Was diagnosed with Lyme, Bart and Babs Sept 09. Been treating aggressively for the last 11 months and have made tremendous improvements. Feeling almost back to normal which is wonderful, believe me,I know how lucky I am.
Currently on Ceftin, Bactrim and Probenecid as well as many supplements.
However, over the last two months my hair has been falling out rapidly. A major thinning all over, not patchy.
In the past I have tested positive for thyroid antibodies but my TSH has always been in the normal range. My regular primary care doctor refused to address the idea of hypothyroidism because my TSH is good.
I have had one other episode of major shedding but it resolved after just two weeks. I also have had slow but steady weight gain and tremendous sensitivity to cold, depression and fatigue and changes in my menstrual cycle. I initially attributed these symptoms to Lyme. But then the hair started falling out again and I did some more research and it is pointing me towards Hashimoto's.
Went to see the LLMD yesterday and he started me on .25 of Synthroid because he feels that despite the fact that my TSH is good, my thyroid is being attacked and is underactive. (He did draw labs to check TSH and free T3 and T4 as well as many mineral levels and the routine CBC) He mentioned autiommune thyroiditis as the cause - isn't this Hashimoto's?
Wondering several things...
1. Does this sound like Hashimoto's and is this common to develop after a Lyme diagnosis?
2. Will the hair loss stop and how long will it take? Will it grow back?
3. Are there any other supplements or topicals that you have found helpful in stopping the hair loss and regrowing the lost hair?
4. Those who have tried Synthroid and Armour or Thyrolar, which have you had the best success with?
I have an appt. with an endo in mid August but am doubtful that I'll get very far as my TSH is good. Is there anything else that could be causing the hair loss? I would love to get to the bottom of this quickly as I'd prefer not to be bald!
Thanks again, Aimee
Posted by Marrit (Member # 25454) on :
My daughter-in-law has Hashimoto's and yes, this sounds like it. However, it's important to see a good doctor and not just guess ... you'll need to closely monitor your levels if you have H because too much can cause your hair to fall out and cause weight loss, etc. Too little won't do much to help.
Posted by Marrit (Member # 25454) on :
Should have said "too much Synthyroid" will put your thyroid into overdrive
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
Aimee- Actually, a side effect of any thyroid-supplementing drug IS hair loss, though my older sister's hair loss mostly resolved after several months of constant-level supplementing. (Some hypo-thyroidism runs in the family.)
Marrit- Too much Synthroid(TM)- a synthetic T4 formulation- will cause the opposite effect on the thyroid gland. A high T4 blood level means body's own TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level will drop towards zero... leaving the thyroid with LESS to do, so it's Less active. Posted by DoctorLuddite (Member # 13853) on :
LLMD should have waited for lab results before treating...now the waters are muddier.
Posted by Sophie1234 (Member # 26412) on :
Hi, I truly believe the supplement Biotin has dramatically helped my hair loss. I have been taking it for about three months. I have 1" "baby bangs" and about 75% less hair loss when showering. Hope this helps; we are still girls!
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
sophie: What brand [Biotin] & how much? ($) And what thyroid medicine do You take?
Or is Your hair loss due to something else?
Posted by Beachinit (Member # 21040) on :
For me taking dhea 12.5 mg daily stopped my excessive hair loss in 3-4 wks. Also helped with libido and with gaining muscle strength while taking extra protein and doing high rep resistance exercise 3X/ wk per Dr. B. A friend with Lyme mentioned this had helped her so I gave it a try and discovered it works very well for male Lyme patients too.
Posted by eightybarb (Member # 24968) on :
I have the Hashi. First I have tried Synthroid and did not feel any better. Then I started taking Armour, it did help me but when they have changed the formula I felt horrible. Then I had given Nature throid and Levoxyl, made a lot of difference. Becuase of some reasons I had to stop that also.
Now I am on Compounded T3 and Levoxyl. Doing ok. All these years I had severe hair loss. Then tested very low Ferretin levels. After supplementing with Iron the hair fall got improved.I take a brazil nut a day and Zinc.
Posted by Aimee (Member # 20946) on :
Thanks all for the replies. Guess it is just trial and error with this as with all other aspects of Lyme. Just once a clear cut answer would be so nice!
Starting to come to terms with the hair falling out - I've done about all I an do. Will still meet with the endo in a few weeks for another opinion. Hoping the Synthroid will make some difference in the meantime.
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