Hair loss due to thyroid irreversible? doc says yes...true?

I have had thyroid problems for a long time I take medicine for it..I have the kind that makes you gain weight...I take synthroid for it or levothroid...well anyways, I have never lost hair while I had thyroid in the past or that I noticed..but a few months ago I was loosing hair like crazy it was all over my pillow on my clothes the floor everywhere...it has calmed down a bit now but it's still falling...I can see places were this is no hair not like bald patches but if I put my hair back I can see my head skin ha ha...I tried to not think about it much so I don't get depressed but I am depressed, worried, sad. I survived cancer, grew beautiful hair only to have it taken by thyroid. My doctor said it would grow back once we get my thyroid back in order but I don't know if he was just trying to calm me down or if he was serious. I went in crying one day cause I was feeling really bad crying, hair loss, headaches, dizzyness, weight loss. Is it possible for this thyroid nightmare to end?

Your doctor is telling you the truth, but it may take a few weeks for you to feel better, and longer than that for your hair to all come back in its normal glory. Both hypo- (low) and hyper- (high) thyroidism can cause hair loss (weird but true).

If your doctor only checked your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level, which many do when following up patients who are on Synthroid, then you might ask him to run the full thyroid function panel, which includes T3 and T4. The timing between taking the dose and the blood being drawn is important for the full panels.

Since you've been taking Synthroid, you must be hypothyroid. If you're suddenly losing hair, you're either not getting enough medication now (needs can change), or are getting too much and have become temporarily hyperthyroid. Check the websites below for more information.

Good luck!

First of all the T4 synthetics (synthroid/levothyroxine) are pretty much worthless, and given your continued hair loss, this is especially so. You need to use a dessicated thyroid brand (Armour) which has *all* the thyroid hormones you need, T4, T3, T2, T1, and calcitonin for your bones.

Another thing you need to address is adrenal fatigue, which is very common in hypo people. The adrenals work to convert T4 to T3 - T3 being the usable hormone (T4 is a "storage" hormone). They also pull T3 into your cells. If your adrenals aren't producing enough cortisol, that's going to screw up your thyroid and ability to use your thyroid hormone. You would have to do a 24-hour saliva test to find out if your adrenals are working correctly.

You might also need to look at B12, which plays an important roll.

Once you're adequately treated, your hair should grow back.

It could be that you are now not converting T4 to T3 like you used to. To find out get a free t3 levels done. Also make sure you always test the TSH in the morning to get the proper dosage of medication. Free T3 should be at least mid-range with TSH around 1.0. To fix this problem if you are a poor converter, you take both T4 and T3. This can be by adding Cytomel or switching to a combo med like ARmour or Thyrolar. T3 helps with symptoms such as fatigue, hairloss, brain fog, and muscle and joint aches.

Ok, I do know a little about this.
My sis had thyroid- and she tried this natural hairoil that I had previously tried for my postbaby hairloss. She said that her hair which when swept back would still make her skin show, no longer does it. She has new hair growing in.
You want to give it a shot? she isnt on very strong meds.
Its an oil used by geisha and on this health site www.katuri.com
Remember you can always get a wig, dont let it undermine your confidence. And if the doc says after the thyroid is in order, your hair will grow back, it probably will, ok.
You are a survivor!