Chronic Effluvium Thyroid Medication And Others (ai)

[bluecyclone]

I’ve been coming here since my hairloss began in May 2016 kicked off by a massive Telogen Effluvium, 5 months after starting Synthroid after a borderline hypo TSH. I was never warned about hairloss as a side effect. I knew I had underlying genetics but was in excellent shape at 39.

Almost three years in and the diffuse thinning is accelerating. I have taken a weird path to the big three out of confusion and denial. Still no slow down. Since starting Finasteride the hairline, once holding has receded and thinned with worsening temples and sides. This in addition to the brutally thin vertex/forelock where I first noticed loss in the tree pattern.

My questions:

Are suboptimal thyroid levels (hypo) or the medication to treat thyroid worse for thinning? I’ve read about the perils of Synthroid and I’m debating trying an alternative. I stopped for a year in 2016 but the thinning did not and levels went further into hypo.

I have never had a ferrintin level above 50 in the 3 years. I have been taking large amounts of iron daily for years. Is this making regrowth impossible?

Following the thyroid issues my T levels would range from 800 then drop to 251 and raise to 500ish every six weeks. They put me in Androgel (I quit two minutes the in after learning it was for hair, lost more ground. I started Finasteride at the same time as Androgel. After stopping they said to try Clomid and that it could not hurt my hair. Two months in my estrogen jumped from 8 to 96 way out of range. They then added Arimidex. My hair seemed to loose years in just a few short months.

I have dropped all but the topical Finasteride, oral Minoxidil, and 2x weekly 2x keto. The sides are there but I hope managemable. Is this a safe path? How long before I consider stopping cold turkey on all of it? I bought Brotzu hoping it could at least not do harm, my expectations are limited.

Appreciate any input. These doctors just refuse to acknowledge what these drugs do to hair. I’m so bitter that I started Synthroid. I had amazing hair and density that is now gone. I have coverage only because the norm was so dense. I know I’m lucky at 42 but want to save my hair and realize there is more at play than just the DHT.

Looking at photos from last Xmas it is clear I’ve lost a ton of ground. I’m 6 months to full Tucci.

Any input advice greatly appreciated. Is it possible to bounce back from the meds? There is miniaturization. And I’m losing 300-500 daily often clumps/follicular units.

 

[Ikarus]

Wow, your hair is so beautiful...

 

[Ayr9]

Check my recent thread pls...Same as you but I am losing much lesser hair than you and much younger than you

 

[bluecyclone]

Thanks I’ll take a look. Just to be clear all but two photos are from 6-8 months ago. The diffusing is hard to show in photos but I’m really thin and a pattern with an ocean of miniaturized hair is definitely emerging.

 

[Ayr9]

Thanks I’ll take a look. Just to be clear all but two photos are from 6-8 months ago. The diffusing is hard to show in photos but I’m really thin and a pattern with an ocean of miniaturized hair is definitely emerging.

Yes exactly...People tell me that I have literally no hairloss though I know I am diffusing around my temples and several other places of scalp..

 

[snooze]

Thanks I’ll take a look. Just to be clear all but two photos are from 6-8 months ago. The diffusing is hard to show in photos but I’m really thin and a pattern with an ocean of miniaturized hair is definitely emerging.

Hey bluecyclone, can I ask how long after stopping the medication did you start seeing the ocean of miniaturized hair? Is that the hair that you suspect you lost to the medication, or are you just refering to the "balding" hair from male pattern baldness?

 

[bluecyclone]

I’d say about 4 months after the first big Telogen Effluvium. Every hair on my hair was thick wavy and nearly black. Those were the first hairs lost in a diffuse pattern. The hairline remained the same just diffuse.

What grew back grew back thinner and a much larger percentage never went terminal.

I still have a mix and continue with aggressive shedding of all hair types. There’s not much left from the original healthy hair. I have been lucky to have such base density but it’s gojgn fast. The forelock and center vertex thinning (hit hardest in the Telogen Effluvium) are the in the worst shape.

Hairline only started to recede after starting Finasteride. I did a six month run of RU that seemed to have little to no impact then switched to topical and oral Finasteride until the doctor recommended sticking with the topical first for a year.

Still coverage but no density and it now *** into sad clumps/tracks when wet.

 

[bluecyclone]

Anyone have similar experience with Synthroid? My concern is weather the medication will continue a chronic effluvium until anything healthy has gone and only vellus remain.

 

[Ayr9]

Anyone have similar experience with Synthroid? My concern is weather the medication will continue a chronic effluvium until anything healthy has gone and only vellus remain.

Do you have hypothyroidism???I experince cold hand and cold feet and I am kinda intolerant to cold and likes to stay in warm..I cannot confirm myself that I have hypothroidism nor do I take any meds but I expereince this things..

 

[ihatebackstabbers]

I've also read your other posts and there seems to be a disconnect between you and your doctor's. Many of the possible causes should have been eliminated by now if you had comprehensive testing done. You really need to see an experienced specialist, especially one that is familiar with the different meds and treatments that you are experimenting with.

 

[mannyFJ]

I believe I'm having Telogen Effluvium after almost 8 months on Finasteride.

So you are losing 300-500 daily often clumps/follicular units? I can't even tell...I'm losing much less but my hair density is destroyed. Finasteride had screwed my hair up.

I can not tell from your pics of hair loss at all. You could be a hair model with all that hair.

 

[ashleysummer]

If you are diagnosed with a thyroid toxicoses gland, your GP will refer you to a specialist in hormonal conditions (endocrinologist) to plan your treatment. If you want to do your own research, just check out Online Pharmacy website. It covers many health related topics.