Thanks for the update, Chisue. I'm glad you're having good results. I take methyl B12 for other reasons, and added biotin a few weeks ago. My thyroid tests (the complete range) were normal. (I don't understand why your doctor refused to order these--did s/he say why?)

Still, my hair is getting alarmingly thin. I never thought about a test for iron. Maybe that's next.

alisande -- I'd had a blood work-up when I had a physical a couple months ago, where the two thyroid tests that are 'usual' were fine. He refused to order the two additional ones -- ones that have revealed a thyroid problem in other people with similar hair loss, low body temp, ridged fingernails, etc. I decided to try some stuff on my own before finding an MD who would order the extra two T-tests. (I'm really not fond of liverwurst, but hey!)

I'm scheduled for a dr. visit and thyroid check on Wednesday. I've taken thyroid meds for over 20 years with no change in dosage. I plan to ask for the "extra tests" also as I am having some issues that could be thyroid related. Just wondering, Chisue, what reason your doc gave for refusing those tests?

momrox -- He said the same thing other people's doctors have said, "You're fine. You're fine. Your tests are fine." End Of Story...Go Away...Stop Doing Online Research. (Grrr.)

I am so glad your hair loss has slowed so much! It was probably me that recommended the Biotin. I take it daily. About 3 1/2 years ago, mine was really bad.You could see my scalp. DH commented that I had more hair on the back of my shirt than I had on my head. For him to comment meant it was REALLY bad! In fact, he only comments on my hair if he doesn't like what I have done with it! It was so bad I was using the sticky roller on my pillow every day. We never did figure out what caused it.

As to your vitamin D-3 deficiency, I was told to take 2000mg daily for mine, so you may need to question that dosage if you are still showing low on that, as well.

I don't think I could eat liverwurst even if it would help me!

Tami

Cool for Liverwurst with a big slab of onion. Eat it out in the sun.

The women in our family have all got or had hair loss. Mine is pretty bad. I have to work hare to hide the fact.

Now after reading this post I think I'll be asking my doctor some questions.

I have had hyper thyroidism....I have ridges in my finger nails and I'm cold all the time while siting. If I'm moving I warm up.

patti

What is your blood calcium level? Would your Dr. be willing to order three other tests? They are PTH, serum calcium, and ionized calcium.

The four parathyroid glands regulate the amount of calcium and vitamin D in your blood. And, if there is a problem with one or more of those parathyroid glands, you will have all sorts of "complaints" that you wouldn't think would be related.

Thinning hair is one of the symptoms of hyperparathyroidism.

Lindsey -- Thanks for the information. My blood test shows Calcium 9.8 and 'normal scale' of 8.5 - 10.3.

Lindsey -- I think I would have to see another doctor -- who might or might not run other tests. I googled Hyperparathyroidism.

Without supplement, my Vit. D is 37 on a scale of 32 - 100. I don't know the level *with* 1,000 IU because I stop taking it before lab work in order to see the 'unassisted' level.

My paternal grandmother had one functioning kidney. My father died of renal failure, onset age 73 -- supposedly caused by medication for heart disease. One of his brothers died as a child due to adrenal failure. My paternal half-sister experienced adrenal failure at the birth of her first child. My mother died at 73, two years after diagnosis of leukemia.

I passed two (known) kidney stones, and I had surgery to remove a staghorn calculus 14 years ago. I've had both hips replaced -- linked to Advair (steroids) for asthma. I have not had a bone density test. I'm what the surgical charts would say is a "well nourished white female, age 73".

I'm seeing a psychological reason for hair loss after writing this.

Another hair loss sufferer here. I've had one side of my head with a receding hairline ever since I was a little girl which affects the look/cut/style that I can do. But several years ago it got much worse.

After blood tests my dermatologist put me on 2000 IU of Vitamin D3 (OTC) and also a prescription for Finasteride (1/2 of a 5mg pill). I take both; however I'd like to try weaning myself off the Finasteride because the prescrip runs about $24/month and I can't donate blood when taking it and he said I'd probably have to take it for life which means repeat trips to the dermatologist & blood test and I prefer avoiding doctors. Something seems to have helped, although I still have daily shedding, but I'd like to try going off of the Finasteride just to see if it's really necessary. I wonder if stress didn't trigger my hair loss. I'm a natural worrier. At the time the hair loss occurred we had all 3 kids in college (some grad/law school), I was going back for my masters, kids were moving all over domestically and internationally, getting married (large weddings, one on each coast), one then got divorced, they were taking jobs/changing jobs, they/we were doing start-up companies, the child we sponsored thru Compassion died of cancer, we were doing a major building project w/in our business, etc.)

I've started taking OTC biotin and Viviscal.
But hair loss sucks. It shows up on the floor, on clothes, in food, etc. I now cook less than before. I stopped coloring just to avoid the chemicals and expense but the gray hair combined with hair loss really challenges ones self esteem. There are days I'm tempted to go back to coloring (it does add fullness), but on the other hand, I do get compliments on my natural color since it's a prettier white - almost like when I was a very little girl.

