Is anyone experiencing hair loss?

Hi Everyone! I'm just curious to find out if anyone is having any hair loss these days? I had my surgery on May 8,2006 and I'm starting to have hair loss, I'm thankful that I have alot of hair however, it really freaks me out. I'm wondering how long this hair loss goes on for and when does it come back????? Jeni

Here are all my reply's from my recent post...Original Post by Doreen M at 10:08 AM PST on 09/16/2006 Londonderry, NH - RNY (05/22/2006) Okay 58 pound lost since 5-22-06 Recently I have been loosing alot of my hair. Very worried. My doctor thinks it's from not enough water. Any ideas ??worried about my self estem. Here is what my Doc says.... Response from Jeff Waldrop at 10:18 AM PST on 09/16/2006 Westlake, LA - RNY (05/01/2006) - Adam Naaman, M.D. First of all, Congrats, Doreen on your loss of 58 lbs. That has to make you feel great! The hair loss is normal and it is a result of reduced protien intake. I was told that it does and will most definetly stabilize and return. My procedure was May 1, 2006 and I am thinning out (the hair) quite a bit. Women are affected by the hair loss more so than men, but I went bought some "volumizing" shampoo. I am down 112 lbs so losing a little hair is the least of my worries!! Hope you continue to do well! Jeff W. Waldrop RE: Here is what my Doc says.... Response from Doreen M at 11:13 AM PST on 09/16/2006 Londonderry, NH - RNY (05/22/2006) Thanks, congrats on your loss. I'm sure I'll be fine. and good luck Doreen RE: Response from Suzette G at 4:32 PM PST on 09/16/2006 Ronkonkoma, NY - Collin Brathwaite, M.D. Hi Doreen. I had my surgery on the same day as you and just recently have noticed a lot of hair loss too. Every morning I have to clean the floor in the bathroom of stray hairs after brushing. I am only brushing when I blowdry now to help keep them in I also heard that its caused by the decrease in protein and will level off in a few weeks. Take Care, Suzette- RE: Response from Rick Bedard at 4:57 AM PST on 09/17/2006 League City, TX - RNY (05/08/2006) - Thirumalairaj Jayakumar M.D. The hair loss is relatively common and is caused by a medical condition called Telogen Effluvium. It's due to the stress from surgery and occurs in other types of surgery as well. It's only temporary and falls out due to the effect the trauma of surgery and anesthesia has on the normal growth cycle of our hair. Take a look at the article found at http://www.emedicine.com/DERM/topic416.htm It explains this condition in detail and will relieve a lot of your worries. RE: Response from Diana Porter at 5:55 AM PST on 09/17/2006 Raeford, NC - RNY (05/04/2006) - C. Kenneth Mitchell, Jr. Hi! My doc says that if you don't get enough protien in that it will cause your hair to fall out. I have several friends who have been through that as well. Up your protien intake. It will take some time to notice a change though. My doc says what ever you eat today (protien wise) will affect you three months from now. Good luck! Diana RE: Response from Alisa P. at 8:49 AM PST on 09/17/2006 Atlanta, GA - RNY (05/15/2006) Hi Doreen, I've heard also that not enough protein will cause hair loss/thinning. Some say no matter how much protein you take in, you're still going to have at least some hair loss. I have been experiencing hair loss for the past month or so now. Luckily, I had a lot of hair to begin with, but I'm still watching it with some alarm, especially since my wedding is next month (yikes). My hair stylist will have a fit if I go to him the day before the wedding and I've lost tons of my hair! So I've been trying to drink lots of liquids, keep upping my protein, and I'm thinking about getting a shampoo that thickens and promotes hair growth (my stylist recommended one, but I don't remember the name - when I get it, I'll share). Alisa RE: RE: Response from Doreen M at 6:44 PM PST on 09/17/2006 Londonderry, NH - RNY (05/22/2006) Hey congrats on your wedding. Good luck with your hair. I thought maybe we could collect what we llose and make a wig togeter. LMAO. I bought a wedding gown off ebay it's beatiful. I've decided I can marry my soul mate after I fit in my new size 8 gown. Hope it's not wishful thinking. I'm a 12 now. DOREEN RE: Response from Megan Smith at 9:21 AM PST on 09/17/2006 Glen Burnie, MD - RNY (05/11/2006) Doreen - I'm with you on this one. I have "Bragged" for the past 4 months about how I'm not losing my hair when I should have stayed shut the heck up. Over the past couple of weeks I've noticed SO much hair loss it's crazy. Thank goodness I have a head full of thick hair. I'm still very concerend though. I too have heard over and over about it being lack of protien. I'm here to tell you that's BS. I eat between 60-100g protien a day. RE: Response from Danielle Hofmann at 12:56 PM PST on 09/17/2006 Perry Hall, MD - RNY (05/22/2006) Congrats on the weight loss. I had surgery the same day and I am down 56 pounds! And yes my hair is starting to fall out. I've always had dry, damaged hair, but this is awful. I am right there with ya! RE: Response from Darlene W at 4:16 PM PST on 09/17/2006 Grove City, OH - RNY (05/01/2006) I'm right with ya sister. Let me know if you hear of a good place to buy wigs. ha ha Dar RE: Response from Kathryn M at 6:17 PM PST on 09/17/2006 in the Suburbs, MI - RNY (05/01/2006) - John Webber M. D. Add me to the list.....I have baby fine hair to begin with, so Im taking it hard with each strand that falls to the ground. I am just trying to remind myself that the weight loss is the critical loss and the hair will grow back. Keep up your good work! Kathryn RE: RE: Response from Doreen M at 6:36 PM PST on 09/17/2006 Londonderry, NH - RNY (05/22/2006) Thanks everyone for all the support. I freak out when i wash and then brush my hair. I feel like I'm being over dramatic but it really is dramatic. God bless you all and thanks so much for the support. Makes me feel like I'm not alone. Wish you all lived closr by so we could talk more. Doreen RE: RE: Response from Doreen M at 9:29 PM PST on 09/17/2006 Londonderry, NH - RNY (05/22/2006) Thanks, I have been thinking all the same things as you. I try to keep looking at the pro's especially since the con's are so few. Thanks Doreen

