posted
Wanted to know how many Lyme sufferers are experiencing hair loss. My hair changed texture early into my symptoms & every since then have had a lot of shedding. Past year hair loss has increased. Hair getting thinner & thinner! So frustrating! Someone said it could be blood pressure meds causing it but have been on it for 4yrs why would all of a sudden cause hair loss? I have had lyme for bout 10yrs now. Any one else having hair loss problems? Did you find a solution? Our hair is so much a part of our identity especially for a woman. Please help! Posts: 29 | From Raleigh, NC, U.S. | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
yes, but I have no pearls of wisdom or medical advice. I'm in the same boat you're in.
Wish I could be more help.
Posts: 921 | From CT | Registered: Apr 2009
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Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
Thyroid problems are common in women so rule out thyroid issues and check your iron status, especially if you have heavy periods...
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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Pinelady
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Member # 18524
posted
Thyroid Checked? It can cause it.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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canefan17
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posted
Here's what I have gathered on my quest for hair regrowth.
1) adrenals + thyroid issues
2) parasites ... causing #3
3) malnutrition + malabsorption (not getting enough protein in diet)
4) Lyme buggers in hair follicles (I've heard tea tree oil shampoo)
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
definitely get your thyroid tested. A good LLMD should already be doing this for you. Lyme can cause hypothrroidism. This happen to me . Once I started armour thyroid my hair started to grow back and the texture got healthier looking.
Posts: 16 | From Watertown, MA | Registered: Oct 2008
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canefan17
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posted
What's the difference between doing armour and just doing a thyroid support supplement.
I support my adrenals with K2 and my thyroid with that ^^^^ supplement.
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
That has been debated numerous times here. It would be probably best if you do your own research and
you and your doctor decide between porcine or synthetic.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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Siciliano
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
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posted
I also have had the hair loss and my former llmd told me to try B-50, it has niacin in it and in about 4 weeks time I did notice that it was getting much better.
You could ask your llmd about B-50.
And I totally agree with everyone on the thyroid issue and I also had hypothyroidism like Sammy07.
Have you addressed this with your llmd and what did he/she say?
-------------------- I'm sorry but I am no longer accepting any private messages due to my own battle with lyme. Posts: 3897 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Jun 2008
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canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
Do any of these vitamins matter though if we are having malabsorption?
My nutritionist said I'm losing hair because I'm not getting enough protein. and although I'm eating good quality protein all day (and not gaining any weight or hair back)... she says this is due to parasites potentially.
And the fact that my metabolism and entire immune system is STILL playing catchup for the illness and 5 months of treatment.
I'm becoming so depressed about my hair loss.
It's my number 1 complaint : (
^^and I know I should be lucky that that is all I have to complain about.
But I feel like venting! : )
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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springshowers
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19863
posted
I posted last month that a TON of hair started falling out. I said I had always had 'some' loss but this was concerning. I figured out that I was not on my thyroid meds for 3 weeks but did not think it could make that HUGE of a difference in hair loss. I did not have this hair loss issue that was like this prior to taking synthroid that I am on now.
After just two weeks of being back on the meds the hair loss has very much reduced again to its normal loss amounts.
I am surprised but wanted to share.. The meds are making a huge difference.
But I am unsure why .. I would see this when I had a break in meds (fault of doc and pharmacy) and I did not have this issues when i was prescribed the med (2 years ago only now)??
I may not have an answer to why this is the way it is but I will not be stopping those meds again anytime soon. I did not think it was a huge issue even though i called my docs office to get the script fixed I did not panic over it.
So.. maybe my condition has worsened since I have been on the meds?
I have had this condition for a long time though and have treated in various ways over time. The past two years on Synthroid.
? Who knows.
But wanted to share that..
Posts: 2747 | From Unites States Of America | Registered: Apr 2009
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Lymeorsomething
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posted
It's probably not advisable to start and stop thyroid meds as it can create some hormone havoc in the body.
The insert for thyroid meds often warns of hairloss initially (especially for younger patients) when initiating therapy. This bodily adjustment can take weeks to months. So by starting and stopping meds the body has to adjust and readjust and it may cause unfavorable conditions for peripheral activities such as hair growth.
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
"I'm becoming so depressed about my hair loss.
It's my number 1 complaint : ("
Me too!I've been consistently losing my hair for 10 years. I used to have very thick luxurious hair...now it is paper thin and mousy.
I've been tested for thyroid too many times to count. They always say it is normal but I want to try the meds to see if it would help. Has anyone had normal thyroid testing and still gotten on meds and seen good results?
There seems to be a lot of controversy about what "normal" thyroid is but I can't find a doctor who will treat me for it even though I have almost all the symptoms of hyperthyroid
-------------------- TxLymie IgG-Negative IgM - Postive bands 23 and 41
Other dx: 2000: Endometriosis 2009: Chronic EBV, Mycoplasma infection, HHV6, H.pylori Posts: 297 | From Houston | Registered: Jun 2009
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canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
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posted
I have the same problem. I've lost 2/3 - at least! - of my hair. And it keeps coming out in clumps. I've been on Armour for 3 years and I'm still losing hair.
canefan17 - can you take this supp at the same time as a thyroid med like Armour?
Posts: 6 | From kansas | Registered: Jan 2010
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Lymeorsomething
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posted
Don't forget your ferritin levels!! Keep that iron in a decent range...
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 22149
posted
7thkbitty,
That I'm not sure of.
My nutritionist insists that my hair is thinning/falling out because of malabsorption.
So I suspect most of us lose hair because either a) thyroid or b) parasites stealing our food/vitamins
or c) both!
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
Thanks to every one who replied. I actually had a growth on one side of my thyroid which I ended up having that one side removed 5mo. ago. Blood work for thyroid levels were normal. No medication necessary I was told. Not sure why hair still falling out. :-(
Posts: 29 | From Raleigh, NC, U.S. | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Thanks to every one who replied. I actually had a growth on one side of my thyroid which I ended up having that one side removed 5mo. ago. Blood work for thyroid levels were normal. No medication necessary I was told. Not sure why hair still falling out. :-(
Posts: 29 | From Raleigh, NC, U.S. | Registered: Jul 2001
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There is a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium which can happen after any kind of stress on the body. Surgery is one of the things that can trigger it. It usually starts about 2-3 months after the "trigger" event and can last for about 6 months, or so.
This type of hair loss is reversible. It usually takes about a year before all the hair grows back.
Lymers
Posts: 287 | From Humboldt County, CA | Registered: Jul 2009
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Keep that iron in a decent range...
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