Dh And Thyroid Medication

[Carol from NYC]

I've been strictly avoiding iodine for the last two weeks and my DH has waned -- but only a little. The problem is -- I do have Hashimoto's disease and need to take thyroid hormone every morning. Apparently, all thyroid medications have substantial amounts of iodine. I've read that Armour Thyroid, the natural dessicated hormone, contains 1/5 the daily required amt. of iodine per 60 m dose. Since I take 240 m, I'm getting 4/5 of my iodine before I even eat anything. How can I possibly reduce iodine if I have to take my thyroid medication every morning? Is anyone else dealing with this issue? Does Synthroid contain much less iodine? (I'd rather stick with Armour if I can since I felt soooooo exhausted on Synthroid.)

My doctor, who's great, doesn't know anything about the DH/iodine connection, so I'm looking forward to hearing about your experiences.

[itchy]

Carol, your DH will go away eventually even if you continue to take in iodine, providing you reduce your gluten intake enough.

I think results vary. I have never been able to detect any effect of iodine, though admittedly I didn't try removing iodine from my diet until after the lesions were getting very much better.

If one can tolerate the DH symptoms while one heals and learns the diet, one can avoid dealing with the iodine issue altogether.

[cassP]

ya, i really am at a loss as to exactly what we should be doing in this Iodine conundrum... the thyroid needs the iodine.. the iodine pisses off the DH.. excess iodine can aggravate Grave's and maybe Hashimoto's... its confusing.

all i can offer is my experience.. i had a few DH bumps on my R forearm that went away even before i went gluten free. then after i went gluten-free- i had a small patch on my stomach that took 4 months to go away. then i was dx & started Synthroid. then Synthroid & Cytomel.

in the few months i was on Synthroid... and later added Cytomel: both my forearms erupted into a RED HOT burning bumpy mess... didnt itch, just bumpy & hot, each eruption only lasted like a day or two. this happened 3 or 4 times. (when i have some "gluten free <20ppm" snacks- my forearms sometimes itch a little).

anyways, i am now on Armour (60mg), and have not had an incident on my forearms. and my stomach patch has never come back.

i eat seafood, and take plenty of supplements with Fucus Bladderwrack Kelp.

last month however, i DID take a liquid iodine supplement- thinking it would help my thyroid- a few bumps reappeared on my forearm, and the iodine aggravated my grave's so i quit.

maybe it has to do with the form of iodine we get- and how much in excess we get.

?? good luck.. its confusing, ya

[rosetapper23]

Yes, this is quite a conundrum. I was off iodine for 15 years because I put two and two together that iodine was causing the blisters (I didn't realize it was celiac). However, three years after going gluten free, I developed Hashimoto's and had to begin taking Armour Thyroid. Because I don't eat gluten, I don't get DH blisters anymore (unless I accidentally get glutened, and then I break out big time since iodine is always present in my body). However, I have a chronic, itchy rash as a result of the iodine that is permanently across my upper back, and nothing works to relieve it. It's as though I'm actually allergic to iodine in addition to having celiac and DH. Also, if I eat something that's high in iodine, I have an immediate asthma attack.

It's so sad that people can be "allergic" to a a nutrient that is required for good health--seems senseless.

[maryanno]

I was diagnosed with celiac disease 3 years ago, Have Hyperthyroidism (I take Synthroid), Cirrhosis of the Liver and Pulmonary Hypertension. I've had dry skin as long as I can remember and have also used lotion daily with Vitamin E in it. Since the first of the year, I noticed my arms have been more dry than usual, and about 2 weeks ago I started breaking out in this horrible rash on my arms, stomach and back. I finally went to a Dermatologist who did 2 biopsies on my left arm which had been oozing yellow junk. So now I'm waiting for those results, but was told that it looks like DH. I have been very strict eating gluten free for 3 years and have no idea what brought this on after being gluten-free so long. I am taking Keflex for 10 days to clear up the infection where I scratched and scratched, and am using a prescription ointment. Any thoughts????

[itchy]

Maryanno: I really sympathise with people dealing with multiple medical issues. It must get incredibly complicated. I find DH and celiac to be very confusing, and I only have one issue to deal with.

I have been learning to reduce my gluten intake for fifteen years. I have passed several plateaus, each time after realising that I am even more sensitive to gluten than I thought and having to learn to be even more strict. Is it possible that you are still getting too much gluten?

As far as 'yellow junk' goes, I'm not sure that this is a typical DH symptom, though symptoms are so variable I would hesitate to suggest that it isn't.

[Carol from NYC]

I was diagnosed with celiac disease 3 years ago, Have Hyperthyroidism (I take Synthroid), Cirrhosis of the Liver and Pulmonary Hypertension. I've had dry skin as long as I can remember and have also used lotion daily with Vitamin E in it. Since the first of the year, I noticed my arms have been more dry than usual, and about 2 weeks ago I started breaking out in this horrible rash on my arms, stomach and back. I finally went to a Dermatologist who did 2 biopsies on my left arm which had been oozing yellow junk. So now I'm waiting for those results, but was told that it looks like DH. I have been very strict eating gluten free for 3 years and have no idea what brought this on after being gluten-free so long. I am taking Keflex for 10 days to clear up the infection where I scratched and scratched, and am using a prescription ointment. Any thoughts????

Are you sure the Vitamin E lotion doesn't have gluten? Sometimes Vitamin E is wheat germ oil.