Hair Loss, please help! :'(

Can you please give me advice on hair loss? I had long, curly, THICK hair before surgery. It would be nothing to have a ponytail that was two inches thick! Now, sadly... my ponytail is not even a half inch thick. I'm going to have to cut my hair soon just to look decent. I had the surgery in June, 2005. I am trying different proteins, hate them all. There is one bar that slim fast makes that I can eat, but only has ten grams of protein. Any suggestions? I need help desperately!!! The past two weeks, I'm losing handfuls daily. Even my eyelashes are gone! Thanks for any help you can offer. Stephanie

I suspect that if you haven't been getting in enough protein all this time, the damage is done & nothing you do will stop the loss. The good news is you won't lose all of it & it will grow back. Hair loss usually is caused by not getting in enough protein but also it is a result of just having surgery. Some people lose it & some lucky ones don't lose any. Do attempt to get in the amount of protein you are supposed to be getting. For most of us 60 grams is the minimum. More is better. Hair loss is only one problem due to lack of protein. There are worse. I couldn't stand to drink protein shakes either as they made me feel really sick so I figured out how to make one that I could drink. I use flavored soy milk & add soy protein powder to make it 30 grams of protein. I add a banana for a different flavor to the chocolate soy milk & some berries to the vanilla. I even add instant coffee to make a mocha flavored drink. Actually you are far enough out that you can easily get your protein by eating normal foods. Do you eat eggs (8 grams per egg), Tuna (7 grams per ounce), cheese (approximately 6 g per ounce), chicken (7 grams per ounce), ground beef (8 grams per ounce) or refried beans (8 grams per half cup.)? It may be difficult at times, but you should be able to do it. Good luck. I know it is hard at times and the hair loss can be very frustrating especially since it sounds lik you had a beautiful head of hair before. It will grow back & it is such a small price to pay to be healthy & slim. Dixie

Stephanie, I had major hair loss. I lost hair by the handfulls. I went in and had them cut 10 inches off. I took vitamins, i got special hair shampoo you name it i did it. I was told it wasn't do to the protein because i was getting more then enough of it. it was from being put under, all the medicines i was on, every surgeries i had after having my gastric bypass surgery. It finally stopped i didnt go bald like i thought i was going to be. like i said i took hair vitamins, and shampooes. Lynda

Hi Stephanie...sorry that you are losing your hair! I would of said more protien but Dixie already covered that! I was afraid of the same before surgery so I cut my hair before(less to maintain,it was down to my waist) my surgery, so for the first time in my life i have short hair ...and I love it!!!Wish I would have done it sooner but it sooo goes with the new bod!! Good Luck and keep in touch Lori 287/209/140