thyroid removal

[madgloria]

After a year  from having my thyroid removed due to hasomotos disease and 3 drs my hair is still falling out to the point of my needing a wig.  I have sweats, headaches, not able to sleep all night, ache in joints.,  They keep switching my meds started on 100 then to 125 then back to 100 then to 112 and now back to 125, like a roller coaster and no help.  All are doctoring the test and no one wants to hear me and how I feel.   Can't switch to other endos as you have to have a referral and you don't know what you are going to get until you switch and seems they only care about what your test say and the range is way broad. Went to a dermatologist and on 5000 mg Biotin for 3 months now but not helping.  Taking Levothyroxin and even tho I tell the dr they have a side effect of hair loss they just shake their head and say it takes time its not the drug.  What do you do?

[madgloria]

No it isn't back yet so don't know what it is.  I have tried to find a reason for norm TSH and high FT4 and some of the things I have found relate to the pituitary and I have a small tumor on the pituitary but they say they don't think it is anything and are just watching it.  Don't know where to turn as I feel I have to dr myself and I am not a doctor.  So tired of having to fight the dr to get something done or to take me seriously and not as she said I was depressed.  She is enough to depress any patient.  Sorry

[goolarra]

You're absolutely right.  If you always take your meds before the blood draw, then this result is valid when comparing it to previous levels.  If you suddenly switch that now, you'll lose that comparison.  If this were accounting, instead of medical tests, it would cause a scandal (think Enron...LOL).  Okay, sure, if we don't like the outcome, let's just change the way we count it.

Your FT4 is quite high, but TSH looks good.  Still no FT3?

  

[madgloria]

Got new results on labs and TSH was1.12  but free T4 2.06

Ask dr about low side for iron 35.4 and she said that it was up to my medical dr to treat that although she was the one who ordered the test but didn't tell me it wasn't great and I found out on this web site.  I had to let her know that I was aware that although it was considered in the norm it was a low norm and could be the reason for my hair loss.  Now she has called and ask if I had taken my thyroid meds before my test which I told her I had taken it at 4;00am and I had always taken my meds the day of my blood test and no one had ever told me not to.  She said that the meds could be the reason my free t4 was elevated and I was to come get another with out taking my pill that day.  If this is right then wouldn't all my test be wrong if the pills are affecting the outcome of the test?  And if I go back to taking the pill the next day doesn't that mean the free t4 goes right back to being elevated?   Am I crazy or is this endo ?

[madgloria]

Back for blood test today and questioned the endo who said yes the ferritin was low normal but that was my reg dr to deal with although she was the one who did the test.  Refused to redo the test although it was almost 4 month since the last on and I explained that I wanted to know what the level was because I was going to start taking iron pills.  She said she would give my a prescription for iron pills but didn't need to have a new test as I hadn't bleed any.  Go figure. not happy but no endo close but her and all need a referral to get in so what do you do.  

[goolarra]

That's too low on the ferritin for the proper metabolism of thyroid hormones.  You want it closer to 90.  Also, low iron levels can cause hair loss.

I'd try switching to a different brand levo and see if that helps, too.