My hair is coming out in chunks... I had super thick hair before surgery so atleast I wont go bald (i think)... I get all of my water, protein and vitamins in... I am pretty sure this is common..I know several other people that have had wls and also experienced it. Not sure if this helps or not but atleast you know your not alone!

I also am losing hair by the hand full. I believe it stops around 6- 8 months out and I have heard a lot of people shopping for wigs. My profile shows my hair loss. I'm not at the wig poing but I have very thin hair to start with so maybe a short cut will be in my near future. Good Luck. Debbie

mine is coming out in GOBS... it is worse in the shower when it is wet. I just plug up the drain, I think I am going to have to get some kind of wire mesh to save my drain.

I started to lose my hair also. My Hair is very thin, so I cut it short just below my ears. and that helped a little bit.

Hi Jeni, Per my other reply - it's coming out in handfulls. Thank god I have long thick head full of hair - although with the way it's coming out I'm not sure how long that's going to last. I too am very good about protien, water and vitamins.

Hi, I had surgery on May 31st and I'm losing hair too. I know it is common but it is still alarming!!!!Luckily I have thick hair but I still wonder when it will stop. Paula

I've noticed for about 1 1/2 weeks that i've been losing some hair (especially in the shower). This has been tough for me because my hair was one thing about me (physically) that I like pre-op. Luckily my uncle is a hair stylist and we're gonna get me a cute style. I'm gonna try to wait until I hit -100 pounds. With my naturally curly hair it's always been the same basic cut: shoulder length or longer and curly. We've added hi-lights before and cut in layers before but thats about as drastic as i've been. Soooo hopefully I'll be able to wait out the next 28 pounds so we can do a new do!

Hi Jennifer I too am losing hair!!!Not in chunks but I will find strands here & there(more than normal for me as I have had hair loss for years due to Hypothyroidism & b12 deficiency). I had researched this & know that some of it is due to anesthesia and some due to malabsorption. What I learned was to up the protein & grin & bear it. One of my close friends had surgery 4 yrs ago & I watched her beautiful thick hair get really very thin(scarey) one day she came to work & was rubbing her scalp & said feel this (it was new growth). So this gives me hope it will come back- as my hair was already very thin & fine. I had my hair highlighted last Saturday 9-09-06 & my hair dresser suggested Nixon shampoo & treatment-I had researched this but had forgotten about Nixon so I will be getting to the nearest Sallys to buy me some this week. Also we can take Biotin for hair,nails & skin(you can get this at Wal-mart its very inexpensive). Hope this helps!!!& know you are not alone. ~Missy~