what do you do for the hair loss and weight gain?

[tammy64]

HI my daughters and I all three have hyperthyroid each on different mg I am on 2.0, my younger daughter(18) is on .75 and my older daughter is on1.25 we each have the hair loss any help with that as well ad weight gain?

Each time blood work is done to check thyroid, burses come back and say its normal and thats all.I know something has to be off somewhere causig the hairloss and weight gain.

[Lora7again]

Can you post your results so we can see if they might be off and therefore causing the hair loss. I have suffered with hair loss because of Graves' disease but at the moment my hair is better and now growing back after losing it for about 3 years.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What medication are you all taking?

What vitamin supplements

Please add blood test results and ranges for TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

[greygoose]

Are you sure you don't mean hypOthyroid, rather than hypERthyroid? Sounds as if you do.

[tammy64 in reply to greygoose]

No we have underactive thyroud

[greygoose in reply to tammy64]

Underactive thyroid is hypO. HypER is over-active.

[shaws Administrator]

Hair loss and weight gain are the most frequently posted queries on the forum.

In these 'modern times' I doubt that any doctor or endocrinologists knows any signs/symptoms of problems with the thyroid gland. Whereas before levothyroxine was introduced and it is the only replacement hormone available, we were diagnosed upon our clinical symptoms and given NDT (natural dessicated thyroid hormones) increased gradually until symptoms were resolved. Nowadays we have no options other than levothyroxine.

Unfortunately in these modern times, in the UK, alternative hormone replacements have been withdrawn, leaving many patients without a product to relieve their clinical symptoms.

We have to 'read and learn' and ask questions if we've to recover and to feel well again. Our TSH - the aim is 1 or lower (not above): The Frees, i.e. FT4 and FT3 (rarely tested) have to be nearer the upper part of the ranges. Ranges are the figures in brackets after the results.

When doctors state 'normal' they don't mean we are, they mean the results of the tests are 'within the normal range' when we need a TSH around 1 or lower and T3 and T4 nearer the top of the ranges.

This is the procedure to follow:

All blood tests have to be at the earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between levothyroxine and the test and take it afterwards. This helps to keep the TSH at its 'highest' as doctors seem to only look at that number and if it is 'in range' they don't increase our dose.

You also need B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate checked. Everything has to be optimal. Always get a print-out for your own records, we are entitled by the Law. Make sure the ranges are stated as labs differ in their machines and so do the ranges.

A Full Thyroid Blood Test consists of:

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. Very rarely are all of these tested. Many on the forum get private tests from one of the recommended labs. Always get a print-out of your results of each test and make sure the ranges are also stated. Labs differ in their machines and so do the ranges.

If we want to recover our health, we have to Do It Ourselves it would seem to me.

Millions seem to have no problems with levothyroxine but the majority on this forum have had problems and that's why we have many members.

If you'd like to become members of Thyroiduk They are the rock on which TUK was built, without all their hard work in their small office we wouldn't have been able to progress.

Just in case you would like a private test, and they are home pin-prick tests you must be well-hydrated there is a list of labs who do postal tests. Make sure you are well hydrated and arms/hands warm. Early a.m. means the TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is at its highest and can make the difference between getting an increase or not. The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower but many doctors make the mistake of not increasing dose if it is 'somewhere' in the range and that can be up to 10 in the UK.

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