Does hair loss eventually stop? 😔 I'm hoping someone can tell me something positive?

[Elle137]

I'm getting new bloods next week & hopefully an increase to 75 (lactose free teva) on my way eventually to around 100 ish as I'm 63 kilos but I'm still losing my hair? Eyebrows have all but gone, eye lashes thining, red sore eye lids, dry eyes with occasional blurring (using drops) and very puffy underneath (all symptoms prior to treatment but no improvement) wondering if, once you get to optimal medication does this all stop? Does your hair grow back? Be very grateful for any feedback 🙂

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

Yes, mine did but I think it was optimising ferritin and folate as much as getting my thyroid hormones sorted.

Have you had those tested too?

[Elle137 in reply to Regenallotment]

Hi, thank you for replying, I'm so pleased for you that yours did 🙂 it's distressing! I used monitor my health & they don't provide ratios?Ferritin 93

TSAT 27%

Active B12 157

Foliate <20

I normally use medichecks.....

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Elle137]

Oh yes I’ve had that problem with MMH. I emailed and complained but nothing changed.

RedApple posted a while back the Anaemia page in the MMH site shows cut offs for deficiencies.

Ferritin (30-400ug/L) we regularly say should be over 100 they say below 15 is deficient (but that’s VERY low, collapse and off work low). I struggle to keep mine that high, (heavy periods).

Active B12 (37.5-150) although the graph appears to go to 210 they say deficiency under 38 pmol/L I like mine around 180 but it drops like a stone if I don’t supplement continuously.

They say Folate under 3ug/L is deficient , the MMH graph looks like 3-25. Mine has been at 45 last couple of tests. I take 400ug Methylfolate from Health Leads and inject B12 necessitating a higher folate supplement recommended on the pernicious anaemia forum.

🌱

[Elle137 in reply to Regenallotment]

I guess it's the only way to find out if this is the problem? I do appreciate your help 🙂

Medichecks test is expensive, do you think it's worth doing?

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Elle137]

When were your MMH results from? I wouldn’t do another one for 12 weeks or so until you have suppplemented consistently for some time. Do you take Heme iron or a B Complex or separate folate?

[Wua13262348 in reply to Regenallotment]

Did you manage to get rid of under eye puffiness? Please say yes!

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Wua13262348]

Yes it is much better, esp since I realised the antihistamines I was taking daily contained lactose 🫣 not taking them was so much better 🤣

oh and the dear old cat died, so the house is less full of her licky protein muster everywhere and the awful flea treatment that made me feel terrible.

they do puff underneath if I get glutened or sulphited?

🌱

[Wua13262348 in reply to Regenallotment]

Ah, sorry about the cat. I am a victim of sulphites too. I am not gluten free, but note that you said you feel as if you have been stabbed in the back when you eat it. I think I have the same problem. Trouble is I have too many intolerances at the mo to do without gluten. You saying that you can rid yourself of under eye puffiness may be just what I needed to hear to go gluten free! Lactose problematic for me too. It is in my painkillers.

[Elle137]

The MMH tests were from 8th August, I've been supplementing since joining here in April & the first time I've tested for iron etc....I took Jarrow methyl Folate for a month with igennus super b complex & have continued with b complex ever since (I stop before blood tests & take the jarrow) plus extra biotin (which I also stop before tests) I also take selenium, Vit D & E separately plus magnesium? Last year my ferritin was as low as 54 but of course "in range" so not flagged, hardly surprising my hair was falling out 😔 but it's still doing it? Do you think I should take the Jarrow alongside the B complex all the time? Thank you for taking the time to reply 🙂

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Elle137]

I would continue with the Methylfolate as it hasn’t risen that much but others may advise 20 is sufficient.

My GP tested my selenium after taking it for 12 months and mine was over range with no symptoms …. Not saying you will be, but go steady and test if you can afford to. Or tell GP you are worried about toxicity, mine was more than willing to test and be sure I wasn’t over doing it. We are all different though.

I take Three Arrows Heme Iron Repair from the US, it’s fantastic and popular here. Comes quite fast in the post, once I got my ferritin up I went to alternate days/twice a week and maintain levels. Was a bit low last time I tested so I have upped again. 54 is low in my opinion 93 better, well done. It seems to affect my thyroid hormone uptake and conversion. Keep an eye on that one.

Vit D good stuff, I need 4000iu all year round despite being very outdoorsy.

It looks like you are doing a super job there, so perhaps the 75-100 mcg T4 journey will improve your hair and eyebrow situation. 🤞

[Elle137 in reply to Regenallotment]

Thank you so much, I'll order the three arrows as I'm nearly out of the jarrow, again, thank you for your time I really appreciate it 🙂

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Elle137]

10% off Three Arrows with 'FRANKLIN' and free shipping if you order 3 🤗

[Elle137 in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you, just ordered 🙂

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Elle137]

No worries, I find comparing to others on a similar journey very helpful 🌱

[Elle137 in reply to Regenallotment]

It's very "comforting" to be able to hear from people with experience & improving 🙂 one starts to lose confidence with all the awful things this hypo stuff delivers us!! I wish you continued health 🤗

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Elle137]

 Regenallotment tagging as she won't see, you need to use the reply button or you are talking to yourself😉

[FallingInReverse]

I had single digit ferritin and sub-optimal thyroid numbers. My hair was thinning, eyebrow edges gone… My thyroid hormones improved and my hair stopped thinning. Although I also was working on my iron, my ferritin is still low 20s. My point - my hair got better even before my ferritin improved.

