Losing Hair, Really Tired

Updated on November 09, 2011
M.J. asks from Sacramento, CA
17 answers

I've started losing large amounts of hair at the same time I'm noticing I'm unusually tired (I can't help but fall asleep every afternoon ... my kids will wake me). I had my thyroid tested about 10 months ago and it was fine. Wondering if anyone knows other possibilities? I'm 41, so I'm wondering if this is just perimenopause. I know I need to get in with the doctor, but until my schedule opens up enough for that, thought I'd get some ideas to investigate.

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So What Happened?

11/11 Not thyroid or anemia. Going back to the lab for a Vitamin D check.

Featured Answers

L._.

answers from San Diego on

Read Gloria Copeland's book called Live long, Live Strong. Living in devine health is possible.

Start with the basics. Better eating, vitamns, sleep, and naps are good.

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L.P.

answers from San Francisco on

My hair was falling out at the root.

Went to the dermatologist and had a blood test. I was low on vit. D, C, E and iron. Started taking my prenatals again plus extra iron and my hair stopped falling out in 3 months. I'm 41 as well, but just had two kids in the last few years.

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Thyroid, adrenals...start there. Have your regular doc do standard blood tests but if those show nothing and she has no other suggestions, see a chiropractor or other "alternative" doctor. There are supplements available that can help with adrenal and/or thyroid support. One of my kids has taken a supplement called Drenamin that really kicked his adrenals into action and my mother had used seaweed and iodine supplements for her thyroid.

Something is stressing your system - please see your doc sooner rather than later.

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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Have the thyroid tested again.
Are you also constipated, have dry skin, feet cracking, irritable, "losing your mind", losing things like car keys or having trouble keeping track of dates, short term memory loss, gaining weight, irregular periods.
My husband calls Synthroid my "stupid pills". Yeah, not very nice, but if I miss more than a few days I am a mess.

3 moms found this helpful

H.G.

answers from Dallas on

Thyroid, no doubt. Ask for the specific tests. A regular blood test doesn't detect it always.

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L.A.

answers from Chattanooga on

Ask your doctor to do in-depth thyroid testing including T3 & T4 and antibodies, specifically for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. That usually doesn't show up on the initial basic thyroid test. Good luck!

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C.C.

answers from Raleigh on

If your insurance has coverage for specialists try to get in with an Endocrinologist. That's who I see for my thyroid and they are more knowledgeable regarding the thyroid than a family doctor. At least that has been the case for me. Good luck!

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M.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

Did anything traumatic happen to you about 6 months ago? Major stressor, medication issue? That can make your hair follicles freak and you can loose a bunch of hair about 6 months later. Takes about 3 months and then it will resolve itself.

I would also take a really good vitamin. Lots of us are low on vitamin D and getting more of the rest will not hurt. Try iron for the fatigue. Get RAW ones for women vitamins - they are great and you only need one per day. http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Women-vegan-capsules/dp...

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B..

answers from Dallas on

Have your thyroid checked again, and your adrenals. Also, check your iron levels. You may get tested for celiac, my hair started falling out before I was diagnosed.

1 mom found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have your thyroid tested again. My mother's didn't show up low (it was actually no longer working) the first time, she actually thought she was dying because nothing showed up and she was sooooooo tired, losing weight (not the normal symptom, you usually gain weight when your thyroid is low so this threw her doctors off,) and felt altogether lousy. She went to another doctor after a few months, who told her this was his suspicion and he was right.

And, no criticism intended, but this is something you need to take time the time to do, and not wait until your schedule opens up.

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R.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Have your thyroid tested again. If the TSH is in the 4+ range, you're on the low side.

Other than that, I can't think of anything. Anemia?

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L.M.

answers from Houston on

It could be food sensitivities. www.betterhealthusa.com will tell you alot more. Hope you feel better soon!

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B.J.

answers from Kansas City on

My hair was thinning on top and my thyroid was low. The medicine the doctor wanted to give me had side effects. Hair loss. I didn't take it. You have to be careful and sometimes have more than one thyroid test. Do you live where there are deer ticks? Check out on web. Can be many things. Good luck.

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T.H.

answers from San Francisco on

Have your thyroid function tested. Your symptoms could be hypothyrodism.

C.A.

answers from New York on

Yup have your thyroid tested again. That is the tell tale sign of thyroid problems. I have thyroid disease and I was very tired all the time and did loose some hair, but my hair is very thick so it was hard to tell. But def get tested again. Alot can change in 10 months. Best of Luck!

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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Thyroid testing doesn't work. Google Dr. Brownstein's Natural Ways to Health. There is an online video by him which describes why thyroid testing doesn't work. You may want to find a naturopath, instead of a regular M.D.

Do you salt your food? The thyroid needs iodine. You could try supplementing with that. Don't do regular table salt, use celtic sea salt or himalayan salt. Also, you may want to look into armour thyroid.

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J.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Thryroid testing is difficult and there are several different thyroid tests you may need to have. You could also be anemic. I was losing a lot of hair and was very tired during a time that I was anemic.

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