As you may have read in my previous post, I am dealing with new health concerns. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis in early August 2022. Along with that came Alopecia areata. In this post I will share my thoughts and experience and why I think this happened and what I am doing for it.

Last November, four days after Thanksgiving, I was scheduled for a covid booster. I had a minor tickle in the back of my throat but I assumed it was probably allergies so I didn’t give it another thought. I went to my appointment on Monday, my temperature was taken, no fever, so the booster was administered. I had the typical sore arm at the booster site but I otherwise felt fairly normal. Tuesday, my throat was more irritated and my sinus’ were stuffed, pressure in my head was awful, just like every time I end up with a sinus infection. I took vitamin C, echinacea/goldenseal root and began taking Robitussin for the irritated cough. By Tuesday night, my armpit of the booster arm was swelled so much that I couldn’t put my arm against my side; it also burned like mad. I let my doctor know the next day and learned that swollen lymph glands is sometimes a side effect of the booster. It lasted five to six days, slowly deflating each day but my body felt worse. I couldn’t breathe, had a chronic headache and chest congestion.

After about day five I called my doctor for an appointment because I typically get a sinus infection and bronchitis at least once a year. I work closely with people doing hair and while I wore a mask during that time, I still got sick. My doctor didn’t want me in the office so we did a tele-health after I drove to the office for a covid test which returned negative. I explained my entire scenario to the NP that I had the call with and she stated, “never get any kind of vaccine when you’re sick, your immune system is in overdrive“. I wish I knew I was getting sick, I also wish I knew not to get a shot if you’re sick; I don’t recall hearing or reading anything stating that when the CDC was urging vaccines for covid.

I was put on antibiotics and benzonotate perl for the sinus infection and bronchitis. I was sick the entire month of December and I felt exhausted well into February/March. I chalked it up to being overwhelmed with dealing with my parents for a few years prior then handling their passing and all that comes with it. I forged forward throughout last year doing what I needed to do and letting go of self-woes with an I’m fine attitude.

As I mentioned in my last post, we had some exciting times last year. I became a grandmother, (Nonnie!) in April, and I became a mother-in-law and step-nonnie to two beautiful children at the same time on July 9th. My heart is so full!

At the end of July I had a yearly physical where I learned, from my blood labs taken a week earlier, that I have hypothyroidism. More labs were to be taken in two weeks to be sure the readings were accurate. About a week after my physical, I found a small bald patch beneath my occipital bone, it was about the size of a quarter. I alerted my doctor who then added autoimmune testing to my upcoming blood draw. The lab work for my thyroid level was the same, 9.49 (0.4-4.25 is in the normal range), and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis was also confirmed. I felt relief that I would quickly get back to normal once the thyroid medication, levothyroxine, kicked in. But as time went on and I was retested to make sure the dose of levothyroxine is correct, my thyroid levels were improving but the hair loss wasn’t, in fact, it was/is increasing. I have a large area at the first spot, it is now slightly larger than the diameter of a golf ball, a second spot is the size of a silver dollar and I recently discovered hairloss above my right ear. I saw a dermatologist in September who offered a steroid cream, injections or the use of minoxidil. I told her I would wait to see of the thyroid medication improves/stops the hairloss.

I have been digging deep into the why? My curiosity began with why my immune system is attacking my hair follicles. Still. Through my holistic health via nutrition schooling, I learned that things begin within. In my recent deep dive into why, I am learning that the gut has a lot to do with what is going on in and on the body. Toxins and heavy metals also play a role. I have started proper supplements for the immune system and Hashimoto’s. These are simple, necessary supplements, vitamin D3, Fish oil, Magnesium, vitamin C, Zinc, and probiotics; all good quality brands. I learned thise from the book Hashimoto’s Food Phamacology by Izabella Wentz. I also made a second appointment with the dermatologist to bridge the gap, at least until I get back to normal. My glass is half-full, I expect to get back to healthy.

Losing hair is a scary thing. I’ve worked in the hair industry for forty years as of 2022 and I have never come across a client with alopecia areata. Fortunate for me? Maybe. I work with hair so how my hair looks is a big deal. Not that I fuss with it much throughout the day, it has always looked good with the styles I wear. I’m not vain, I think of myself as average.

If you’ve had personal experience with thyroid issues, autoimmune dis-ease (Hashimoto’s, alopecia, psoriatic arthritis, eczema, IBS..) comment below.

Also, here are a few Informative Articles I have read:

A new drug for alopecia: https://www.ucihealth.org/blog/2022/10/drug_reverses_hair_loss_from_alopecia

Information I found on covid vax: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8673931/#:~:text=It%20is%20possible%20that%20the,the%20United%20States%20and%20globally.