Hail loss issues and Hashi's - has anybody had good results when on meds?

[Deelited]

Hi,  I have recently been diagnosed with Hashi's after 20 years of banging my head against brick walls with clueless dr's.  My gut instinct (& obvious symptoms) always told me I had some sort of thyroid problem but, as lots of us know, the ol' TSH was in range so it was never diagnosed. Even though my TPO antibodies are 200 (<20) along with glaringly obvious symptoms these were not enough to set alarm bells ringing *SIGH*..... Also dx with the other usual's, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety....*SIGH*

I suffer from all of the usual symptoms. I have been through the hyper stage and have settled into hypo for the past few years. Thankfully my latest GP (had too many to mention) has stuck with me and I have also been fortunate enough to find a different Endo who looks at the whole picture and not just TSH. I started on Oroxine (synthetic T4 med in Australia) 2 months ago and will be commencing T3 meds in  a few weeks. I have also discussed natural thyroid replacement and he is "not in favour" but willing to discuss it if I decide to go down that path. *Miricle*!!

I am wondering if any other's with Hashi's also suffered from loss and thinning of head hair, eyebrows and eyelashes? Has anybody had success with regrowing after taking thyroid meds? Any opinions on synthetic v's natural as far as hair regrowth is concerned?

Thank you in advance for any assistance you may be able to offer.

[Deelited]

Thank you so much for responding and I appreciate your sympathy, yes, 20 years of this nightmare has been horrid.

Thanks for your advice and suggestions, also greatly appreciated.  :) I have been beating my GP into submission for a while now. The new Endo seems to be quite open minded and is testing my free's and discussing adjusting meds by symptoms rather than labs once I have been on the T4 for a while. It is nearly impossible to find a good thyroid dr in Australia, so sad!

I will post my latest lab results when I get them and will definately ask for those vitamin and mineral tests. I currently take Vit D as that did test low a while ago.

Thanks again for your response.

[gimel]

Hi and welcome to the Forum.  We have a number of Aussie members.  Sorry you had to go through all those years of being told that your TSH was in the "normal" range and therefore no problem.  I had a similar experience, except I was never even diagnosed with Hashi's during that time.  Surely after all that time and frustration your thyroid glands are gone by now, so medication needs should be stable.  

I can't really say if my hair loss was due to thyroid problems or was the usual gradual male pattern baldness as I got older.  I do know there have been many members with hair loss problems that have had reduced hair loss and then eventually regrowth when thyroid hormone levels are properly adjusted and the body has time to heal.  On the issue of synthetic versus natural, I think it is all a matter of what your body accepts best.  Some people do fine with T4 meds, and T3 (when necessary),  others do better on NDT meds.  All in all, I think if I were making the decision to try and feel better as soon as possible after all those years, I'd just start with a T4 med, which is easier to use.  At first followup blood test, if there was any indication of inadequate conversion of T4 to T3, then I'd want to add a combo T4/T3 med.  

The most important thing is to have a good thyroid doctor.  For me that means one that will treat you clinically by testing and adjusting the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4, as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  Symptom relief should be all important, not just test results.  

I know from our other Aussie members that finding such a doctor is not easy, but some have succeeded in either finding a good thyroid doctor, or else they have beaten their own doctor into submission.  If necessary to do so, I think you might find this link to be useful in opening your doctor's eyes to proper treatment.  the link is to a letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he consults with from a distance.  The letter is sent to the Primary Doctor to help guide treatment.  

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

Also at some time in the near future you should be tested for Vitamin A, D, B12, iron/ferritin, zinc, selenium, and magnesium.  Hope I didn't miss any.  I suggest this because hypo patients are frequently low in these areas as well.  

When lab report is available, please post test results and reference ranges shown on the report and members will be glad to help interpret and advise further.