Medical Question about HAIR

[red98vett]

Ok - this is not vanity reasons for this post - I have a question for anyone who can give me any advise -

My hair is falling out in major amounts. I've been on Throid medication for over 7 months now....but due to my husband being so ill ...I cannot go to the doctor for any reason - we have no insurance and his bills are killing us.

Why would a 46 year old woman be losing hair very suddenly ? Everywhere I look I see it - I can run my hand thru it and get handfuls - my shower is all of a sudden clogging up with MY hair and it's really freaking me out -

Can someone give me ideas on any remedies ? I'm already taking Biotin - not working....so unless I want to look like someone on Star Trek I could really use help here.

My friends don't see it as I have tons of hair - but IF this keeps up...I won't soon...it's not my imagination and it's very sudden - just in the last few months.

thanks - I hope you guys can help - Has this ever happened to anyone ?

[hockeymom]

It is called STRESSSSSSS! Or it could be hormonal changes, or it could be a combination of stress, hormonal changes, and thyroid.

[red98vett]

yup ...I got ALL three of those - I'm on hormone EVERYTHING - in this last year I've seen no changes for the better and am starting to think I'm taking all this stuff for nothing - It's REALLY expensive since I get it at a compounding pharmacy and I think when I'm done with what I have - I'm just stopping it all because things are worse not better -

I've tried Aswaganda for Adrenal Gland Fatique and even THAT didn't help - I'm just getting really concerned because hair loss MUST be for a reason when it's sudden ....and this is pretty drastic - we're talking handfuls now instead of a few here and there - but THANK YOU ! Any advise is very appreciated !

[LoveMyBaby]

yes Villette i have to agree with hockeymoms advice...
Stress.
a friend of mine sister hair fell out in clumps and usually left random patches of bald spots. I forget what the disease is called but one thing she was told it was due to was major stress.
you need to learn to relax and meditate. Im not sure if she took any Rx. but she wore a wig for about 2 years but now she has her full set of hair so it does get better.
Good luck .... just take care of yourself..
i know its easier said than done under ur circumstances but you have to try

[Snow Yorkies]

Originally Posted by hockeymom

It is called STRESSSSSSS! Or it could be hormonal changes, or it could be a combination of stress, hormonal changes, and thyroid.

I have to agree with hockeymom with the stress and thyroid. I know we hate to read the side effects or reactions to a new drug, but did you read that when you started your new med for the thyroid....hair loss could be a side effect. Have you changed any hair products, such as coloring or a new perm, you could be reacting to that too. If all else fails I would call my doctor and see if they can lead you to a remedy of why this is happening to you. Sorry to hear of your family's hardships with illness, I will keep you in my prayers.

[red98vett]

Thank You ! Maybe it IS stress - I don't color my hair and would never pay for a perm as my hair was born looking permed - and it started before I started thyroid...so I can rule that out -

I didn't know stress could cause hair loss this drastic ....wow - I really appreciate your help here because yes - my life now is very stressed over my husbands illness and maybe that IS the problem....

now...how does one eliminate stress ? I'd love to go to a gym or something but lack of funds lately is preventing that - My stress relief is THESE sites and escaping into yorkie world....and if this isn't working - unless I want to be baldheaded I need to find a way to change things.

[bchgirl]

While stress can cause hair loss, it is a major symptom of thyroid disease. You don't say whether yours is hypo or hyper, but your medication may not be the right dosage. My husband is on synthroid and has had his dosage increased several different times. His is hypo (slow). Stress can also bring on hyperthyroidism. I cannot stress the importance of properly treating a hyperthyroid condition. I don't mean to scare you here, but my mother passed away from hyperthyroidism. It is easily treated but left alone can have the worse possible consequences. Go to the emergency room if necessary, in order to avoid doctor visit fees.

[LoveMyBaby]

well go for walks... short ones... long ones...
you can try yoga. thats a great stress reliever and can help you with meditation.
read a relaxing book.
just do things that will make you laugh too.. LAUGHTER CURES ALL ILLS i firmly believe.

