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A while back I posted about my thinning hair and got excellent advice from you. My hair is still
falling out and I feel is getting much thinner. My PCP will not do any more labs because my labs
from last May were in the normal range. She referred me to a dermatologist. Is this feasible?
She said an endocrinologist would not see me because my thyroid levels were good. Isn't there
something else to test for besides thyroid for thinning hair? I am taking a B complex and biotin
in addition to my daily multiple.
Those supplements should help, but something may be overwhelming them. Are you by any chance taking Entocort or one of the 5-ASA medications (based on mesalamine)? They are notorious for causing hair health problems.
Regarding other tests, you can order tests that analyze hair samples. Those are usually done to check for excess levels of heavy metals or some other toxic substance in the body, but they might also be capable of detecting certain vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
I suppose a dermatolotgist would be the proper specialist to analyze and treat hair issues. I have no idea how successful they might be. Hopefully someone else who knows more about this and/or has actual experience with dealing with it can provide some more helpful information.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Christina, I don't have much to offer but a big I Hear You!!! I just got laughed at by my endo's nurse when I called this week and expressed my concern about my hair falling out (among other issues) by the handfuls. Yes, really- I was laughed at. I had my thyroid removed in September so I know why I am loosing hair.....all my numbers are out of whack so my reasons are much different than yours. However, that makes it no less devastating.
I've also been taking entocort since February of 2012. I'm on a very low dose and didn't notice major problems with hair loss while taking it so am confident in my case, it's thyroid related. The entocort probably doesn't help things at all but it controls the gurgles so I cannot give it up yet. I've tried.
I stopped highlighting my hair over six months ago just to give it a rest. That too was hard but it was something I had control over and it only made sense. I'm becoming a bit obsessed about it because everywhere I look, I'm finding stray hairs on the floor. I'm having problems now with hairspray build up because I have to use a lot to just keep my hair in my loose French braid I always wear.
Do you have any other thyroid related symptoms? I wasn't able to see an endo either until my PCP found nodules on my thyroid. Even if you saw one, most will not do anything for you if your numbers are within normal range. I was given a referral to a neurologist and then a rheumatologist for all my complaints. It's a much longer story than that but it wouldn't hurt to see the dermatologist if the other docs aren't willing to look any further. Keep looking- hair doesn't just decide to fall out for no reason. Keep us posted!
Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
I had half of my thyroid removed in Dec 09. (not cancer) Had to wait a year before my surgeon would put
me on meds. Not a good year. Hair issues started about a year ago when I stopped using
an estrogen patch. Recently got my hair cut shorter than I normally wear it because it looks
not so thin.
Have you tried taking selenium? I take 200mcg, twice a day. This supplement has helped me in the past with thinning hair issues. I have since been advised selenium is very important when you have low thyroid problems.
I hear you regarding no one listening to you with "normal" lab values and all the symptoms of low thyroid.
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