hair fall and hashimotos

[Thindy]

A liitle over 1 month ago I was diagnosed with hashimotos. My levels were:
Antithyroperoxidase-897
Antithyroglobulin-2,568

My endo started me on 100 mcg of levoxyl. At first my mood and energy really improved, but the hair fall has remained the same. Now I'm starting to feel very tired again and I'm concerned with all the hair loss.

My question is- How long do I have to wait before seeing improvement in the hair? Will my hair grow back? FInally, my appointment isn't for another 2 months-do I need to go in sooner to have my levels checked and adjust my meds accordingly? Please advise as I'm feeling scared and desperate.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

I usually repeat labs in 6-8 weeks after starting meds - there may be some 'roller-coastering' for 3-6 months before symptoms level out, so give it time and some medication adjustment.  Your hair thinning will slow down.  Goal TSH is about 0.4-2.0 for most patients

[cosmicsoul]

2 months sounds good for checking your levels again. Your antibodies should decrease with thyroid hormone supplementation on the right dose. The hair thing - you just have to wait and see, the thyroid hormone supplementation should give it a releif. I switched from synthetics to Armour Thyroid and the difference was HUGE. I have my hair growing out - small baby hairs all around... Unfortunately you have to go to armourthyroid.com and look for a prescribing doctor who will prescribe it as most endos do not because it is not a synthetic. It is not fair - most patients who switched did BETTER on Armour. I think you should be patient. I have been diagnosed 2 yrs ago, and I am just now feeling normal again with energy, weight loss, mood, skin, hair improvements. It took me 6 doctors, 3 kinds of medicines and now I take Armour Thyroid and have two doctors to get what I want (labworks, meds etc.) Do not expect the medical community to save your life. You need to do that for yourself - not impossible but sure a lot of work, research and trial and error. I wish you good luck and patience and well being!

[Thindy]

Thanks for the reply. I have heard quite a bit about Armour-mostly good. I don't want to switch right now as I feel that I should give Levoxyl a chance. I'm going to call my doc and see if they want to see me sooner. From what I've heard it takes a while for the medicine to help. It's just not easy being patient when you're hair is falling out! It is so scary. It is encouraging though to hear you are doing so well even though it took a while. Does it seem that most of the hair you lost is starting to regrow?
Thanks again!!

[cosmicsoul]

not sure - new hair is growing all over the head, sides, top - I have no bangs and I have bang looking hair. I know what you mean. Maybe see a dermatologist for your hair too. Armour saved my life. Synthetics corrected my lab results (sometimes) but Armour turned things around completely for the better. I do not feel that I am sick at all or that I have a disease. I wish you good luck!