Hair loss

Have underactive thyroid, usually well on 75mcg thyroxine daily. Had Covid in January and vaccination 22.3.21. My hair is now falling out really badly. Trying to get in touch with GP for a thyroid review but can't even get through on the phone 😪 anyone else experience this and, if so, how long does it last? Thank you 🙂

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Obviously you need to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

Low ferritin frequently linked to hairloss

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

Do you have Hashimoto’s?

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Ask GP to test vitamin levels (and thyroid antibodies if not been tested yet)

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease

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)

Is this how you do your tests?

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/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low vitamin levels linked to being under medicated

Roughly how much do you weigh in kilo

guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight

Even if we frequently don’t start on full replacement dose, most people need to increase levothyroxine dose slowly upwards in 25mcg steps (retesting 6-8 weeks after each increase) until eventually on, or near full replacement dose

NICE guidelines on full replacement dose

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng145/...

1.3.6

Consider starting levothyroxine at a dosage of 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day (rounded to the nearest 25 micrograms) for adults under 65 with primary hypothyroidism and no history of cardiovascular disease.

Also here

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/hypo...

gp-update.co.uk/Latest-Upda...

Traditionally we have tended to start patients on a low dose of levothyroxine and titrate it up over a period of months. RCT evidence suggests that for the majority of patients this is not necessary and may waste resources.

For patients aged >60y or with ischaemic heart disease, start levothyroxine at 25–50μg daily and titrate up every 3 to 6 weeks as tolerated.

For ALL other patients start at full replacement dose. For most this will equate to 1.6 μg/kg/day (approximately 100μg for a 60kg woman and 125μg for a 75kg man).

If you are starting treatment for subclinical hypothyroidism, this article advises starting at a dose close to the full treatment dose on the basis that it is difficult to assess symptom response unless a therapeutic dose has been trialled.

BMJ also clear on dose required

bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m41

bestpractice.bmj.com/topics...

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. Will keep harassing GP surgery, good to know about what tests to ask for and private options if needed.

[Lotika in reply to Hidden]

It took 38 attempts to get through to my GP surgery for my husband’s test results today... got there in the end, though! Seriously, you just keep getting the engaged tone... and keep hanging up and redialling. Easier on a mobile, of course!

[Hidden in reply to Lotika]

Thanks Lotika, will keep trying tomorrow! I know it's not urgent with everything else going on but if I don't sort it soo I may end up with no hair 😭

[Lotika in reply to Hidden]

Oh no, you must get it seen to as losing hair is distressing and depressing and it can be a sign that there is something fixable going wrong which just needs a little help! Good luck getting through tomorrow!

[Hidden in reply to Lotika]

Thank you 🤞

[shaws Administrator]

I hope you do not have alopecia areata. I developed this and lost all my hair every year for about ten years now. It grew back slowly only to drop out again.

Alopecia is another autoimmune condition.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Oh no, sorry to hear this. Has it now resolved? Would it show up on a blood test? Thanks.

[JillBailie in reply to shaws]

Hi Shaws my son has Alopecia Areata and has lost hair on and off for several years. He has tried a new treatment recently called PRP Platelet rich plasma and after several sessions has had remarkably good regrow. It’s the most effective treatment he’s tried so far. His hair has made a great recovery and the white bits are now turning brown. I know it’s a tough condition to live with.

[mb008 in reply to JillBailie]

Hello, can you PM me of the cost of this please and where your son gets it done. Thanks

[SLF11]

Hi

I suddenly lost a noticeable amount of hair last summer following a period when my Levo dose was reduced after it appeared from my blood results that I was on too much. However when I initially mentioned the hair loss the first thing my Endo asked me was whether I’d had Covid. She said hair loss is a known consequence (usually appearing several months after infection). Not sure if this is well known but thought it worth mentioning.

[Hidden in reply to SLF11]

Thanks SLF11 that's really interesting to hear. How long did it take before it stopped (assume your dosage was increased).

[SLF11 in reply to Hidden]

I think I was noticeably losing it over a couple of weeks and then the loss slowed down. I’ve not knowingly had Covid so put it down to the changes in Levo doseage. It has since been increased yes but that is a whole other saga!

[Hidden in reply to SLF11]

Ok thank you. I have really noticed it over last two weeks - even my husband commented on it so it must be bad!! Leaving a trail everywhere....😟

[Roodle]

Hi Teva75, this sounds so similar to my experience with sudden hair loss. How are things now? Did you manage to get a thyroid review?

[Hidden in reply to Roodle]

Hi Roodle. Can't get anywhere with GP, did agree to do a generic blood test which showed I had a TSH of 0.2 which he agreed was "low". Told me to return in 12 weeks to get it retested. Wouldn't discuss the possibility that Covid could have caused it . Saw a dermatologist privately last week as scalp also itchy. He also refused to discuss Covid related hair loss. Concluded problem is thyroid and said he would write to my GP insisting on full Thyroid testing. The saga goes on along with the hair loss - good job I normally have a thick head of hair!! How are you getting on with yours, similar story?

[Roodle in reply to Hidden]

Yea similar and endo thought it could by thyroid related or vit D. I've upped meds on those and the hair is growing back now luckily!