Hives and prolactin level

[paris8]

I had a pituitary MRI w/gadolinium contrast 3 weeks ago.  The next evening I broke out with bad hives.  That lasted about a week and a half.  I went 8 days without any, but recently had some.  My skin also feels itchy sometimes and as if it has a slight sunburn.  This feeling isn't constant though.  Also, my prolactin was 39 (highest scaled level was 22)and I believe that I have Hashimotos thyroiditis.  I also have anxiety pretty bad.  My doctors think the hives are from the gadolinium.  Would you agree?  Could it be from the anxiety of all of this?  Also, can one have high prolactin from stress if there is no prolactinoma?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Hives may be the gadolinium - sometimes impossible to know.  Hashi is diagnosed by measuring thyroid antibodies.  Hashi is associated with hives in some patients.  The more common cause of a slightly high PRL is medication (tagamet, certain antidepressants, reglan, estrogens...)  


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[GravesLady]

Some people develop skin conditions from gadolinium, such as rash, sweating, itching, hives, and facial swelling. Most of these conditions are considered allergic in nature.

Elevated prolactin levels are seen in the following conditions: Prolactinomas (a pituitary tumor that makes prolactin), Other pituitary tumors and diseases, Hypothalamic disease, Hypothyroidism, Kidney disease, Chest wall trauma or irritation.  Also certain medications can  raise prolactin levels, including estrogens, tricyclic antidepressants, metoclopramide, phenothiazines, butyrophenones, reserpine, methyldopa, and H2 blockers.

GL
Keep in mind that I am a layperson
Statements herein are meant as suggestions
and not treatment or advice.

[hives]

In October of 2005, i started with Angiodema of the face as well as chronic hives.  (I have Hashimoto's as well.) This lasted until June of 2006.  I doctored all that time, being put on steroids, allergy meds, and cyclosporine.

Now, the hives are back.  They started again the week before Christmas.  I take my allergy meds every day and they help minimally--I have an appt. to see my immunologist/allergist this month.  My endocrinologist says there is nothing she can do for me.  I know that the immunologist will want to put me on steroids for a brief period, but my experience with that is once the meds wear off, the hives come back even worse than what they were to start with.

My thyroid levels are always all over the place, never stable for more than a 3 month period.

Isn't there any other form of treatment that can be tried??  Or should I see some other specialist??