elevated thyroid perroxidase antibodies

[alpt1]

I was diagnosed with Grave's disease in 1967. Treated with radioactive iodine in 1982 after years of treatment with tapazole. Subequently became hypothyroid and have been treated with levothyroid since 1984.I have had periodically had incidents of urticaria and have recently experienced SEVERE urticaria over a 3 month period. In doing a work up to determine the cause, my dermatologist ordered a thyroid antibody test( in addition to other tests. The levels of thyroid  peroxidase antibody were  high (675).I have been referred back to my internist for further evaluation and am scheduled for a thyroid sonogram.
My questions are:
Could the high antibody levels cause the urticaria?
Do antibody levels remain elevated after treatment with radioactive iodine? If so , for how long?

[alpt1]

Yor experience sounds very similar to mine. My dermatologist recently started me on singulair. That once a day  in combination  with zyrtec and zantac 2 times a day has controllled the urticaria much better than antihistimines alone. I still have a few scattered wheals in the morning and evening but there is a marked improvement. I have had to use prednisone in the past for severe episodes but I do not like to be on that routinely. I also used doxepine in the past but did not see any improvement with it.

[TamraW]

I have done a ton of research on Shingles. The first occurrence might have been Shingles, but then docs kept telling me it was coming back each month, even when I had a rash on the entire scalp, and not just one side. Then I got the red, raised pin point rash on my chest. It was itchy and painful.

What are 'normal' numbers? Post your TSH, FT4, FT3. Also, any B12 tests?

Other than the hives, how do you feel? You should post your numbers here. Also, doctors tend to treat numbers and not patients.

A gluten/soy free diet has helped me tremendously!

:) Tamra

[alpt1]

Shingles is almost always limited to one side of the body and does not cross the midline. It also characteristically has vessicles (blisters).Often the blisters are painful Urticaria has wheals that are distinct and raised ,it itches and sometimes cause swelling underneath the skin.It is the kind of rash that you see with allergic reactions. It is often seen in people with autoimmune disorders like Grave's or Hashimoto's .It feels like I am allergic to myself.
I did just recently have blood work. All was normal ( including Vitamin D levels) except for the thyroid peroxidase antibodies. I have been on thyroid hormone after the radioactive iodine for 26 years and all my other thyroid tests were in normal range.I did not have any problems with the radioactive iodine when I had it except that thyroxine levels came down after several months and I have been on the levothyroid since then.

[TamraW]

I just answered the same question a few minutes ago. You can scroll to see her post. Here was my response to that question:


Huh? So that's what they call it? My doctors kept telling me I had Shingles.

Shingles every month - for nine months!

So I found another doctor and found out I have Hashimoto's. A lot of us Hashis get the skin problems. Sometimes it can be controlled by upping vitamins. Vitamin D deficiency is common in Hashis. It can cause rashes, muscle cramps, etc. Get a 1,000 mg vitamin D pill and take daily. Get one that is gluten/soy free. Walmart has them. Also, sitting in the sunshine 30 minutes a day helped me.

Sometimes, it's not so easy to control the rashes, hives, etc.

Also, I sure hope you're on thyroid meds. Eventually, as your meds are raised, you should be feeling better and maybe these rashes will clear.

My scalp rash actually improved with the prescription shampoo, Nexoral. Then they put me on generic and it doesn't work.


Take care...
:) Tamra