Thought I would share my hair dilemma with you and the vast improvement I am now lucky to have achieved.
Firstly I have got to confess to not knowing which of the two changes I have made is responsible for this improvement but as an awful lot of us on here suffer with the first possible reason for my improved locks I thought I would tell all.
IRON - I have just finished an eight month course of iron supplements (ferrous sulphate 200mcgs daily) which took my ferritin levels from 12 to just above the recommended 70. It is said that your ferritin levels, if low, can cause hair loss and to stop this ferritin levels need to be about 80'ish. I have noticed in the last couple of weeks that my hair loss has slowed down considerable - I no longer get that awful hair shedding every time I comb my hair, nor do I now find fallen hair on my clothes or all over my desk at work, which is brilliant news as, although I was resigned to the "dragged through a hedge backwards" look, I could sometimes have cried at how thin and unmanageable my hair had become.
MY NEW HAIR PRODUCT - Haven't really shared this product before on here as I wasn't overly impressed with it myself at first. This could have been because I used it incorrectly when I first got it, causing my hair to go as stiff as a board and leaving me wondering what the hell I had done.lol. When I say stiff I really do mean stiff, just trying to get a comb through it was virtually impossible and I did untold damage to what hair I did have on my head just trying to get it to even resemble my normal dismal hair style.
This hair product claims to " bring vitality and volume back to your fine and natural, noticeably thinning hair" but being the sceptic that I am I didn't really believe it, even though my daughter (who trained to be a hairdresser) recommended it, so after my first disastrous attempt - to which I will confess to slapping it on, on the basis that more is best, as though it was some sort of miracle cure.lol - I have now been using it for about 6 weeks, at a more sensible rate, and found to my delight that it really does appear to be doing exactly what it says on the tin (well for me anyway).
Maybe it's a combination of both and I don't suppose I will ever know which has improved my hair the most - I'm just grateful that I can now face the world every day with a head of hair that it bouncy, thicker and looks great compared to how it looked a few months ago and pray that this new improved head of hair will continue.
Want too know which product I have been using ladies? (and gentlemen if you are interested)
But please heed the warning in my post regarding my first disastrous attempt - it was the little bottle of "scalp and hair treatment" that did the damage as a little goes a long way.
Moggie x
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Moggie
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Hi Moggie this sounds great! I'm hoping to have my ferritin levels checked soon.
I'm so happy you have found something that is working (maybe a combo of both!)
Sorry for the probably stupid question but is it hyper or hypo that causes this hair thinning? I have it but I'm told I'm euthyroid but my thyroid is still toxic & graves' in full swing still! Keep getting 'slightly hypo' diagnosis so wondered if that's it?
I hope you are keeping well? I think if I buy this product my partner will be using it too haha! No news my end but I see the endo in Jan and surgeon in a few weeks. Willow is walking/talking and keeping me busy x
Really great to hear from you. Glad that you have surgeon and endo sorted - have you not got any diagnoses as all yet with regards to the tests you had done?
Its hypo that causes hair loss plus levo itself - so in fact a double whammy for us hypo sufferers.
Great news also that Willow is doing so well and that you are well enough to cope with her busy lifestyle.lol.
Not really, I saw my GP a few weeks ago & honestly I had hit rock bottom with it all and felt so low. He sent me for a thyroid ultrasound because he wants me to avoid another CT. the US showed swelling/goitre & a small nodule that was also on CT (endo told me there were non on CT?!) The surgeon then called and said we have to assume I 'just' have graves and put off my op.
I find the way the NHS works re thyroid disease bizarr, almost like it's something I've made up?! Maybe I've just had a bad experience.
I've never been hypo enough to have a thyroid replacement but I guess I will be after TT. Last time they took 95% I was still hyper 6 months later.
I hope you're in a good place with your thyroid. I was hypo for a v short time before they cut my carbimizole and it was the worst I've felt in my life x
Yes we thyroid sufferers do get very bad treatment unless you educate yourself as much as possible and then go in there fighting.
My endo thought I was just another uneducated person walking into his consulting room but boy did he get a shock with me. Once he knew I had a certain amount of knowledge his attitude changed and, so far, I have had good treatment (maybe that's stretching it a bit but it's better treatment than most on here get from their endo's).
You need the tools to fight for what treatment is right for you and that is learning as much as you can about your condition and then asking question after question after question until you are clear in your head what your endo/surgeon is going, or not going, to do.
I think all endo should be hypo or hyper thyroid themselves, that way we would get excellent treatment as the would know exactly how awful this illness is.
Your GP sounds good though and as long as someone is keeping a close eye on you, and you can go back to them if you feeling worried and need support, then that can only be a good thing.
What about the lung thing? has any more been said about that?
