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What Causes Severe Hair Loss, Weight Gain And Back Pain In Thyroid Patient?

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Posted on Wed, 8 Jun 2016
Question: I am 49 years old, recently I've gain a lot of weight, my normal weight is 110 and I'm now 125. I've been on hormone replacement therapy since 2008, have thyroid issues that were adjusted last year. In the last 6 months my hair has been falling out, I fall asleep at my desk constantly and I've gained a lot of weight w/o changing my diet (no sugar, low carbs, no sweets). Been to my gyno and he said my blood is fine and my GP did extra testing to see if I had iron problems and everything checks out within range. They keep telling me I'm getting old and I know it is something else. I also take 1/2 hydrocodone for chronic back pain from a birth defect prior to going to bed. Is there any other doctor I can see? Now they are saying I might have apnea and I'm getting tested next week but I'm not sure this is the answer. I just would like someone to tell me something other than I'm getting old.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Manisha Jain (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Tibolone advised

Detailed Answer:
Hello Mam, thanks for trusting health care magic.
I understand your health problem and anxiety about it.
In my opinion you need to change your hormone replacement therapy.
It is common to have weight gain in patients in hormones especially those who are already overweight.
So in my opinion instead of hormone replacement you take Tibolone tablet which does the same job but is good for you as it causes minimal weight gain and helps in preventing bone loss related to ageing.
All the best
Regards
Dr Manisha Jain
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Manisha Jain (10 hours later)
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX
I've been on the same dosage since 2008 and have never had this type of weight gain while using them. Is it possible my body has become use to them or there is some type of change in my body that since I've been taking them for so long? I was very thin the entire time I've been taking them and now I'm gaining weight and am sleepy and my hair is falling out a lot. I'm on progesterone and another pill that goes with it. What should I tell my doctor?

By the way, from what I understand Tibolone is not available in the USA so I cannot change. But please answer my questions above.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Manisha Jain (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Change the route of HRT

Detailed Answer:
The sleepiness is all because of the weight gain which causes air hunger at night and thus repeated waking up episodes (unrecognised by the patient mostly).
So the whole thing now comes to weight gain and the possible reason for that.
You discuss with your doctor the change of route of administration of hormone replacement therapy by using a patch of ring which will deliver the hormones locally and thus no systemic side effects.
Though your point is a little valid as you were not gaining weight in initial years but right now this is the only possible reason that is evident to me and my explanation for your point is that with the passage of age in general There is a tendency of the body to gain weight due to slowing of Basal metabolic Rate (BMR).
Let's see if had any positive effect along with walk and diet restriction.
All the best.

Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Manisha Jain

OBGYN

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5136 Questions

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What Causes Severe Hair Loss, Weight Gain And Back Pain In Thyroid Patient?

Brief Answer: Tibolone advised Detailed Answer: Hello Mam, thanks for trusting health care magic. I understand your health problem and anxiety about it. In my opinion you need to change your hormone replacement therapy. It is common to have weight gain in patients in hormones especially those who are already overweight. So in my opinion instead of hormone replacement you take Tibolone tablet which does the same job but is good for you as it causes minimal weight gain and helps in preventing bone loss related to ageing. All the best Regards Dr Manisha Jain