Hashimoto's hair loss after weaning from breastfeeding

[Matthew18_19]

I have had Hashimotos for 10 years and never had any noticable symptoms until after my pregnancy.  I went through post-partum thyroiditis, lost a bunch of hair, and regrew it all.  However, it is falling out once again.  I stopped breastfeeding in Sept and had another hormonal crash...TSH went back up and my compounded T4/T3 was adjusted.  My doctor suggested switching to Tirosint which is more pure along with the compounded T3.  However, my hair loss hasn't stopped and actually got worse over the past 6 weeks since changing meds.  How long can this nightmare go on?

Btw I also am on prenatal vitamins still, magnesium, vitamin d3, ferrous sulfate and vitamin c, biotin, and fish oil, which are all recommended and checked by my endocrinologist.  

Labs on March 6th:
TSH 1.63
Free T4 1.73 (.8-1.70)
Free T3 3.1 (2.4-4.2)
Ferritin 50 (has come up from 12 since giving birth in May 2015)

[Matthew18_19]

I just wanted to give anyone searching an update...I am feeling much better on Tirosint and the hair loss reached its peak and stopped in April.  I count and do a monthly average so I'm for sure it has slowed down.  I also took a photo in December about 3 mo after stopping breastfeeding, as this was the worst point and by May all the thin spots above my ears have filled in.  Makes sense bc hair is a time capsule and shedding happens 3 mo after any hormonal event.  My thyroid got worse after stopping breastfeeding almost like a mini-postpartum thyroiditis, therefore my hair didn't recover quickly. With frequent monitoring it is much better now.  I had labs yesterday and I expect good results.  Ferritin is steadily increasing (came up to 55 at last check), and experts say even normal people can take up to 2 yrs to recover from childbirth and breastfeeding. It takes a toll on us with Hashimoto's!  I trust my doctor and although my T4 went up after starting Tirosint, as did my anxiety, I feel symptom free now.  Just wanted to give someone searching the hope that hair does come back - even when the cause is combined hormonal and thyroid related.  

[gimel]

That should be .8 - 1.93, but the higher upper limit for the Free T4 range does not affect what I suggested.    

[gimel]

Adequate Free T4 is reportedly good for hair, but I don't really understand switching to Tirosint or increasing the dosage.  A good target for Free T4 is mid-range and you are over the range. I'd say you need to increase your Free T3 to get it into the upper half of its range.  Why try to increase Free T3 by driving Free T4 above range and assume that will be converted into the needed Free T3?  Better to reduce T4 med and increase T3 med.  

Hypo patients are frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin.  D should be at least 50, B12 in the upper end of its range, and as mentioned ferritin should be at least 70, and some sources say 100.  

So I recommend the above changes in your thyroid med dosages and also that you make sure your Vitamin D and B12 and ferritin are optimal.

[Matthew18_19]

Thank you for your thoughts.  I went back and checked my labs to be sure vit d wasn't on there somewhere and I noticed that the lab changed the reference range for my last FT4 test.  It should have been written as .08-1.93.  Not sure if that changes your opinions at all but I just wanted to correct my error.  

[Matthew18_19]

These labs were done after 4 weeks on Tirosint.  My dosage is 112mcg of Tirosint with compounded T3.  He is raising my dosage to 112mcg 6days a week with one day of 125mcg.  I don't have my labs for vitamin d but my dosage hasn't changed in 2 years.  My ferrous sulfate hasn't changed in almost two years either and it is steadily climbing (65mg iron daily).  

[gimel]

Did you take your thyroid med before the blood draw for those tests?  What amount of T4 and T3 were are in your med? When you say compounded, does that mean slow release also?  What was your Vitamin D level?  What is your dose of ferrous sulfate and has it changed since you started? What,  other symptoms do you have, if any?

I could make an argument that your Free T4 is higher than needed and your Free T3 is lower than needed by many people.  I don't see how a switch to Tirosint would help.  What is the dosage of Tirosint?  

A slight change to reduce the T4 and increase the T3 would have been directionally better.  Also, your ferritin is too low and it has a big effect on hair.  The recommendation is that ferritin should be at least 70, and some sources say 100, so an increase in your ferrous sulfate would be a good idea.  

[Matthew18_19]

Yes I always take my medication at 4am and my labs were drawn at 1:00pm.  My endocrinologist has always said to take my medication before labs - has always done so for 10 years and he adjusts for it so he says.  

[Matthew18_19]

Sorry for all the separate answers, my phone won't let me see your post as I type - anxiety and hair loss are my only real symptoms, but I have had anxiety since I was a child. Everyone thinks I'm seeing things regarding the hair loss, but I notice it.  There is growth because I see a lot of short hairs but just not much near my ears and I'm still losing more than normal per day.  I always shed when changing dosages, but the Tirosint seems to be making it worse...