I think I may end up bald....

I know that hair loss is to be expected but I am begining to wonder if I may end up bald. LOL I have been losing hair since day one and I will be six months out on the the 20th. I know I have lost about half of my hair volume. So has anyone actually ended up bald and does the hair ever start growing back in. I am going to start taking Biotin I have read that sometimes will help. and I remember reading something about certain shampoos but I can't remember what they were called. I did buy the Pantene full and thick and that doesn't seem to be helping at all. Just wondering if anyone has any other ideas. I am getting around 50 gm of protein each day, maybe I need to bump that up too. Thanks for all your replies. Have a wonderful day. Belinda

I don't think Biotin helps too much. But who knows.

Honestly, there isn't much you can do. And your hair will get better. And then later you may lose it again. I am actually in a "hair loss" mode right now. And I am 5 years out. It happens every so often and it stinks.

Sorry I am not any more help than that............

I'm losing my hair too.  I just got most of my hair cut off on Saturday.  Haven't had a short-ish "do" in a long time.  I thought that it might be more manageable to comb if it is short.  My long hair was thick and always full of tangles, which made my hair loss worse.  I still had a bunch come out this morning, so I guess it really doesn't matter. 

My Mom bought Biotin Shampoo & Conditioner by Mill Creek at her local health food store.  It's about $6.00 per bottle.  She swears by the stuff.  She had a bought with hair loss due to an illness and she said it works.  I tried it, but I haven't been consistent enough with it to see if it makes a difference.

Lisa

Scary thing I know. I am pre-op but am familiar with a product called Nioxin. Used to be sold exclusively in salons but you can now get it at Wal-Mart. Worth a shot.

I am in the same boat, Mine is coming out in handfuls now.   I have been taking biotin since my surgery,  I am about a month behind you.  I don't think it slowed the hair loss down but it is supposed to help it come back in quicker.  I am actually getting mine cut on Thursday, hoping that will help make it look better.  I don't know what to do exccept cry and pray that it will stopsoon.

Well, my hairdresser and friend who i've known and trusted for a VERY long time tells me that no shampoo other than Rogaine will influence how your hair grows in because those are internal processes.  He says the nutritional side of it is really the only way to influence it, and recommends high protein and biotin.  However, he also said that there's a genetic component to it and that no two people will react the same to the nutritional changes and to anesthesia (which is often the culprit).

That being said, your protein goal seems a little low to me.  My minimum for protein is 78g daily (Max of 110).  I'm 5'9".  Not sure exactly how it's calculated, but 50 just seems low, so maybe upping it a bit might help.  Also vitamins E and D help with skin and bones, so both would logically help with hair as well.

I've been keeping mine short, which does help to disguise the loss and probably also minimizes the loss as there isn't weight there pulling the poor hairs out of my head prematurely.  haha.

Hope this helps!

Karen

Mine didn't start coming out until I was almost 5 monthspost-op so I thought I'd be one of the lucky ones not to lose any, but alas it wasn't to be - mine came out most in the front - all around my face so I really noticed it - some people did and mentioned it (family mostly and my hairdresser) but I have always worn my hair short so I tried to work with it. It lasted a couple of months - I didn't go bald and it came back healthier and stronger than ever - and without biotin or nioxin or anything else.

In my case I think it was the combination of a much healthier diet than I've ever been on - I really kept track to get all my proteins in and my vitamins, and when I started beefing up my work-outs I also started adding GOOD carbs to my diet - I know its very easy to get hooked on carbs again (and I struggle with that from time to time) but you need carbs for energy and working out - if you don't have them your body will pull from your protein stores and that will also promote hair loss, brittle nails and dry skin (this isn't something I pulled out of my arse (LOL) - it actually came from the nutritionist I'd been seeing pre and post op).

So don't fret too much - I know how devastating it can be to watch it come out but it will come back and chances are nobody is noticing as much as you...

your protein goal is to low, it goes by your height, I am 5-4 and my goal is 72 gms per day.

you will not go bald. I lost quite a bit, I looked  like I was getting chemo, I use Biotin 5000mcg 2x a day and Biotin shampoo & Conditioner and my hair came back in.
 I just started using Rogaine again and my hair is thicker now then it ever was.
Actually what happens is your hair stops growing it stays in the sleeping phase longer then normal. Hair falls out every day we are always shedding but new hair is suppossed to come in.
Believe me it does come back I am the QUEEN of hair loss post-op, I loose my hair anytime I have surgery it is the stress on my body from the anesthesia.
even if you atart using Rogaine it takes 4 months to actually see the results.

My hair came back.....and is curly!!!!

I asked a friend of mine on chemo (who never went bald) what she used and she said her doc recommended Zinc and folic acid.  One keeps what you've got and the other encourages new growth.  So I tried that and saw a big decrease in hair loss after about 3 weeks of use.  Here's an article on the folic acid.  http://freeprovillusreview.com/67/how-folic-acid-can-help-in -hair-loss-prevention/

I believe it was 800 mcg I was taking.  I was taking 50mg of Zinc.  Here's an article on Hair Loss and Baldness.  http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedies/Hair/hair_loss-nutrit ion.htm