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196896 tn?1189755821

ugh! hair's falling out

I thought I seem to be shedding a lot yesterday but refused to think about it too much. Today I cant ignore the fact that I seem to be losing my hair all over the place.(I have long THICK hair). Will this go away after TT or will it still be a problem while taking the synthroid until everything is balanced out?

Rhonda-who wishes she would shed pounds instead of hair
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Avatar universal
I had the RAI treatment to stop the effects of my Graves Disease.  I've never felt worse.  I'm on 125mcgs of Levothyroxine.  The Drs answers are always more drugs.  It's been since July, I had the RAI.  My hair started falling out in September.  It's January now, I've lost 60% of my hair.  The hair I have left is fragile & thin now.  I used to have long thick hair past my waist.  I'm depressed & I feel hideous.  The worst part is, I can't figure out WHY.  Is it the Graves, the RAI, the Levothyroxine?  I honestly feel like there's no hope left.  I feel like I made a huge mistake w/ the Radiation.  
My symptoms now, are harder to deal with, than the original Graves.  Please someone, HELP!
Helpful - 0
973594 tn?1247951791
I'm too losing my hair since last Christmas and no signs of slowing down, I suspect I have high reverse t3 and possible going to have to go without t4 for a while to clear the problem but I'm terrified of this approach because every time my t4 is low my hair falls out like crazy so I might have to endure even more hair shedding and possible have to shave my head in order to avoid all the stress related to it. Is not fun to lose your hair, I've been through this since May 2008 off and on, I take levoxyl and normally do well on it but last november I suffer from hemorrhoids and used hydrocortisone suppositories which the doctor suspect altered my cortisol levels and trigger the high reverse t3, If I know this I wouldn't have use the suppositories even under the pain I was back then, I would have try a different medicine but live and learn, sadly this time to learn I might have to go through major hair shedding and hopefully get better in the future. I hate this disease!, by the way I don't have a gland, had a TT in september 2008. Also I would like to add that I tried Naturethroid and had major hair loss that never stopped in 3 months even though my levels looked normal and had to go back to levoxyl which stopped the hair shed in 6 weeks, evidently we all have different reactions to medication, I know natural thyroid do wonders to many people but in my case didn't work that well. Hope you can get better.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My hair has been falling out for 9 months.  I am on Armour thyroid and my doctor has adjusted my levels several times based on labs and symptoms.  Recently she increased my dosage to hopefully stop my hair loss and eyebrow hair loss, but after 3 days I became jittery etc. so we had to drop it back down.  I am so tired and frustrated.  I actually am depressed because I can't seem to find the answer for my thyroid and hair loss.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE:

TO EVERYONE WHO LOST THEIR HAIR AFTER TAKING LEVOTHYROXINE...

THERE IS A LAWSUIT BEING BROUGHT AGAINST THE DRUG CO WHO MAKES THIS TOXIC
POISON. THERE ARE 223 WOMEN RIGHT NOW WHO ALL LOST THEIR HAIR WITHOUT HAVING IT RESTORE AFTER 1-5 YEARS. THE DRUG CASUSES HAIR LOSS. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

IF YOU ARE LIKE US, AND WOULD LIKE TO BE #224 AND YOU ARE DEPRESSED AND SICK OVER YOUR BEAUTIFUL HAIR FALLING OUT - PLS EMAIL ME TO JOIN ...

YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY FOR BEING PAID MONIES FOR YOUR HEARTACHE. THIS SUIT IS GOING TO GET LARGER AND LARGER.

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT STATE YOU RESIDE IN.

PLS CONTACT ME AT: ***@****

THANK YOU.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE:

TO EVERYONE WHO LOST THEIR HAIR AFTER TAKING LEVOTHYROXINE...

THERE IS A LAWSUIT BEING BROUGHT AGAINST THE DRUG CO WHO MAKES THIS TOXIC
POISON. THERE ARE 223 WOMEN RIGHT NOW WHO ALL LOST THEIR HAIR WITHOUT HAVING IT RESTORE AFTER 1-5 YEARS. THE DRUG CASUSES HAIR LOSS. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

IF YOU ARE LIKE US, AND WOULD LIKE TO BE #224 AND YOU ARE DEPRESSED AND SICK OVER YOUR BEAUTIFUL HAIR FALLING OUT - PLS EMAIL ME TO JOIN ...

YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY FOR BEING PAID MONIES FOR YOUR HEARTACHE. THIS SUIT IS GOING TO GET LARGER AND LARGER.

IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT STATE YOU RESIDE IN.

