Graves Disease and rash 15

[edfrienz]

I had an ablation about 7 years ago but I ust seem not to be able to get energy back.  My hair came out all over my body and some never came back and some did but thinner.  I do not go to an endo. but would like to.  My last TSH reading was 0.15 and the doctor still left me on 150 synthroid and said when I come back in October will recheck it.  I have a rash on my legs around the lower inside of the legs mainly.  When I take a bath it comes out angry red and as I cool off it gets lighter.  When my uptake test was done they injected the radioactive iodine and then immediately did the uptake and I did not think they wre supposed to do it this way.  I thought they injected you and then you came back later for the test.  I may be wrong.  I gained with the Graves and I can not lose since the ablaton.  I would like to see my hair thicken.  My potassium was off as well as the magnesium and the thyroid when I lst. went to the doctor on call before I was diagnosed.  My hair was coming out and Iwas hot all of the time anhd could not sleep.  Should I be getting my hair back and should I be on this dosage.  If I am getting to much and continue each day to take the same dosage it looks like I will get worse.  Please help.  Should I see an endo.?

[edfrienz]

Your answer did help as far as the decreasing of the medication, however, what about the rash on my legs and should I be seeing a endo.  Was my uptake done correctly by injecting radioactive iodine and then doing the test immediately.  I do not want my eyes to get involved and I am hungry all of the time and do not understand that.  .  I can not get into an endo without a referral.  Should I be under anendo. care?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Would consider decreasing medication (? to 137mcg) to bring TSH to normal - this may help with the hair.

[bird58]

have you read the thyroid sourcebook yet? it's a must read if you haven't, try a used copy from amazon. it's written by m. sara rosenthal and touches of every imaginable thryoid issue.
when my graves was at it't worst i had rashes all over and they were red and itched like crazy, especially on the bottom of me feet; of all places! i was hot, hot,hot, my  skin felt rather dry and was in bad shape. no muscle tone, muscle cramps, thirsty all the time, hungry all the time though i lost about 20 lbs. my hair was falling out, i had weird sensations in and i do mean in my scalp, had a constant innner dialogue going on...i suspect to keep me from losing my mind, my heart rate became very rapid and i had diarrhea. it was the worst year of my life. when my PA at the local ER suggested i "think thyoid" and see my PCP the next day I did so.  she had them run a TSH and said she'd get back to me in a "few days" and i got a call by the end of that day. she said my tsh was 0.00 and that i should come straight in to see her the next am. thus began my graves disease journey. i had RAI in 2000 and slowly but surely with the beta blocker started to feel and think healthy again. did have some collateral damage, my stomach become very, very sensitive and i am now completely gluten intolerant....bummer. a new diet is no problem as it's much healthier anyhow and i am symptom free with a few tweaks here and there with my meds over the past 10 years.
good luck edrienz there is hope yet!

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Sounds like you had a technetium scan (correctly performed) not an I-123 scan (7 years ago) - this is not related to any current symptoms or condition.

The rash may be unrelated - it is unlikely Graves (but possible, especially if on the shins) - would see a dermatologist for that.

If decreasing the dose doesn't help, consider seeing an endo.