TSH and Hair thinning

[Chilegringa]

I had my thyroid removed in January because of papilary thyroid cancer and now am on replacement thyroid medication, Levotiroxina sodica 175 mcg which is still being regulated.  My TSH is 4.96 and since I was taking the medicine with breakfast instead of on an empty stomach, my surgeon suggested that I take it first thing in the morning for a month and get another test.  What should my TSH be?  Can foods or other things affect this?

Also, I find that my hair is getting thinner.  Is this related to my TSH?  Could the thinning be temporary or might it be more permanent?

Chilegringa

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

CORRECTION -- your target TSH with the history of papillary cancer is lower than usual -- for the first year, in low risk patients, it's 0.1-0.4 (give or take) then if there is not evidence of persistence/recurrence then 0.3-0.8 ----- hope that helps.  You may end up needing a higher dose, but first would follow your surgeon's good suggestion.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

TSH should be 0.5-2.5 -- but separating the med as suggested may help absorption which would make the current dose more effective and lower the TSH.  Thinning hair may be thyroid, may be something else -- see what happens when the TSH is optimized.

[Chilegringa]

Thank you so much for your advice.  Hopefully taking the medicine when it will have the optimum absorption will make the difference in the TSH..