Lately (past 6 months or so) I've been thinking that maybe my hair is thinning. I haven't noticed huge hairballs in the shower like many ladies here, but I've noticed more hair on my brush and less hair in my ponytail (even my mom mentioned my ponytail, without me ever mentioning it to her). I've never had a lot of hair to begin with, so my ponytail is super puny right now.
I am on spiro (100mg/day). I know that many women experience the "spiro shed" but I was under the impression that it happened in the first months. I've been on spiro 2 years, though!
I saw my endo last week and she said that it could be a spiro side effect, which confused me because it seems like it's just popping up now. She also said that it could be a product of low iron or a thyroid problem. She checked my thyroid, and it's fine. She didn't check my iron, but I do take a supplement every day and while I've been on the low end of normal, I've never technically had an iron deficiency.
Any other ideas? Could it really be spiro? I've just gotten to the point where spiro helps all my body hair so wonderfully, it will break my heart if I have to choose between excess body hair and losing the hair on my head!
__________________ Previously on Met, currently on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Spiro, and cinnamon
I just asked my hairdresser this today! I think my hair is thinning but I am not seeing any come out either. She said you see that a lot with hormone medication/pregnancy, thyroid disorders, and blood pressure medicine but that it comes back when you stop taking the medicine.
__________________ Diagnosed 2/06 Married 3/06
ROUND 1 Metformin 750 x 3 since November 2006 Follistim x 1 round January 2007 Stopped shots and have been waiting to lose weight Fertility Blend for Women since August 2007
ROUND 2 Ready to do this for real! Metformin 500 x 3 since December 08 Starting IR diet Jan 09
I am so glad you posted this! I have been on spiro 200mg/day for several months now. When I started spiro I also started a higher estrogen bcp. My hair is definitely thinning and not in clumps but my hairdresser and others have noticed. I talked to my reproductive endo and he said it was because of the hormones changing with the pill, and not the spiro. He said it should stop shedding and come back once my hormones are in balance. It would be ok if I were losing hair in the right place - my chin - but not on my head!
My hair is thinning tis is a symptom of PCOS, not spirolactone.
FOr years I thoght it was normal for my pony tail to get smaller, for my hair to have to be cut shorter for it to look less messy, finally after ten years I noticed bald spots at my temples, I tried a varioety of drugs in a really bad panic and have been diagnosed with Androgen genetic alopecia caused by pcos hormones. it devestatd my lifem for five years I wanted to die, I eventually went on anti depressents, found a hair replacement salon and am now just starting to pick up where i left off although a big chunk of my life and part of my soul died
Go to a dermatologist and get a diagnoisis
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My hair is thinning tis is a symptom of PCOS, not spirolactone.
FOr years I thoght it was normal for my pony tail to get smaller, for my hair to have to be cut shorter for it to look less messy, finally after ten years I noticed bald spots at my temples, I tried a varioety of drugs in a really bad panic and have been diagnosed with Androgen genetic alopecia caused by pcos hormones. it devestatd my lifem for five years I wanted to die, I eventually went on anti depressents, found a hair replacement salon and am now just starting to pick up where i left off although a big chunk of my life and part of my soul died
So glad that things are looking up for you in terms of being able to cope with the situation.
That's what I'm so afraid of - that this is because of PCOS, not because of my spiro directly. But when I first brought it up, I said "I think my hair is thinning and I know that's a side effect of PCOS so I wanted to talk to you about it" and she started listing all the reasons it could be thinning (spiro, low iron, etc). She basically acknowledged that it could be a symptom of PCOS, but then talked more about other things that could be causing this. We scheduled an appointment for 6 months from now and she told me to come back earlier if I think it's getting worse.
Ugh...now EVERY hair that falls out is so stressful to me. I know it's normal for people to lose hair in the shower or while brushing, but I almost feel like I don't even know what "normal" used to be because I didn't care until I thought I was getting to a bad plac.e
__________________ Previously on Met, currently on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Spiro, and cinnamon
Definitely get your iron checked (make sure your doc checks your ferritin levels, not your blood iron levels--ferritin is a measure of your iron stores...you can have normal blood iron levels, but still be deficient if your stores are depleted). Also, have your vitamin D checked...many PCOSers (especially those of us in the PNW) have low vit D, which is essential for both hair growth and metabolic function.
After two years of treatment, my head now looks like a "normal" head, lol...while not as thick as it used to be, my bald spots are gone...I've had 2 rounds of perscription vit D (going on the third next week), been taking iron supps, and am on 200mg of spiro.
Definitely get your iron checked (make sure your doc checks your ferritin levels, not your blood iron levels--ferritin is a measure of your iron stores...you can have normal blood iron levels, but still be deficient if your stores are depleted). Also, have your vitamin D checked...many PCOSers (especially those of us in the PNW) have low vit D, which is essential for both hair growth and metabolic function.
After two years of treatment, my head now looks like a "normal" head, lol...while not as thick as it used to be, my bald spots are gone...I've had 2 rounds of perscription vit D (going on the third next week), been taking iron supps, and am on 200mg of spiro.
Thanks for responding! I asked her to check my iron levels but she said no, because "even if we find a deficiency, we won't know if that's the reason." I really should have pushed harder for that one. I *did* insist on a Vit. D test even though she thought it was a waste, and she found that I was a little below normal (exact numbers are in the mail, so I don't know exactly how low yet).
She also said it would be OK for me to double up on the iron I'm taking, and I'm thinking of seeing a derm too, to sort of get a second opinion and see how aggressively a derm would want to figure out the problem and solve it. I was kind of frustrated with my endo because she wants to "wait and see" but I don't want this to get worse!
__________________ Previously on Met, currently on Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Spiro, and cinnamon
Wow...one of the most common causes of hair loss in women is iron deficiency. And even if it's not the sole cause, it can definitely be a contributing factor. I would do some research (there are some links to articles on here) and bring articles with you to your next appt. Or find a new doc. Iron deficiency might not be a contributor in your case, but to rule it out without even testing seems strange to me.
Hair loss is a tricky thing and oftentimes there can be multiple contributing factors--for me, it was PCOS, plus iron and Vitamin D deficiencies. I started iron supplementation and spiro at the same time...within two weeks, my massive shedding had stopped, indicating that the shedding was caused by iron deficiency. My ferritin level when I started was at 14...it's recommended to be at 70 for hair regrowth.
Long story short, iron deficiency can and does cause and contribute to hair loss. I have to emphasize that you need to get your ferritin checked and not rely on the CBC.
Good luck!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ttara123
Thanks for responding! I asked her to check my iron levels but she said no, because "even if we find a deficiency, we won't know if that's the reason." I really should have pushed harder for that one. I *did* insist on a Vit. D test even though she thought it was a waste, and she found that I was a little below normal (exact numbers are in the mail, so I don't know exactly how low yet).
She also said it would be OK for me to double up on the iron I'm taking, and I'm thinking of seeing a derm too, to sort of get a second opinion and see how aggressively a derm would want to figure out the problem and solve it. I was kind of frustrated with my endo because she wants to "wait and see" but I don't want this to get worse!
hair loss - been on spiro 2 years though? 
