Hair Question

Okay I need to know-----about hair loss. I should know this already but i have read so much that now I am overwhelmed....so all advise would be greatly appreciated. I am almost 4 months out...lap band. And now am starting to lose my hair. Now my sister who had GB was told it was protein loss...and she is a beautician, so she does know a little about hair. But when I went to the dietician a few weeks ago she told me it wasn't so much protein loss as it was stress (hubby got laid off and I don't work..but am looking for work). Okay well here is the truth of the matter....about a month out I ran out of the vitamins and was too busy to get them, and then of course hubby got laid off so then I couldn't get them. But I also am not getting the protein that I should thru food. As a matter of fact my food intake has been crappy --no bon bons or anything--but I had been eating bagels on the run (college full time---6 classes--no time to sit and eat) and my sleeping habits were bad there for awhile while studying for finals...bed at 2:30am---up again at 5:30am...ugh this went on for weeks. So has anyone else had this happen to them? Should I be worrying my brains out--yeah i might as well just shave my head then...lol. Since I saw the dietician a few weeks ago (and she will be at the Toms River Meeting on the 2nd) I have been carefully watching what I eat and have managed to get vitamins in almost everyday. I am bad on the water...I seem to only drink it on the run. I am trying to get in protein. I dragged out my juicer a little while ago and whipped up some veggie/fruit juice. So my question is I guess...do you think the loss is from lack of protein, or vitamins or both??? (I even cut my hair so it wasn't so long and heavy and be prone to falling out-that helped for awhile...but back to shedding again) So, what does everybody think???? Thanks for listening! Barb

Barb, I think you answered your own question! You listed a number of things you have not been doing consistently (vitamins, adequate protein intake, adequate hydration, adequate sleep, lots of stress with school and home situation) that you know you need to do. I'm pre-op, so maybe have no business responding to your question, but sometimes us newbies are closer to all the recommendations/advice of the health care providers. I experienced hair loss a few years ago due to health problems/medications and I understand how stressful and anxiety provoking it can be. I think you should view the hairloss as a sensor in your body....and try to take better care of yourself. I've read and was advised that hair changes are quite common, particularly in the first year. Make yourself a prioriy!!!!! Susan

Hi Susan, Thanks for getting me in check! (and of course you can answer at the pre-op stage....i am sure it is way more fresh in your mind than in mine...lol) I have been freaking out lately...yeah like that helps my hair...lol. I am even afraid to comb it at this point. Luckily I have semi-thick hair so its not so tragic yet. I got an iPod for Christmas, and have been walking whenever time allows (not much) but still something is better than nothing...so maybe that will help as well. Thanks again Susan! (I feel better) Take care, Barb

Definitely "yes" to answer your own question. Everyone is different. I have very fine hair and I was terrified I would be bald in the first six months. I kept up with the vitamins, diet, exercise, etc. My hair did get much thinner, but then when it started growing again it was actually thicker. Ask your sister about special thickening shampoo - that might help. Good luck on your journey ~Amy

While I don't want to minimize the stress of hair loss, I gotta tell ya.....wigs are fabulous these days. I mentioned that I had a pretty intense hair loss a few years ago from meds and I started to wear a Raquel Welch collection wig.....I'm a redhead and she makes amazing modern sexy and cute wigs.....and frankly, wearing one is much cheaper than the professional color treatments I was getting as my natural haircolor started to fade. I also have very fine and thin hair and I'm able to wear styles that my own hair would never allow. I get complements all the time on my hair and whenever it's a woman who has hair issues (chemo etc.) I'll tell them. During my consult for surgery, my coordinator complimented my hair and I told her it was a wig and I pulled it off to prove it. She was floored. On humid days when everybody else is frizzy .....my hair is great! Even though my hair returned to normal (still fine and thin as always), I've continued to wear the wig. Even on hot days (and I'm terrible in the heat) it's not bad. My african grey parrot Scooter has also said hello to my wig when it's not on me....though I dare not wear it in front of my ****atoo, as she attacks it thinking it's someone on my head!

My sis suggested wigs ---if it gets to that point. And I always thought---yikes too hot. I remember playing with my cousins wig...dark brown so cute--and I remember it being hot. Good to know about the Raquel Welch collection, thank you! Too funny about your birds...I love birds. I can't have any because I have three dogs, 2 cats, and a hamster. One more pet would put me over the edge. I came close to getting a Green Conure once-my husband even fell in love with it, but I couldn't do it because I am sure my cats would never "speak" to me again. I remember when we got the calico cat "Crissy" we went on vacation shortly after getting her. My sister came everyday on her way to work to feed everyone. But Crissy got mad and moved in with my neighbors (they were calling her Princess-we laughed she is a huge calico-and truth be known..Crissy is short for Crisco because she is ..you know, fat ...LOL) Anyway, she finally came home-my sister got her back. And when we came back she wouldn't talk to me for 2 weeks. LOL. That was years ago and she talks to me again...ugh constantly. Ha Ha i can see her from where I am sitting right now, she is in the kitchen with my son "talking" . Thanks for your posts, I love reading them! Take care!

Hi Barb For me... I was alone at first after my surgery and I drank protein drinks ... whey protein powder with skim milk... for the first five months and had NO problem with hair loss. I then was counseled on how to get protein from food, and made the switch. During the transition from mainly protein drinks to food.... I was not all that successful at first and my protein levels flucuated quite a bit... and I lost hair. As soon as I consistently got the protein EVERY day again.. it stopped. Drinking lots of water and the vitamins are also very important but I never wavered on those items... for ME.. it was the lack of protein or the changing protein levels that tripped up my system and caused me to lose hair. It sounds like you have a handle on what you should properly be doing... if you do it consistently your hair loss should stop : ) Good luck Timmy Ray

Hi Barb, I started losing my hair at 8 weeks out and it didn't stop until about the 8th month. It is a combination of the anesthesia, lack of fat and lack of protein. Now let's add not hydrating your body enough and it's a prescription for hair loss. The hair is going to fall out. What you need to do is speed the hair growing process and try and maintain healthy hair. One of the OH members on the PA board had posted a while back a ****tail that is given to Chemo patients. Since it is so expensive, someone said to just get all (or as many as possible) of the vitamins that make it up and start taking them. That is what I did. I take: 3000mcg of biotin (we are repairing not maintaining), folic acid, Vitamin E, Zinc and B6. I am happy to say that my hair has all grown back and it is very healthy. Good Luck, Loretta

I want to thank everyone for their greatly appreciated advice! I went out and bought more vitamins and am actually taking them...lol. I bought Biotin 1000 mg or mcg..I forget the measurement. I will up my intake on them I read today that there is no damage if you get too much...so yay! I have also made sure I am getting more protein in my diet...I was severely slacking. I have started tracking (again) everything I eat in FitDay.com. So I am closely monitoring everything now. The hair is still falling out but not in the scary amount it had been. Now I just have to add water back into my diet ....and exercise! I walk when I can, but with school, I haven't done it for exercise as much. I walk to Wawa for the paper....and then I am booking it across campus all day but no real mileage put in just yet. But I have the iPod all ready...if the snow would go away (hate walking in slippery snow) I'd be all set. Thanks again, I am so glad I posted! I was embarrassed at first (or in denial-not sure which) but I am so glad I decided to to it anyway. Should have done it earlier!!! Take care, Barb

Barb: I've had the same problem with my hair. The docs weren't sure if it was due to the surgery or my lupus. I'm guessing if you had the problem too, it is due to the surgery. Are you going to the meeting Friday night? Donna C.