Thinning hair, how to get my doctor to pay attention?

[WildThong]

So I have mentioned it to her before but got the 'shrug' it's probably age type of answer. I just think it's not my age, although I am 49. My late dm and my 3 dsis did/do not have this so it's not in the family. It began 2 years ago at a busy time - when I was moving house and yo yo dieting using Alli. I also had my thyroxeine increased to 75mg at that time, the levels were actually all within acceptable limits but I was still experiencing the symptoms of under activity so she increased it - blood tests since have remained ok. Recently the hair loss has got worse and I just have the feeling there is some underlying cause. I sometimes get, not an out and out itch exactly, but just an underlying creeping/mild itchy feeling in my scalp, I have no dandruff (or nits). What can I say to make my point properly and get some doctorly attention?

[mercibucket]

and the tsh?

good that you have found out about the ferritin. spatone snd floradix are good if you find the iron supplements too yuck

[WildThong]

well, I just spoke with the doctor - I am really rubbish at remembering to ask the right questions.. but the upshot is that my iron level is 12 - should be between 10 and 30 - so a little low, and the transferrin (sp) is 20% - given my symptoms I have to take an iron supplement 3 times a day for a few months. The ferritin didn't get checked with this test.
Also the Glucose fasting sample was 6.6, again just a little low so I have to get that checked again in 2 weeks.

Onwards and upwards....

[mercibucket]

within normal is pretty vague for thyroid, you actually want tsh below 2 and probably below 1, with t4 high in range. ask what your levels are and get a printout of them all

[WildThong]

Thanks both, I will ask about the ferritin tomorrow, I have a telephone consultation to talk about the results.

[bubbles1231]

Blood glucose should be well within the normal range if you haven't had anything to eat. It's normal to take a fasting sample when testing it.

[sincitylover]

You need to find out your ferritin score because the normal range is vast from about 30 - 150 I think but optimal for non hair loss is about 70/80 - you could try taking gentle iron such as spat one, feroglobulin or floradix.

Are your periods heavy?

The reason I'm posting is I also have thin ish hair and some hair loss due to heavy periods which led to low ferritin

[WildThong]

an update:

8 blood tests, including iron, thyroid, liver and kidney function - cant remember the rest!

7 came back within normal range - blood glucose came back high (didn't expect that) I googled the symptoms of diabetes and a lot of them are the same as mine. I have to speak to the doctor tomorrow about the result - what should I expect, could it be because I hadn't anything to eat when the bloods were taken?

[WildThong]

digerd, yes it really helped the tiredness, but the hair got worse..
I wondered about the menopause but I'm still as regular as clockwork.

[digerd]

My hair fell out when I was very underactive. Also after my DH died it got much thinner, from grief I was told. But if your Thyroid blood tests did not show a serious degree of underactivity, and you have been on Thyroxine for 10 years it seems unlikely , but everyone is different. The stress of moving house could have been the cause of your hair loss, but 2 years on to be worse. At 49 you will most likely be menopausal too - that's when I noticed a big change, but HRT helped me there. But did not notice my hair falling out.
Did the increase to 75mcg 2 years ago help with your other problems?

[WildThong]

Rockin thankyou

I am surprised at the dosage thing - I was on 50 mcg for about 10 years before it was put up to 75 - I thought it was high dose!

My appt is Monday so I will update then..

[RockinD]

75 mcg thyroxine is below the standard starting dose, unless you are elderly or suffer from a heart complaint. It may be that you are under-medicated and your blood tests, while OK. are not optimal.

Also B12/folate and ferritin (iron stores) are implicated in hair loss, so those need to be tested. Ask for a full iron panel if you can get it.

If those tests don't show anything actionable and the situation with your hair is still the same, re-post.