Hair loss

[Claireinthecommunit]

Can you differentiate hair loss as a symptom of Hypothyroidism and aging? Whilst undermedicated I had hair loss. Now on 125mg Levothyroxine but hair not grown back. Is if ever likely to? Thanks for reading.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Do you have recent Thyroid results and ranges to add?

Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and thyroid antibodies

Or test privately

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

High ferritin doesn't necessarily mean high iron levels as well. Have you had full iron panel testing?

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks for responding Slowdragon. Below are my last two tests off the Doc's website - T3 isn't listed on the 5 Feb. and I will ring them to find that out. I recognise that these don't look bad BUT I still have symptoms of loss of energy, ridged nails with whites migrating towards cuticles, brain fog, poor sleep, constipation, poor skin, hair loss and partings getting wider. Various pain - under lower rib on left, behind right clavicle back. I could go on....and am wondering if there could be some other underlying problem.

Test T15/1/19

Serum TSH level < 0.01 mU/L [0.27 - 4.5]

Serum free T4 level 21.6 pmol/L [11.0 - 23.0]

T3 level 5.61 pmol/L [3.1 - 6.8]

Serum vitamin B12 level (XE2pf) 447 ng/L [197 - 771

Serum sodium level (XE2q00 142 mmol/L level(XE2q0) 142 mmol/L [133-146]

Serum potassium level (XE2pz) 5.1 mmol/L [3.5 - 5.3]

Serum total 25-hydroxy vitamin D level (Xabo0) 66 nmol/L

Test 5/2/19

[ Tests requested were Thyroid function test and Serum thyroid peroxidase antibody concentration]

Serum TSH level < 0.01 mU/L [0.27 - 4.5]

Serum free T4 level 19.8 pmol/L [11.0 - 23.0]

Serum thyroid peroxidase antibody concentration 13 IU/mL [< 34.0]

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Vitamin D is on low side. But GP will only prescribe to bring vitamin D up to 50nmol. Aiming to improve by self supplementing to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better

Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.

Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk

Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function.

It's trial and error what dose each person needs. Frequently with Hashimoto's we need higher dose than average

Local CCG guidelines

clinox.info/clinical-suppor...

Government recommends everyone supplement October to April

gov.uk/government/news/phe-...

No folate test results

B12 might be better slightly higher, certainly above 500

Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial.

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks ).

Or Jarrow B-right is popular choice, but is large capsule

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Before starting any B vitamins

You might want to supplement vitamin D for 6-8 weeks then get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing via Medichecks or Blue Horizon to check folate and FT3 Levels plus also test BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Some people only have high TG antibodies

Might want to test zinc

This can be low and a cause of hair loss

[Claireinthecommunit in reply to SlowDragon]

Thankyou so much for such a really full and informative reply which gives me a great plan to move forward with. I currently only supplement with 10ug vit B and will increase and add Vit D. If I continue taking Thyroxine 6am how long after can I take vitamins B and D please? As Premarin can interfere with Thyroxine I take that later in the day but can change that if necessary.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Claireinthecommunit]

If vitamin D is a tablet you swallow it needs to be four hours later

Many of us use vitamin D mouth spray by Better You. This avoids poor gut function and can be taken about an hour or so after Levothyroxine

You could try taking Levothyroxine at bedtime, many of us find it more convenient and possibly more effective

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Other medication at least 2 hours away, some like HRT, iron, calcium, vitamin D or magnesium at least four hours away from Levothyroxine

[Claireinthecommunit in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks thats very helpful and the mouth spray sounds the right way to go👏

[Claireinthecommunit in reply to SlowDragon]

Managed to get Better You Vit D spray in this little rural town😊 I do have some vit B complex which I stopped taking as I felt it made me ill - looking at contents it contains folic acid so many thanks again for your tip to avoid that. I have arthritis although have exercise regime to manage it. but its an uphill struggle with the fatigue Im feeling. Over last two weeks the pain is worse and I saw a doc this morning. I asked if my thyroid condition could aggravate this as I was still having symptoms and didn't feel well at all. He wasn't interested, said my tests were normal and told me to take more painkillers😞

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Claireinthecommunit]

Suggest you improve vitamins for 6 weeks minimum and then get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing via Medichecks

