Hair loss and Thyroid

[Mjames13]

Hi there. I was diagnosed (hypo) last February and I'm still trying to find the right treatment. I'm on two grains NDT and my doc has been holding me here for a while. Tried Levo with T3 for a minute but the Levo was BAD for me so went back on the NDT.

I'm doing everything right. Taking supplements to support my health, taking my 2 grains NDT, sleeping, exercise, decreasing stress (as much as possible) yet my hair continues to recede and it's getting bad. The front hairline area of my head is broken off, thin, brittle. The hair on the front sides of my head are short. The back of my head is fine (for now). It's at the point that the hair is more devastating than my hypo diagnosis. I literally am going bald and feel helpless and it affects my mental and emotional health. Leaving the house is starting to create anxiety because of how I look.

Has this happened to anyone? Were you able to reverse or figure out the issue? I know it takes time for hair to grow back but almost a year later, my hair is losing more and getting worse.

I take a multi, B Complex, Adrenal Blend, Probiotic.

Thank you.

[Jazzw]

Do you know what your iron status is?

Low ferritin is correlated with hair loss. Might be something to check out. If your iron/ferritin is low, there isn’t enough in a multivitamin to bring it back up again.

[Mjames13 in reply to Jazzw]

Hi Jazzw - I'm getting labs done next week. My initial labs did show lowish ferritin but not too low. Maybe with my hypo, it creates a less than healthy environment. Thanks for the response!

[Jazzw in reply to Mjames13]

Well, it might help then. Hope so. You also might find you need a raise in NDT dose, as it’s possible your FT3 levels aren’t as good as they might be.

[Mjames13 in reply to Jazzw]

Good point about raising my NDT. My Rt3 is high but my doc doesn't want to supplement with T3 which I am thinking I may need more of rather than NDT (T4 and T3). It's such a guessing game with this stuff!

[Kell-E in reply to Mjames13]

Same here. And my endo does not advise T3 in addition to NDT.

So I have taken additional T3 on my own and I feel much better.

[Hidden in reply to Kell-E]

I do the same I self medicate with NDT and T3 and feel fine. My ferritin, iron and folate are always good and I have very thick hair.

[Mjames13 in reply to Hidden]

This is so interesting. How do you obtain the T3 without your doctor prescribing? My doc is supportive of getting to the bottom of my thyroid but so against T3 supplementation which is puzzling if it seems to be helpful. I'm going to bring this up (again) at my next appointment. Happy to hear you're feeling great. Gives me hope! Thanks for sharing!

[Hidden in reply to Mjames13]

I live in France and buy my T3 over the counter for just about 3.50 Euros in the Uk the cost is around £250 for 100 tablets it's all about the money that's all

[Baobabs in reply to Hidden]

Do you need a prescription for your T3?

[Mjames13 in reply to Baobabs]

Yes. My doc put me on levo a while back (super bad for me!) and supped with 5 mcgs of T3. When i stopped the levo, i also stopped the T3 but have a bunch left. Maybe I should add 5mcgs of t3 to my 2 grains of NDT and see what happens?

[Hidden in reply to Baobabs]

I buy my T3 every four weeks with no prescription at my local pharmacy. Other people have said that you need a prescription, however, I don't for some reason I am lucky I suppose.

[Baobabs in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, could you tell me what it is called?

[shaws in reply to Mjames13]

Research by several research companies have shown that most who don't improve on levo can on a combination of T4/T3. I have read a combination of 3:1gave good results. This is a link and on page 80 it states the equivalences which were trialled.

tpauk.com/images/docs/reduc...

[Mjames13 in reply to shaws]

Thanks for posting! I'm currently on 2 grains of NDT. My Rt3 went up to 17.8 with the most recent test (was 14 last test in Nov.) which tells me my body isn't converting t3? Thinking I need to decrease NDT a little and add T3.

[Nada678 in reply to Hidden]

Hello Bunnyjean What dose NDT and T3 did you start with? I am self medicating and dont know where to start. Thank you

[shaws in reply to Mjames13]

Don't worry too much about RT3 and you can read about

it and go to the date March 24, 1999 on the following link. This is an excerpt :

Another enzyme called 5-deiodinase continually converts some T4 to reverse-T3. Reverse-T3 does not stimulate metabolism. It is produced as a way to help clear some T4 from the body.

Under normal conditions, cells continually convert about 40% of T4 to T3. They convert about 60% of T4 to reverse-T3. Hour-by-hour, conversion of T4 continues with slight shifts in the percentage of T4 converted to T3 and reverse-T3. Under normal conditions, the body eliminates reverse-T3 rapidly. Other enzymes quickly convert reverse-T3 to T2 and T2 to T1, and the body eliminates these molecules within roughly 24-hours. (The process of deiodination in the body is a bit more complicated than I can explain in this short summary.) The point is that the process of deiodination is dynamic and constantly changing, depending on the body's needs.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[Mjames13 in reply to shaws]

Thank you for posting Shaws. That's interesting. I read through and did not see any suggestions on how to address. Even though my TSH (recent labs posted last night) is below 1 and I'm on 2 grains of NDT, I'm so hypo at the moment. I've gained a few pounds over the past month and I'm very sluggish/slow. I don't know what to do. I'm pretty frustrated. This is all so confusing and complex. I know my feelings are not unique although I'd love to figure something out because I *think* I'm doing all the right things (nutrition, treating, sups, exercise, rest). Gaining weight, losing hair, and and feeling exhausted...I'm at a loss. : ( Sorry, having a poor me moment.