The surgeon has said they won't even be following them up unless I show any symptoms. I have to believe he is right because the alternative is living in fear like I was
I'm trying so hard to learn what I can but I seem to forget so much! I'm taking notes now I think we're set on me going private. I am so frightened of how bad I will feel hypo after surgery too. I'm in range at the mo yet the exhaustion I feeling unbearable. The surgeon doesn't want to operate and my goitre is growing daily so I feel I have to go private for Willows sake too x
I hope you are choosing your private endo/surgeon wisely. What are you going for, an endo or a surgeon?
Please do as much research as you can on private doctors before you spend any money. If you need any help with this I would be only to happy to help through private messages.
I'm going straight for a surgeon. Many reasons but mostly because I don't feel I'll ever be free of this while I have a thyroid for graves to attack. I imagine ill stay private after to ensure I get an endo that will help me feel better, not an easy financial decision a you know.
I've contacted a few surgeons, when my partner can watch Willow ill send you what I've got so far, if you would look I'd be so grateful.
I really wanted to avoid the op after the 50/50 vocal damage odds but I can't carry on feeling like this. It feels like my biggest battle is staying awake! X
Thanks Moggie I really appreciate that. I'm south east (Broadstairs, Kent.
Things are awful at the moment, I've had to ask my partner to ask for some unpaid leave to help with Willow because after a year of battling on I can't take anymore and I don't feel safe with her being this tired Just been for bloods and praying they are out of range because if they come back 'normal' I have no idea how I could feel this bad. Sorry for the rant, bad day x
At least your hair loss is one less thing to worry about. I too am experiencing similar things with my hair loss slowing down. I have good ferritin levels over 100 and still experienced hair loss for about 5 months now. The only changes I've made is going gluten free, 3 weeks ago and for the last week I've noticed this improvement. It could be like you said a combination of both. Long may it continue!!
Well done you for doing the gluten free thing - I know I have got to do this and am dreading it, just waiting for the gut biopsy to be done so still enjoying my bread at the moment.
Yes I do miss the bread. Bought gluten free bread isn't as nice and tends to have other forbidden stuff in like soya and millet, so i'm looking to make my own. I'm following a low carb diet at the moment so not eating much bread anyway. I'm eating lot's of nuts, seeds, protein, and veg. It takes a lot of getting use to, and I'm already worrying how I'll fare over Christmas!!
Would you believe I have just bought some coconut flour from a very good Asian supermarket in my town and didn't know what to do with it after I bought it! The recipe sounds perfect. I also do the coconut oil thing as well, so have most of the ingredients needed for this recipe.
I will try both recipe's they look quick and easy. I didn't know you could have grain free bread. I even joined Coeliac UK just so I could have access to their on line recipes, but they were very limited as far as bread was concerned. I'll google grain free bread and see what else comes up.
The friend who gave me those two recipes said she found a really lovely one the other day - a much better texture. She is phoning me soon so I'll ask her to email it to me and pass it on.
I'm going to make that one tomorrow. The recipe has cinnamon in and I have an abundance of that spice, because I read it was good for balancing sugar levels, so went out and bought 2 tubs of it only to find I had 2 already at home. Lol!!
I bought a second hand bread m/c on ebay years ago and it's still going! [Panasonic are the best ones]. If you use the GF flour from Asda it bakes more crusty than when bought made up. I admit to adding a small amount of Rye and Spelt but they are less of a problem to me than hybridsed wheat.
Adding conditioner [VitC is in it] also helps with rising probs
I did look at bread makers on ebay a while ago and at the time was yeast free, I was following the candida diet and wasn't sure whether they were suitable for making yeast free bread. I've relaxed the diet somewhat now and will consider buying one. A second hand one might be a good option.
Hi Moggie. My experience is very similar to yours.
Mid Feb - my hair loss got a lot better. I was so happy! I had been on iron supplements, as my ferritin was 35, and also using a shampoo for hair loss called Alpecin. Like you, I didn't know which effected my hair. My eyelashes and body hair were still shedding though. I thought maybe it might take a bit longer to effect these areas.
Mid June (exactly 4 months later) - my hair started shedding again. Losing 500 hair a day. My ferritin reached 70 in March, and I was still using Alpecin. So the hair shedding ruled both the iron and the shampoo out. I stopped using the shampoo. BTW Dermatologists will tell you that hair has a cycle of 6 weeks to 3 months, so if for e.g. it's iron that's causing the hair loss, once the level of iron needed for your hair is reached, it will take 6 weeks to 3 months to effect your hair.
Mid Oct (exactly 4 months later) - my hair shedding gets better again, but my lashes etc are still shedding. So exactly the same as last time. My ferritin is now 160. In November I started using the shampoo you are using, but I use it because it makes my hair shiny and gives it volume. My hairdresser recommended it to my mum (she's also losing her hair and I suspect she is hypothyroid too), but my mums hair continued shedding with this shampoo, but it looked better (more volume).
I'm not wanting to dampen your spirits, but when I read your post, it sounded like me in earlier this year. I hope this isn't the case for you.