Important to test BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies

Plus FT3, FT4 and TSH together

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

I should add I take 0.625 Premarin 7/8 hours after taking Thyroxine at 6am

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Re previous reply I have also found this test for 31.12.18

Urea and electrolytes

Serum sodium level 137 mmol/L [133.0 - 146.0]

Serum potassium level 4.7 mmol/L [3.5 - 5.3]

Serum urea level 5.2 mmol/L [2.5 - 7.8]

Serum creatinine level 70 umol/L [45.0 - 84.0]

eGFR using creatinine (CKD-EPI) per 1.73 square metres 75 mL/min [90.0 - 200.0]

Outside reference range

Multiply EPI e-GFR result by 1.159 for African-

Caribbean patients.

Note that extremes of muscle mass and high protein

diet can affect serum creatinine and e-GFR.

Plasma glucose level 6.0 mmol/L [3.0 - 6.0]

Glucose reference range applies only if patient fasted.

Bone profile

Serum calcium level 2.43 mmol/L [2.2 - 2.6]

Serum albumin level 37 g/L [35.0 - 50.0]

Serum adjusted calcium concentration 2.48 mmol/L [2.2 - 2.6]

Serum alkaline phosphatase level 67 U/L [30.0 - 130.0]

Serum inorganic phosphate level 1.17 mmol/L [0.8 - 1.5]

Liver function tests

Serum total protein level 66 g/L [60.0 - 80.0]

Serum globulin level 29 g/L [20.0 - 34.0]

Serum alanine aminotransferase level 14 U/L [< 33.0]

Serum bilirubin level < 3 umol/L [< 21.0]

Serum C reactive protein level 5.5 mg/L [< 5.0]

Outside reference range

Serum lipid levels

Serum cholesterol level 4.5 mmol/L

Serum triglyceride levels 1.1 mmol/L

Serum HDL cholesterol level 1.8 mmol/L

Serum LDL cholesterol level 2.2 mmol/L

Serum cholesterol/HDL ratio 2.5 mmol/mmol

For advice on the modification of lipid concentrations

in cardiovascular risk assessment, see revised NICE

guideline 181 (issued July 2014 & modified September

2014) at nice.org.uk/guidance/cg181

Please note change of HDL method as from 28.09.17

Serum non high density lipoprotein cholesterol level 2.7 mmol/L

Serum troponin T level 8 ng/L [< 10.0]

Results are reported with gender specific reference

[Naomi8]

What a good question!I would add that there is hairloss from being overmedicated,too.Self-medicating on T3-only for 2 years 2014-2016 changed my hair permanently.I am now 69 & have fine,light,flyaway hair.I have lost all the body & curl I had.I was through menopause by 2005.

On T3-only,I did not see big hair loss on dark clothing,in my hairbrush,in the plughole.I think my hair follicles shut down.I now think I was overmedicating,although my BP,pulse & temperature stayed OK up to 55mcgs.I did have a return of hot flashes.

Hair loss is not just a thyroid thing.Its a sex hormones thing.Its really complex.

[Claireinthecommunit in reply to Naomi8]

Sorry for not acknowledging your good feedback 2 months ago - Im a bit hopeless technology wise

[Baobabs]

Not wanting to sound negative but Alopecia is an autoimmune disease. I have Hashi’s and unless my Ferritin is near the top of the range, my hair begins to thin particularly either side of my forehead. It doesn’t obviously drop out, just thins. It also loses body and curl.

[Claireinthecommunit in reply to Baobabs]

Sorry for not acknowledging your good feedback 2 months ago - Im a bit hopeless technology wise. Im waiting for blood results so hope to know what the problem is

[Baobabs in reply to Claireinthecommunit]

No worries! All the best with your results. Remember revelation is the beginning of resolve.

[BadHare]

My hair started to grow back when I upped my iron a little, & added a mineral supplement & B12. I thought my wholefood diet was good, but I clearly needed the extra help to get my hair growing again.

[Claireinthecommunit in reply to BadHare]

Sorry for not acknowledging your good feedback 2 months ago - Im a bit hopeless technology wise. Thanks to sll feedback Im on Vit D, B Complex and going to add zinc and biotin.

[Claireinthecommunit]

Can being under medicated gor hypothyroidism make my arthritis worse?

[BadHare in reply to Claireinthecommunit]

I'd say it makes everything worse!