PLS CONTACT ME AT: ***@****

THANK YOU.
Helpful - 0
211563 tn?1189994510
MJ, I don't blame you for "bawling like a baby" when a clump of hair fell out in your shower.  I have yet to cry, but I do get VERY panicky when I run my fingers through my hair and 1-2 hairs are on my hand... and I do this 15 times and can never get my hands to come out without at least 1-2 hairs on them.  And I don't even pull hard.  Washing is even worse... and then combing in my conditioner... ugh... I am seriously scared to wash my hair.  I have not washed it since Saturday (gross, I know) b/c I'm too nervous.  Fortunately I do have a LOT of hair, but at this rate, I will not have much left.

I wanted to cut my hair even shorter (it was mid-back length and I got it cut to a long bob just below my chin the day before my TT) and get highlights for summer... but now I'm afraid to do anything to it.  I have ALWAYS wanted to highlight my hair and never have.  This summer was going to be it.  

Per Mary Shomon's website I am taking Evening primrose oil.  However... if my hairloss is a side effect of my medication itself, and not a result of hormone levels being out of line, I'm not sure EPO will help.  As with all this thyroid cr@p, time will tell.
Helpful - 0
11852 tn?1216841443
After I had my RAI on Jan 25, 2007, my hair immediatly began to get extremely dry and slowly thinning. I would notice most when I put conditioner in my hair then ran my firngers thru my hair to disperse the conditioner.  I would hold  my hands out and 3-5 strands hair woud be on each hand.  Not a whole lot, but this was every time I washed my hair.  Once in a while I would get a clump of come out at a time.  My forehead looked my brother's receeding hairling. Thank God, I started out with a lot of short thick hair.  I ask my endo about the hair loss and she said hair grows in 3 months cycles and it shoud get better 3 months post RAI.  My hair dresser backed her up on this point and they both were right.  In the last few weeks my hair is getting less dry and more body and I can't see my scalp as easily as I could one month ago.  I had a hair cut about 6 wks ago and that helped.  I have another hair cut/color appt in 2 wks.  I think my hair will look fairly normal after what's left of the dry ends are cut off.  I wasted alot of money on all types of hair care product and the best one I found is time.   My hair dresser suffers from hypothyroid and has told me she occasionaly loses hair but it's not a major problem with her.  I too thought of how vain must I be to cry like a baby in the shower when that first clump of hair fell out.  Intellectually I knew that I would most likely not go bald, but I kept thining emotionally....when is this hair loss ever gonna stop???  Then I remembered how my sister-in-law had to wear scarves and bandannas to cover her hair loss from the chemo for ovarian cancer.  Remember her strong attitude helped me get through my little problem.  So you guys going thru hair loss and dryness, it's hard but be patient...your hair will grow back.  My problem now is , or should I say my hair dresser's problem is covering the gray hair that's coming in now.    Ah...the joys of being 46!!!!
Helpful - 0
173351 tn?1201214057
NOOOO you wont wake up one day and suddenly not have a gob of hair in the shower after you wash your hair!  I'd laugh because of the picture you've painted but it's no laughing matter when you are going through it.

Will it stop just as quickly as it started? Who can say?  I'm sure you've read that everyone seems to have a different experience when it comes to getting their TSH under control with med's - and since the two are related it all depends on how long it takes for you.
Helpful - 0
211563 tn?1189994510
Jenipeni, I know it can take 3 months or more to stop falling out, and even longer before you start to see new growth, but I thought I woudl at least see a decline in the amount of hairloss... no?  Forgive me if I sound ignorant, but will I wake up one day and suddenly not have a gob of hair in the shower after I wash my hair?  Will it stop just as quickly as it started?
Helpful - 0
173351 tn?1201214057
*It can take up to (or maybe more) than 3 months after surgery AND after your meds have brought you back into and consistently stay in the 'normal' range for hair loss to stop and to see hair return to normal state.  Sorry, it will probably take a bit longer than a few weeks Shaerich.
Helpful - 0
211563 tn?1189994510
I never had hairloss before TT but now I am losing it by the handful.  The days I wash my hair is the worst.  

Endo says it's from the trauma of the surgery.

Surgeon (just had an appt. with him a couple hours ago) says unlikely... probably the stress prior to surgery or the meds.

I'll give it a few weeks after my levels are stabilized, but I am VERY nervous about this "symptom" or whatever you call it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am already noticing a difference with hair loss and have only been on my new dose for 6 days! I was losing hair like crazy too. I'd find it everywhere including in my food! ACK! My dryer's lint trap was mostly filled with my hair not lint. UGH!

Now my hair loss has slowed and the way I tell is the shower mat which I had to place over the drain to capture hair. Today when I took a shower I found very little hair there. The other day it was nearly a handful. Yes!
Helpful - 0
212753 tn?1275073111
when you are leveled out on your sythroid it should stop falling out.I went through that after my surgery and hypohell before RAI.My hair is doing nicely now.Hang in there sis.It gets better.
Love Venora
Helpful - 0
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