Just call me Kojak

Happy 5 month anniversary to me...I just called Toni and all my bloodwork I had done before the holidays was GOOD, and my 6 month appt is Feb 4 with Dr. Boe!  I am down a smidge over 70 pounds and am fitting into size 14s now!  :-)

That said, I am officially balding.  I know it is temporary and will only last as long as I was protein deficient, but HOLY HELL.  It is falling out like mad and it is freaking me out a bit.  My fingernails are ok, as are my brows, eyelashes, etc., but my hair is literally creating a carpet in my bathtub and bathroom and my skin is really really really dry.

Someone on here, I remember, mentioned taking Vitamin E.  I already take Flintstones with Iron 2x a day, plus my B Complex sublingual and my Os-Cal 2 x a day.  How do I go about adding in Vitamin E?  Does anyone know?

Thanks for any input you may have!

We won't absorb E I don't think - it's an oil based vitamin and I believe that they are absorbed in the part of the intestine we don't have anymore. You can try Biotin supplements, Nioxxin shampoo but mostly just get in your protein and it will start coming back - mine started to slow around 7 months out and I swore I Was going to be bald prior to that...

Good luck and congrats on your great labs!

According to my long-time pharmacist...  there are 2 types of E vitamins - water soluble and non-water soluble.   The non-water soluble ones are the problems, but the water-soluble ones can be absorbed in the tiny pouch.  I'd suggest verifying this with yoru doc, but that's my understanding from my pharmacist.

Hope it helps!

karen

Congratulations on your 5 months of being a Loser's Bench member and doing a great job thusfar.

Losing hair is also tied into anesthesia.  Unfortunately, the hair loss it is part of what happens with a good many of us between 4 and 7 months, lasting up until 10 months to a year.  As someone else stated, some swear by biotin supplements, but I've heard it said that it makes hair grow everywhere. . .  so long as you are meeting your protein goals and taking your vitamins, it will eventually slow up and new hair will grow back.  I used the Nioxin shampoo and it helps make your hair look thicker.  My hair dresser told me at the time that to promote hair growth, gently massage your scalp for about 10 minutes per day.  I understand how scary it is, but it really does grow back.  As for the dry skin, are you getting in all your fluids, as well as we are having a very dry, cold spell and that along with heating, creates drier than usual skin.  Get a good body lotion and use liberally after your shower while pores are still open, as it does the most good at that time.  A humidifier would put moisture in the air in your home if it is heat related.  Good luck.

We are very close in our surgery dates - mine was July 15 with Dr. Pupkova. I had my 6 month checkup a little early, and was in today. I am at 77 lbs. lost! She was very pleased and my bloodwork looks good.

Now, about the hair. Yes. Mine is thinning like crazy. Truthfully, probably nobody else notices how much I am losing, except for me and my husband. I take 1000 mcg. of biotin daily and it has done wonders as far as stronger nails go! I also take 50 mg. of zinc daily. Dr. P. says both of these are okay, but I'm  not sure they are actually helping....but on the other hand, I won't stop, just in case the problem would be WORSE!

I agree about using a good dry skin lotion (I like Aveeno), but I think this hair thing is something we just have to ride out.

The vitamin E thing...Karen is right...and so is whoever talked about the other type of vitamin E.  If you're going to take it...it needs to be "dry"  Most capsules you find in drug stores/grocery stores etc are a liquid capsule...which is the fat soluable form of the vitamin which won't work, but will give you lovely oil slicked diarrhea if that's what you're looking for :)

I was told Biotin helped...and I had started taking it two weeks after surgery (LONG before my hair started falling out) and continued till about I think 5 or 6 mos...it did absolutely nothing for the hair on top of my head.  I did, however, need to shave approximately every 30 minutes or so to keep it off of my legs

It continued until I guess about 8 or 9 mos...and about that time I got tired of it and cut my hair short.  It seemed to stop right after that.  Both me and my hairdresser think that it was coming to an end, anyway, and by cutting my hair short (and adding some layers) I "thinned" out most of the dying/falling out stuff, so it wasn't there to fall out.  Basically - I'm not saying cutting my hair stopped the thinning...I just think it was good timing and cleaned it up nicely.

Hang in there....