HAIR WOES

My hair is not only falling out in fistfuls, the texture has also changed significantly. Even though I wa**** every morning, when it dries, it feels almost sticken, the way hair feels when it hasn't been washed in a couple of days. Anyone else notice not only hair loss but change in the way your hair looks and feels? Yuck. M.

Maureen, I've had to change shampoo and conditioner since surgery. I use the Garnier Fructis for fine hair. I've used real heavy shampoos with heavy conditioner for years to help with my permed hair. But since surgery those were way to much weight for my hair and didn't seem to rinse well. My hair is also coming out by the handfulls! According to Dr. Randall Lee, once it starts there's no stopping it. It must run it's cycle which in 100 days. Which I'm now believing. I've done everything I can come up with to stop it and nothing has worked. So I have another 30-45 days of this to go. One moderately good thing is going to come out of this. I've had enough hair for 3 people all my life, but baby fine and straight as a board. My "new" hair is more coarse and CURLY!! So if it stays this way, NO MORE PERMS for me!! Hope you find answers to your questions... Happy thoughts, Va 232/155/130 -77 pounds

Dear Maureen: My daughter had wls 2+ years ago. Her hair fell out, grew back lighter, coarser and frizzy. Hopefully by next year that frizzy stuff will be grown out and her hair will start coming back in normally. So far I have been lucky. Louise 231/154/150 down 77 with 4 to go

I had salmanella (?) 3 years ago and I had kidney failure because of my diabetes . I was in the hospital for 11 days and they called my family in the first day and said I was not going to make it. But I had about 40 faimly members and friends praying for me in the hall way and in the middle of the night I got better . Over the next year my finger nails came loose, my skin pealed off and my hair fell out . I had to wear a wig for a year. Then my hair came back darker and thicker than it had been in 20 years !! Well, it's got pretty thin in the last couple of months and I'm just praying it will come back this time, Judy

My texture has changed, too. It's more brittle, wiry-er, and I wonder if I'm turning grey (I'm 31). I have horrible roots but I'm afraid to get my hair highlighted - it might ALL decide to let go! I know eggs are good for pet fur, and for us, and my grandmother used to advocate mayonaisse in the hair for conditioning.... I have trouble with eggs but I may try to have them again. Can't do mayo in my hair though - not that desperate yet, Gran. Hoping it all comes back the way it used to be! Jen

Like VA, I've found that changing my hair products helps the appearance if not the falling out part. I've treated myself to some Kiehl's and they have a post-shampoo conditional for frizzy and problem hair that you can even put on your hair dry. My hair loooks waaaaay better than when I wasn't doing that, especially since the new stuff comes in short and it makes you frizzy. Since I never bothered with self-care much (of which getting fat was just one consequence****rtainly would never have used anything beyond shampoo and conditioner. Or even give much thought to WHICH shampoo and conditioner. I don't like a lot of the "styling" product, but this Kiehl's stuff makes your hair light and shiny and doesn't feel sticky. So, I say, pamper yourself since we can't stop this. Go to some high class beauty counter or shop and see what someone there can recommend. If possible, persuade them to give you samples (some fancy department stores, such as Neiman Marcus, have a lot of them) and then pick something you like. If you tell them your hair is falling out, most of them react quite sympathetically and want to help with samples, advice, and so on. Might as well get some fun out of it. Gano

Mine is coming out like your and VA's. I see a lot of baby hair- new growwth around my face. Mine feels strange too. I thought it was the new cut and trying differnt moose. The thing driving me nuts is having to wash daily. I got a short hair cut now so its quick to dry. Robin 247/167/130

Yup, hair loss by the handfuls here too, and also the frizz and curls!! I am so happy to hear this is normal. Will it come back? How long does it take? I will have to try changing my hair care products. But not knowing I did dye my hair,I have been going grey for the last couple of years and have been dying my hair regularly, never thought of not doing it post-op!! I will have to hold off for a bit. I was considering going short since the hairloss, does this seem to help? I love to wear my hair up and have 4 kids so very little time for styling. McKenzie Green Bay, WI