???Synthroid Side Effects

I had my throid removed after two surgeries in Feb. 07-had my RIA the last of May and have been on synthroid since the first of June.  Levels have been checked twice and Dr. says they are fine.  But the problem is my hair continues to fall out.  Never had this problem before and the Dr. says it can not be from the throid removal or the synthroid.  I know he thinks I am crazy because I keep complaining about the hair. I hate to wash it or even comb it.  Has any one had this same problem..   Thanks, Ann

 

On 9/1/2007 Saleslady wrote:

I had my throid removed after two surgeries in Feb. 07-had my RIA the last of May and have been on synthroid since the first of June.  Levels have been checked twice and Dr. says they are fine.  But the problem is my hair continues to fall out.  Never had this problem before and the Dr. says it can not be from the throid removal or the synthroid.  I know he thinks I am crazy because I keep complaining about the hair. I hate to wash it or even comb it.  Has any one had this same problem..   Thanks, Ann

Ann,

My son is going to have to go through two surgeries also to completely remove his thyroid.  Would you mind telling me why the two surgeries in your case.  How far apart were they, what was your diagnosis and did you have any voice problems after either one of the surgeries.  Sorry, for asking so many questions, but I have noticed most have their thyroid removed all in one surgery. 

He is waiting to have his 2nd surgery because of voice problems.  Would love to hear from you.

Thanks

Lou

 

Lou, I had two surgeries because they thought the tumor was not cancer and after further study found it to be cancer.  The second surgery removed the other side and it was found to be ok.  I had some voice problems after the second surgery(they were about three weeks apart).  It was cleared up about four week after the second surgery. 

I also had the same situation as you with two surgeries. I have lost alot of hair too. The paper that comes with my prescription for the sythroid actually says you can loose hair, plus after much research I have found that thyroid issues can too.

I know a lady who had the same problem in 1972 and has to wear a wig becuase she has bald patches so i am praying that never happens to me. hope this helps you

I also had my TT with neck disection on 2/07 and RAI on 4/07.  I began losing large clumps of my hair about 1 or 2 months ago.  I was very upset to say the least.  Every time after I washed my hair I would show the amount of hair to my husband.  I couldn't believe it.  I mentioned this to it my endo, and he said, "that it was from being so extremely hypo not from the Synthroid." It began to slow down just about a month ago.  The doctor suggested I stop coloring my hair. It does get better.  Lois

Hi, my name is Robbie age 52 female.  I was diagnosed this march with renal cell cancer, had my kidney removed in April and started an oral chemo, that was not suppose to cause hair loss. In June the Dr. said my thyroid was low(hypo, tsh100) started taking Synthroid.  Eleven days later my hair started to thin, it took me 5 days to realize I was losing my hair.  I had enough hair for three heads.  Two weeks ago my husband cut it down 1/2 inch.  I had some bald spots at the top and in the crown, they have filled in, but the hair is slow grow.  The last time I had my tsh checked it was a 5(it went from a 100 to a 5) in 6 weeks.  I am anxious to get another test.  I do think it has slowed down.  The dermatologist said that the change going from hypo to the synthroid stimulating growth is what makes the hair fall out.  About ten days after losing the hair I had stubble all over my head.  Since my hair thinned by 70% over a five week period, I still have stubble where that hair pushed out the old. For me I think it was a combination of things.  But mainly my thyroid going so hypo and then going the other way.  My goal is to get my TSH below 2.  Dr.s tend o be unsympathetic to hair loss, for me it has been a big blow. 

Lois, sorry to bother you but I am still questioning my hair loss.  Its really is bothering me and I am wondering when you were hypo?  I went hypo in may and started my meds the first of June.  Its interesting that your endo said the hair loss was from that-mine never commented about the hypo part.  He did make a comment that  some of it could be from the rai treatment.  What are your levels-mine are suppose to be just a little high to prevent the cancer from coming back.  Thanks  Ann

 

On 9/4/2007 Saleslady wrote:

Lois, sorry to bother you but I am still questioning my hair loss.  Its really is bothering me and I am wondering when you were hypo?  I went hypo in may and started my meds the first of June.  Its interesting that your endo said the hair loss was from that-mine never commented about the hypo part.  He did make a comment that  some of it could be from the rai treatment.  What are your levels-mine are suppose to be just a little high to prevent the cancer from coming back.  Thanks  Ann

Hair loss is definitely a side effect of being hypo.  Fortunately I did not experience this side effect but my dr. told me that it was possible.  Good luck and hopefully your dr will be more understanding and try to explain all of the possible side effects of being hypo so you can better prepare yourself.

Hi Ann,

I was hypo from April 3, 2007 to April 30th then got my RAI.  I am on 137 mcgs of Synthroid.  I am not sure what blood levels you wanted to know.  My last bloodwork was in June.  My TSH was 0.73.  I think it should even be lower.  My next bloodwork is this month.  I am still losing some hair, but not nearly what I did a month or so ago.  The dermatologist will tell you that it is normal to lose 50-100 hairs each washing even without what we went through.  It will get better.  Lois 

 

On 9/1/2007 Saleslady wrote:

I had my throid removed after two surgeries in Feb. 07-had my RIA the last of May and have been on synthroid since the first of June.  Levels have been checked twice and Dr. says they are fine.  But the problem is my hair continues to fall out.  Never had this problem before and the Dr. says it can not be from the throid removal or the synthroid.  I know he thinks I am crazy because I keep complaining about the hair. I hate to wash it or even comb it.  Has any one had this same problem..   Thanks, Ann

Ann

I had my first surgery in April of 07 and my second in May 07.  I apparently had been hypo for some time due to the condition of the actual thyroid but I never had abnormal hair loss......And then I had RAI!  I began to loose a larger amount of hair after the high dose of RAI that I took in July of 07.  I have to be so careful around food because it just falls every where.

I have read many articles that say there are no side effects of RAI but I did experience some.  I actually found a website that said that unlike chemo, RAI does not cause hair loss but will cause bald spots!  Someone PLEASE tell me the difference.

TCC