Is 2 years worth of hair thinning/loss from hypothyroidism reversible?

[Jtk11]

I have about 20% of what it used to be. It was always very thick, now it's so thin and sparse.

[Lora7again]

Yes it is possible to regain you hair because I have and I have had 2 lots of extreme hair loss (50%) lasting a couple of years. Both times my hair has grown back once my thyroid levels were right for me. Do you have any blood results to share with us? We need the TSH, T4 and T3 also any vitamin levels like B12, Iron and Ferritin, Vitamin D and Folate. Low Ferritin can cause hair loss and needs to be over 80 for hair growth.

My hair has been growing back for about a year now and I am only losing about 3 hairs a day instead of hundreds. When my hair was very thin I had hair extensions put in at Lucinda Ellery which cost me £800. There are cheaper salons but it helped me cope with having very thin hair. One of the most distressing things about this illness is the hair loss. Hair is quick to fall out and slow to grow back unfortunately.

[Serendipitious in reply to Lora7again]

I have exactly the same problem but I'm struggling with getting everything right. Are you taking T3 or NDT? Also, where in the range do you find your thyroid test results need to be to feel well?

[Lora7again in reply to Serendipitious]

I am not taking anything at the moment because I am not hypothyroid. Having levels that are either too low or too high can cause hair loss. I cannot tell you where your levels need to be because everyone is different but a lot of people who take Levothyroxine feel well when their TSH is 1 or lower and their T4 and T3 are in the upper third of the range. Also if you have low Ferritin that can cause your hair to fall our and I was told by a hair loss site that it needs to be 80 for hair growth.

[Serendipitious in reply to Lora7again]

You're very lucky not to be at the mercy of this disease then. Yes I've also been told that 50 to stop hair loss and 70-90 to grow new hair. Was your ferritin also low? Is that why you suffered from hair loss?

What hair loss website are you referring to? Would be good to have a look I'm incredibly desperate at the moment. I'll be having an iron panel finally after I changed GP. However, if I can find more information that would be great.

[Lora7again in reply to Serendipitious]

I have been suffering from this disease for over 10 years and I have no idea if I will have to have my thyroid removed in the future because I have a multinodular goiter. The hair loss site was no help at all except for the ferritin advice and it was only when my thyroid levels were right for me did my hair grow back. You need to post your most recent blood results so members can advise you. I was desperate and tried all kinds of stuff to stop my hair from falling out and nothing worked I'm afraid.

Here is the link to it.

heralopecia.com/

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at previous posts

Recommend you get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

Hair loss is frequently linked to low ferritin

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

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)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Come back with new post once you get results