As I’ve put in previous posts, I’ve been having hairloss for the last 4 months. My GP hasn’t been very helpful so I paid to see a private GP. The first question he asked when I said about the hairloss was ‘do you have a thyroid problem?’. I’m hypothyroid and on a dose of Levothyroxine of 125mcg a day. My last two blood tests were:
March 2019
TSH <0.005 (0.38-5.33)
Free T4 16.4 (7.0-16.0)
Free T3 5.0 (3.8-6.0)
June 2019
TSH 0.008 (0.38-5.33)
Free T4 13.0 (7.0-16.0)
Free T3 5.1 (3.8-6.0)
I took my results in to show him and he fixated on the TSH basically blaming my hairloss on that and the fact that I am overmedicated. Am I overmedicated or should I be looking for other reasons for the hairloss?? I’m confused as my NHS GP doesn’t seem to mind that my TSH is suppressed and has been that way for 3 years plus. I seem to need it suppressed to get the free Ts anywhere near the middle/top of range. Please help!
Sarah.
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Sarahlouise1980
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No, you are not overmedicated, if you were your FT3 would be over range. Your private GP is TSH obsessed and likes to dose by TSH only regardless of where your hormone levels lie.
Private GP said suppressed TSH could be causing my hairloss....
Did he discuss other causes of hairloss with you? Did he suggest any vitamin testing?
I have been treated for hypothyroidism for 44 years, I have been keeping a record of all my test results since 1994. For all but about 2 or 3 occasions my TSH has been suppressed, depending on the lab my results are <0.005, <0.01 or <0.02. I do not have hairloss and never have had in all the time I've been treated.
Thank you so much for your reply - he did suggest vitamin testing too but the blood test would have cost over £250 on top of the consultation fee. I shall go back to my NHS GP I think! In the meantime I am looking to blame my contraceptive pill for the hairloss and have come off of it to see if it eases up. I am due another thyroid blood test next week so will ask if I can get my vitamins & iron/ferritin tested at the same time.
Hi, i had a so-called normal iron result but a very good nhs dermatologist said my iron was too low and certainly not optimal so i agree with SS on this. Since taking iron its grown back and thickened although its going again now which i gather can be a short term side effect of levo. Some progesterone or low oestrogen can cause hair loss too. Good luck, its so upsetting when this happens.
Good grief. You need to ask for your money back. He’s a moron!
Did he do any physical tests to see if you were over-medicated? (Heart rate, temperature, hold arms out straight and check for tremor etc) I think probably not. Instead, he looked at some numbers on a piece of paper - not at you.
I’d have been tempted to come up with another symptom that was untrue to see if he blamed that on suppressed TSH too. ‘And doctor, at night, my ears turn back to front!’
We ALWAYS recommend getting FULL Thyroid and vitamin BEFORE paying to see any thyroid specialist
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
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
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
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
£99 for full testing, often on offer at £79
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.
So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
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What my GP said 🤔
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