Hair loss

[Clairey2503]

Hey I’m under active and been on 100mg of levothyroxine for years now but I would have thought by now my hair loss would have sorted itself out and came back? But I’m finding more and more of my hair is breaking off and falling out? Anyone got any tips as the doctors don’t xx

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Can you share your thyroid blood tests (with ranges in brackets) Clairey2503. It may be that although your results are ‘in range’ (so not flagged by your GP) they are not optimal for you. Likewise, key vitamins have a huge role in thyroid health; have you ever had tests for ferritin, folate, Vitamin D or Vitamin B12?

[Clairey2503 in reply to Buddy195]

Ah I’m getting my bloods taken again on Friday as not had them done for a while! I stay in Scotland so they always just oh ur normal and everything’s ok with ur levels, will post them once I get them I have also ordered one from medichecks as I feel they are more advanced so will post them too xx

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to Clairey2503]

I would get the Medichecks thyroid test that also includes key vitamins, as having these optimal is also important.

[shaws Administrator in reply to Clairey2503]

As you live in Scotland you should be able to source (if and when needed) T3 to be added to T4 or T3 alone.

The following is from the Scottish Parliament when there was a discussion about prescribing for those patients who had a dysfunctional thyroid gland.

Motion Text:

That the Parliament notes that World Thyroid Day falls on 25 May 2021; acknowledges what it considers to be the ongoing failures in the treatment of people with thyroid conditions, the majority of whom, it understands, are women; expresses disappointment that many are reportedly still having daily struggles to secure proper diagnosis and treatment; understands that those who can afford it have to pay privately for diagnosis and medication; acknowledges that current research being compiled by The Thyroid Trust suggests that there are currently patients in at least five NHS board areas who are reportedly being refused liothyronine; believes that the Scottish Government would understand the issues better if it undertook a similar project to the UK Government’s current call for evidence as part of its new Women’s Health Strategy, to better understand women’s experiences of the health and care system; considers that large drug manufacturers appear to have control over the supply and reportedly inflated costs of life-saving drugs such as liothyronine in the UK, compared to other countries, and hopes that future MSPs will continue to work as thyroid champions to help progress the ongoing issues.

thyroidtrust.org/scottish-p...

Do you follow this method when having a blood test?

Make the very earliest appointment (even if you have to do so weeks ahead). It is a fasting test but you can drink water.

Do not take thyroid hormones before blood draw but take afterwards.

Also request B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate to be tested.

[Buddy195 Administrator]

If you put ‘hair loss’ into the search facility on posts on this forum, you will be able to see advice given to other members.

SeasideSusie provided this link, which may be useful to you:

hubpages.com/health/16-Vita...

I wouldn’t recommend supplementing until you have tested key vitamins first.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

See detailed replies to your post a year ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Inflammation 4.36mg/l <5

Ferritin 85ug/l - 13-150

Folate serum 4.4ug/l >3.89

Vitamin b12 79pmol/l >37.5

Vitamin d 32.9nmol/l <50-175

Tsh 1.1mlu/l <0.27-4.22

Free t3 3.68 pmol/l <3.1-6.8

Free thyroxine 16.5pmol/l <12-22

Thyroglobulin antibodies 132kiu/l <115

Thyroid peroxidase 214kiu/l <34

Vitamin D and folate levels needed significant improvement

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Vitamin levels should be retested at least once a year, vitamin D twice a year when supplementing

High thyroid antibodies confirms autoimmune thyroid disease

Have you now had coeliac blood test done and trialed strictly gluten free diet

Thyroid levels a year ago suggest you were not on high enough dose levothyroxine

FT4: 16.2 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 42.00% through range

FT3: 3.68 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 only 15.68% through range

Most people when adequately treated will have Ft4 at least 60% through range or higher and Ft3 at least 50% through range

Did you get dose increase in levothyroxine

Very poor conversion of Ft4 to ft3, is frequently improved by getting all four vitamins optimal

[shaws Administrator]

You could have another autoimmune condition called 'Alopecia Areata'. I hope not as I have this condition myself so know how people feel when they have no hair whatsoever.

[shaws Administrator]

The following link may be helpful:-

discover.hubpages.com/healt...