THYRIOID - HAIR LOSS

I've known for two years that I have hypothrodism. My doctors cant really get my at my normal levels. Ill do good for a few months then it will go very very low. I've been struggling with managing my thyroid level for two years now. My hair is starting to come out, before it was just a lil more than the normal hair loss when you shower or brush your hair. Now its like a half of a handfull of hair. I'm getting what seems like an almost bald spot. Im so worried bout losing my hair. What should i do?

[gimel]

Please post your thyroid test results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Also, if you look at this listing of 26 typical hypothyroid symptoms, which ones do you have?

http://endocrine-system.emedtv.com/hypothyroidism/hypothyroidism-symptoms-and-signs.html

[amberdavid802]

Well, I need to go get labs done again. Last time they said I was 16 and the range i need to be  at is like 6 or .6....cant really remember what its supposed to be

[gimel]

I may be wrong but it sounds like the doctor is using TSH to diagnose and medicate you.  That just doesn't work.  TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many variables that at best it is an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4 (not the same as Total T3 and Total T4). Free T3 is the most important because scientific studies have shown that FT3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while FT4 and TSH did not correlate.  

Although hair loss is a typical hypo symptom, you did not reply to the question about other symptoms you might have.  Also, what thyroid meds are you taking and what is the dosage daily?

a good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important for you, not just test results.  You can learn more about clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with from a distance.  the letter is sent to the PCP of the patient to help guide treatment.  

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf

I suggest that you should go back request testing for Free T3 and Free T4, along with the TSH.  If the doctor resists, then you should insist on it and don't take no for an answer.  When results are available, then please get a copy and post results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report and members will be glad to help interpret and advise further.

[amberdavid802]

my symptoms are sensitivity to cold, fatigue, hair loss and others

im taking levothyroxine 175 once a day


i go to my regular doc. (my pcp) in troy, mo

[amberdavid802]

i used to go to a thryoid doc but not no more

[gimel]

Just because a doctor is an Endo does not guarantee that he is a good thyroid doctor.  Many of them have the "Immaculate TSH Belief", by which they only want to test and medicate a patient based on TSH.  This does not work.  Others rely on "Reference Range Endocrinology", by which they will tell you that a thyroid test result that falls anywhere within the reference range is adequate for you.  This is also wrong.

I gave you the definition of a good thyroid doctor above.  That is what you need,  a doctor that is willing to treat you clinically, for symptoms, by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms.  Symptom relief has to be all important, not just test results.

You might consider making a copy of the link I gave you above about clinical treatment, and then giving it to the doctor and tell him that you need to be treated clinically, rather than just by TSH level.  I can give you many links that support the fallacy of using TSH to diagnose and medicate a thyroid patient.  

You need to be tested for Free T3 and Free T4, along with the TSH.  You should request those and if the doctor resists and gives excuses as to why it is not necessary, just insist on it and don't take no for an answer.  Tell him that one of the reasons why Free T3 testing is so important is that many patients taking large doses of T4 meds do not adequately convert the T4 to T3.  This results in Free T3 that is too low in the range and causes hypo symptoms, since Free T3 correlates best with hypo symptoms, and Free t4 and TSH do not correlate.  I can give you a link about that as well.  Keep in mind that many members here, myself included, report that symptom relief for them required that Free T3 was adjusted into the upper part of its range and Free T4 adjusted to around the midpoint of ts range.  

If you are able to get that testing done, then please get a copy of the lab report and post results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report and members will be glad to help interpret and advise further.