[shakira7]

#1060263

Hello everyone,

Does anyone here experience a massive hair loss each time you brush your hair once your hair is 100% dry after shower? I wash my hair using AVEDA shampoo and conditioner made specific for preventing hair loss. When I wash my hair, I lose some hair but not drastically. Then, when they are completely dry and when I brush them the next morning, there’s always a huge chunk of hair falling out. The hair seems to get tangled more easily since I’ve been diagnosed with Graves / since I’ve been on Tapazole. Also, they are more brittle than before. Before Graves, I used to wash my hair and let them dry naturally. Once it’s dry, they shine naturally. Now, those days are gone and I have to put some products on my hair to make them look less brittle and less frizzy.

I’ve been on Methimazole 5mg/2 days since early July and my TSH is back to the normal range as of Oct 25, so I’ve lowered the dosage to 5mg/3 days since then.

I find this whole process very difficult to go through, watching my appearance change due to puffy eyelids and also with hair loss.
As a 41 single woman who used to be very healthy, I actually gave up on hoping to meet someone in my life, as my priority is now regaining my health back, and regaining my previous eyes back.

I am questioning if ATD is the right choice for me, since my remission only lasted 3 months this spring, and now I am back on ATD.

[Kimberly]

#1181624

Hello – Hopefully, you will get some other responses, but most people find that hair loss will stabilize as thyroid hormone levels stop swinging back and forth. I’ve heard a small number of complaints from patients who did believe that the methimazole was responsible, so this is definitely an issue to discuss with your doctor.

[PolishTym]

#1181625

I had really thick hair until the methimazole and then bam, it started going away. The timing of loss might not have been the same as your situation, but similar result. The hair came back after the surgery, although not to the same thickness as immediately before the methimazole.

A thickening hair shampoo and thickening styling cream helped to make up for the loss, kind of. For men, I recommend the Every Man Jack line of thickening, but I don’t know products for women.

[SallyB62]

#1181626

I had the same problem when my Grave’s went super-hyper (2010), when on methimazole (2010-2011), and at every thyroid hormone level adjustment post thyroidectomy surgery (2011-2012). Even now, after being on the same synthroid dose for about 1 year, I still go through ‘phases’ of hair loss. My doc says that I might just be very sensitive to thyroid hormone levels. Oh, well. . . .

I know that this is not a lot of advice. But, hope it helps.

[Vickie]

#1181627

I was losing a SIGNIFICANT amount of hair daily. Of course I blamed this on my thyroid- or lack of, and assumed my TSH was off and my Levothyroxine needed adjusted. Not so. My PCP sent me to a dermatologist who biopsied my scalp and then prescribed Spironolactone for my alopecia. Within one month of taking the Spironolactone not only did I stop losing hair, my hair also started to grow back. My PCP was amazed. One year later I still take this medication and have a full head of hair. I recommend you see a dermatologist.

[nbark]

#1181628

Try vitamin B…it worked for my hair that felt like straw and was falling out like a shedding dog…

[Teri_Odegaard]

#1181629

I continue to lose hair; in the shower, when I run my fingers through it and when I brush it. I used to have over 2 feet long hair. I got it cut shorter than I ever had it. Was tired of getting huge amounts of hair in my hands when I took out a braid. My hair is more fine now than before and struggles to hold a curl.

I was diagnosed in the last part of June 2010 and am still struggling with my hair coming out any time it wants. For me, I do my best just ignoring it since it won’t stop.

[shakira7]

#1181630

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your responses and sharing with me your experience regarding hairloss.
I started taking an ‘Evening primerose oil’, 1 softgel a day since I posted this message; it seems to help.
I lose less hair each time I wash & brush when they are dry.
Also, the hair seems much softer, then again, I used Aveda hair conditioner which is quite good.
I’ve been finding some interesting things about the evening primerose oil – it actually helps to slow down hair thinning and hair loss in menopausal women and women with thyroid condition.

@Vickie, thanks for your advice. I’m seeing my endo in 2 weeks, and I’ll ask him for a Rx so that I can see a dermatologist. Is there any side-effect with Spironolactone?

Ah…I have to say that this thyroid problem is really annoying.
I’m dealing with hair loss AND eyelid swelling, in addition to dealing with Graves Disease itself.

Shakira7

[Vickie]

#1181631

Shakira, I have been taking 25 MG of Spironolactone twice a day for 14 months. I’ve experienced no side effects and am so grateful for my wonder drug. It’s been night to day going from losing hair literally by the handful to having a full head of hair- I’m no longer losing hair and it continues to grow back.

[Kimberly]

#1181632

Hello – Glad to hear you found some relief, but to my knowledge, that is not one of the common uses of this particular medication.

As a reminder to all, it’s definitely a good idea to make sure that your doctor knows about all meds you are taking…both prescription and over the counter. Most all medications have side effects, and others can interact with other meds you might be taking.

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