Falling to peices

So my biggest feared side effect is now affecting me... tremendously. My hair is falling out in big clumps. I just took a shower, and by the time I was done I had a huge hand-full. I know I'm being vain OK, that the benefits of the surgery and the weight loss are whats important... but for so long my hair has been a huge part of me. Even when I was 430 pounds, and felt like I didn't have a face anymore, at my downest and ugliest, I still had my hair. I took pride on how long it was getting and the fact that everyone would comment on  how pretty it was, even when it was curly (which I hated, yet people were always saying how they wished they had natural curls like mine). I loved how it looked when I used the strait iron to make it strait, and it would fall to the middle of my back. It made me feel pretty, even on my worst days. And now, along with the pounds, my hair is dropping away. And I am helpless to stop it. Some people say to take biotin, but my doctor says that helps with the new hair, not to hold on to the old. Ive been told that after your hair grows back, alot of times it is a complete different texture too. If my hair gets any coarser or curlier I'll be little orphan Annie by the time it stops.  I'm not kidding either. My hair is all ready naturally thin. Very thin. So I'm pretty sure I will have huge bald spots, and I'm really scared. I GET MARRIED IN FIVE MONTHS! I am so scared I'm going to be a bald bride... I know this may not seem like anything to alot of people, and I know I'm whining and I'm sorry. I just don't have anyone who understands to talk to, and I'm really down right now.
Jen

i am totally scared of this too...i have thin hair and dont want to lose it..anyways i heard that taking biotin helps with regrowth..good luck

anesthesia from any surgery will often cause hair loss. it doesn't all fall out or leave bald spots. it is usually temporary.some will be growing in as that falls out you will eventually notice a bunch of new short hair coming in which will take time to get longer. Good lucj and hang in there. Be sure to eat well and get all your vitamins in. lack of vitamins will cause you more trouble in the long run than this temporary loss.

My hair is falling out like mad right now too. It is VERY Scary.. Especially since it was my best asset (I think) pre-op. I always got compliments on how pretty my hair is (just like you). My hair is very curly. But I just had it cut right at ear length.. it was a very hard desicion, but one I think well made. It looks good, healthy and not so straggly any more. I'm taking the biotin for regrowth.

I hope your hair doesn't fall out too much before your wedding. I can just imagine how stressful that maybe. You might have to invest in a wig. There are some really good ones out there. Good luck and Happy New Year!

Where do you get biotin? Is it a prescription, or do you get it at the drug store? If so, what is the dosage you all are taking? And thanks for the replys. Im glad to know im not so alone in my fears. Happy new year!

Don't feel bad for being afraid of losing your hair...it's completely natural.  I feel exactly the same way you do but i'm pre-op and my hair is already falling out in clumps due to PCOS so I know I'm going to be close to bald after the surgery shed.  All I can say is cry if you have to but then try to realize it IS temporary and it will come back, maybe even healthier than before.  Absolute worst case scenario, for your wedding day you can get falls, which are hair pieces made out of real hair and they clip in and give body and cover up any thinning.  Put in right no one will ever know they are there and you can even add extensions that make your hair as long as you want for your wedding.  How do you think movie stars change hair styles all the time?  Most of them wear pieces to every party they go to for added fullness, length etc.  

Hope this helped a tiny bit.

-Jennifer

I too am worried about hair loss. I have very thick hair, so I may luck out and not really notice the loss of hair..( well I will, but others may not).  I can totally understand how you feel about your hair.  I too feel my hair is my best asset, and too lose that, then you will feel as though you have nothing, because yes, the weight is coming off, but you are still not where you want to be ( well me anyways, I am only 3 weeks out).  I get compliments about my hair all the time, and that's the only compliment I get usually.  Sure, I hear, you are pretty, but when you don't think you are pretty, then those compliments don't mean much. 

I hope I don't lose too much hair, and I hope that for you as well.  Good luck, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding, I am sure you will be beautiful.  :)

Dear Jen,
Your hair does not define who you are. It is what is in your heart that will shine forth on your wedding day, as I'm sure it does every other day. Keep reminding yourself about why you had this surgery in the first place. Remind yourself that your hair will come back stronger than ever, maybe even better than ever. Even if the texture is different and not what you want, it doesn't have to stay that way forever. Plus, there are so many hair care products out there and people who are very knowledgeable and will be happy to help you.
Worrying and fretting over your hair, while understandable, will not serve you well, for it will usher in other physical and emotional issues. Decide what positive thought you can use to replace each negative one. Make 3x5 cards with those sayings, and use them over and over.
Prepare for your wedding by shopping for the best place to get your hair done. Get a weave! Why not! Add some bling jewelry, and you're going to knock your fiance's socks off! You are beautiful, and love will shine on you and through you on your wedding day. Nothing else will matter.
Blessings,
Mary

I bought cheap biotin at Target - it's in any drugstore with the vitamins/suppliments.  I started losing a lot of hair at about 8-9 months and it's just now getting better at 11 months.  Good luck!

I feel for you. I have not had surgery yet but this is also the thing that scares me badly. I have always thought of my hair as one of my best features (it is VERY thick, straight, healthy and glossy) I actually chopped it all off as I started the researching process to kind of help me deal with the possibility that I will lose some hair when I do have my surgery. My hair was down to my butt in July and in September I cut it SHORT! Hopefully you will find that it all comes back and that it is beautiful. Good luck I hope it all works out fine.