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190559 tn?1280612367

Itchy rash

My 17 year old daughter has been taking her anti-thyroid meds for 2 1/2 weeks after being diagnosed with Graves Disease.  She has been complaining of ichy bumps on various places on her skin (knuckles, back, arms, back of knees, etc.) as well as swollen fingers since yesterday.  She has no history of rashes or allergies to anything.  I know it may be a mild virus.  I was wondering if any other Graves people have experienced any sypmtoms like these.  Thanks.
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168348 tn?1379357075
Keep us posted.  I'm really hoping she feels better and you get some answers .. yes, having so many ideas to toss around from this forum helps alot when you speak with the Dr.  I'm glad they are listening .. that is so so important.

I forgot to mention that my daughter had awful bouts of reactive arthritis during the same timeframe she had these immune driven dermatitis itching hive bumps.  At one point they covered her body and the allergist we had at the time firmly diagnosed her with scabies and TOLD ME I WAS IN DENIAL and wanted her to use a pesticide body shampoo .. he said, "Look @ her .. she is healthy and bouncing all over the room!!!!" .. I replied, "You just don't get it .. look at her,yes she is bouncing all over the room and that is the problem SOMETHING IS WRONG!!!".  With that I left the room and went straight to my dermatologist who took one look at her and said it was NOT scabies and how dare that Dr. diagnosis that which he has no knowledge of!!!!!! BTW, my daughter was about 7yrs old at the time.

We switched to a great allergist (he was on cover of Time Magazine) and the rest is history.

Just a sidenote as to how Dr's can really mess things up if they are on an ego trip and don't LISTEN!

Sounds like you are in good hands!

Cheryl
Helpful - 0
190559 tn?1280612367
Thanks a lot for your comments.  My daughter woke up with increased swelling in her hands to the point that I asked her to get her ring off with olive oil (which she was able to do).  I thought that this was odd, since my experience is that most swelling improves after lying down/sleeping.  Anyway, the additional swelling and your comments prompted me to post the situation on the docs' Thyroid Forum.  I'll probably call the endo clinic to see what they recommend.

We're still so new to this hyper/hypo world, so I'm sure we'll have LOTS of questions!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I recently started methimazole as well (a week ago) and have been quite itchy myself.  I also live in a cold, dry northern climate so that probably doesn't help, either.  Anyway, itching is a common side effect, but if it's very uncomfortable for her she might try PTU instead.  I'm going to give it another few weeks.  She also might try mixing a bit of over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream with a mild moisturizer (like Cetaphil) and using that to help with the itch...I think that's my next step.
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168348 tn?1379357075
If U find out it is not from the synthroid, I wanted to share with you that my daughter had same issues in same places and in her case she had immune-related derlmatitis/hives that erupted about 48-72 hrs before she got ill with a virus .. there were immune driven response .... it took a keen allergist to put it together for her.

Benadryl Cream works nicely on those topical areas coupled with oral if needed and/or otc cortisone .. BTDT big time for years and finally now it pretty much has gone away but does sneak back sometimes .. she is now almost 14.

C~
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168348 tn?1379357075
You have such wonderful input on the board .. such vast knowledge in areas I still don't understand .... you are such an asset .. how do you remember it all and keep it all straight LOL ?!!

Cheryl
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Synthroid and anti thyroid (ATD) medication are two different thyroid medications used for two different purposes.

ATDs on the other hand are more "foreign" to the body, and the by-products of these drugs metabolization in the liver are toxic.
Some side effects from ATDs  are related to the skin and include rash, itching, hives, swelling.

Of course your daughters condition can be from anything as suggested in the other post therefore it is wise to check with your doctor. Due to this being a thyroid forum, related thyroid issues came to my mind.


  Just my personal opinion and/or experience. Always discuss your health issue with your doctor , always adhere to your doctors advise and, you always have the right to a second opinion. Nothing is a 100% or a 100%, 100% of the time. However, we are not all alike!

GL,
1990 - Hyper/Graves'
1997 - Dia/RAI
1997 - MVP - Mitral Valve Prolapse
1999 - TED - slight Thyroid Eye Disease
1999 - Visible Nodule (suspect Marine-Lenhart-Syndrom/hyperfunctioning nodule)
2002 -  IED  - Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Graves' Range)
Helpful - 0
190559 tn?1280612367
Well, I left a message for the Ped. Endo. clinic RE: my daughter's symptoms.  The NP called back within 2 hours and asked me to stop the methimazole for 1 week and have my daughter seen by her regular clinic.  The clinic doctor who was available does NOT think it looks like an allergic reaction, but he ordered some blood tests to look at autoimmune possibilities.  He said that the test he was ordering tends to give false positives, so we'll have to see how that goes.

Anyway, both clinics seemed to be more concerned with the hand swelling than the rash.  GraveLady's comment about methimazole affecting the liver will remind me to ask about that possibility as well.  The gal from the Endo. clinic said that they would try the PTU med. next week if methimazole in contraindicated.

I'll post an update when (and if) we find out more what is going on.  Thanks again everyone for commenting.  This forum is certainly a place where everyone's 2 cents can be worth a million dollars!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sounds like she might be having a reaction to the anit thyroid meds.  Tell doctor, he can put her on another brand.



Just my personal opinion and/or experience. Always discuss your health issue with your doctor , always adhere to your doctors advise and, you always have the right to a second opinion. Nothing is a 100% or a 100%, 100% of the time. However, we are not all alike!

GL,
1990 - Hyper/Graves'
1997 - Dia/RAI
1997 - MVP - Mitral Valve Prolapse
1999 - TED - slight Thyroid Eye Disease
1999 - Visible Nodule (suspect Marine-Lenhart-Syndrom/hyperfunctioning nodule)
2002 -  IED  - Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Graves' Range)
And Much more.....
Helpful - 0
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