In my case I'm thinking maybe when you have low thyroid the hair can shed for a few months, then stop, then shed again. It bewilders me!
Let's hope your wrong in my case and I have found my answer - I would hate to go back to the "dragged through a hedge backwards" look especially now I have had a taste of my hair looking half decent. Another thing that struck me, after writing the post, was that I have changed my brand of levo to a German, lactose free, make so maybe this is making some difference as well.
Sorry you are having so much trouble - this illness really does know how to continually kick you in the teeth doesn't it. I think one of the worse things about it is that it gives you a glimmer of hope only to snatch it away again, as it has done on several occasion with you and your hair troubles.
Hope you find your answer soon and thanks for your input, which was very interesting.
Moggie - can I ask how long it took for your hair to improve with Nioxin? I'm sure it was recommended on here yonks ago, bought a bottle myself but no improvement at all, boo. Perhaps I should have given it more time?
Great that you're pleased with the improvement cos nice hair matters to us girls!
I have been using it for about two months now BUT it does recommend using it every day and I have only been using it twice a week so maybe my improvement was slower.
Shame I did both the iron and the hair treatment together as, if I had done them separately, I would know for sure which one is responsible for the improvement.
Unfortunately I have given up all hope with hair. I personally think the levo is not going to let my hair loss stop despite having optimum iron and vit d levels.
I had a hyperactive thyroid with Graves. The symptoms were very severe and my hair loss was extreme. I had a partial thyroidectomy and all my symptoms disappeared including the hair loss. Now, 20 years later I have just been diagnosed with hypothyroid and have been shedding my locks for the past 2 years. It seems that, hyper or hypo, hair loss will happen..I have started taking Boot's Head High Vits. The hair loss seems to have slowed down slightly. To early to say definitely that they are responsible as I have only been on them one month. Will let you know how it goes.
Sorry I bought them from Boot's but they are not a Boot's label. They are called " FSC Head High Vitamins" they contain a variety of vitamins and minerals. If you google them I'm sure you can get the list.
Hi Moggie, I am so pleased you are getting your hair back. My ferritin levels are high 215.9ug/L (10.0 - 204.0)and my hair is so thin that I only dare wash it when absolutely necessary.
Every time I see a hair post I always ask which shampoo is used I rarely get a reply. Many shampoos have silicone in which in turn coats the hair to give you a false positive (extra shine or volume for ex.). I was told this many years ago by a hairdresser and stopped using what I think was Garnier Fructis at the time? Anyway, I immediately binned it all and now only use decent shampoos. So paul mitchell who also doesn't test on animals, korres and loccitane are the 3 I alternate between. For me since then I stopped losing hair and can wash my hair with just a few coming out at a time. Itsworth investing in a decent shampoo as even if vastly more expensive actually you use a fourth of the amount as it spreads further and froths more easily.
Hope you get on with it, you'll have to let me know.
Moggie x
Hi Moggie, well done with things that have been going on with you.
I've cut back on the Levo as per someone's suggestions on here due to the headaches/migraines I've been getting and I've noticed that my eyebrow hair has grown back! I still don't feel too good so I had my FT3 privately tested and it came back within normal range at 5.5 (3.1-6.8) So I don't know if being on T3 meds will help me.
I have asked Blue Horizon to test my antibodies as my GP couldn't give me any info when I asked them about which ones were high or what the reference ranges were, so if I wasn't going to get any joy with them about that, why not have it done privately?
I get a lot of problems with my hair - it's very fine and falls flat within a day. I used to take a lot of pride in my hair as although I'm dark blonde it looks very bright and I'm also trying to grow it. It's the longest it's ever been and is at the mid-point of my back!! I don't use luxury products on my hair, only supermarkets' own brands and they work fine. I have to alternate my use with them as my hair gets used to one product within a week or so. It is frustrating.
I see the GP tomorrow re the letter, wish me luck and keep up the good work!!
Hi Moggie, someone recommended Nanogen hair shampoo and conditioner to me the other day but as yet not purchased any. Have you heard or tried this product? Or has anyone else out there. xx
No sorry I have never heard of it but if/when you do try it you'll have to let us know if it is any good. Have you goggled it? That's always my first step if someone recommends something.
Hi Moggie, thought would let you know that I actually purchased the Nioxin hair system kit 4 and so far I am very impressed with it, thank you for your post, :-). I was going to try the Nanogen shampoo and conditioner but thought would give Nioxin a go first. I did however, purchase Nanogen Hair Fibres to cover my very bad thinning hairline and can say this has given me the confidence of going outside with covering my head with a hat etc. I am just hoping my own hair will grow back and thicken up. x
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I think we're set on me going private. I am so frightened of how bad I will feel hypo after surgery too. I'm in range at the mo yet the exhaustion I feeling unbearable. The surgeon doesn't want to operate and my goitre is growing daily so I feel I have to go private for Willows sake too x
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