Q: Four years ago I went to an Amish doctor who told me I had thyroid problems. He told me to have it checked, so I went to someone else and had it checked. Nothing was wrong. So, I went somewhere else. They said it was okay. Three months ago I had it checked yet again and it’s okay but my hair comes out every time I wash it. I can’t lose weight, I’m tired all the time and there is more. I went to get my hair cut and she asked if I had thyroid problems. She said that she could tell I did. I was told to go to a health store and get something, so I did. They asked what type of thyroid condition I have. I don’t know! What do I do? Everyone just keeps doing blood work. What do I need to do do to find out for sure if I have a thyroid problem or not? Please help.
A: To begin with, it is important to understand that there are countless other reasons for hair to fall out other than a thyroid condition. As I have stated in the past, most individuals lose between 50 and 100 strands of hair each and every day but considering that we have about 100,000 strands in our heads, the loss is essentially inconsequential. And while you don’t mention how old you are, hair does thin with the aging process. Let’s take a moment to review some possibilities.
The most common cause of hair loss in both men and women is male or female pattern baldness. The condition is hereditary so if your parents had a like condition, you just may have your answer. Then there is alopecia areata, an immune system disorder that attacks hair follicles. This condition may reveal smooth, round patches of hair loss. Lichen planus and some forms of lupus may be responsible, as can stress, and hormonal changes to include menopause. Lichen planus affects a person’s skin and mucous membranes and is an inflammatory condition. It presents with painful lesions and white patches that resemble lace. Lupus is still another inflammatory disease that attacks a person’s tissues and organs, presenting with – in most cases – a facial rash resembling the wings of a butterfly across both cheeks.
Are you on any medication for hypertension, arthritis, cardiac issues, or cancer? Male and female hormones, anticoagulants, beta blockers, antidepressants, drugs for gout and many others can contribute to hair loss, as can large doses of vitamin A. If you fall into one of these categories, you might wish to speak with your prescribing physician to determine if this is the cause of your dilemma.
Are you consuming a healthful diet? If you crash diet or have an eating disorder, your hair may thin. Cereals fortified with iron are good dietary choices, as are non-fat dairy products and some red meat.
I suspect your doctors have requested the usual thyroid tests of a TSH, T3 and T4 but there are st6ill other tests that can be done if the results are borderline. Because you have already been tested three times, it certainly appears you do not have a thyroid condition but you might ask you physician if he or she ordered a complete blood count, serum iron, serum ferritin and a TIBC (total iron binding capacity which might provide interesting results. And, if you haven’t had a complete examination recently, it may be time. It certainly appears someone has missed something. A complete history, examination and the test results should get you back on track.
