Going bald :(

I accepted that hair loss is unavoidable when I had the surgery. I just didn't realize how badly I would lose the hair. It didn't help that I have had three doses of anesthesia in four months (I had a stricture they had to stretch twice). However, I have been getting in my protein (at least 70 grams a day) and I am taking B12 shot, multivitimin, calcium, extra biotin, zinc and iron AND I have been using Nioxin treatment. I have lost over 1/2 my hair - mostly in the last 1 1/2 months. My hairdresser saw me today for a conditioning treatment (I'm now going once a week for deep conditioning) and she was shocked at the difference since last week. Has anyone else been having "Extreme" hair loss? Anyone considering buying a wig? I know the hair will come back and it is a small price to pay for a new lease on life, but I'm getting sad about it. I used to have hair to my waist that was full, soft and thick (everyone loved my hair) and I cut it two weeks ago to try to minimize the appearance of hair loss and it is just so thin and there are multiple bald spots along the hairline from ear to ear.

Please read this from the Texas board!! I too am losing my hair like you are but there is hope for the future!! 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 http://www.minoxidil.com/journal.htm#Telogen Richard Lee, M.D." Good luck!! I too had a stritcure scoped twice. Sharon

Wow! So there is hope. I swear I feel like all my hair is going but I guess I have to go with the flow. I am still taking all measures possible, maybe it will help the new growth come in strong. Thanks again for all the information!

Well I know where your coming from. I have been losing a bunch of hair from not very long after my surgery. I comes out weather i'm in the shower, running fingers through dry hair what ever. It is on everything, in my car, my clothing, on my family. It seem's to show up everywhere. I try so hard not to think about it because I have always only liked 2 things about myself, my hair and the color of my eye's. I cut my hair right before surgery because I was aware that I could have some hair loss and I wanted to make it easier on myself. I have major thinning on the top of my head, if I looked I would see plenty of bald spots but I try not to look. If it get's to the point where people start saying things or asking me if I am sick I will seriously think of buying a wig or what ever else I can do to not look like I am going bald. I hear it comes back so that's what I am holding on to. Shannon

I was nervous of the possible hair loss especially since it runs in my family and my hair is already thin and balding in areas...however it hasn't been that severe - to the point of wearing a wig. Thank GOD.

I can't remember where I got the paper from, but it was either the nutritionist or the surgeon...it was recommended that I take Biotin if hair loss became a problem for me. I started with the hair loss right around the end of 2004 and immediately went and bought the Biotin. My hair loss is just now slowing down. My sister had the surgery about 8 weeks after me and she started on Biotin right away without waiting for the hair loss to start. Good luck to you!

im right here with you!! Have lost atleast 1/2 my hair and yes i get in all the dietary requirments!! Yuck i hate it but i just try to think positive ((((())))

Wow! I am not alone...I have been losing handfulls for over a month and have lost over 1/2 of my hair. I had 3 surgeries in 3 days I had major complications... (I am sure that did not help). I am taking everything and doing everything I can it is really bad. I keep thinking about what one woman told me (she was 2 years out and experience with her 5th bout of hairloss. Is this normal ? I am upset to go through it now, will I go through it agian and agian? Brenda, Bradenton, Fla.