[Anonymous]

#1084384

Hi Julie,

Hair loss can happen for three reasons with Graves’ patients: a hyperthyroid condition, a hypothyroid condition, or changing thyroid hormone levels. So in the beginning, you may have lost hair because you were hyper, now you may continue to lose hair because the medication is causing your levels to fluctuate. Even if your levels are in the normal range, if they are going up or down regularly instead of being stable, hair loss can result. Our body interprets a change in thyroid hormone level as a crisis event, and so it removes support from the non-essential body systems to help you survive the crisis. Hair and nails are the first “non-essentials” targeted. I know it’s hard to believe, but you are still very early in your treatment. Once you’ve arrived at normal levels and remained there for a while, the hair loss situation should improve.

What I find troubling in your message is that you say NONE of your symptoms have improved since treatment, even though your levels are supposedly normal now. I’ve heard of people arriving at normal levels and still feeling pretty crummy, but not feeling exactly as they did when treatment began.

If I were you, I’d be tempted to see another endo, at least once, to see if the opinions are different. I would also ask for the new endo to have your blood tested at a different lab before the second opinion. It’s just a good idea to make sure you’ve got the best information available on your condition.

~Ski
NGDF Assistant Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1022984

I am 25 years old, and I was diagnosed with Graves in March. I started having hair loss three years ago (at 22!), and it is gradually falling out more and more. I have been on Tapazole for 4 1/2 months, and non of my symptoms (insomnia, stomach upset, fatigue, hair loss) have improved. My doctor says that my hormone levels are now normal, and that any symptoms that have not gone away have nothing to do with my thyroid function. As far as hair, he said it may take longer, or it may be a separate autoimmune disease that there is no cure for. Has anyone had luck and saw hair regrowth after being on Tapazole? How long did it take? I am losing more and more hair and feel like it’s hard to hold out hope, especially since there is no sign of new growth.
Thank you.

[Anonymous]

#1084385

Has anyone experienced hair loss with this disease? I probably have about half the hair on my head that I did 2 yrs. ago.

Kristin

[Anonymous]

#1084386

Hi Kristin,

Hair loss is very common, but it’s not like hair loss with chemo — it WILL come back. The reason we lose hair is that our body knows we have an imbalance of thyroid hormone, which (to our body) is an emergency condition, so it removes support from non-essentials in the body. Hair and nails are the first to go.

The hair loss typically has more to do with the hair breaking at weak points, rather than falling out of our scalps all at once, so there is usually new growth and we don’t end up losing all of our hair.

Fluctuations in thyroid hormone levels can trigger hair issues as well, so expect this situation not to completely resolve until you have arrived at normal thyroid levels AND remained there for a time (could be months).

In the meantime, short hair is less obvious when it come out, and it is easier to care for (less tugging and abuse), so if you are able to get a short haircut in the meantime, it will be less frustrating for you.

I actually came away from my RAI with thicker, curlier hair than I EVER had, once my levels were right. I wonder if I wasn’t borderline hyper nearly my whole life.

~Ski
NGDF Assistant Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1084387

Thanks Ski, once again for your information. I’ve actually been loosing my hair for 3 yrs now. Thank goodness I had a lot of hair to start with. But it does come out as a whole piece not broken off. And you are right I do have lots of new hair growth. It kinda looks like baby hair. Glad to hear it will all come back someday.

Kristin

[Anonymous]

#1084388

Hey All,

Just want to thank everyone again for all your experiences with GD. One that I haven’t really seen is on Hair Loss. I have been hypo for about 2 months and just started on my Levothyroxine almost two wks ago. I started losing my hair by hand fulls at least a month ago and I still am. Will this stop? Is there anything I can take (vitamins) that will help the hair grow back faster? Also, for first couple of hrs after taking my med., I feel kinda hyper (like I just had a shot of Adreline). Is this normal?

Hope everyone has a great day!

[Anonymous]

#1084389

Hair and nails are considered “extras” by the body, not “necessities”. So when someone is sick, nutritional resources go to maintain essentials, and if there is any left over (which there often is not), hair and nails suffer. They are often the last to recover from disease, as a result.

Yes, your hair should come back to its normal amount once you are stabilized at normal levels of hormone, and your body has had a chance to heal. I do realize how disconcerting it is to have large clumps of hair fall out: I have collies, and I once “shed” as badly as they do. But considering the collies, despite the fact that they are leaving fur everywhere, they do not go bald — and neither do we, as long as the problem is caused by our thyroid imbalances.

Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[Author]

Posts