Dramatic Hair Loss, Low Ferritin Help

[valt]

I am extremely stressed. I got diagnosed with Celiac in June. I was having hair loss. My ferritin was 21. My dermatologist told me to get it up to 40 or even better 70. I was on iron for three months. Got my ferritin retested and it was 20. It went down. I am still taking ferritin. Meanwhile my hair is pouring out of my head. I am literally waiting to take a shower one day and step out with no hair. I was asking to see if I could get an iron infusion but the rest of my iron studies (hemoglobin, etc) is normal and they won't do it.

I am thinking I am not absorbing nutrients. My doctor is going to do a stool test on me and a colonoscopy.

Has anyone experienced bad hair loss due to Celiac, malaborbstion, low ferritin????? If so, please tell me it stopped at some point. When did you start absorbing nutrients again?

I am really getting so depressed over this.

[TrillumHunter]

There might be a problem with your thyroid. Has anyone ever checked it? Hair thinning and loss is a symptom. If you search on this board there are others with iron/thyroid issues.

I've having iron infusions and they can't understand why mine has dramatically increased. I had a thyroid panel run last week and am awaiting the results. I've noticed some thinning in my hair lately as well.

Good luck!

[miles2go]

Oh, you poor thing. Yes, of course it grows back once you get everything back in balance. It didn't take terribly long, either and mine came back curly. I haven't been officially diagnosed with celiac, but have had most of the "classic" symptoms which include hair loss and iron deficiency anemia among them. My doc also ordered a colonoscopy as that can be a source of iron depletion, as well. Definitely get your thyroid checked and while you are at it, perhaps a bone density scan, too. In my case the thyroid wasn't the problem, so YMMV, but a big hug at any rate!

Margaret