Doing it on my own

[SgtTibbers]

Okay I know people will probably say "omg" etc. But I've had since start of 20 a goiter, which I saw as big as a house obvi not but unfortunately know how looking in mirror too long does distort image in your brain. Anyway it really only caused me lil prob with swallowing like if I drank milk or tea, I'd get like ...damn bit stuck.. so i tried supplements etc.. nah.. so it's covid time so didn't notice if I was tired from all the stress or thyroid-so sent off for a test(we live in a place with a well mickey mouse doctors), so my test came back and my tsh and all that were norm maybe lil high/low but not on chart....yet my antibodies were through the roof.. so the dr who did the test can't prescribe but explained it was hashimotos thyroiditis. So hashimotos (least it's a cool name) So we rang gp and omg they were well" it's up to the dr if he thinks to do a test" was response from receptionist, after saying we had test, they " oh well we still have to do our own" and it would only be a normal one not for antibodies. I found another specialist online but unfortunately not prescribe here but said it was same thing..so flash forward to now I've had to source my own thyroid meds. I've tried levoxthyrine and thyronorm. I've gone the lowest dose and up I got to ideal lean and nah still had slight symptoms especially the feel cold(which is bad cos I could stand in 3degree weather with t-shirt and leggings and not be cold) and on low dose I'd freeze. So I'm at 125mg which is lower than actual weight dose and if I'm honest it does shrink the goiter,helps the swallowing but ATM it's the hair shedding side effect which is bothering me aswell as some tiredness. I mean it could be post Xmas or I was on a lower dose over Xmas as ran out of exact so had half...but one thing I get confused on is when is best to take in you guys opinion. I love my ☕️ in morning so I take at night with caffeine free tea but I know u can't mix with dairy etc but like how long.. hour 2 ? I know a very lengthy post but I am not a "ill" pwrson I don't go to gp unless I'm carrying my head lol. I mean I've just got on with it, fractured toe ....meh, sprained wrist..meh, bruised coccyx...meh .... .. so just thought I'd ask if someone could explain or help with timing of dose and anything else that I can take to boost mood?🐱

[NotElissa]

Have you tested your vitamin levels? They have to be optimal for the Levothyroxine to work. Also low vitamin D and low ferritin can cause hair loss. Ferritin needs to be over 80 for hair growth

just to add hair will fall out if you have fluctuating thyroid levels once you are established on the correct dose your hair should stop falling out.

[FallingInReverse]

So hashimotos (least it's a cool name)

Yes. Yes it is 😀

ATM it's the hair shedding side effect

Possible also it’s the Hashimotos, or resulting vitamin deficiency, causing hair shedding. It’s not a “side effect” of Levothyroxine typically, it’s a result of the condition you’re treating with Levothyroxine. So easy to conflate.

NotElissa ferritin doesn’t necessarily need to be over 80 for hair regrowth. Of the many causes for some that is at play, but not all, as you note it can be thyroid or d, or other things.

Tibbers,

A complete picture of thyroid health comes from the following. Please share more info so others can weigh in with more relevant feedback.

1) TSH

2) Free T3

3) Free T4

Plus these vitamins

4) ferritin

5) folate

6) B12

7)Vit D3

Also, let us know if you have any antibody results:

1) TRab

2) TSI

3) TPOab

4) TGab

If you can tell us more about your background, or better yet, update it in your profile, including what country you are you in, that would be helpful.

[NotElissa in reply to FallingInReverse]

just posting this link for your information

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articl....

[FallingInReverse in reply to NotElissa]

Thank you! Great article!!

Maybe just the wording of your post - hard to say what OPs situation is. Low ferritin is def one possible cause. But my hair has re-grown and my ferritin is at 30! Just didn’t want anyone to think it “must” be over 80.

Tx again for the link - we all love a good research paper around here, keep them coming!

edit: just read paper again - sample is 100 women with alopecia, so might also be a little different for hypo folks.

[NotElissa in reply to FallingInReverse]

I agree my ferritin is high and my hair loss is caused by fluctuating Thyroid hormones which I haven’t been able to control but not for lack of trying 😃

[Obsdian]

I got a bit lost during the telling of your story. Have you been testing and self dosing levothyroxine? To me it's coming across that you are self dosing on symptoms only as you only mention one test early on.