left Armour,new med Levothyroxine, hair loss is drastic !

[2theritz]

I first heard of Hashimoto in 2008 or 09.  My doctor, at OSU in Columbus Ohio was into supplements .  He  tried synthryoid, I had heart "pinches", he changed to Armour 30mg.  Told me to watch the Gluten.  All seemed OK until 2012 (perhaps because of Armour reformulation )but my tests changed.  I noticed the hair loss and vertical splits in my nails.
I was moving to Fla....very stressful!  By 2013, the hair loss was significant.
I got a new doctor in Fla....he changed my med to Levothyroxine .05MG   last week April 16, 2013.  This doctor isn't into supplements at all !
I will post new blood test, when I receive them.
Till then, what can I do for the drastic hair loss?

[2theritz]

I checked my test results of April 9,2013

T3     1.2         (range 0.8 - 1.8)

TSH      1.630   ( 0.400 - 4.000)  

T4    1.2        (0.8-1.9)

I thought it strange the numbers were so similiar.

Last year's     2012  
TSH       1.700  
which had gone UP
from 2011 it was .....0.824


Guess I need to call the DR, but no one answers the phone.

On Levo now for 10 days, I'm getting night sweats, that wake me up at 1:30 am for the night !!

this morning I was so frustrated, I took an Armour 30 mg that I had left over, I have to sleep !

I'm not sure this doc will switch to NP thyroid but I can ask when i see him late May.

[kevieb]

if you really liked armour and felt like it was working well for you, there is a medication called NP thyroid, made by acella that is almost exactly the same as armour used to be before they made the changes in the formula.

You don't have to chew it.  It is sweet and you can take it sublingually  under your tongue.  My doctor used to prescribe armour---but has switched hos patients to NP thyroid.

I have heard that a lot of people on armour started getting symptoms again when the formula was changed.

If you want to try it---make sure you request NP thyroid from ACELLA---teh first time I ordered it--they sent me armour because the pharmacist thought NP stood for non-product.  NP thyroid is also generic, so it is not very expensive.

[Barb135]

"FT 4    1.2    (0.8-1.9)

T3    1.2   (0.8 - 1.8) "

Please verify these....... results are exactly the same and reference ranges are only one digit off........ I'm pretty sure that's not a result or range for T3.

[2theritz]

I  just started Levo


this test was taken 1 wk before I started Levo .05mg

I had been on Armour since 2009

FT 4    1.2    (0.8-1.9)

T3    1.2   (0.8 - 1.8)


TSH    1.630     (0.400 - 4.000)


My dermatologist today told me the TSH looked OK.

Won't see my MD till late May. his office doesn't not explain a thing.  :(

[courtney48]

Here ya go.  Just repost your other inquiry here and then you can just keep all your info in this one thread.  

[2theritz]

Thank you I will take the letter to May  29th appt.
This test was done one week BEFORE starting Levo.  .05MG
FT4   1.2  ...(0.8 - 1.9)
T3     1.2
TSH 1.630

At the time of this test, one week ago, I was only on a "trace" of Armour.  My Ohio Dr prescribed 30 mg Armour however 2 months ago, I got a letter from Ohio stating Armour had some cardiac issues.  I couldn't get into the new MD for 2 months....in fear, I started to cut my Armour in half.

So test results above are on half the Armour RX.
Ohio Dr also pres. Vit D and B 12, DHEA and iron (which is in my multi).
Along with omega 3, mag.

however, NEW Dr is not in favor of supplements, so he probably won't test for them.

My question:  should I find an endrocrinologist on my own? Or wait till May appt, see what those test results are then ask him to recommend?
  

[2theritz]

What good news, I hope I get your results.
Only one week on levothyroxine
.05mg

Trying to be patient !

[gimel]

When were those tests done relative to the change in meds?  Do you not have any thyroid test results to post along with reference ranges?  Not sure what the last list of tests represents.  Were those tests that were done?  If so, can you get the results and post those?  

Also, are you aware that with Hashi's the autoimmune system produces antibodies that attack and eventually destroy the thyroid gland?  Along the path to destruction of the gland, thyroid hormone output diminishes, and has to be replaced with increasing doses of thyroid meds.  It may be that any hypo symptoms are due to inadequate thyroid medication, or that you may not be adequately converting the T4 med to T3.  
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.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation.  The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment.  In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."

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

So you really need to insist on being tested for Free T3 and Free T4 (not total T3 and T4) each time you go in for tests.  Also, since hypo patients are frequently too low in the range for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, you should also request those as well.  Low levels in those areas can sometimes mimic hypo symptoms.   While seeing the doctor it would also be a good idea to give the doctor a copy of the letter in the link and ask if he is going to be willing to treat clinically as described in the letter.  If not, then you are going to need to find a good thyroid doctor that will do so.

[2theritz]

Yes, I have  had Hashi, but didn't pay alot of attention, since Armour was working until a year ago.....when hair changed dramatically I started to pay attention !

Test results:
Abnormal -
WBC    3.7 which is low  (4.1-10.9)

Hct  37.1  Low ( 37.7-47.9)


K+ 5.4  High     (3.6-5.0)
CO2   33 High   (22-30)
tbil   1.6  High   (0.2-1.3)

chol    240  HIgh   (107-200)
LDLC   164   High  (45-130)

T3    1.2      (0.8- 1.8)

UTSH     1.63     (o,400 - 4.000)

iron is on the low side, IF it is dTIBC  298.0   (261-462.0)
% SAT   31     (20-50)

My next appt is the end of May....will have another blood test by then.
I have no explanation at all, other than to take Levothyroxine   .05 MCG

Also see:  
T4  Free  dx  2449
TSH  dx  2449
t3 total  dx 2449
iron/TIBC  dx 2859    
Which may just be the names of the test.


Now one week on the new med......
Any suggestions on the hair ?

[gimel]

Were you diagnosed with Hshi's?  Please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report, so that members can better assess the adequacy of your testing and treatment.

[courtney48]

I started vitamins/supplements about three months after my dx and starting levothyroxine.  I take biotin supplements for hair.  I'm not sure how much biotin helps, but can't hurt and there is some support that it can help.  Once I started levothyroxine, the hair loss stopped and my I can see new growth.  Same with my nails which had completely stopped growing.  I hope you see good results soon.