Optimum Tsh to stop hair loss?

[Lrden]

Hi

Was diagnosed 6 weeks ago, tsh was 5.1.

ive had my 6 week retest results and they are serum tsh 1.4 range 0.1 - 4 and serum free T4 level 13.3 range 9.5 -22.

Are these results good? Seeing doctor tomorrow will ask for antibodies and vit d test as per previous advice under earlier post.

Does anyone know what is the optimum tsh level for hair loss to stop?

My tsh was 5.1 when first tested and I'm on 50mcg levo.

Thanks.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Lrden

It's not just a good TSH needed to stop hair loss. Lots of vitamins and minerals can be involved - healdove.com/disease-illnes...

As far as your results are concerned, good results for YOU are wherever they need to be for YOU to feel well. Generally, the aim of a treated hypo patient is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it is needed for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges, but it's a very individual thing. And it's very early days in your thyroid journey, it can take months with many dose increases to feel properly well.

[Clutter]

Lrden,

There isn't a one size fits all TSH+FT4 level which stops hairloss. I think your levels above are probably good enough to slow and stop hairloss but hair can take 7-10 weeks to respond to good levels. Autumn is also apparently the time of maximum hair loss I read recently.

If you are still symptomatic I think there may be scope to increase dose to raise FT4 higher in range which will reduce TSH. The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.1 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email [e-mail] if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

[Lrden in reply to Clutter]

Thanks everyone, that's good to know autumn is a bad time for hair. Our area don't generally test for FT3 but will ask. It seems thyroid issues are very complex, I've posted before and I've got all sorts of health issues going on sarcoidosis, high bp and androgenic hair loss which has always been well managed by minoxidil until lately. I take good multi vits hair follic but read today biotin can affect your test results. Clutter thanks I will ask for the article for GP, doctors receptionist told me to take meds before blood test but I think that's wrong and I took after test as per advice on forum.

[Clutter in reply to Lrden]

Lrden,

Biotin can affect blood tests which use biotin as part of the analysis. It would normally express as a very odd result ie high TSH and very high FT4. As most of us are unlikely to know what analytes the lab uses it's as well to stop supplement biotin and B Complex vitamins a few days before every blood test. It's not confined to thyroid tests, btw.

[Lrden in reply to Clutter]

Thanks I didn't know that and I don't believe the GP did either I mentioned the vits and he didn't seem bothered, perhaps that says it all 😉

[ilenuca]

In the last 5 years it has happenend to me twice when the FT3 was below range. Then IT took about 3 months to start growing. With the FT3 in range, of course...

[Lrden]

Hi forgot to say I read tsh below 2 can lead to oestoporosis, but there is so much info out there it's hard to know what to do for the best, I don't feel particularly unwell, just had been very tired seeing more hair loss, had numb fingers and itchy skin but I don't feel that much better than before meds though I've only been on them for 6 weeks so need to give it another couple of months I guess before I may notice improvement thanks

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Lrden]

That's not actually proven in any study, as the studies that were done were on people with low TSH because of hyperthyroidism - so high Free T4 and free T3, not people with low TSH because of thyroid medication. The Rotterdam study showed that low TSH on its own did not cause osteoporosis or heart disease (and osteoporosis in the elderly is largely a manufactured disease as you shouldn't expect an older person to have the same bones as a 30 year old, and density isn't the same thing as strength).

Most healthy people have a TSH around 1.2, so that's under 2!

[Lrden in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thanks but I'm not sure what you mean, do you mean a low tsh and high FT4 causes oestoporosis or low tsh and high FT4 helps stop hair loss? I've seen doc today and he has increased dose from 50mcg to 75mcg with a view to raising the T4 currently 13.3 to try and get it to top of range whilst hoping tsh doesn't go below range

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Lrden]

I was talking about osteoporosis - high Free 4 and high free T3 (over range) - TSH not very relevant. Hair loss may stop when optimally medicated and with good supporting vitamins and minerals, but it can also be caused by problems with sex hormones (that's one of the most common reasons for balding in older women, as you already know). Your TSH may fall below range when your frees are high enough to make you feel well. That's just the way it usually works.