I tried levo which was horrible for me. I'm on Nature-Throid now which at first was nice but now I'm back to feeling like I'm walking through quicksand.

[shaws in reply to Mjames13]

When we take levo it is different to how we take NDT.

NDT we gradually work up to a dose which relieves clinical symptoms.Usually the starting dose is equal to what we took on levo and should take pulse/temp when beginning. If we've not take NDT previously we start on half grain and every two weeks thereafter increase by 1/4 grain until we feel well.

web.archive.org/web/2010112...

The above link is by a doctor who was also an Adviser to TUK. He would never prescribe levo but only NDT or T3 for thyroid hormone resistant patients.

Also, this is how he treated patients:-

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

Blood tests were introduced along with levo which is T4 only. Therefore on NDT, which is T4, T3, T2 and T1 and calcitonin a person cannot compare with T4 alone. That's why Dr L was most concerned about relieving clinical symptoms which was the priority. That's also how NDT was i(ntroduced from 1892) and prescribed up until levo and blood tests began.

[BHJONES85 in reply to Jazzw]

What is NDT, and how do you boost ferritin? If you don't mind me enquiring.

[shaws]

Have you had a recent blood test? All tests have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of hormones and the test and take afterwards. Taking them before skews results and may result in a reduction.

The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower, with a Free T4 and free T3 in the upper part of the range.

Ask also for B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

Post your results with the ranges on a new post for comments.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[Mjames13 in reply to shaws]

Thank you Shaws. I'm getting new labs done next Tuesday. I'll take your advice on no hormones for 24 hours. I have my last three thyroid labs which i could post?

[shaws in reply to Mjames13]

o.k. post them.

[Mjames13 in reply to shaws]

November thyroid labs with August labs in parens:

TSH - .747 (1.78)

Free T4 - .96 (1.1)

Free T3 - 2.5 (2.6)

Reverse T3 - 14.7 (did not previously test for this)

New labs next week so will see what happens.

[Mjames13 in reply to shaws]

Just got some labs back:

TSH - .334

Free T4 - 1.11

Free T3 - 2.7

Reverse T3 - 17.8

Ferritin DHEA-Sulfate 169.4

Ferritin Serum - 34

[Mjames13 in reply to Mjames13]

Testosterone is 22 forgot to post

[Mjames13]

November thyroid labs with August labs in parens:

TSH - .747 (1.78)

Free T4 - .96 (1.1)

Free T3 - 2.5 (2.6)

Reverse T3 - 14.7 (did not previously test for this)

[Jump1]

I have severe hair loss and thinning. I had trigger for it. Began jan feb 2016. Shed every day from May 16. 100s a day. Had h pylori eradicated sept 2017. Hair shed appears to have slowed this past 3 weeks. No regrowth. Hair all weak and so fine. Hair sheddif and fine all over vbody. Eyebrows and lashes started to go in jan 2017.tsh 2.77 antibodies 91. Rt3 ratio 19.08.

Am pickig up t3 script tmw dont know if i shud take it. As hair loss slowed down at moment incase h pylori is qhy it has improvef shedding. Desp to hear how t3 only has affected peoples hair growth.

I am always cold. My whole body not only hands and feet. I have shorter periods that are lighter and i dont sweat anymore

[Joanneconnor in reply to Jump1]

I've not sweated for years, lol

[Kitten44]

Only to say I feel your pain. I too have been suffering with horrid hair loss for the past year, which is upsetting me more than all the other hypo symptoms. I've tried every supplement and shampoo and hair treatment, snake oil, you name it! Nothing seems to work. I'm seeing a trichologist in a couple of weeks in the hope they could do something. So you're not alone xx

[Mjames13 in reply to Kitten44]

Sorry to hear this Kitten44. You're not alone. I have an appointment with a dermatologist next month. We'll see right? Keep me posted on your appointment and I'll do the same. Hang in there!

[Kitten44 in reply to Mjames13]

Definitely! Good luck and here's hoping!

[Joanneconnor]

I was having a lot of thinning and hair loss along the front, my GP gave me coconut compound to rub in, did nothing, I bought biotin max strength and had no more hair loss and even started to see new fluffy hair growth 😀

[Hidden in reply to Joanneconnor]

Almonds and eggs contain this naturally.

[Mjames13 in reply to Joanneconnor]

I had tried Biotin in the past without any luck but perhaps not all supplements are created equal? It's good to hear this is working for you and gives me some hope. Thank you for sharing!

[shaws]

This is a link which may be helpful. Many with hypo can lose hair initially but as hormones increase, hopefully it will return.

wikihow.com/Stop-Hair-Loss-...