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Synthroid and hair loss
I am 27 years old and am hypothryoid currently taking Synthroid 150mcg and Cytomel 25mcg but am only taking 1/2 tablet daily.I am experiencing hair loss now...larger than normal clumps are in my hairbrush after brushing my hair and I am also losing hair throughout the day,strands here and there.Would this mean that my meds need to be increased or decreased?what should I do?I do not have a thyroid anymore - i had a total thyroidectomy a little over a year ago.any help is greatly appreciated
I am not sure my current levels,I am going to have bloodwork next thursday and I will post my results as soon as I recieve them.Thanks for all of your help!!
COMMUNITY LEADER
What are your current levels of TSH, FT3 and FT4? It sounds like you might still be a bit hypo.
Hair loss is most common when hypo, and as redheadaussie said - it's normal to lose some hair on a daily basis.
You could ask for a referral to an endo, but keep in mind that endos are not the "be all, end all" for thyroid treatment, as many of them are not as sympathetic to our issues as they could/should be; in addition, many endos center their practice around diabetes, rather than thyroid. If your regular doctor is open to suggestions and willing to work with you, you might be better off staying with her.
You should always get a copy of your labs for your records. I make notes on each of my lab sheets, indicating what med(s) I'm on, along with how I feel, symptoms, etc. That way I can keep track of how I feel at various levels, and can "target" the levels at which I feel best.
Hair loss is most common when hypo, and as redheadaussie said - it's normal to lose some hair on a daily basis.
You could ask for a referral to an endo, but keep in mind that endos are not the "be all, end all" for thyroid treatment, as many of them are not as sympathetic to our issues as they could/should be; in addition, many endos center their practice around diabetes, rather than thyroid. If your regular doctor is open to suggestions and willing to work with you, you might be better off staying with her.
You should always get a copy of your labs for your records. I make notes on each of my lab sheets, indicating what med(s) I'm on, along with how I feel, symptoms, etc. That way I can keep track of how I feel at various levels, and can "target" the levels at which I feel best.
I have been on the same dose for over a year - i have my levels checked every 6 weeks...no matter what symptoms i experience..I never have any changes in my levels - everything always comes back "normal" according to my doctor.I am requesting a copy of my levels this time.I don't see an endocrinologist - I see my regular doctor.I am wondering if maybe she isnt aware of all the little things that an endocrinologist would know regarding levels
How long have you been in the same dose? are you going for more testing?
It is not easy to get to your right dose. I know that for experience. It is has been a long journey for me, but I have learned some lessons.
I start to notice changes when I have been reaching my ideal dose and when I have been there for at least three months.
Per example, when I've had to increase or decrease my dose It is difficult to lose weight because I want to eat all the time, but after those three initial months (either with synthetics or NT), it gets easier to control my anxiety and I start to lose easily.
With my hair it is little bit more complicated, but I noticed that when my FT4 has been in the high end of the range, I lose less and less. But that is personal. That works for me, not sure if for everybody.
It is all a matter of time. You have to give it time. Check your levels every 6 weeks or two months and see if your numbers are in the same page than your symptoms.
One tip that has worked for me when wanting to lose weight: do not eat after 6 or 7 pm do not eat anything, and if you feel just a little hungry, that is good. You will really enjoy your breakfast the next day and you will feel lighter during the day.
I had some reactions to synthetics and that is why I changed to NT. But I think that I definitely lost less hair than with synthetics.
It is not easy to get to your right dose. I know that for experience. It is has been a long journey for me, but I have learned some lessons.
I start to notice changes when I have been reaching my ideal dose and when I have been there for at least three months.
Per example, when I've had to increase or decrease my dose It is difficult to lose weight because I want to eat all the time, but after those three initial months (either with synthetics or NT), it gets easier to control my anxiety and I start to lose easily.
With my hair it is little bit more complicated, but I noticed that when my FT4 has been in the high end of the range, I lose less and less. But that is personal. That works for me, not sure if for everybody.
It is all a matter of time. You have to give it time. Check your levels every 6 weeks or two months and see if your numbers are in the same page than your symptoms.
One tip that has worked for me when wanting to lose weight: do not eat after 6 or 7 pm do not eat anything, and if you feel just a little hungry, that is good. You will really enjoy your breakfast the next day and you will feel lighter during the day.
I had some reactions to synthetics and that is why I changed to NT. But I think that I definitely lost less hair than with synthetics.
when you changed to NT did it affect your weight?I am scared to change because of that.I gained alot of weight until I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism - its very hard to take that weight off and I still haven't been able to get rid of any of it.Since taking the cytomel I have been able to lose a little bit.I would rather take NT.
As I have pointed out in another post, hair loss lags around 3 months after an event, such as illness, surgery, or being hypothyroid.So if you were very hypo 3 months prior to the observation of hair loss, (meaning you notice it now) then it is not your Synthroid causing that even though the timing appears that way.
Normal hair loss is up to 300 to 500 hairs a day, nobody ever really notices them falling out, but when you start to brush your hair and you see far more then it is a sign you are hypo either in the past or continuing.
You need to get your thyroid levels checked before you make any adjustments to your dosage.
Thyroid medications take up to 6 weeks to be fully kicked in, so upping your dose if it is not neccesary make make you hyper and then you will have a whole new ball game to deal with.
Get the TSH, Free T4, Free T3 and then you can see if you need to go up or not.
As I said, it takes a long time for hair loss to catch up to dosage adjustments.
Normal hair loss is up to 300 to 500 hairs a day, nobody ever really notices them falling out, but when you start to brush your hair and you see far more then it is a sign you are hypo either in the past or continuing.
You need to get your thyroid levels checked before you make any adjustments to your dosage.
Thyroid medications take up to 6 weeks to be fully kicked in, so upping your dose if it is not neccesary make make you hyper and then you will have a whole new ball game to deal with.
Get the TSH, Free T4, Free T3 and then you can see if you need to go up or not.
As I said, it takes a long time for hair loss to catch up to dosage adjustments.
I also lost a lot of hair when taking Synthroid and cytomel. Hair lost is usually attributed to hormonal fluctuation, maybe your hormones are still getting to a stable place.
I do not take that combo anymore and even though I am still losing hair due to my change in doses I take now NT, which also has T4 and T3 as that combo has.
I do not take that combo anymore and even though I am still losing hair due to my change in doses I take now NT, which also has T4 and T3 as that combo has.
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