Low Thyroid and Iron!
 

Hi there!
I've got a couple of questions about low thyroid levels and low iron . . .

About two months ago my hair started falling out (I'm only 25!). I'm on coumadin for a blood clotting disorder, and my doctors at first thought that this was causing it. But I insisted on having blood tests done, and my TSH levels were sky high and my T3 and T4 levels were really low. So basically, my thyroid has died. But they also found that my iron levels were "ridiculously low". This is strange because I eat a diet that is fairly high in iron. My doctor put me on thyroxine and prescription iron. My hair loss doesn't seem to be stopping.

So my question is, are these two things related? Has anyone heard of this? Also, if I eat a lot of iron, why would my blood iron be low? Where is it going to? My doctor doesn't seem to understand that this is weird. She keeps saying that we'll figure it out based on what my next blood test shows. But that will only show whether or not I have iron in my blood, not where it is going to! I also eat a lot of vitamin C in the form of my little Cuties tangerines, which is supposed to help iron absorption. So what is going on?
I am just worried about leukemia, to be honest. Unexplained iron deficiency anemia and hair loss just add up to something bad.

My doctor said that it could take one to two months for the hair loss to stop, and I'm approaching 6 weeks on the thyroxine and iron. But it hasn't slowed down! So does anyone know of things that would help both of these conditions? I'm getting discouraged about all of these things and would really appreciate some help!

Thank you!
Linnie :)

There are other possibilities, of course. Including bleeding.

But three things that often occur together, or one after another, are B12 malabsorption, iron malabsorption, and (sometimes as a result of the damage due to B12 deficiency) hypothyroid.

And B12 malabsorption and deficiency are very much underdiagnosed. Please read my website (won't take long) and most doctors are decades behind and don't know even a substantial percentage of these basics.

rose

Have you been tested for celiac disease?

It can cause unexplained iron deficiency anemia, hair loss due to nutritional deficiency (B12, iron, others) or hair loss due to autoimmune mechanism, and is more prevalent in those with autoimmune thyroid disease. Anyone with non-responsive iron deficiency should be screened for celiac disease.

Gastrointestinal symptoms (classic symptoms) may or may not be present. The symptoms can vary widely, and it can be essentially asymptomatic... until things like B12 deficiency, iron deficiency, or osteoporosis show up.

On celiac disease and :

Iron Deficiency

Type 1 Diabetes and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

At Risk Population for Gluten Sensitivity/Celiac Disease


My hair was falling out a lot when I was B12 deficient~ and stopped falling out when that was corrected. (I also have autoimmune thyroid disease)

Keep looking for other co-existing conditions (B12 deficiency, celiac disease/gluten sensitivity for starters)... there may be more to your story. What about family history? Is there autoimmune disease there?


Here are some good overview articles about celiac disease. You can also read the Diagnostic page in The Gluten File linked in my signature.

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

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


Good luck... I hope you find some answers!

Cara

Oops!
 

Yes, that too. I should have thought of it.

Thanks, Cara. Guess I need to refresh the gluten training I received from you!

rose

some other factors...
 

There are other factors too.

If you are low in zinc and selenium, you cannot convert thyroid hormone in the tissues properly.

If you take other drugs that deplete things, that could be additive. (like Depakote, prednisone etc.).

I just posted this link on PN, so it might help you too:
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-a...uced-hair-loss
Please notice that Coumadin is on this list.

If you take birth control pills, some women get hair loss from progesterone.

Not enough protein in the diet?

MSM which is sold for arthritis relief, really improves hair and nails. If you don't have a good source of sulfur in the diet like eggs-- this supplement may help.
If you have elevated androgen levels in the blood, it might trigger hair loss too.

Heavy periods can lead to chronic low iron.
When you start to respond to the thyroid... it might fix the iron problems.
And I'd look into the gluten issue seriously too. If you do not respond to T4 Synthroid...you may need T3 added. You can discuss this with the doctor.
T4 has to be converted in the body to active T3...if you don't convert, you will not respond well to Synthroid. This is where zinc and selenium come in.

And make sure you take that thyroid on an empty stomach. Food interferes with absorption.
If you use a generic, I'd recommend Mylan over others. I don't like the Sandoz product.

Yep have heard of it and am experiencing it.

Low ferritin, low iron binding capacity. Also look at your blood tests at your hemoglogin and hematacrit levels. Low iron is a precursor to those going down. If they are ok right now within levels then you are holding up ok but need to find the source. If they are below levels then doc needs to check out further but dont panic.