In my experience the ER comes out to be more expensive and more time consuming b/c you are made to wait HOURS AND HOURS... JMO

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by bchgirl

While stress can cause hair loss, it is a major symptom of thyroid disease. You don't say whether yours is hypo or hyper, but your medication may not be the right dosage. My husband is on synthroid and has had his dosage increased several different times. His is hypo (slow). Stress can also bring on hyperthyroidism. I cannot stress the importance of properly treating a hyperthyroid condition. I don't mean to scare you here, but my mother passed away from hyperthyroidism. It is easily treated but left alone can have the worse possible consequences. Go to the emergency room if necessary, in order to avoid doctor visit fees.

OMG I'm so sorry !! I just answered your pm but hadn't seen this post ! I'm really sorry and in this day how could that happen to your mom ? I didn't know it could be fatal....did she have a bad doctor? I would think no one should be that bad to lose their life over a treatable disease !! I'm very very sorry to hear that about your mom - it must have been terrible for you ...

I think I need to get on the net and really do more reading on the subject but you guys have given me some great information - I had no idea this could be serious - I know it's drastic and I feel terrible lately - but maybe I DO need to go see a doctor - I just put off that because my husband needs to go far worse than I do -

Your replys here are really helping because I DO need to get to the bottom of this - all I've been doing is whining over my hair - and just thought it was something that happened in your 40's....I don't think it's so normal now.

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by LoveMyBaby

well go for walks... short ones... long ones...
you can try yoga. thats a great stress reliever and can help you with meditation.
read a relaxing book.
just do things that will make you laugh too.. LAUGHTER CURES ALL ILLS i firmly believe.

In my experience the ER comes out to be more expensive and more time consuming b/c you are made to wait HOURS AND HOURS... JMO

haha - I just found out my ex hubby is taking yoga for his golf game - I told him it was just to meet women - but he loves it .....maybe I can do something like this at home - No $$ means no gym ....I'm hoping our financial situation gets better in the next few months - we have a big job coming up - the job of a lifetime and if my hubby can handle it - we'll be doing so much better then. It sucks being broke !

[luv4yorkies]

i do not have any remedies but i know that my hair was ffalling out because of my thyroid medicine and it made me very depressed so i had to be on anti-depressants and i am only 20 i have been taking thyroid meds for over 2yrs. if you find something that works please let me know.

[MeganS]

are you under a lot of stress??? thats pretty much the main reason.
i agree with judy, on everything she said. good luck!

[red98vett]

Originally Posted by luv4yorkies

i do not have any remedies but i know that my hair was ffalling out because of my thyroid medicine and it made me very depressed so i had to be on anti-depressants and i am only 20 i have been taking thyroid meds for over 2yrs. if you find something that works please let me know.

That's another thing I didn't know - I thought if UN-treated your hair falls out - and once you were on the right medication it helped ?

mine started before the thyroid meds but is worse now that I take them - Mine seems to be HYPO....not hyper - but borderline ...and on the depression - I do understand how you must have felt - I've never been treated or been depressed in my life - but this year is pretty emotional and I'm beginning to wonder now on that too - can depresson make your hair fall out ? It's so confusing - I'm trying to treat my own self by reading but I just keep seeing the same things over and over on the net -

Thanks Megan sweetie - you're always so cheerful and sweet ....I'd say yes on the stress but have always thought I was a pretty strong person till lately.

[red98vett]

I got it - maybe I can get hair extensions from Chanel - we're almost the same color

but then again...if I go bald there's be no place to attach them

[LoveMyBaby]

yes you can buy books and DVDs on it ...
try it .. ihear it works wonders and it boosts your immune system too b/c it helps with blood circulation
man i should do it too .. but i need to attend a class imma hands on/class taking kinda gal and im broke too rite now ...lol... oh money the root of all evil!!!