Just wondering if anyone might know anything about my situation.
In november i was supplementing iodine and also taking vitamins, some of them actually had additional iodine in. I noticed my hair started to feel very soft and it began to shed a bit, eyebrows included! i stopped the supplements. i had my thyroid levels tested and it was TSH 0.42 and free thyroxine 12. i also felt like i had symptoms of hyperthyroidism although doctor said was fine. Anyway, hair loss still happening - thyroid tested again in January and it is TSH 0.39 and free thyroxine 16.7. Hair loss is worse than ever. Dr says no thyroid issue. Is this right? i dont understand what could be causing the hair loss. My eyebrows arent growing very quickly anymore and more hair than ever is shedding. Iron is fine. Vitamin D is fine. I thought maybe i was over supplementing at one stage. Also, my menstrual cycle changed during november to now - period being heavier and a bit irregular. however that could have been down to iron supplements. I am convinced its a thyroid issue.
any advice greatly appreciated!!
thanks
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Aurora88
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Iodine is not recommended as can mess up thyroid. Use to be used to treat hyperthyroidism in past
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
You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative
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 .
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies
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 you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )
Possibly your thyroid has recovered slightly from the excess iodine you were taking, but you need to post all your recent results to help us advise you. Include reference ranges (either in brackets after the result, with a small "R" next to it). For example, "TSH 0.39 (0.27-4.2)".
TSH ranges are usually quite similar and yours are within range. It's harder to tell with T3 and T4 as the ranges vary, but the upper level of T4 is usually something like 22 or 25.
But to most doctors "Normal" just means within range, and that is not good enough. Your levels need to be optimal, for you or you will not feel well.
Ideally you need to be tested for TSH, T4 and (very important and often neglected) T3, together with ferritin (iron stores), folate, vitamins D3 and B12 (and likely one or two other things I can't remember offhand!) and also, if you have not been diagnosed yet, thyroid antibodies.
Do you know what kind of thyroid problem you have? Are you taking any replacement hormone (usually levothyroxine)?
And as well as hair falling out (common with hypothyroidism) how do you feel?
"Dr says no thyroid issue."
Did he tell you what he thinks the issue IS???
Most doctors are not taught much about the thyroid, and sadly some seem not to want to know. The attitude (even of some endocrinologists) seems to be "Your tests are OK, therefore you are OK, so go away!"
Which is why there are so many members in this forum!
But there are also many here (mostly patients) who have become their own experts. I have learned so much and found so much help and encouragement. Hope you will too x
• in reply to
SlowDragon answered while I was even more slowly composing my answer, so some overlap of information!
its been a lonley few months, no one has answers and no one seems to care! gp said we have done all we can. ok...
so i n november i remember a day where i couldnt really sit down, felt super jittery, couldnt focus on a computer screen, and felt anxious and palpitations. That calmed down and this was when the hair loss was happening. i sort of lost the texture of my hair - usually very curly and thick. it went kind of limp soft and straight. Anyway, over christmas i lacked energy and felt like i had the symptoms of hypothyroidism, so had it checked again and showed normal range. hair loss is now the worse its been. stress has been very bad because of this. at the moment very lethargic, everything is an effort, low mood, anxiety and heart pounding and going fast, and also like i cant get enough air sometimes. My periods have also been different - heavier. Eyebrow hair is growing very slowly, so are my nails.
Could this all be from iodine? Does it stop? I understand it might have triggered something. i am going to have to pay for private blood tests.
Why would you take iodine? This can mess with your thyroid and hopefully now you have stopped your hair will stop shedding. Unfortunately hair grows slowly and mine is only now starting to look thicker after over 2 years of shedding. I would also check your ferritin because it needs to be over 80 for hair growth.
i stopped beginning of december and its still not stopping. i have been taking iron to help bit nothing is helping and bloods come back normal. going to do the full panel privately. i didnt take a lot of iodine for a long time. it was for three weeks
It will take time for your thyroid to recover in the meantime I would ask for a blood test for vitamin levels. Low Iron, Ferritin and Vitamin D can all cause hair loss. It might take months for your hair to recover. Just be patient but don't take iodine again.
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