Hives and Thyroiditis

[sonny155]

I am a 53 year old male and suffering from Chronic Hives that started in January this year.  A week later my allergy doctors office had called and wanted me to make an appointment.  Perfect timing I told my allergist since i haven't seen him in almost a year. This was no big deal for me since I had been receiving allergy shots since the age of ten and a few bouts of hives. The last one being ten years ago and since it didn't last more than two months it wasn't considered chronic. I stopped the shots over a year ago since I was only showing a slight sensitivity to molds and my doctors urging. I resisted it at first because I had stopped once before and after a persistant cold my GP gave me an inhaled steroid. That was twenty years ago and resumed my shots keeping me healthy without the use of drugs. In March I went for a blood test and my allergist gave me the bad news  Peroxidase AB 368.0  High  Reference Range   < 35 IU/ml    TSH   4.33   RR 0.40 - 4.50    T4,Total   7.6    RR 4.5-12.0 ug/dl  T3,Total 130  RR 60 - 181 ng/dl  Thyroglobulin AB  45.2H  RR< 20 IU/ml  Doctor says hives are due to high antibodies but he urged me to get a skin biopsy to rule out vasculitis  

[sonny155]

Any thoughts or ideas anyone, I'm trying to comeup with a good gameplan to get rid of the hives and lower the antibodies.

[kitty9309]

Your TSH is in "range", but not likely normal, since it is above 3. My endo says the upper end of the normal range for TSH should be 2.5.  

Is your doctor willing to prescribe a low dose of levothyroxine? Lowering the TSH to about 1 could help with the hives if they are autoimmune related. The thyroid antibodies will remain positive, but may drop a bit with treatment.

A repeat TSH should be done to confirm the slight elevation before treatment.

[sonny155]

Thanks kitty      My Dr put me on a low dose of Armour Thyroid  15 mg,  I hope it gets rid of my hives                                                      

  

[kitty9309]

I am glad the doctor gave you a med. Keep on top of having follow-up blood work.