Alternately - my daughter (not hypo, but iron anemic) reversed her thinning hair by improving her iron profile, even though her ferritin is still low.

So yes there is hope! Keep focusing on those free Ts and address your iron for good measure.

[Margo]

There was an article on hair loss on here last week, and a product you can buy in Holland & Barrett that contains rosemary...it appears to have some good results. You can also buy on Amazon and Boots I beleive. See if you can find it.

[Elle137 in reply to Margo]

Thank you very much, I will look for it 🙂

[Margo in reply to Elle137]

Good luck! (My fiance has just started using it, he has chronic hair loss)

[Elle137 in reply to Margo]

I wish him well 🙂

[Margo in reply to Elle137]

Thank you

[kimmie52]

Yes it will

[Wwwdot]

Hi Elle

There’s a lot of vitamin deficiencies which can affect hair loss. For me vitamin D was the one which I felt affected my hair and skin the most but I sense that once your body is deficient it does not priority lovely hair!

Since I have ensured that all my vitamins and minerals are above mid range, my hair is growing much quicker and thicker. I also only wash my hair once or twice a week at most and that seems to help too.

The other “tip” if you like is to massage good quality cold pressed olive oil into your skin and scalp. That feeds the hair follicles - I did this for a while in the early days and I think it may have helped but once my hair started to recover I got out of the habit.

I should say I have B12 deficiency /pernicious anaemia but hubby has hashimotos and his hair is growing better since he’s on vitamin supplements including vitamin D2 and K3.

I wish you success.

🤗🤗🤗

[Me2U]

I am still experiencing hair loss after 20 odd years! My hair has thinned so much & disappeared at the sides altogether! Eyebrows virtually gone along with underarm,legs & pubic (see my separate post re this) You have to learn to live with it in my experience 🤗

[Elle137 in reply to Me2U]

Thank you for being honest, fortunately I started out with a lot! It is however distressing 😔 I hope "the answer" for us all materialises one day x

[missrees]

Morning! I just wanted to say similar to @wwwdot that I've been applying oil to my scalp and hair for the last month by way of an Ayurvedic Practitioner - and its really helping with the dryness and I can see regrowth and it feels thicker. I've been using an oil called Nirgundi - but i think olive oil is good and if you can add rosemary oil in there even better. I put it on to my scalp, massage it in and put it through the length of the hair too - i put a cap on and go to sleep in it and by the morning the oil has been soaked in by the hair. I also put an oil poultice on my head - hahaha - i warm the oil and cloth in the microwave and then place on the crown of my head for it to seep in. My hairdresser said that there's an amazing difference. So there you go. The Ayurvedic Prac says its also good for the brain and to put oil everyday, everywhere. I also need to increase my Ferritin.

[Elle137 in reply to missrees]

I love this forum 🙂 thank you very much for taking the time to reply, I've had "rosemary oil" for a while so I'm now going to follow your directions, I'm happy to try most things 😁 my ferritin is 93? I'm getting there.....I wish you continued success with your journey x

[Wwwdot in reply to missrees]

Hi missrees

Yes rosemary is great for hair too as a rinse I use a natural organic shampoo. I think you are on to something there with the oil massage.

🤗🤗🤗

[Stace268]

I take Spironolactone it helps with pattern baldness I get, not sure if it work for you but thought I would mention it.Optimising would also probably help

And vitamins supplements I take magnesium vitd3, K2, folate, collagen etc.

[Elle137 in reply to Stace268]

Thank you so much 🙂 I'm really grateful for all the advice x

[BlueKeith]

my hair has been falling out fast for last few years until recently now I’m on 125 levothyroxine. I’m male and thought it was typical male balding even though not got any family history. It’s seems but not 100% that’s it’s getting thicker. Hope you see improvement soon.

[Elle137 in reply to BlueKeith]

I thought mine was age related initially but no, thyroid, I'm actually still surprised at the havoc this little gland causes when it's not working properly. I wish you continued health 🙂

[Xcskier]

I had your symptoms until I optimized my thyroid meds. My T4 was in the high end and T3 was on the low end. Once I got T3 up and T4 down, everything improved, including dry eyes and hair loss. For me, the eyes and hair are very sensitive indicators of my thyroid function. It will be informative to see your new blood results.

[Elle137 in reply to Xcskier]

I'm sorry you've suffered with these symptoms, it seems most of us do yet GP's "don't know it's thyroid related" I'm finding it more & more difficult not to be really angry about their ignorance, so many people with the same symptoms would raise a flag you would think? I do appreciate you taking the time to reply, thank you, I wish you continued health x