Re: Tapazole and Hair Loss
Welcome!
Sorry for the reason you're here but, glad you found us.
Something doesn't sound right with your care. If you are being medicated properly, your dose would slowly be reduced until you no longer need meds.
The right way to be medicated for Graves' is to take the lowest possible dose that will maintain the FreeT4 level above mid-range and closer to the higher end of the range...regardless of TSH.
Since your TSH is SO high, that tells me your doctor allowed you to become quite hypo before telling you to reduce your dose.
Truly, your FreeT4 level should be no lower than 17 and probably closer to 19 to prevent any symptoms.
Unfortunately, hair loss is very common when people are hypo....or even when thyroid hormone levels are moving (such as after dose adjustments).
Hair has thyroid hormone receptors so is very sensitive to thyroid hormone levels.
If your doctor was medicating you properly all along, you probably wouldn't be dealing with hair loss issues.
And, for whatever it's worth, May is way too long to wait before your next labs. Labs should be done every 4-6 wks. maximum. This, too, could be contributing to the problem.
Just as you went into remission the last time, it's entirely possible for you to go into remission again. If a patient does relapse, a shorter round of Tapazole is all that is usually necessary.
I don't understand why doctors seem to be in such a rush to remove a vital gland when meds usually take care of any problems associated with it.
Please know that RAI is contraindicated for Graves' since the procedure causes a flood of antibodies to be released....and to continue to be produced for years afterwards. Well, antibody production is what got us sick in the first place.
You just might want to read "Graves' Disease - A Practical Guide" so you will have a better understanding of just how your doctor should be medicating you and what needs to be done to help you achieve a lasting remission.
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Graves' 2007...remission 2009....hypo 2010
Last edited by sammy64; 03-14-2012 at 07:06 AM.
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