Hashimotos since I was 17

[Wednesday12]

I wasn't diagnosed until 10 years ago, but now my hair has fallen out on the crown and my scalp is all dry and hard. My GP says it is hormone related. I am turning 60 and have had the menopause since I was 42. I am on levothryroine, and I might as well throw it in bin. My GP just keeps upping the dose, so going to take the bull by the horns and suggests this hair loss, anxiety/depression/panic attacks, is all my thyroid.

I live in Belfast Northern Ireland, like the back of no mans land...

[Clutter]

Welcome to the forum, Wednesday12.

I'm afraid an awful lot of thyroid patients are living in a backwater when it comes to thyroid treatment.

If you can post recent thyroid results with ranges (figures in brackets after results) members will advise whether your are optimally dosed on Levothyroxine.

Hairloss is a huge problem for a lot of thyroid patients but isn't always solely due to thyroid levels. Low ferritin (stored iron) can cause hairloss. Hypothyroid patients are often low/defcient in ferritin, vitamin D, B12 and folate, so ask your GP to test as low levels/deficiency can mimic hypothyroid symptoms.

You may find it helpful to read through some of the posts on hairloss in this link healthunlocked.com/search/h...

[shaws Administrator]

When you get a new blood test for your thyroid hormone levels, leave about 24 hours between your dose of levo and the blood test, and take levo afterwards. Fast also but you can drink water (but don't overdo it). Also make the earliest appointment possible. These 3 things can help by not reducing the TSH level so that the doctor wants to reduce the dose in order to keep it 'within range'. In fact most of us feel much better when TSH is around 1 or below and some of need it suppressed.

[allusernamestaken]

I firmly believe in asking to be referred to an endochrinologist if you are concerned your GP doesn't know his stuff. I was late diagnosed too. Now have lovely GP but he's not an expert and after a lot of nagging I'm seeing an endo.