Do I just learn to live with thinning hair?

[Naomi8]

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos in 1997 & was on thyroxine for 17 years.Then on T3-only for about 4 years,after testing positive for the D102 variant from both parents.

I have been on NDT for a few years now-THIROID at first until its supply issues.I got on very well with TR MANN & was very disappointed when production ceased.

Been on THYROID S since then,so about 5 years.

My hair started thinning on NDT & its really accelerated ,possibly since starting THIROID S.

I've been thinking about adding some T4 & reducing the NDT for some time,having followed Barbra Lougheed's "Tired Thyroid "blog a while back.

Now that I'm feeling really unhappy about my hair loss,I feel motivated enough to try.I am 74 so I accept I have to add my age into the mix.

I test with Medichecks.I supplement with Heme Iron & Ferrous Bisglycinate.Also vitamin C,B6,D,folate,B12.omega 3.

I have used progesterone cream for many years.

Interested to hear of other folks experiences & ideas.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You say you test with Medichecks

What are your most recent iron, ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D results

And thyroid results too

[Naomi8 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your reply.I will post again when I have updated my thyroid,iron,ferritin,folate,B12 & vit D results.

[Hypopotamus]

Have you tried taking collagen? I have ligament and tendon issues in my leg so starting taking it for that before Christmas. I have noticed that my hair is noticeably thicker now.

[Naomi8 in reply to Hypopotamus]

Thats worth looking into.Have you noticed any improvement in your ligament & tendon issues?I have a friend who started taking it a few months ago after a friend of hers found it helpful for her joint problems.

[Lucy2023 in reply to Hypopotamus]

Hi. That's amazing that you've noticed your hair is thicker! May I ask, what collagen you are taking exactly?

[Hypopotamus in reply to Lucy2023]

New Leaf 100% Collagen from Ebay.

[Lucy2023 in reply to Hypopotamus]

Thanks so much for your reply. I will look that up now 🙂

[Hypopotamus in reply to Lucy2023]

I should add that I am very careful to get a good diet, and I take 'the usual' vitamin supplements. But the collagen did make a noticeable improvement.

[Hypopotamus]

Not yet because the cause of the problem has not yet been identified, I am awaiting the results of X-rays.

[Blissful]

I'm wondering why you are supplementing iron, usually it's not at all recommended for post menopausal women. Just thinking out loud, you may have a trace mineral imbalance e.g. copper/zinc/magnesium and I think Vit A is also involved to facilitate iron utilisation. From what I've read many people are incorrectly "diagnosed" with iron deficient anaemia and thus recommended to supplement (probably because it's easier and cheaper to not look too far).

Do you have a vegetarian diet?

[Naomi8 in reply to Blissful]

I started taking iron when I switched back to a vegetarian diet last summer after a diagnosis of breast cancer following a mammogram and also because of thinning hair.A member recommended heme iron supplement.

Am ordering a full thyroid panel plus vitamins,as I'm due a check.Will post my results.

[Blissful in reply to Naomi8]

I am sorry you've had breast cancer.

Please get the full iron panel tested as well as thyroid.

[Naomi8 in reply to Blissful]

I have ordered the Medichecks Advanced Thyroid Test

Will this give me the iron info I need?

[Blissful in reply to Naomi8]

I've just had a look - no it won't because it's only measuring ferritin (stored iron). Ferritin can be artificially raised for many reasons e.g. an infection of any kind.

The full iron panel would include serum iron, TIBC (total iron binding capacity), transferrin and then from those results a percentage saturation number is derived - from memory I believe that needs to be between 28 - 40 percent. For me anyway the whole iron biochemistry story is complicated e.g. we can apparently have enough serum iron but it isn't utilised as it should be due to increased/decreased protein carriers that are essential.

[Naomi8 in reply to Blissful]

Does that tie in with the suggestion that a full spectrum amino acid supplement would be good?

[Blissful in reply to Naomi8]

Truthfully, I've no idea but non essential amino acids are a vital component of cellular respiration/ the Krebs cycle - I would guess that anything that supports that would likely have a positive knock on effect for all our biochemical reactions.

I'm not sure what a full spectrum amino acid supplement means exactly - possibly a combination of essential and non-essential amino acids.

"(Nonessential amino acids can be synthesized in the body, whereas essential amino acids must be obtained in the diet.")

[TiggerMe]

I've been taking a full spectrum amino acid which seems to have done the trick, I now get the hairdresser to thin my hair 🙃

[Naomi8]

Thank you for your reply

Please can you tell me about full spectrum amino acid supplement