Any Help With Hair Loss?

Hi everyone! Y'all are so wonderful with your helpful information at this site, and always make me feel better. I need help with a problem I'm having: hair loss. I'm 27, almost 5 months post-op. I've lost 87 pounds so far (why the quick weight loss? I had a stricture that made my opening less than 1/2 the size it was supposed to be. I've since had it dilated with an EGD). Other than needing an EGD, I've been doing great and feeling great. But I have been losing my hair at a terrible rate. I know that this is a possible side effect, but I'm wondering if anyone out there who has had this problem found any solutions that helped them. Does Rogaine help at all? What about trimming your hair? My hair is just below my shoulders, and I have by no means thick hair, so losing so much hair when I bru**** or curl it is starting to worry me. Has this happened to anyone else out there, and if so, any words of wisdom you can pass on? (I'm not ready to wear a wig yet!!!) Thanks so much for your help!!! PS: I'm taking my vitamins as required... trying to get enough protein in, but sometimes I don't make the minimum intake recommended by my surgeon.

Hi Anne! Congratulations on the weight loss! Keep it going! Although I'm pre-op, the Nutritionist in my Gastric Bypass Life Skills class says that lack of protein causes hair loss. She suggests speaking to a Nutritionist if you're having a hair loss problem becuase you may need more protein than you think you do. Hope things get better!

Hi Anne: I had my surgery 6-16-04 and was warned that might be loss of hair until about 6 months and then it will come back. I was also told to take Biotin, it is in the vitamins we take but it was suggested to take extra and also use of Rogain might be helpful. You might want to talk to your surgeon or nutritionist about the biotin I know you can buy it over the counter, it is not a prescription. Congratulations on your great weight loss. Dorothy Smith

Also Graham Webb has protein rich hair line called "Halo" that I am told will be helpful. (I am still pre-op)

Ann, I also experienced hair loss due to lack of protein in my early months because of not being able to keep much down for the first 16 weeks post op and being lactose intolerant. Not that I would recommend a really short hair do but that is what I did to slow the hair falling out process down and give my hair a chance to grow in healthy again. I also noticed dulling of my once shiny hair. My hair is still falling out some but not like it was a couple of months ago. I am 9 months post op on Sept 2, 2004. I like my new short do and you can't tell that I have lost any of my hair due to health reasons. Take care and concentrate on your protein daily. (sugery date 12/2/04)

Anne, My guess is you're probably taking a Flintstones chewable vitamin everyday, right? Switch to Vista Vitamins. (www.vistavitamins.com) They were develepod for gastric bypass patients only by a doctor & nutritionist. I'm only 4 weeks post-op but have been on the vista vitamins, other WLS patients swear by them. Good Luck! Kris