Hi all,

I have been following this site and have learned quite a bit. I would like to pick your collective brains if that's okay. I've had a degenerative neuromuscular disease for about 11 years now but that is not my problem. Within the last four weeks I have lost over fifty percent of the hair on my head and there is no end in sight. My doc ran lab tests and they came back fine; B12 is at 2000, thanks Mrs. D., and I have been on synthroid for years so that clears up the thyroid question. He has no idea what would cause this trauma and he doesn't seem concerned. It's just hair.

I do have to make a conscious effort to hold up my head so most of the time my neck is hyper-extended. By the end of the day my neck really burns and I am experiencing some numbness in my scalp. I am wondering if it might be a circulation problem or maybe I am deficient in a vitamin or mineral. I don't know what type of doc I would see for this as my pcp can't help and the dermatologist can't see beyond the wheelchair. Does anyone have a suggestion about who I would see or do next? Has anyone had this problem? Any input is welcomed.

Thanks much

Susan

I'm sure some others will offer more suggestions. I only want to mention that many people are undertreated for thyroid problems, and Synthroid doesn't do the trick for some.

Mary Shomon thyroid (placed in a search engine) will take you to lots of great info on the web.

Keep that B12 up.

rose

Hi Susan,

From what I remember from looking this up in the past, other nutritional deficiencies associated with hair loss in addition to vitamin B12 include iron, zinc, biotin, vitamin C, and more?
http://www.webmd.com/content/Article...m?pagenumber=1
http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedi..._loss-diet.htm

Hair loss can also be autoimmune, and given you already have one autoimmune disease... thyroid disease... this seems a possiblility? Alopecia: http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic14.htm

Thyroid disease, neuromuscular disease, and alopecia areata are all associated with Celiac Disease. In fact, those with autoimmune thyroid disease are at greater risk of having Celiac Disease, and more often than not CD goes undiagnosed. There may or may not be GI symptoms present in someone with CD. If Celiac Disease/gluten sensitivity is found, a gluten free diet may result in hair regrowth (and may improve the course of neurological and other disease as well).

Some great overview articles about Celiac Disease/ Gluten Sensitivity:

Detecting Celiac Disease in Your Patients by Harold T. Pruessner, MD

Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy (Celiac Disease): More Common Than You Think by David A. Nelson, JR, MD, MS (AAFP)

Gluten sensitivity as a neurological illness, M Hadjivassiliou, et al.

Pertinent pages from The Gluten File:

At Risk Population for Gluten Sensitivity/Celiac Disease

Diagnostic Testing

Type 1 Diabetes and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease


PubMEd:

Celiac disease is frequently associated with other autoimmune disorders but has never been reported in association with alopecia areata. In a routine clinical practice, 3 patients with such an association were observed. In one of the patients, celiac disease was diagnosed after the occurrence of malabsorption symptoms. In the youngest patient, a 14-year-old boy, gluten-free diet resulted in complete regrowth of scalp and body hair. A prospective screening program for celiac disease using antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies was therefore set up in 256 consecutive outpatients with alopecia areata. Three patients, all completely asymptomatic for intestinal diseases, were found to be positive and underwent biopsy. Histological analysis showed a flat intestinal mucosa consistent with the diagnosis of celiac disease. The results show that alopecia areata may constitute the only clinical manifestation of celiac disease and that the association between these two conditions is a real one because the observed frequency of association is much greater than can be expected by chance. It is suggested that antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies should be included in the work-up of patients with alopecia areata.
Celiac disease and alopecia areata: report of a new association. PMID: 7557104

Serological screening for coeliac disease in vitiligo and alopecia areata. PMID: 9205530


Maybe a long shot, but I think a blood test to look for CD/GS is warranted.

Cara

I think I would follow up on the neck part to see if that is a partial reason for the neck pain.
Have you had MRI or xray of the C spine?

I don't know how you feel about chiropractors and I missed the part about the wheelchair- but if it isn't due to a severe spine injury- a good/expert DC might be of some help.

info links-
Chiropractic care info- a good one can help with many symptoms:
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm
http://www.uppercervical.org/subpag...b/about_faq.php
http://www.spineuniverse.com/index.html
http://www.coloradochiropractic.org/.../glossary.html

What drugs are you taking? Some drugs cause hair loss.

Nutrients may be depleted by innocent drugs. For example, ACE inhibitors for blood pressure depletes zinc.

Low intake of sulfur containing foods (eggs) can impact hair as well.
Low protein intake.
Use of hormones like estrogen/progesterone
hereditary genetic causes
excess androgens (combined with the gene for hair loss).

Lots of things cause hair loss.

A simple thank you is not sufficient but "Thank You" for your response and knowledge. I clearly need to make some supplement and dietary changes. I am going to add Biotin and MSM to my vitamin intake and throw out the Costco Pine Nuts that are heavy in vitamin A. I also need to have more blood work done as I can't find the celiac test on any of my lab reports...ever, even the ones from the Mayo. But then they don't automatically run the B12 either.

The hair loss problem started over night which leads me to believe it's something I'm doing. My posture is bad due to the muscle weakness but unfortunately that too could be an issue. I have not had an MRI w/ contrast since '04 and I know I'm due. The thyroid problem was discovered right after a single artery bypass I had 16 years ago. Prior to that I rarely saw a doc, I thought I was pretty healthy. The drugs I take daily are Synthroid .1 mg, Prednisone 5 mg, Cardizem 240mg and Elavil 75mg. Vitamins are B12, C, Caltrate, salmon oil and Centrum Silver. If anything pops out at you please let me know.

Thank you all

Susan

The electronic Textbook of Dermatology
http://telemedicine.org/stamford.htm
At the idex on the left look up 'diabetic neuropathy'....and read on. While you don't have that condition...you may find that many aspects overlap.

I will warn you that it's not exactly light reading, but, it's packed with not only skin/scalp conditions, but explanations on how our neuro conditions interact and affect other body systems.

Hope it helps - j

I am posting an update as I have noted quite a few hits on this thread and hair loss isn't just a guy thing.

The information provided in the responses was incredibly helpful. I started a journal listing what I ate and all the vits I was taking daily. When you are single, meals are not memorable events so it's easy to forget what you ate four days ago. I added more, a lot more, protein and oatmeal (biotin) to my diet along with Biotin supplements and there has been a big decrease in the amount of hair that is falling out. This is not the answer to hair loss but it is helping me because my diet was deficient in a lot of areas. Now I need to see if all this hair will grow back in. If chocolate promoted hair growth I could pass as Big Foot.