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What Causes Severe Hair Loss, Anorexia, Insomnia, Facial Hair And Dyspnea?
Question: I'm 52 female with severe hair loss, loss of appetite, facial hair, insomnia and shortness of breath
Brief Answer:
Possible endocrine problem or anemia.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
How long have each of your symptoms been going on?
Thyroid disease, drop in female hormones due to menopause, and anemia can cause some of these things.
Thyroid problems can cause hair loss, loss of appetite, and insomnia.
Anemia can cause hair loss and sometimes insomnia. It can cause shortness of breath too.
A decrease in female hormones with the normally occurring male hormones (androgens) becoming dominant can cause hair loss, facial hair, and acne. I don't think it would cause shortness of breath.
Other hormonal causes such as too much cortisol can cause hair loss, facial hair, and insomnia.
I am not sure how the shores of breath ties in except with anemia, or if you are very overweight. How long for the shortness of breath and how severe is it?
More information to follow after I hear back from you. Thanks.
Possible endocrine problem or anemia.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
How long have each of your symptoms been going on?
Thyroid disease, drop in female hormones due to menopause, and anemia can cause some of these things.
Thyroid problems can cause hair loss, loss of appetite, and insomnia.
Anemia can cause hair loss and sometimes insomnia. It can cause shortness of breath too.
A decrease in female hormones with the normally occurring male hormones (androgens) becoming dominant can cause hair loss, facial hair, and acne. I don't think it would cause shortness of breath.
Other hormonal causes such as too much cortisol can cause hair loss, facial hair, and insomnia.
I am not sure how the shores of breath ties in except with anemia, or if you are very overweight. How long for the shortness of breath and how severe is it?
More information to follow after I hear back from you. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The shortness of breath is more like pounding heart, hard to catch breath, like from adrenaline which causes big problems with trying to fall asleep, nervousness or even a frightened feeling
Ive also had some uncontrollable crying
Ive also had some uncontrollable crying
Brief Answer:
Information below:
Detailed Answer:
Well depression and anxiety can cause insomnia and loss of appetite and the shortness of breath.
But if you have no underlying feeling of worry, it probably is a good idea to see if there is a hormonal basis for the anxiety/depression.
I suggest the following tests to start:
CBC (to check for anemia)
TSH and T3 or free T4, or both (to check for thyroid disease)
8 am cortisol and ACTH (to check for adrenal excess)
Total testosterone, DHEAS, 17 -hydroxyprogesterone (to check for androgen excess)
If these tests are normal, it's possible that you are suffering from anxiety and depression without a medical cause, although that would not explain the hair loss on the head, and growth on the face. So do consider asking your doctor for these tests.
Are you taking any medications or supplements? I want to make sure I am not missing something there that could be causing your symptoms.
Information below:
Detailed Answer:
Well depression and anxiety can cause insomnia and loss of appetite and the shortness of breath.
But if you have no underlying feeling of worry, it probably is a good idea to see if there is a hormonal basis for the anxiety/depression.
I suggest the following tests to start:
CBC (to check for anemia)
TSH and T3 or free T4, or both (to check for thyroid disease)
8 am cortisol and ACTH (to check for adrenal excess)
Total testosterone, DHEAS, 17 -hydroxyprogesterone (to check for androgen excess)
If these tests are normal, it's possible that you are suffering from anxiety and depression without a medical cause, although that would not explain the hair loss on the head, and growth on the face. So do consider asking your doctor for these tests.
Are you taking any medications or supplements? I want to make sure I am not missing something there that could be causing your symptoms.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I am a chronic pain sufferer and on time released morphine , 90mg per day, for last three years. Was on reg narcotics for 12 yrs before that. They just changed my premarin that i have been on for ten yrs sice hysterectomy. Medicare changed it to estradiol 1 mg, but the hair loss has been happening way longer than the two weeks ibe been on the new hormone as well as 12 straight days of migraines. Imalso take naproxen and omneprazol and have recently added several natural things to try and make me better. The hair loss is so great im almost afraid to be seen and the loss of appetite reminds me of my mother inlaw who was dieing of lung cancer.
Im afraid that i may have thyroid cancer of lung cancer. Im just plain afraid! I havent. Been well and its taking a toll on my physical looks, you can see it. I want to kmow how to stop the hair loss mediately.
Im afraid that i may have thyroid cancer of lung cancer. Im just plain afraid! I havent. Been well and its taking a toll on my physical looks, you can see it. I want to kmow how to stop the hair loss mediately.
Brief Answer:
Some thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
First I'll say that I really do not think your symptoms sound at all like you have cancer. These are not typical cancer symptoms. The appetite loss can go with cancer of course, but only in the very latest stages, and by then there are more obvious symptoms.
Hormone replacement therapy can cause hair loss in some people.
It might help to treat the anxiety while you are being evaluated for any underlying medical problems. For short term anxiety, a benzodiazepine such as lorazepam can help but can be somewhat sedating. If you have had anxiety for awhile, an SSRI such as Lexapro can help. You can use both in the first couple weeks while waiting for the Lexapro to kick in.
But also go to your doctor for these blood tests, and if the hair loss is that profound, make an appointment asap with a dermatologist.
I hope this helps and that you are doing better soon!
Some thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
First I'll say that I really do not think your symptoms sound at all like you have cancer. These are not typical cancer symptoms. The appetite loss can go with cancer of course, but only in the very latest stages, and by then there are more obvious symptoms.
Hormone replacement therapy can cause hair loss in some people.
It might help to treat the anxiety while you are being evaluated for any underlying medical problems. For short term anxiety, a benzodiazepine such as lorazepam can help but can be somewhat sedating. If you have had anxiety for awhile, an SSRI such as Lexapro can help. You can use both in the first couple weeks while waiting for the Lexapro to kick in.
But also go to your doctor for these blood tests, and if the hair loss is that profound, make an appointment asap with a dermatologist.
I hope this helps and that you are doing better soon!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Your welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Please let me know how you are doing after you have lab tests done, if you are willing.
Have a good night,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Your welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Please let me know how you are doing after you have lab tests done, if you are willing.
Have a good night,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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