i have been on T4 only for 20 years, absolutely fine up until just over 18 months ago when i suffered a significant head impact (knocked out momentarily) and significant whiplash as a result and then a very serious car accident 4 months later (car written off) and suffered further serious whiplash.
I Don't want to bore people as i have alluded to this in the past with other posts but apart from all sorts of issues that started developing about 4 months after those incidents i started to shed hair on my head at an alarming rate. it is still shedding and i will soon be bald on top which is absolutely ludicrous given that i was always really lucky in terms of a great head of hair and no hair issues prior to incidents, then eyebrows have shed, arm pit hair, pubic hair, chest hair shed and the re growth has slowed dramatically, then a few months ago my beard growth has slowed dramatically but at the same time as beard has slowed the hairs on my arms and legs of which have never really been hairy at all are now growing like wildfire! to the extent that i will be looking like a Gorilla soon, i am very confused about this contradictory loss and growth going on at the same time.
I appreciate that the 2 incidents of whiplash might have disturbed or damaged my Pituitary or Thyroid, i have had subsequent blood tests and have been looked at by an Endo who suggests no damage to the Pituitary.
I realise that i may have unbalanced my thyroid as well as Dr Peatfield refers to it in his book about the significance of whiplash and its affect on the thyroid, what i am struggling with is to the best of my knowledge you get either hair loss or hair growth with thyroid issues but not both at the same time??
Unless the 2 incidents have caused some form of hormonal imbalance to occur which is causing the contradiction ?
I get the impression that the majority of people on here are Ladies and as such will most probably in the main not have issues with hair growth on arms and legs but i was just wondering if anyone can shed any light on what might possibly be happening or has experienced similar contradictory growth and loss at the same time with thyroid issue or in fact knows that it is possible to have both going on at the same time with a thyroid issue..
Any advice or input very much appreciated.
Thank you
Steve.
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SPD1
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Have you had full thyroid blood tests, since whiplash. I had a bump to back of my neck. Been out of whack ever since, they upped thyroid meds and starting to slowly settle. Hair, all over the place, but again starting to settle. Now I am very careful with my food intolerances.
Hi there, yes had full blood tests twice over last 12 months, thyroid panel, testosterone, cortisol, pituitary bloods, and full Vitamins B12, Vit d etc,
Thyroid levels are where they have been for years.
It just seems really bizarre to be getting typical thyroid hair loss on head, eyebrows, armpit, pubes, but rapid growth on arms and legs, to the best of my knowledge hair growth and hair loss at the same time are not typical of thyroid issues. thats why i posted to see if anyone else had experienced the contradiction,
I don't have any answers for you unfortunately, but yes it does happen. In women, loss of hair in some places such as head hair, eyebrows, pubic hair etc. can occur at the same time as growth of unwanted facial hair.
Have you had all your bloods rechecked etc after whiplash......either need more meds or just needs to settle down on it' own. Temperature probs also plays a role in hair growth. Best wishes.
Hi, yes all bloods done, including basic pituitary blood testing which were sent to a local hospital Endo to view, he deemed them ok and then suggested to my GP i reduce my Levo dose because of my TSH reading of 0.03!(it has been between 0.03 and 0.08 for the last 10 years and i was absolutely fine before the incidents) even though T4 was in Range at top end and T3 was around 50percent of range, yet another Endo who hasnt a clue! I managed to argue against it with my GP but the Endo letter is now there on my file and will not help in future when i have to continually argue my case that i am not over medicated around blood review time, plus there is now little chance of trying to get an increase in Levo off the NHS. I am also now very hesitant to go back to my GP for further more extensive testing of Pituitary because i am worried that my GP will just take the view that an Endo has suggested everything is fine on initial tests and then she will focus again on me being over medicated and pressure me to reduce when that is clearly the wrong direction.
Its ridiculous that i am frightened to seek further investigation because so many GP's and Endos dont understand the intricacies of the thyroid and its management.
Well that is your answer on the hair issue. Same thing happened to me. The rudimentary NHS thyroid tests are inadequate for equating what is really going on. The only only other person who can tell is the patient (you , of course) Whiplash is known to cause disturbance to thyroid systems. If not already, I really would up Vitamin D and K2 along with other supplements. Help with healing and make meds work better......maximise Levothyroine dose by taking on empty stomach, large glass of water and empty stomach for a few hours. I really can sympathise, it was my hair loss that eventually led to ME diagnosing my own thyroid problem. Had private tests done to prove to GP. Same when I became autoimmune. If you can get full Thyroid health check done yourself....fingerprick blood test at home. My results came back really off, but I was able to prove I have Autoimmune thyroid and GP upped my meds after lowering them with the inadequate NHS tests. I am now recovering nicely, strong nails and hair regrowing (that always takes time because of hair growth cycles) Lots of testing labs and info on here (not supposed to advertise) PS, I know my private tests, I am in control of, so I only show what I want them to see, to avoid being stressed about withdrawn meds. Also get test 24 hrs after last Levo dose for more accurate results. If you are slightly undereducated it will put strain on all other stuff, like pituitary etc. If you can get your own home test, if you cannot try and get copies of GP notes etc, so you can track your test results yourself.......good to see things written down. Don't worry, I eventually got mine sorted.....just takes time. Good luck x
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