Hair Loss/ Blood tests?

Forgot to mention the hair loss is really bad now. I got a short hair cut and wear it off my face. Bangs are impossible at this point. I was hoping my surgeon would do blood test to see what I am missing in my diet to cause this hair loss. He never request blood tests. Does yours? Robin 247/168/130

My PCP and I discussed blood test before surgery and I am getting them every 3 months through his office. I would rather be on top of any deficiencies before they become a big issue. Maybe talk to your PCP. As a matter of fact, I had blood work today and now waiting for the results.

Robin, I think hair loss is a given, I know I've heard that getting all your protein in is very important to do with hairloss. Even when I got all my protein in my hair still fell out in handfulls. It stoped falling out at about 5 1/2 months, I am almost six months out. Now I just have to wait for it to grow back. My doctor also recommended Zinc, in the pill form or Lasenger. Rhen

Hey Robin!! Here's a copy of an article that I found that explains our hair loss problems. Apparently once they start they have to run their course. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Excessive shedding occurring after gastric bypass surgery would be a typical example of a telogen effluvium. The name "telogen effluvium" explains the nature of the hair loss very well. All hair follicles in humans run through cycles of activity. During anagen, they produce hair fiber. During telogen, the follicles are dormant and there is no further growth. The hair shaft is shed at the end of the telogen phase. Effluvium is a Latin word that means "letting loose". So the term "telogen effluvium" describes hair follicles entering a dormant stage and shedding (letting loose) the hair shaft. Telogen effluvium forms of hair loss are generalized and diffuse over the scalp. Telogen effluvium is not normally a permanent form of hair loss. Eventually, the hair follicles recover and return to normal hair density usually within one year. In a normal, young, healthy individual up to 90% of hair follicles are in an a growing phase (anagen) and only 10% are in a telogen (resting) phase at any one moment in time. If your body experiences a systemic physiologic upset, such as a gastric bypass surgical procedure, many of the anagen hairs can be shifted into telogen. At the end of that telogen phase, which is typically about 100 days in length, those hairs will all shed. Rarely are more than 50% of the hairs of the scalp ever involved in a telogen effluvium. The severe shedding rarely lasts more than the length of the telogen phase, which is about 100 days. There is no treatment for telogen effluvium. Once the hair follicles entered the telogen phase, the hair shafts were destined to shed in 3 to 4 months and there is no way of preventing it from taking its natural course. However, you will be encouraged to know that the hair follicles have not been damaged and that all of the hair will grow back in. If you would like to read more about the phenomenon of telogen effluvium, please access the article at www .minoxidil.com/journal.htm#Telogen Richard Lee, M.D." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's not really good news...but at least I can stop beating myself up over the hair loss. Happy thoughts, Va 232/156/130 -76 pounds

I have not had any hair loss...got my hair cut really short in anticipation but my hairdresser says nope! nothing gone...just naturally fine and thin. I am having my 6 month blood work in September as a requirement from the surgeon's after care program. I am anxious to see the results. Sally 208/158/140

I just had my 6 month blood tests. I know they checked for calcium, B12 and Iron--maybe other things as well. I would request that they do so if your surgeon does not automatically do this. My surgeon insists that this be done at 6 then 12 months, and yearly for the rest of my life. He has seen too many patients come in from doctors that did not do this followup that were in terrible nutritional distress. By the way, I was fine on all of the tests! My hair is still falling out though. I am taking vitamins and doing the right things, but my stress load has been off the scales with my mother and brother so ill. I'm sure that is adding to the hair problem. I sure hope it is temporary. Just this week it seems to be slowing down a bit. Joy -63 lbs

My doc has blood tests at 3, 6 , 9, 12, 15 and 24 months post op. They test a bunch of stuff. At my 3 months I was a tad low on b-12 but that was it, and my hair started coming out in HUGE handfulls! I was expecting it but it still freaked me out! I am taking BIOTIN now at my dieticians suggestion and that seems to be helping, it has slowed down the ahir loss and my nails are growing very quickly! hang in there! Nicole 291/200/150???