Getting tests done, need advice

I'm determined to find out what is causing this shed that i have been experiencing, so I am going in to have some tests done this week. There is 0 history of BPB in my family. My great grandfathers on both sides had their hair, my grandpa has his hair still at 80, my dad (some recession but has plenty of hair), uncles and male cousinse all still have their hair. With that said, what should i be looking for? I am going to get my thyroid checked, but what else should I have them look for? DHT levels? any advice would be appreciated.

I actually just got tested today from Quest Diagnostics, this was my list:
Total Testosterone (#15983)
Estradiol (4021) Sensitive; (Male 13-54 pg/mL)
SHBG
Prolactin
DHEA-S
DHT
IGF-1
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy, LC/MS/MS - (17306X)
Ferritin
TSH
T3, Total (859X)
T4, Total (Thyroxine)
T3, Free
T4,Free
T3, Reverse (967X)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Lipid Panel

big mike wrote:I'm determined to find out what is causing this shed that i have been experiencing, so I am going in to have some tests done this week. There is 0 history of BPB in my family. My great grandfathers on both sides had their hair, my grandpa has his hair still at 80, my dad (some recession but has plenty of hair), uncles and male cousinse all still have their hair. With that said, what should i be looking for? I am going to get my thyroid checked, but what else should I have them look for? DHT levels? any advice would be appreciated.

Interesting story as I am in a similar situation, although I have done a few tests at this stage.

I went to see two docs/dermatologists a few years back:
1st told me it was due to stress and it will go away in a few weeks/months since my dad has all his hair (i.e. BS)
2nd told me that it was heriditary - when I mentionned that none of my cousins/dad/brother/grandads/granduncles/cousins 2nd/3rd/4th generation was bold, she mentionned it could be a "mix" between either side of the family's gene (i.e. BS)

I started to have a few checks done: hormones & blood pressure perfect, thyroid great, hair analysis = excellent results, cholesterol level & diabete also checked and I wouldn't call my life stressfull neither. However, that's probably where I would get started if I was you - blood pressure, hormone levels, thyroid, diabete, cholesterol and hair content analysis.

Moving forward I had in mind to check if it could be based on a particular allergy - and it might be of interest for yourself as well? I have an appointment with a doc specialised in this area, he will be testing 100 potential things from grains to pollen. I also looked at anything strange that as happened to me over the last few years and realised that:
- I tend to have spots and redness (also on legs) like a teenager after festive periods (food related allergies?)
- I have lost hair on front part of legs (either side)
- I tend to have itches at irregular times not only on scalp but also legs, hands; itching has seriously reduced since I started to cut diaries, grains and a few more things.

Hope this help - in any case I keep you updated on my analysis result.

Regards,

Vade

vade what is your thyroid results?
I never seen a person with a great thyroid. you need Free T3 at least.

thank you vade and blackjack!

Blackjack, I shouldn't have used the word "great" for thyroid... I cannot remember the details to tell you the truth, this was well over a year ago.

However, a few months back I checked the basal temperature the morning (3 days on a row). First time I did not leave it long enough and got it lower than "normal thyroid" range of values - then leaving it for 10 minutes (that's a challenge for me, always need to go to the toilets 1st thing in the morning ) I had it in the accepted range - around 36.6-36.7 celcius.

If you can find it, id be interesting in seeing all your results if you wouldnt mind posting.

I like to view as many results as possible online.

Also 2 very valuable tests i like are Spectracell
and Rheins 24hr Urine
both are of great value.

I'll try to find them - at the time I did not worry too much about those tests, since I was given the "green light" by the doc, and later tried successfully the basal temp.

I will have a look at the Spectracell and Rheins 24hr Urine test - not sure I can get these in Europe?

I think there only available in the states.

Blackjack - what did you find from these tests for yourself?

THanks

blackjack wrote:Also 2 very valuable tests i like are Spectracell
and Rheins 24hr Urine
both are of great value.

Spectracell finds mineral and vitamin deficiencies.
and Rheins tell you what your hormones are you doing over a 24hr period..
most insurances cover them
both tests are about 200$ each

Was interested in what you found out from the tests - did it reveal anything for you?

yes it revealed a bunch of mineral deficiencies.
low thyroid
low testosterone
low dhea
low cortisol
low Growth Hormone

i have fixed or increased 80% of the above. im still not there yet but slowly getting there.

The hormonal profile you can get from the regular serum test as well, may be the mechanism is different or the test is more/less accurate than the regular serum tests.

What did you find in the mineral defficiencies? Does this test intra-cellular levels of these minerals or the serum?

Thanks

blackjack wrote:yes it revealed a bunch of mineral deficiencies.
low thyroid
low testosterone
low dhea
low cortisol
low Growth Hormone

i have fixed or increased 80% of the above. im still not there yet but slowly getting there.

For hormonal its best todo Serum blood and usually to follow up with a 24hr urine ...
Spectracell is intracellular not serum
i was very low in zinc, copper and magnesium, also b12 was a bit low.