Help, my hair!

I don't have much time to post here( Job, Husband, and 2 year old). I read alot of post and find them extreamly helpful, and inspiring. I'm still a newbie. Anyway, my hair is falling out in clumps. I had my three month check-up recently and my bloodwork was excellent. Protein levels and vitamin levels couldn't be better.  They said it would taper off soon. I'm just afraid it won't be soon enough. Does anyone have any suggestions!! I've started taking Biotin(1000mg) supplements, and the protein powder I use has Biotin in it as well. Has anyone used Nioxin? Please help. Any advice would be appreciated. Karla

Karla -

I hope that this will be some consolation ... You are in the midst of the worst of the hair loss. There honestly isn't a lot that can be done to stop it, with the exception of ensuring that you are getting in your protien. The worst of the loss normally occurs somewhere in the 2.5 to 4.5 month range and starts improving from there on out. There is some thought that Biotin might help, but it hasn't been proven. It's thought that the massive hair loss is due to post-surgical stress on the body, reactions to anesthesia and of course our diminished intake as a result of the surgery.

My personal experience has been that I started noticing some hair loss at about 2.5 3 months, but it became ALARMING at about3.5 -4.5 months. I'm about 6.5 months out now and the loss has slowed to a trickle. I'm looking forward to the regrowth that should start soon.

According to my Dr's and my hairdresser, the Nioxin (and she sells it) is not likely to do much because this loss is most likely due to short term trauma. She said she'd sell it to me, but she hasn't seen much difference between her clients who use it and those who don't re: rate/speed of regrowth. I decided to save my $$.

Sooooo.... the good news is that it probably will start to taper off soon. Sooner than you think. I know it's scary, but it will get better.

All the best,

Barb

Everyone is told that you lose hair because you need more protein but my anesthesiologist told me that anesthesia will cause hair loss about 3-4 months out of surgery because it numbs or shocks the hair follicles (just like it does other cells) and that when the hair grows out to the point of the "shock" damage, it will fall out. I had lots of hair loss (but I had a lot of hair ) and it lasted about 2-3 months and then stopped.

I am at my 3.5 mark and I will tell you that when I shower my hands look like someone glued furr on them there is so much hair. When I dry it, there is hair all over me and the floor. I've taken to sweeping the bathroom every other day to get all the hair up (scary amount). I've had to buy a SUPER bottle of draino to keep by my bathtub.  But my Surgeon warned me about this prior to. Also, I was a hairdresser for many years. In Texas we took a biology and chemestry class without ours.  Your hair grows in cycles. It varies but the average is 3 months.  Anestisia is causing some of the hair loss, but because of the dormancy cycles, you are just now experiencing it. Some people it hits a little sooner. Right after surgery you aren't going to get in your protein since you are on primarily liquids at the hospital.  Add the trauma of the surgery and post surgery dietary changes it doesn't help as Barb stated.  The effects of what you eat now - the results you will see roughly 2-3 months from now.   

Ladies, although this will not stop the hair loss right now... trust me this to shall pass, I lost so much hair during that part of my journey. After a few weeks it will stop falling out and re grow.  Up do's help me cover the loss....  It is worth the hair loss to have the weight loss :) Take care :)

Biotin is made to help NEW hair... nioxin is really made to help you get a healthy scalp and help new hair as well... both are good products to use to get that hair looking great and the new hair growing in healthy and strong. As for the hair falling out... since it appears you are great on everything else - you really just have to wait it out!  :-)

I am right there with you.  It is getting alarming.  My hairdresser just keeps telling me to wait it out.  I take 5000 units of Biotin everyday and I also take Vitamin D3.  I have noticed a big change in my nails which were a mess even before surgery.  My hair dresser tells me she sees signs of new growth.  We have colored my hair a little lighter and cut it shorter to cover the hair loss.  I also only shampoo my hair twice a week and use the blow dryer only briefly.  I have switched to a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner that my hairdresser gave me as a "I'm proud of you present."

Hi Karla.  I had significant hair loss from 3-5 months out.  You are in the worst of it at the moment, it will get better.  What Cagair said is true, what you are experiencing is the trauma from surgery and the first few weeks afterwards.  If you continue to get your protein and vitamins in, it will get better.  I used Nioxin, actually I still do occasionally.  I just couldn't bear to throw away 80 dollars worth of shampoo and conditioner.  I didn't find it to be overly helpful in stopping the fallout, but it does help with scalp and hair health in general.  I also take Biotin, 5000mg daily.  In addition to that I take a hair skin and nails vitamin Calcium, and D3 which are also helpful for hair.  (That's not all I take, just what's relevant to this discussion.)  I do see healthier hair, skin, and nails because of this.  What my hair dresser told me was that part of this was fallout, but part of it was breakage.  She said that I needed a restructuring conditioner and to limit manipulating it when it was wet.  She also said to wa**** every other day and limit the heat I used on it.  All of those things contributed to much healthier hair which stopped some of the breakage. At about 5-6 months out, you'll notice it will have returned to near normal.  In the meantime, do what you can to be kind to your hair.  Really, all you can do is wait it out. Take care. Ellen

Thanks everybody. Your support is so wonderful and greatly appreciated. I noticed none of you guys are bald in your avatars, so there is hope for me yet. Luckly my hair was thick to begin with, but I can really tell the difference. I'm a little over 4 months out, so hopefully this is the worst of it. I told my husband that I should start saving it to make a wig. The bright side, most skinny chicks don't look so bad bald.

Hey Karla~  I am sorry you are loosing hair.  *says a prayer and crosses fingers*  I have not lost an usual amount of hair YET.  I am religious about my Biotin and according to my hairstylist.. it looks like I have MORE hair.  Go figure.   I cannot offer advice, except for taking your Biotin and vitamins and getting in your protien.  :)  I just wanted to offer some moral support and say that I hope it ends soon!!!