Having to choose bewtween hair loss or insommia

[juliva]

Hello Group! Sorry, I haven't been on in a long while! I have a question, and I was hoping that maybe someone could shed some light on for me. I take 88 mcg of Levothyroxine daily plus a extra half every other Sunday. If I don't take this extra half every other week I lose my hair. However, taking this extra half every other Sunday gives me extreme insomnia every single night.

When I told my Endo he said take less, and lose the hair!? I'm thinking I should not have to choose other than possibly a new Endo! My Endo does not check my FT3. My current Ft4 is 1.1 and TSH .085. I do feel hyper. I'm wondering if maybe a T3 drug might help, or more of a natural type med? Grateful, for any input. Juli  

[Barb135]

Wow - I'm relieved to hear that!! LOL

[gimel]

gals?????   I haven't had a sex change operation, thank you.  LOL

If not tested for ferritin, Vitamin D, and B12 I highly recommend it.  Hypo patients are frequently too low, with resultant symptoms, and also adverse effects on metabolism of thyroid hormone.  Ferritin is also very important for good hair growth.  

[juliva]

Thanks gals!

Yes, I think the FT3 should be checked as well, so I will be looking for a new Endo. I agree I think the my FT4 seems a bit low!  I have tested myself many times over the past few years, and although it is such a small amount either way I always become symptomatic adding or removing the med every other week.

My worst issues with this extra half pill is I am very nervous. No patients and easy to over react. I get overwhelmed easy. Pulse is a bit higher at rest too.

I just ordered the biotin I will check out the folate!    

[Barb135]

Agree with everything gimel said and would like to add biotin and folate as causes for hair loss.

I'd also like to know the reference range for the FT4, as yours looks like it might rather low in most of the ranges we see.  I'd also like to know the hyper symptoms you're feeling, because many symptom can apply to either hyper or hypo... I had a lot of symptoms when I was hypo, that my doctor thought indicated hyper, but my FT3 and FT4, as well as a lot of other symptoms still indicated hypo...

I hate to sound like a parrot, but I agree that your endo not checking FT3 is good enough reason to kick her/him to the curb.

[gimel]

Hard to imagine that that the extra 3 mcg per day ( 44 mcg divided by 14days) would prevent hair loss, yet cause insomnia.  That is a mighty fine line.  Makes me wonder if there could be something else affecting hair loss.  Have you ever been tested for ferritin?  Or Vitamin D and B12?

Doubtful that T3 or natural type med would be the answer.  Although you do need to know your Free T3 level, since it largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions, and also correlates best with hypo symptoms.  

As for your Endo not checking Free T3, that by itself is enough reason to find a good thyroid doctor.