Hair Loss

[Ralphetts]

After a couple of very stressful incidents in recent months I have lost a lot more hair than my usual levels. Clumps have thankfully slowly begun growing again, but that is throwing the rest of my hair into disarray - often exposing the areas of loss. A bit drastic, but has anyone cut their hair really short (shaved?) to try and level the growth out? Was it successful. I am at a loss, my endo assures me this situation is nothing to do with my diagnosed hypothyroidism (yeh, right!) and the GP surgery share this view, so no chance of sympathy in those directions. Any help very gratefully received.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Hairloss is frequently linked to low magnesium/low iron

Both common when hypo/on levothyroxine

Especially if not on high enough dose levothyroxine and not regularly testing and supplementing to maintain GOOD vitamin levels

Is your hypothyroidism autoimmune

Please add most recent thyroid and vitamin results

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually

Lower vitamin levels more common as we get older

For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we must maintain GOOD vitamin levels

VERY important to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together

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

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Monitor My Health (NHS private test service) offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)

monitormyhealth.org.uk/full...

10% off code here

thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

it’s so distressing isn’t it, I went for a crop/pixie as my hair grew back, it was so much thicker at the roots after following SDs advice (folate and ferritin were on the floor when I was first diagnosed and left on 25mcg indefinitely). The pixie crop helped because the longer old hair was wispy and like straw. Working on optimising thyroid and vitamins and dietary changes all helped. 👍

[blondpalomino]

Mine is up and down too, I think oh it's getting better, but then it starts falling out again. It seems better in the summer, so I thought I'd take vit D, but it doesn't seem to work the same way. At the moment I'm using rosemary oil as I read that can help. You need to dilute a few drops in a carrier oil - I use argan oil and rub it in about an hour before you wash your hair. Well if nothing else it leaves it shiny!.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

looking at previous posts

You are (where?) on T3 only

How much

Are you taking levothyroxine as well

[Ralphetts in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi. Yes, I am on 40 T3 - taken 2 x 20. No levothyroxine as I found it did not suit me at all. I am short on blood results, the last taken on 22nd May 24, being: TSH <0.05; FT4 3; FT3 5.0 and Vit D 38.4. I have previously had problems taking Vit D but do take Vit C, Vit B12.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Ralphetts]

So recommend you get full thyroid and vitamin testing

If Ferritin is below 50 then get full iron panel