Need help and guidance desparately: Hi again. I... - Thyroid UK

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Need help and guidance desparately

Refat profile image
8 Replies

Hi again. I had posted my daughters blood test results earlier this week. Tsh 2.8 ref range 2.5 to 4.0 and t4 19 ref rang 10 to 22. Ferritin level 29.

The problem is now all of a sudden she has developed so much hair loss, its coming out in bunches. I really dont know what to do. I could tell that over the past few weeks she was feeling tired and i could see that her hair were becoming dull and bounce had gone which is why I asked for the blood test.

She is also very distressed, im going to try and make appointment with endo. Could it be she is not converting to t3 or something else... surely levels of 29 wouldnt cause this.

Please let me know what to do next and questions to ask...a desparate mum

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Refat profile image
Refat
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radd profile image
radd

Refat,

Hashi is notorious for gut absorption issues and this won’t have happened over night but have been a gradual iron loss over several years with the risk of many other nutrients being low as well.

Has iron been investigated before? Is she supplementing under GP's care because a ferritin result of 29 on the surface shows iron deficiency but ranges and a full iron panel would be needed to confirm this.

Low iron can prevent good conversion and both low T3 and low iron levels can result in hair loss. I haven't checked your previous posts but if you post all recent test results complete with ranges (numbers in brackets) for thyroid & nutrients, and meds & supplements details, etc, members will comment further.

Refat profile image
Refat in reply to radd

Hi Radd, thank you for your reply. Full blood count was done but i was told its normal. I will be contacting gp on monday. Vitamib D was over 100 but that is the only additional test that was done.

I have been supplementing her with iron recently but only during her periods.

Last year during june we had something similar happen too, but the hair loss was not as much back then. I spoke to GP and explained that she had grown and that she was having periods.Without doing any bloods gp prescribed a months supply of liquid iron. 5ml twice daily which is 27 of iron. I gave her that and continued with it for longer than a month, infact 2 months. During this time she was also started on levo too.

Bloods for ferrtin was checked in august and ferritin was then at 38. I decided to continue with the iron for a little longer and then i stopped. Everything improved and things were ok until now.

I havent given regular iron for months as stated only for about 3 days when she has her period, furthermore she has also gone taller too.

Now we are back where her ferrtin is 29.

Sparklingsunshine profile image
Sparklingsunshine in reply to Refat

Hi her ferritin is far too low. She needs it much higher, hair growth needs good ferritin levels. I would try iron tablets like ferrous fumarate or ferrous gluconate. You can buy these otc without prescription. Her hairloss could be thyroid or autoimmune but her ferritin levels are terrible and need rectifying ASAP.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I am really sorry for your daughter's distress at hair loss.

I am a grandmother who developed Alopecia Areata about 12 years ago. It will be harder for your daughter being much younger and she will be very anxious at present.

Alopecia Areata is another autoimmune condition. My hair grows back slowly just to drop out again. I now know all the signs and my heart drops.

Some times when we have one autoimmune condition we develop others. It's not something we can control but I have have bought a wig as we do feel very vulnerable without our hair no matter what our age.

My sympatjy is fully with your daughter and I'd ask GP to refer her to a dermatologist.

ducray.com/en-gb/hair-loss/...

Refat profile image
Refat in reply to shaws

Hi there.. thank you for your reply. Isnt Alopecia Areata patchy loss of hair? my daughters has thinned all over. She has no patches.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to Refat

I have, at present, not one hair on my scalp. since March from last year. I have lost all my hair every year around March.

Some people may have 'patchy' hair loss but that has never happened to me. There are several conditions regarding hair loss.

aad.org/public/diseases/hai...

I had injections all over my scalp one year and hair grew back - just to dop out again. My husband banned any more injections as he watched this procedure.

Sparklingsunshine profile image
Sparklingsunshine in reply to Refat

Hi You can have diffuse alopecia, where hair loss is all over, hair loss can be autoimmune, it can be due to hormones, ie having hair follicles that are sensitive to testosterone and androgen, male hormones. We women have a certain amount of male hormones, some more than others which is why some get PCOS.

If you are genetically sensitive to the presence of male hormones in your bloodstream then that can affect your hair, just as men lose their hair so do women, although it's not usually as dramatic. It's known as female pattern baldness. And can affect women at any age. Is there any history of hair loss male or female in your family?

Stress, illness, thyroid or nutritional deficiencies can all cause hairloss. And certain medications as well. Low iron,low B vitamins etc. Low calorie diets and not eating enough protein is another culprit. Viruses can cause temporary hairloss like flu or Covid.

thyr01d profile image
thyr01d

I'm doubtful about blaming ferritin. I have had low ferritin, right at the bottom of the range for about 4 years, currently better than usual in the 30s, however my hair is very thick. I know we are all different but I think there's a risk of following a red herring.

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