Hair Loss and Hypothyroid
Yet another hypothyroid symptom that I am seeing relief from: hair loss. According to my doctor (who hasn’t been wrong about *everything*), it can take months for hypothyroid-caused hair loss and breakage to start showing improvement. This makes sense, since even a normal person’s hair only grows so fast… Even if your hair becomes perfectly healthy the day after you start thyroid medication, it’s going to take a while for the new, healthy hair to grow out far enough to make a difference.
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Causes of Hypothyroidism: Hyperthyroid Treatments
A fairly obvious cause of hypothyroidism is previous treatment for a hyperthyroid condition. This probably doesn’t need much discussion, but I thought I should cover it for the sake of thoroughness…
Some hyperthyroid conditions may be treated via thyroidectomy: partial or complete surgical removal of the thyroid. Thyroid cancer and goiter are usually treated this way, as well as thyroid nodules and non-specific hyperthyroidism that doesn’t respond to non-surgical treatment. Obviously, if your thyroid is removed, you will suffer from a resulting shortage of thyroid hormone.
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Causes of Hypothyroidism: Autoimmune Disorders
There was a time when the leading cause of hypothyroidism was iodine deficiency. In some areas of the world, this may still be the case, but in most of the northern hemisphere the advent of iodized salt and multivitamin supplements, and “enriched” food products have pretty much eliminated iodine deficiency. Anyone who tells you to take iodine supplements for your hypothyroidism had better have just gotten test results back indicating an iodine deficiency in your specific case… otherwise, their advice is likely to be utterly irrelevant to your situation.
There are a number of other causes for hypothyroidism. Unfortunately, most of them are poorly understood, and the treatment still almost universally consists of “take replacement thyroid hormones in a quantity sufficient to return your TSH/T4/T3 blood levels to normal,” as the underlying triggers are mostly impossible to verify or reliably address. Nonetheless, here’s Part One of a basic overview of the most common causes of hypothyroidism, according to my personal research:
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Armour Thyroid (natural thyroid, Naturethroid, dessicated thyroid)
I have not yet had a chance to try Armour Thyroid, so I can’t personally report on whether it’s the magic bullet for the few lingering complaints I feel might indicate my hypothyroidism is not being treated as well as it could be… but I have looked into it and done enough research to know that it is something I’m interested in trying at some point in the future. (Probably after I use my remaining levothyroxin refill, and can go into the clinic and say, “No, I’m definitely not depressed, but I’m still lacking energy. Could we please try Armour for 8 weeks or so?”) [NOTE: I have since switched to Armour, see more recent posts for details]
So, anyhow. Here’s what I’ve learned about Armour Thyroid (and, by association, other “natural thyroid” medications such as Bio-Throid, Naturethroid, and Westhroid) so far:
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A quick note …
…just to say, “no major new developments.” I’m still on .15mcg of generic levothyroxin, and using coconut oil instead of butter or olive oil when I cook, and I keep trying to remember to take my “Thyroid Helper” herbal supplements, but I forget a lot of the time.
I’ve been moving for the last week as well… I bought a copy of “Living Well with Hypothyroidism,” which comes very highly recommended, but I’m afraid I probably won’t read or review it until things have settled down at the new house.
One thing I’ve been noticing lately, and no idea if this has anything whatsover with my ‘condition’ or medication, but it seems my hearing is improving. Particularly in the high end. I’ve been listening to music, and I’m hearing all sorts of new little noises and notes in the background of songs I’ve heard a million times before. So, either my hearing is improving, my ability to take in more information is improving, or I’m losing my mind. Not sure which. 
technorati tags: hypothyroidism, hypothyroid, thyroid, health, medical, mivox