hair loss after thyroid removal?

[Rowan4]

hi all, I’m due to have my thyroid removed through surgery because of Graves’ disease that is constantly relapsing and getting harder to manage.

I’m getting more and more worried about the after math though.

just wondering do many people experience hair loss after thyroid removal and if so is it Mild/severe and does it resolve when levels are normal again?

I’m really worried about this side effect 😖

Thank you all

[Didntexpectthis]

Hi,

I had my thyroid removed last year due to cancer. After removal it was found I had also had thyroiditis so I didn’t have RAL.

I have not suffered hair loss intact I had lots of new hairs growing, so much so that I had spent 3 years growing out a fringe and now have lots of new hair fringe length! It is better than being unwell so it is not a big deal for me.

Good luck - I recovered very quickly from the OP, was back at work after 2 weeks.

[Rowan4 in reply to Didntexpectthis]

Thank you so much, it’s so nice to hear positive stories

[Batty1]

I had thyroidectomy for cancer and have no hair loss on my head but my body is pretty hairless don’t have to shave legs or underarm’s anymore.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Hair loss can be a common symptom of both hyper & hypo.

It doesn’t happen for everyone so hopefully it might not occur at all.

The best thing you can do to “prepare” it have a complete thyroid function and nutrient test before undergoing surgery. Before not after.

This will give you a benchmark of results so it they are affected you have a comparison available.

This might be very relevant in terms of nutrient, which can drop around surgery, & low thyroid levels, but you need to ensure are optimal to remain well & when introducing levothyroxine optimal nutrients help with conversion to T3.

Don’t assume everything will automatically be tested pre surgically because it often isn’t. also remember in range is acceptable to doctor but optimal is is not the same as anywhere in range.

Full test include TSH, FT4, FT3, TPO & TG Antibodies, folate,ferritin, B12 & vitamin D.

[Rowan4 in reply to PurpleNails]

Thank you so much! I will make sure to get this done but thinking now I may try to delay my surgery for a while. I’m feeling good right now…..

[Rowan4 in reply to Rowan4]

Sorry one more thing - what does ‘TG’ stand for?

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Rowan4]

Thyroglobulin antibodies

About antibodies

TPOab (Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies)

TGab (Thyroglobulin antibodies) TPO & TG “autoimmune” - Hashimoto’s (also present with Graves)

TRab (TSH receptor antibodies - measures stimulating, neural & blocking antibodies)

TSI (Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulin) Graves

It may be difficult to control how quick / delayed when you have surgery as often once put forward for it, it is preplanned when can be arrange by wait list.

[Fruitandnutcase]

When I was being treated with carbimazole for Graves 11 years ago I started losing hair all over the place. I had ended up hypo instead of hyper.

When I spoke to my lead consultant she said it was because my body has been on a massive roller coaster ride from being really hyper to really hypo and it would sort itself out which it did - but I’m in remission and I’ve still got my thyroid so I don’t know if that makes a difference.

My sister in law had a TT when a lump on her throat was thought to be ‘just a cyst’ and she was left for a year until she had finished breast feeding a baby was found to be cancer. She has done all sorts of really exciting things in her life and still has long hair so life can be good after that.

Know what you mean about losing hair though, that was the thing that upset me more than anything else - my hair is now shoulder length, it isn’t as thick as it was before but I’d say only I know that from when I wash it. Good luck with it all x