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General Updates / My Adrenal Health Updates / My Personal Experiences

General Update #16

Read the last blog in this series.

So, I haven’t been all that well recently.Β 

I’ve had time off work due to viruses, migraines, exhaustion and all sorts. Since the antibiotics and ear infection fiasco back in December/January, I just haven’t felt the same. You may remember that I developed a rash all over my body and, even though this cleared up after a week or so off the antibiotics, I’ve been itching still! All over, though particularly bad on my scalp, legs, back and arms, I have an incessant itching, as if ants are crawling all over me. The doctors suspected a fungal infection after the antibiotics, but shampoo for this didn’t help, so they’re at a loss.

I stopped using all shower gels and products on my body and I watched what I was eating carefully, too. No gluten which is a known sensitivity of mine.

The GP said that it couldn’t be a lasting effect of the antibiotic as it has now been months since I was on them.

I have since suspected that the washing powder we usually get has been changed, so we’ve switched to another, and it has settled somewhat. It seems to be easing off. The GP has since given me a steroid scalp application and stronger cream to use when I itch, but it’s still a bit of a mystery. And irritating!

I looked in to supplements that I’m taking and tried stopped ashwagandha, vitamin D, K and lowering my thyroid medication dosage, in case I was now over-medicated – all of these things can cause itching all over the body. But nothing has made a difference.

In fact, I had my thyroid levels tested last week and discovered that I was under-medicated, so needed to go back up to 2.5 (150mg) grains of NDT. I’m hoping this will help my fatigue, migraines and other annoying symptoms.

My periods have also become messed up again. As I was doing well acne-wise and with regular periods, I stopped using the progesterone cream which seems to have been too sudden as I’ve had two months with very short cycles and acne. So I’m back to using it again.

I have been managing stress better – I made a positivity board a while ago which helped, I stepped back from a few responsibilities so that I can better focus on my health and I’ve been more strict with myself,Β making sure I get to bed at a better time, doing things to actively relax and eating a bit better.

I’m still needing to retest my adrenals.

Spring is also coming and the warmer, sunnier weather is so up-lifting.

Do remember that you can keep up to date with my personal health journey viaΒ Instagram. MyΒ InstagramΒ is updated with realtime updates and you’ll be able to follow along as and when everything happens over there!

Do you have any ideas on what could be causing the itching?

You can click on the hyperlinks in the above post to learn more and see references to information give.

Read the next blog in this series.

About Author

Rachel Hill is the highly ranked and multi-award winning thyroid patient advocate, writer, speaker and author behind The Invisible Hypothyroidism. Her thyroid advocacy work includes writing articles, authoring books, producing email newsletters and speaking on podcasts and at events about the many aspects thyroid disease affects and how to overcome these. She is well-recognised as a crucial and influential contributor to the thyroid community and has a large social media presence. Her bestselling books include "Be Your Own Thyroid Advocate" and "You, Me and Hypothyroidism".

3 Comments

  • witheld
    January 13, 2024 at 9:41 pm

    I don’k know if this will work for everyone but I switched to goats milk soap – it has been a big relief : ) also a loofa sack soap bar cover ( both obtained at Marshalls) to take off all those dry skin cells that hashimotos patients, and unfortunately I am one of them, see their skin flake off, especially in winter time. On a recent store visit I found a 4 pack was $5.00 so I bought two packs, but before that individual big bars $3-5 and the whole family is now using this soap saying their skin loves it. I do too. I think I am allergic to the palm oil additives and added fragrances in some soaps , result for me at least is that the itching and red bumps, clogged pores are for the most part gone . Goodbye keratosis pilaris! I had tried so many other things, prescriptions, dermatologists, nothing worked. The only other itch relief that has worked for the back of my arms, is Cortisone10 after getting out of the shower and with wet hands applying a small dot of the lotion and rubbing that in. I say use only a small dot on advice of my endocrinologist who saw my arm rash improve and asked what I had been doing. Endo worried my body would stop making cortisone and basically said stop using it, so now I only use once a week after or not at all, depending if any bumps appear. Eating certain meats, fatty red meat for example can aggravate it. I am not sure if Ive ever been bitten by lone star tick but I definitely prefer fish, shrimp, chicken and lots of legumes and a salad than a burger or a steak – once a month if at all. Diet is as non processed foods as possible.

    Reply
  • thestrongermeblog
    April 5, 2017 at 5:26 pm

    Im sorry to hear about your all over itchiness, I hope you find out what is causing the issue.
    I also hope you now feel better with your other symptoms now your meds have been upped
    What do you use the progesterone cream for?

    Reply
  • Carol Clark
    April 4, 2017 at 6:09 pm

    Have you ever hears about Norwex products? They sell a line of towels, wash cloths and cleaning cloths. They are silver infused. A few years back I purchased some of the wash cloths. They are antibacterial because of the silver. The distributor told me about her little girl that had a chronic case of psoriasis and nothing she got from the doctors helped. She accidentally came across this product. No soap, just the wash rags. It was amazing and was sold. Her daughters condition cleared up. I never use bath soap and my skin is the better for it. Amazing products that work.

    Reply

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