I recently had my thyroid out due to unmangeable hashimotos thryoiditis and a goiter.

So without meds I will always be hypothyroid.

Right now levels normal with meds.

But all iron tests are low and bordering on anemic. And I was feeling generally crappy especially around my period.

Saw both the gastro to check for intestinal bleeding for anemia. All tests from gastro came back clear.

So where was bleeding coming from. My periods had staretd to get worse and worse. Heavy bleeding which can result from hypothyroidism. Lots of pain, particularly from bowel movements hence the gastro visit and tests.

What is the result....my bleeding is from endometriosis. NOt only am I bleeding from my period but there is endo tissue in other places that is bleeding at the same time and then body absorbs it.

But it depletes your iron.

Not to say thats where yours is coming from but it could be heavy mentrual periods that are making you anemic like MrsD said.

Also MrsD is right the zinc helps thryoid conversion. I am low in zinc too.

And Rose is absolutely right. Get your B12 checked out and read her site. Mine was low and is now better. But iron and B12 can go hand in hand

And CAra is right on with gluten. And while after all the gastro tests everything came back fine for me, going gluten made me feel better. Now that I have a dx of endo I have read that there is a substance in wheat and oats that aggravates endo and increases the IgA and IgG antobodies similarly to people with gluten problems.

And last check out your iodine levels. You could be iodine deficient. I actually am based on the goiter I had. Iodine deficiency apparently also plays a part in endo since the thyroid, ovaries and breast are the most iodine rich organs in the body. BUt if you supplement you must work with a doctor n that.

:hug:

Shelly,

My wife is in same condition as yours ...infact worse (or was worse).
Apart from all the good and very important things mentioned here ...first of all you need to find a good doc who understand the value or armour.
Thyroxine does not help in (YES,its true!) treating hypo patients as much as armour (dessicated thyroid hormone) does.
-Depending on how your ferritin level us ..you need around 150mg of elemental iron.My wife takes Proferrin iron tablets(it's heme iron ..no stomach issues AT ALL)
- People who are hypo also needs their adrenals tested( if your body temp. is low ...your BP is on lower side most of the time..that's a good indication)
- You need your Vitamin D level tested ...thats generally low in HYPO patients.
you can go to www.stopthethyroidmadness.com ...it has lot of good info in it for hypo's.
As far as B12 goes ..this forum is THE BEST :)

many things inhibit iron absorption
 

Are you a coffee drinker? I've read that if one is low in iron that one should not ever drink any coffee for, I think I remember correctly - one hour BEFORE meals and for 2-3 hours after meals.

Coffee inhibits iron absorption -- this is not folklore, there is scads of recent research about this.

If you do a search at google for coffee and "iron absorption" --- you'll retrieve over 20,000 search results!

I try to not drink any coffee after about 1 p.m., but this is easier to TRY than to accomplish.

Anyway, high dose calcium or magnesium or many other substances also interfere with iron absorption.

Also you might want to go to Google NEWS and set yourself up a News Alert so that you are notified anytime that the phrase, "Prevents Iron Deficiency" ever occurs anywhere in a news article -- that way you can keep up to date with the most recent research.

Sorry if this is "duplicate" info -- I've already posted to this thread, but my reply isn't here.

Do you drink lots of coffee? Coffee inhibits iron absorption so well, that if one is low in iron one shouldn't drink coffee before or after meals.

Do a search on IRON-absorption AND coffee -- there's over 20,000 search results at google, and there are plenty of other things like copper, calcium & magnesium, etc. that inhibit iron absorption.

I've been through all sorts of craziness with my thryoid in the last 18 months.
At that time, I gained 20 pounds out of no where and my hair started to fall out. My fatigue was worsening! I know from my readings that these were thyroid symptoms. I went to one doctor, who told me my thyroid was fine.
However, I went to a 2nd doctor, who told me that my thyroid was "off," and in fact I was hypothyroid. It doesn't take much to cause havoc.
It's a long story, but check out a medication called Thyrolar (similar to Armour mentioned above). You might want to read books by Mary Shoman...she has a lot of information on the topic.

IN addition to getting on medication, I started to explore and change my vitamin intake. One major change I made was take a B50 tablet and additional B12. I also started using a gentle/non detergent shampoo and a top notch leave in hair conditioner.

Very recently, my doctor has added a very low dose Iodine supplement for me to take.

I lost all the weight, have more energy and my hair is back to normal! I am very grateful for my doctor!!! My advice is that if you are not satisfied with your medication or doctor, make sure you get a second opinion.