Hair loss worse on NDT?

[Rhsana]

Week 7 on NDT and hair loss is getting much much worse. Is this normal? Do I just need to ride it out and be patient or is this a sign NDT not agreeing with me?

[shaws Administrator]

Unfortunately, this is a distressing clinical symptom of hypothyroidism and when you build up your NDT I believe you should benefit. It is a gradual work-up with NDT till you get to an optimum (when you feel well with no symptoms) then your hair should revive. It's taken us years to be diagnosed and we'd be unaware of the need of thyroid hormones, so it stands to reason they have to build up in our system, very gradually.

I hope you feel better soon.

[Rhsana in reply to shaws]

Thank you Shaws, having a little breakdown this morning. Scalp tingling, hair falling out in clumps in the shower. you are very right I went for 4 years maybe longer without diagnoses. I will try to be patient. In the meantime is there anything I can do from stopping my remaining hair taking a permanent vacation down the drain? R x

[shaws Administrator in reply to Rhsana]

I used Nizrol Shampoo which was successful if I didn't have alopecia areata (nothing will stop that attack). Also I've seen good reports about another called 'Growme' by Watermans.

google.ro/webhp?sourceid=ch...

google.ro/webhp?sourceid=ch...

[Rhsana in reply to shaws]

Thank you Shaws! I will give that a try. How do you know if you have alopecia areata, do you end up losing all of your hair?xx

[shaws Administrator in reply to Rhsana]

Sorry for delay in responding as I've been offline for a while. The doctor or dermatologist will confirm whether or not you have alopecia areata which means, even if you lose all of your hair, it will grow back. Alopecia Areata means a more serious condition and I believe hair wont grow back.

Hopefully you wont have any of these and your hair will recover when on optimal dose.

[Rhsana in reply to shaws]

Just seen this, sorry! Thanks for getting back on this. Have been told to try and stay away from harsh chemicals like parabems and xenestrogens, trying to do the curly girl method! Have also found this treatment; Olaplex, it seems to be helping!

[shaws Administrator in reply to Rhsana]

I found that Nizrol stopped my hair loss (on comb last year) so it wasn't Alopecia then. It was the two years previously I was diagnosed with Alopecia and you do go bald, mainly, although some just have bald patches for a while.

Fortunatley my hair grew back but I have alopecia again so, no hair at present. At least I don't worry as I had a friend who was diagnosed with cancer, got married and buried all within 9 weeks.

[Rhsana in reply to shaws]

I haven't seen a specialist but I am pretty sure it is TE. I am sorry to hear the alopecia has come back. And very sorry to hear about your friend. I've recently just found out I have severe high grade dyskaryosis which could be the beginning of cervical cancer, a scary tme! R x

[Avidreader in reply to Rhsana]

I agree on this I also avoid chemicals as much as possible-AIP - & I only condition my hair ( I don’t shampoo at all !) I use Colourherbe by Gentle Beauty - London - have done for over 20 years - but losing hair is new to me - after 22 years on Levothyroxine ( feeling awful ) now on nature throid some days amazing - some just odd - dry tongue , dry eyes that feel heavy , spaced out , hair loss .

[lindabekket in reply to shaws]

im using watermans at the minute its amazing im loving it smells good too

[HarryE]

How is your iron? That was the main thing that affected my hair loss, getting my iron level up

[Rhsana in reply to HarryE]

Hey HarryE,

My Iron goes up and down, I am now supplementing. Most current results are:

Plasma vitamin B12 level 510ng/L (200 - 900)

Serum folate 7.4ug/L (2 - 17)

Serum ferritin 60ug/L (15 - 250)

[HarryE in reply to Rhsana]

Are you doing something about your B12 & folate too?

My hairloss stopped when my ferritin got to 80

[Rhsana in reply to HarryE]

yes, I am taking Now Ultra B-12 drops and Jarrow b12 as well as b complex and folate, how long did it take for you to notice it getting better? R x

[HarryE in reply to Rhsana]

I had been really poorly so I sort of gradually noticed all sorts of symptoms had gone. It was probably 2-3 months when I noticed that there was no hair in the shower plug, and I got my eyebrows back. And then I needed to de-hair my legs!

[Rhsana in reply to HarryE]

HarryE So sorry I replied to this but it must have not saved! Its really good to hear that you are feeling better! The funny thing is body hair i growing as normal! It's just head hair I'm losing! If only it was the other way arond!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Rhsana]

Rhsana What iron supplement are you taking? Are you taking it with 1000mcg Vit C to aid absorption and 4 hours away from thyroid meds?

Many years ago I used NDT for a while, I was losing hair when I hadn't before to the same extent. When I mentioned it to the well known private doctor I was consulting at the time he said "Hair loss usually gets better on Armour", basically it caused mine.

[Rhsana in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes! I am on NatureThyroid, it was already thinning out then levo made it much worse and now its progressively worse on ndt, but I can't tell if that is just because it was always going to get worse or if its the NDT. I am taking Ferrous Fumarate from mercury pharma once a day with 1000mdcg of vid C and 4 hours away from med and 1 hour from food

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Rhsana]

Rhsana Frustrating isn't it! I'm blessed with thick hair so it didn't really show, just that so much used to come out when brushing or washing. I could clog up the bath or sink waste and it would be as effective as a bath or basin plug!

I think 1 x ferrous fumarate contains about 69mg elemental iron. I believe when GPs prescribe iron supplements they say 3 x daily which would give 207mg elemental iron. Are you taking just the one? Just wondering that if you are only taking one then increasing to the 'normal' prescribed amount might help get your ferritin up to a much better level thereby helping your hair loss.

