Hi, ive been diagnosed with hypothyroidism & mot of myhair fell out. I started on 75mg of levothyroxine & it grew again but not for long....it then started yo fall out agsin. My doctor increased my meds to 100mg one day the next 75mg. Been on this for 2 months now but hair is still falling out. I was diagnosed with alopecia due to the hypothyroidism also.Please help !
Thanks
Liz
Maybe the post about Hair Loss with Hypothyroidism / Levothyroxine that I wrote a while ago will be helpful healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
hair loss can be caused by hypothyroidism so we hope it will get better when we reach the land of the optimally medicated. It can also be caused by over- medication. It can also be a symptom of low B12. It can also be a symptom of adrenal disfunction.
It’s worth considering all of those. My hair loss improved when I improved my B12. I still have hair loss but not as bad as before. I’ve recently discovered I have very low cortisol levels and Dhea so I’m working on that. Maybe that will stop the hairfall.
It’s often a combination of factors that you need to address.
How do you address low cortisol and DHEA, Pearlteapot?
With adrenal cortex and dhea supplements I believe. That’s what I’m about to try on the advice of a functional doctor anyway. But you’d need to test first to make sure they are low
welcome to the forum
First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of copies.
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
Link re access
patients-association.org.uk...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
In reality some GP surgeries still do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s
Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.
Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
low iron/ferritin often causes hair loss
Request GP do full iron panel test including ferritin
20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis
In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options and money off codes
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
SlowDragon is that just for hypo and hyper? As I'm on Carbimazole and lately have been losing tonnes of hair.
Knowsnothing
You need to test all four vitamins at least annually and TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 at every test
What vitamin supplements are you taking
SlowDragon I'm taking all the b vits, Ferritin, vitamin d
So stop vitamin B complex 5-7 days before testing
Instead that week just take separate folate
Stop iron supplements 5-7 days before test, and don’t eat iron rich dinner night before test
Carbimazole is an Anti Thyroid drug and prescribe when hyperthyroid and not hypothyroid as is the person asking the question.
This drug semi-blocks your own daily thyroid hormone when in a state of over production of thyroid hormone production resulting in over range T3 and T4 blood test results which should fall back down into the ranges and hopefully symptoms relieved with the help of the Carbimazole.
There is an alternative anti thyroid drug if Carbimazole does not suit you - do you have the PIL - Patient Information Leaflet - Propylthiouracil = PTU for short.
Do you have a diagnosis and can share your TSH, T3 and T4 readings and ranges at diagnosis and which antibodies were found positive and over range in a new post of your own as reply on someone else's post causes confusion.
Hair loss can happen when either hyper or hypo, or because of low iron stores and / or other reasons and can be triggered by stress and anxiety.
Hypothyroidism Ive been on iron tablets ..my iron stores are fine. Yes i have hypothyroidism my levels were TSH 6.52
T4 9.8
Thyroid peroxidase 262
We need the ranges for these results please and your actual ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D readings and ranges please.
Your TSH is much too high and signalling your need more thyroid hormone replacement which when optimally absorbed and utilised lowers the TSH to under 2 and most of us feel better when the TSH falls down towards the bottom of the range.
Your T4 result looks much too low - but without the range - I can't say much.
We generally feel best when the T4 is up towards / in - the top quadrant of its range as this should then convert to a decent level of T3 at around a 1/4 ratio T3/T4.
We need to see at the very least a TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 result and range all drawn from the same blood tests - and then we can help and advise as to your next best step back to better health.
The antibody activity is likely that of Hashimoto's Auto Immune disease - you might like to read around the research and suggestions of Dr Izabella Wentz who as this health issue - thyroidpharmacist.com
I know exactly how you feel. I have the same condition but hair has grown back and then dropped out again.
I am now bald - once again. You don't quite feel 'well' when your hair has dropped out.
I have bought a couple of wigs as this has been going on for a few years now.
At Least feel well and don't have any other symptoms.
pennyannie I have Graves hyper and at the last kick off my levels were.Sept
Moved onto 7.5mg one day 5mg the next
TSH 1.4 range 0.27-4.2
T3 4.7 range 3.1-6.8
T4 12.5 range 12-22
In August t3 was 5.2 range 2.5-5.5
T4 11.8 range 11.5-22.7 was on 10mg one day 5mg the next
I said to the endo I wasn't happy on 10mg one day and 5mg the next so we agreed I would do 7.5mg one day the 5mg the next but I'm still feeling rough with loads of hair loss, swollen ankles, carpel tunnel like pain, palpations, dry mouth, dry hair, really hot or super cold. I just wonder if they might be hypo type symptoms.
As suggested please start your own bio and information on the forum and start your own question/post on the forum with the above details and information -
This post/question is written by Eliza and replies need to be about Eliza's health issues.
Just start again - on your own page - giving us the above information, and also when diagnosed Graves and your initial blood test results and readings at diagnosis.
In this way many more people than just me will see your post and you too will be helped and advised.
The AT drug needs to be titrated up or down - according to blood tests - which tend to run behind symptoms being experienced - and yes - if left on too high a dose of an AT drug for too long you do risk falling too far through the T3 and T4 ranges and experiencing the equally disabling symptoms of hypothyroidism.
When you start your own question - please add ranges and a time line from diagnosis so we can understand better if this is your first phase of Graves, or not, and we also need your very first blood test results and ranges at diagnosis and the antibody readings and ranges found in your blood.
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