Fibro and hairloss?? - Fibromyalgia Message Board

Jeel · 02-05-2007, 10:47 AM

Has anyone else with fibro also had hairloss? If so, did anything help stop the hairloss? I have already had lots of testing to make sure the hairloss wasn't caused from thyroid, low iron, lupus....ect. All of the tests came back normal. Also know that it's not a side effect from any meds. because I'm not on any. HELP.

postiemayer · 02-06-2007, 08:09 PM

Hi, normally post on cancer board since my sweetie has cancer but I have fibro so thought I would check this one out. Have never read anything about firbro causing hair loss BUT I am convinced my mom had fibro and looking back, I realize that my full head of hair started disappearing about 12 years ago, about the time I was diagnosed. I now have my moms hair, thinning at the forehead, so there may be something to that. I don't know if there is a rule against promoting a companies products but I have been taking supplements from a company called To your Health for years now, and providing I keep taking them (I am REALLY bad at that) they really help. As for the hair loss, I have found Nioxin shampoo and conditioner really do help. Good luck.

elmhar · 02-07-2007, 11:40 AM

Hi Jeel,

Hormonal imbalance is the main cause of hair thinning.

Fibro sufferers are often told their thyroid function is normal. One does well to get the actual lab copies of tests done, along with results & reference ranges.

The majority of MDs in the USA determine thyroid status on the basis of a test called TSH. TSH is a pituitary hormone, and testing TSH level does not always tell the whole story about thyroid function.

The most revealing tests of actual thyroid function are: free T3, free T4, and thyroid antibodies. The "frees" are levels of actual thyroid hormones available for use by your body. Other thyroid tests, such as total T3/T4, indexes, ratios, uptakes, reflex, & PBI, are much less direct measures.

It's very common to find among fibro sufferers a situation where the TSH result is in the normal range, and even free T4, but where the most potent & active form of thyroid hormone, free T3 is very low, or "low normal." When free T3 is borderline, or low, people often find that their fibro flares in cold weather. This is because the body's need for T3 is much greater in the cold, and the body will divert T3 from skeletal muscles, tendons, & joints, to keep the heart & other vital organs going. I offer this info as another clue to ck regarding T3 level. Even the slightest variation in T3's availability to the hair follicles can result in copious shedding.

A physician can order the above thyroid tests; however, many docs refuse -- most being ignorant of the frequency of mild hormonal imbalance as a causative factor in fibro. The free thyroid hormone & antibody tests are also available as a self-order test package at Health Check USA labs.

There are other hormonal imbalances -- estro/testosterone levels, and adrenal hormones, that can contribute to hair thinning as well. But thyroid is the one to fully check out first.

Best wishes.

Jeel · 02-07-2007, 03:21 PM

Thanks for the advice. Already had T3 and T4 tested as well. Came back ok.T3 was the lowest it could be, but still in the normal range. What med. would remedy that and would I be able to find a Dr. who would put me on a med considering it was still in the normal range??

elmhar · 02-08-2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeel

Already had T3 and T4 tested as well. Came back ok.T3 was the lowest it could be, but still in the normal range. What med. would remedy that and would I be able to find a Dr. who would put me on a med considering it was still in the normal range??

Hi Jeel,

The average doc won't treat in the normal range. Low free T3 is occasionally acknowledged to be a problem by GPs & specialists. But it's a rare one who will both acknowledge & treat.

Thyroid conditions are fairly common, so networking in your community to find a doc who on occasion Rxs either Cytomel or Armour thyroid could be productive for you, if your own doc balks. Sometimes docs will agree to a "therapeutic trial" -- 6 wks of meds followed by repeat bloodwork to ensure that T3 is rising but not overshooting the range. However, if you know in advance that your doc is a TSH devotee, your therapeutic trial will crash & burn even if you get some relief from the med. T3 therapy tends to depress TSH, which will have docs unfamiliar with the therapy running for cover. Your best bet is a doc who is already Rxing & knowledgeable about T3.

Alternatively, you might network/ck. out naturopathic physicians, who are generally more up on the connection between thyroid & fibro, and who frequently Rx T3.

Depending on the individual, there are a variety of meds that can treat low free T3. If free T4 is in the lower third of the range, sometimes using a med like Synthroid or Levoxyl will bring up free T3. But not always. A more direct approach to raising free T3 is through Rx of a med like the Cytomel or Armour, which both contain active thyroid hormone.

A low free T3 in the bottom of the normal range is a very common finding in fibro. While technically normal, it may not be good for you. An analogy: The normal size range for women's shoes is sizes 5 through 10. But if I try to stuff my size 9 feet into a "normal" size 5 shoe, I'm gonna hurt. Size 5 may be normal, but it's not adequate for my body's needs.

The same sort of thing can happen with thyroid hormone. Hope that analogy clarified more than confused.

Best wishes.