Replacement after total thyroidectomy

[Dreman]

I have severe hair loss. All causes are excluded. I am on euthyrox and my investigations are normal. I didn't have this problem when I was on eltroxin but I stopped it because tsh was 8 while taking 150 micrograms eltroxin. Now should I shift to eltroxin again to stop hair loss?

[Clutter]

Dreman,

What are your thyroid results now on Euthyrox and how long have you been taking Euthyrox? It's possible that the hairloss is as a result of your under medication while you were taking 150mcg Eltroxin.

[Hidden]

i am also on euthyrox and on the paper inside it say that it can cause hair loss and its scary but its temporary?

why did you have to change it? couldnt you take more eltroxin?

how long have you been taking euthryrox?

[shaws Administrator]

A Normal statement regarding thyroid hormone results, doesn't mean that you are on a sufficient dose. It only means that you are 'somewhere' within the normal range. What you have to do is get a print-out of your results with the ranges and post them for comments. Once diagnosed, we don't need 'normal' but 'optimum' which means no clinical symptoms and we feel well.

If you don't have them today, put them on a new post.

Hair loss is common in hypo but if you didn't have this symptom on Eltroxin, I'd be tempted to go back. Befor the blood tests were introduced we were given doses of NDT between 200 and 400mcg and one doctor said that nowadays we're given too low a dose of hormones thus still having symptoms.

[shaws Administrator]

Having read that you are only taking levothyroxine and you've had a thyroidectomy. I am hypo and truly believe that anyone who has no thyroid gland at all should be given liothyronine along with levothyroxine i.e. T3 with T4. T4 (levothyroxine) is inactive and it's job is to convert to T3 (liothyronine) So, you may not be given enough levo to convert to T3 which is the Active hormone required in all of our receptor cells.

I'd suggest getting a Free T3 and Free T4 blood test which should be the earliest possible, fasing (you can drink water) and allow 24 hours gap between your last dose of thyroid hormones and the test and take it afterwards. If you're on sufficient hormones, both Frees should be towards the top of the range.

Get a print-out of the results with the ranges and post for comments.