Hi, I posted on here some months ago with my blood test results and was advised that I had hashimoto's. I was subsequently prescribed 50mcg Levothyroxin
For the last three months I have noticed I am losing a lot of hair especially around my hairline. I will be seeing the GP tomorrow about this and will ask for blood tests for ferritin etc. Have never tested for this before. Can someone advise me how I actually word this to the GP. I think having read other people's posts in the past I should be getting other things checked at the same time such as vitamin levels?
Thanks.
Written by
jo1001
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You can lose hair when your thyroid levels are moving and yours will be if you are taking Levothyroxine. The hair loss will stop when your levels are right for you so you need to have a blood test 6 weeks after starting the Levo to see if you need and increase. I have suffered with hair loss and I haven't yet found a cure I'm afraid but I do know that once you have your levels right the hair loss will stop and you hair will grow back. I had hair extensions for 2 years when my hair was very thin but I am now in remission and my hair is growing back.
also 50mcg is a starting does and you should have increased if to 75mcg after 6 weeks ... Do you have some blood results to show us? You can request a copy of these from your Doctor because it is the law that you are allowed to see your blood results and your Doctor knows this.
Standard starter dose is 50mcg Levothyroxine. Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 in top third of range and FT3 at least half way in range
NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.
Also what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)
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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Ask GP to test vitamin levels and antibodies
All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood 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
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
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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