest guest]

May I ask if you use CORTEF brand or HC (generic)?

I had a terrible time for a while -- raising and lower HC thinking

that I need more -- needed less. I would get a terrible rash under my

arms as well as elbows and in various other places.

Thinking I needed less HC -- and more, it drove me nuts! I was at

this for about 10-11 months.

Turned out, I was actually allergic to fillers in TWO different

generic HC brands (Mercks and another brand). I went on regular

Cortef and it was gone in 10days.

Have you used the same brand for a while? My CVS never could get me

Cortef brand - so I had to go elsewhere -- and it did the trick.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your prompt response!

Dermatologist said the biopsy will tell whether it is one of four

things...food, drugs, etc. She did not say it was the Armour, just that

the biopsy points to drugs.

By the way, here are my blood test results from just 3 days ago.

Tests: (1) THYROXINE (220.0500)

THYROXINE 9.1 ug/dL 4.5-11.0

Tests: (2) THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE (220.0900)

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE

[L] < 0.01 uIU/ml 0.3-5.5

Tests: (3) TRIIODOTHYRONINE (220.1000)

TRIIODOTHYRONINE [H] 253 ng/dL 60-180

MY FREE T3 was just over the top of the range back in July.

Called my PCP, who says to omit the Cortef to see if THAT is the

culprit...but I was thinking that maybe I should be INCREASING since

other sites say to use prednisone, etc, (which I would not) for an itch.

COULD it be that my Armour (3 grains) is too much OR that I need more

Cortef so that my labs straighten out?

I stopped the vitamins in early January. Was taking Rainbow

Light....EXCEPT that I do take magnesium. Had been experimenting with

other types of magnesium (2 different brands a month or two ago)

because I had been traveling and forgot the kind that I have been

taking for years and which I have resumed taking.)

>

> Another thing.. Do you take any supplements? Vitamins? There is NO

WAY a

> doctor can tell it is drug related. NO WAY. This is a doc that simply

> does nto liek Armour.

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

>

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

> http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks. I definitely use the Cortef brand. I know they tried to slip

me the generic a couple of times.

>

> May I ask if you use CORTEF brand or HC (generic)?

>

> I had a terrible time for a while -- raising and lower HC thinking

> that I need more -- needed less. I would get a terrible rash under

my

> arms as well as elbows and in various other places.

>

> Thinking I needed less HC -- and more, it drove me nuts! I was at

> this for about 10-11 months.

>

> Turned out, I was actually allergic to fillers in TWO different

> generic HC brands (Mercks and another brand). I went on regular

> Cortef and it was gone in 10days.

>

> Have you used the same brand for a while? My CVS never could get me

> Cortef brand - so I had to go elsewhere -- and it did the trick.

>

[Guest guest]

As you r T4 is a bit high you migh tlower the Armour a tad but the high

T3 points to LOW cortisol. I htink trying another brand of HC would be a

good thing too,

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

[Guest guest]

Go to 2.5 grains instead of 3?

What brand of cortisol if not cortef?

>

> As you r T4 is a bit high you migh tlower the Armour a tad but the

high

> T3 points to LOW cortisol. I htink trying another brand of HC would

be a

> good thing too,

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

>

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

> http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

>

[Guest guest]

Just ask for the generic. You may be allergic to the fillers in the

Cortef.

>

> Go to 2.5 grains instead of 3?

>

> What brand of cortisol if not cortef?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes 2.5 grains owuld be a good start. You might try Generic as the brand

name will have differnt fillers than the generic does. If no help there

oyu may need a compounded capsule wihtout fillers.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

http://www.seewell4less.com/Valspage.htm Medical Alert Bracelets

[Guest guest]

Had it for umpteen years. Both eczema and h ives. My eczema likes to

start where fabric presses firmly or rubs agains skin, under bra band,

or at waistband. Mine is due to excess iodine. But I also found by

experimentation that any nylon agains my skin will set it off. So only

cotton, no nylon or nylon covered elastic against skin.

Since HC and before that prednisone helps me so much due to histamine

suppression I think, I'd be more likely to stop the armour than the

Cortef. I don't know how any doctor could tell you by biopsy that a rash

is drug related. Maybe he meant it is not something like dermatitis

herpetiformis, nor shingles? But as to saying definitely drug related,

I've been dealing with this for over 20 years and have never heard such

a think as a biopsy result. If you can find out more details of how he

made this diagnosis, please post them. Maybe something i need to learn

more about.

Anyway, my two cents is it would be a lot easier to rule out the easiest

thing to stop first. Which would be the armour (at least if this was me

it would be).

sol

ddmdoro wrote:

> Began as a rash, itch under bra then arms, whole back, legs,

> buttocks, etc. Dermatologist did a biopsy and it the itch is drug

> related (and those are the only two drugs I take.)

>

>

> Anyway, doc suggests I get off of the Cortef to rule that

> out...although he says it is highly unlikely that it is cortisol.

> Once we know THAT is not the problem, then he can try me on a

> synthetic T3/T4 (thyrol?).

>

[Guest guest]

You could try 1% HC topical cream instead of any pill form. I feel it

gives me a double benefit, I get the HC, plus I can put the HC right on

any areas that are getting itchy. (I used it a lot for eczema before I

found out about my low cortisol).

I also wonder if you have tried any antihistamines?

sol

ddmdoro wrote:

> Go to 2.5 grains instead of 3?

>

> What brand of cortisol if not cortef?

>