If one or more of your (four) parathyroid glands is screwed up, it will mess up your Vitamin D levels as well as your calcium levels. I don't know how old you are, but depending on your age, the "normal" range for calcium is not the preferred range for your age.

Also, when a parathyroid gland is messed up, it can lead to kidney stones.

Lindsey -- My calcium was 9.8. The parathyroid page I read said that people in their seventies should be 'in the nines'. Are you thinking 9.8 is too high for someone my age: 73?

I may have to consult a dermatologist, although I only know of one I trust, and he needs to be booked long months in advance.

From what I understand, a person's calcium level can be OK even if their parathyroids are not, which is why the PTH level and ionized calcium levels should be checked.

A note about Biotin and thyroid. If you plan on getting thyroid tests done, know that Biotin can affect those tests.

Thyroid.org Biotin

and

https://labtestsonline.org/news/fda-warns-biotin-may-affect-some-lab-test-results

Funny to see my old post turn up here. Not so funny to read about all those tests -- and nothing about the IgG, which indicated I was edging towards Multiple Myeloma. I only saw MGUS on my chart dating way back then AFTER I was diagnosed with MM in late 2018. My internist in 2014 and the subsequent one *never* told me. about the MGUS. I had to insist my internist to do more testing after feeling awful for two years, starting in 2017. By 2018 my IgG was off the charts, and my M-spike was too.

Google telogen effluvium. It’s temporary hair loss due to stress, such as childbirth or surgery. A few months after I had brain surgery, my hair started falling out. Now THAT was stress! I felt better after reading that I wouldn’t lose it all.

My two sisters and I all have bald spots and thin hair--we're all in our 70s. Mine is the worst--we take after our father's mother. It's genetic and has nothing to do with bad health. I think the sight of a woman's thinning hair is unattractive, and I have been wearing scarves as head coverings for several years now. There are beautiful and easy to use head covering scarves available on line and the great part is, you no longer ever have a bad hair day! I particularly like this company, but there are many others.

I take finasteride 2.5 mg for hair loss Not sure if biotin is effective or just another supplement going down the toilet. Rogaine is another option.

Yes, it is odd to go back and look at old posts. I had major hair loss at the beginning of covid. it was so upsetting. Other things were going on to cause stress, coincidental to covid. My hair seems to have grown back.

My mother, at age 104, has such a think head of hair. The woman who comes to the house to cut it says she has ”million dollar hair”. She only has some gray around her face and a few strands mixed in. Guess i got my father’s hair!

I agree that stress can cause hair loss. One of the morning ”news” shows has been talking about hair loss during covid.

chisue -- When I was a young girl, my mother praised my "high forehead" which I never understood, but she thought it was nice. I now believe she cursed me, as that high forehead is now expanding to the point where I look like portraits of Queen Elizabeth the First, and I HATE it. I'm 76 and this has been going on for several years. Nothing to do about it apparently, in my case, so guess I'll just have to live with it. So far, I haven't frightened any children... so that's good!

Bangs?

I hesitate to say this because I did it as part of my get rid of migraine program which worked for 5 years. I took flax oil for 3 years in higher quantities. By the end of that I was no longer having migraines and my hair started to thicken up and my hairline rapidly was moving down lower than I've ever had on my forehead. It was very strange. I quit taking the flax oil because I was sick of it plus the excess weight and for 5 years was completely migraine free but it has moved back in. My hair however has stayed growing much more quickly. I'm not sure if causation and all that. Trier beware

My hair was so thick when I was younger I actually bought thinning shears. My braids as a child were each over an inch wide but my daughters were half that size. Although my husband still has a full head of hair it was never super thick so genetics plays a role. My mother had great hair when she died at 91 even though she colored it the moment she got a grey hair. My hair is decent looking. I don't color, cut it myself, and haven't been to a salon in 40 years. But I definitely don't need the thinning shears anymore.

I lost my hair twice. The first time was in 2009 when I went through chemo for advanced breast cancer. The second time was in 2016-17 when I developed a rare blood disease that took a long time for diagnosis and treatment. Both times, my total hair loss happened in cold weather months so wearing headgear was comfortable and warming. I have two very expensive wigs that I despise. I have very thin hair now, my scalp is visible. I have spent a long time growing a chin-length bob and can't afford to spare any of it for bangs. I just turned 70...this is all I will get.

Seagrass I hope your illness is well managed. I'm just glad you can be here.

I really never cared about my hair. I know so many women who have female pattern hair loss and or stress or cancer treatment induced hair loss etc. it is just part of what happens to some women. And some men of course. :-).

yeonassky -thank you. I chose to live breast free after my cancer diagnosis and treatments, but living hair free was more difficult...I did, however, reject the wigs as much as I rejected the prospect of reconstructive breast surgeries or daily including protheses into my wardobe...I honestly miss my hair more than I miss my breasts.

So sorry that your hair isn't cooperating. I hope it reverses itself if at all possible. Hugs to you.

My sister says the same of her breasts. She doesn't miss them. Losing them saved her life so I think it's a good thing. Of course it would be better if the cancer thing could be completely banned from the planet!

Try Castor oil for hair loss. Put it on your bald spot and sleep with it on, wash it off in the morning. It works.