Hair loss - Is it a given?

The dreaded shedding of large amounts of hair has begun. Four months and one week post surgery, lots and lots of hair is coming out. I brush my hair. Strands all over. I comb my hair, locks falling to the floor. I look in the shower, and realize my hair is darker when it's wet, because I see a lot by my feet. Yikes. Is there anything that can slow or stop it, or do I acquiesce and just let it happen as it will?

Not a thing you can do. You aren't doing anything wrong and no pills or potions can slow or stop it. The most you can do is take your vitamins and get your protein in so it isn't worse that it needs to be, but beyond that it's not within your control. A very lucky few will not notice an uptick in shedding, but that's like winning the lottery.

I'm 7 months out and my shedding is slowing (still more that I wi**** was) and I have new 1/2" hairs all over.

I must be one of the lucky few, because I am four months out with no hair loss issues. Of course I make sure my vitamins have biotin in them, which is supposed to help.

Wait. Don't be surprised when you look down in the shower and it looks like you're standing on a rug in a couple of weeks. When I was shedding, it looked like I was showering with Chewbacca!

Jen

Is that when you gave up and started showering with the actual Chewbaca?

Don't tell my husband. It was a lot of work sneaking that hairy ******* in and out of the house!

Jen

Biotin does not prevent or slow hair loss-- that's a myth. Google "telogen effluvium."

Hair loss seems to strike at some point between four and seven months post-op. So unfortunately, there's no promise that you'll escape it.

Well that's disappointing. Now I will be watching my shower drain nervously (haha). I did finally google it and found that there is really nothing that helps. Thanks for the info!

It is totally normal, though not everyone experiences it. I am 9 months post op and lost hair for several months, but it is growing back in nice and healthy now. I just kept up with my protein and vitamins and got regular trims and now have new hairs popping up all over. Maybe try a new short hair cut?

Fortunately my hair is short anyhow. But I hate that it is dropping everywhere. Oh well, I knew it could happen... and that it will likely grow back....