[Rhsana in reply to SeasideSusie]

I used to have thick hair! Oh wow I didn't realise how little I was taking. Should I take all three in one go or separate through out the day? R x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Rhsana]

Rhsana I haven't taken it myself but from what I've read on here it seems to be in separate doses.

I've read what bluebug says about 2 x daily for low ferritin and 3 x daily for iron deficiency anaemia; however, I've seen it advised on here to take 3 x daily for low ferritin. As I've not taken it myself, I can't advise which is correct.

[Rhsana in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks SeasideSusie , I am looking into taking Iron glycinate instead, any thoughts on that one? xx

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Rhsana]

Rhsana I took Iron Bisglycinate, which is meant to be non-constipating and less likely to cause upset tummy. Solgar Gentle Iron is the brand I tried, 20mg or 25mg elemental iron. Just be aware that it's the amount of elemental iron that's important, Solgar GI has about one third the amount compared with Ferrous Fumarate so to get the same amount of elemental iron as FF you'd need to take a lot more of the Solgar GI capsules.

Look for Albion Ferrochel in a brand, it's supposed to be the best quality - here's a list of brands (mostly US but some available here) albionferrochel.com/index.p... . Solgar GI contains Albion Ferrochel solgar.co.uk/SolgarProducts...

I have great trouble taking iron (I do have low ferritin) and have had lifetime constipation. Solgar GI, even taking with Vit C, constipated me. I've even taken Ferritin 5mg supplement and am still constipated.

If you don't have any trouble with the FF, I see no point in changing to the more expensive iron bisglycinate.

[Rhsana in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes it can be a bit hard on my stomach so the thought of taking 3 at once is hard to swallow. x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Rhsana]

Rhsana That could be why they should be separate doses. Why not try 1 x FF twice daily for now and see how you go. If OK you could add a third one if you think it's necessary.

Obviously if it causes you a problem then try Iron Bisglycinate. The Solgar GI are capsules, I have a problem with getting capsules down, particularly the larger ones, the shell seems to get sticky and gets stuck on the way down causing digestive discomfort until it's eventually gone. I've found that eating something immediately after taking the capsule helps it on it's way.

[Rhsana in reply to SeasideSusie]

I shall try that , its just hard timing them both around NDT and food etc. R x

[humanbean in reply to Rhsana]

Don't take lots of iron supplements at once. All the forms of it I'm familiar with are intended to be dosed one at a time, spread over the day.

[debbiecassie in reply to SeasideSusie]

Im in your boat or should I say toilet since adding magnesium 2 each evening my loo problems have dissapeared Its worth a try Debbie

[Rhsana in reply to debbiecassie]

Yep I am on a daily dose of our friend Mag. Leaves just as fast as she comes!

[bluebug in reply to SeasideSusie]

3x ferrous fumarate is for iron deficiency anaemia. 2x is for low ferritin levels.

Maintenance dose for either is often 1x ferrous fumarate if the cause of your low iron is known and you need to continue taking it after 3-6 months of your levels being "normal".

[Rhsana in reply to bluebug]

hey bluebug,

I have a history of Anaemia but it fluctuates. My ferritin level is still low but not under range. Thing is, when I was severely anaemic my hair was at its thickest. Was 18 at the tme.

[bluebug in reply to Rhsana]

Was your ferritin level tested every time your haemoglobin was?

The only reason I'm saying that is I suspect a lot of anaemic women, due to how GPs don't like testing for anything, have both aneamia and ferritin at or near the bottom of the reference range which is why they have significant hair loss. However as most GPs will only test their haemoglobin level they will never know this.

I actually had a test in the past two years where I had iron deficiency anaemia but had high in range ferritin level, no infections, and no hair loss. I also have a relation who says her hair has been fine even though she has collapsed due to being anaemic in the past.

That time I had been supplementing with iron to maintain my levels, and my relation is on at least a maintenance dose of iron until she hits the menopause.

Anyway your current ferritin level while not optimal is high enough where if you were not under medicated your hair shouldn't fall out but won't be growing quickly.

[Rhsana in reply to bluebug]

Thats interesting, no they were not. I will be sure to get them both tested at the same time next time. R x

[Rhsana]

Is it possible that it is telogen effluvium?

[Neeta-K in reply to Rhsana]

Yes TE is caused by hypothyroidism and low ferritin.

The same thing happened to me when I went onto NDT, my hair loss increased to a scary amount, so I had a blood test and even though my FT4 was increasing my FT3 wasn't. I'm not sure why as NDT has T3 in it!

[Rhsana in reply to Neeta-K]

Thanks Neeta-K , how are you finding it now? Was it able to reverse? I have read that TE is only temporary? Am worried as mine seems to be persisting!

R x

[Neeta-K in reply to Rhsana]

Mine started in 2012 and it did stop when I had enough FT3 and ferritin was optimal. However it restarted when my ferritin dropped again and my FT3 dropped too. I'm now looking into root causes of low ferritin which can be gut infections like hployri, Parasites, yeast and SIBO. Many of us have gut infections and/or SIBO, often we have more than one. I am fed up of the hair shedding stopping and starting. Plus the gut needs to be looked at when you have low thyroid.

[Avidreader]

I’ve been on Nature Throid since October & my hair is falling out ? I used to fall out quite a bit on Levothyroxine too - but seems worse now - I ll be interested to read this feed