I could lose my hair???!!!

A new co-worker at my office is 5 years post-surgery and she still looks great.  But she said even though she took her supplements and protein and water and did everything right, her biggest complication is that she lost big handfulls of hair for weeks after surgery.  I don't have enough hair to lose!  Is this normal?  Anyone else have this problem???

PS:  She said she finally corrected the problem with Biotin(?) and Ovation Hair therapy, but since she already had super thick, strong hair it wasn't that big of a deal for her.  I know if I lose a lot of hair it ain't ever comin' back!  Help!

Yes, it's normal.  It's called telogen effluvium.  I doubt your coworker corrected it with biotin, unless her hair loss was caused by a  biotin deficiency, something that is extremely rare.   Biotin does not correct telogen effluvium, but telogen effluvium is only a temporary thing.  So it would have corrected itself even if she hadn't taken biotin.

It would be pretty unusual if your hair didn't ever come back.

Thanks, Poet... I googled telogen effluvium and got some great information.  I'm reading that it can be fully reversible, which is such a relief.  I have very thin hair and it's getting thinner every year.  Just a simple trim off the ends takes months and months to grow back.  (It runs in my family.)  So, I can't afford to lose much.  Do you, or anyone know anything I can do before surgery to reduce this phenomenon? 

Thanks again.  (PS:  Still awaiting insurance approval for surgery - I'm at least 6 months or more away at this point, but very determined.) 

There's nothing you can really do to prevent telogen effluvium.

Now, some nutritional deficiencies can also cause hair loss, so make sure prior to and after surgery you get plenty of protein and take your vitamins, including B12 and iron.  Some docs suggest not taking iron until your labs show you are deficient, but I think that's just silly.  And the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery says we should start taking iron as soon as we're discharged from the hospital after WLS.

Many people actually end up with better/healthier hair after a while because we generally take plenty of vitamins and that's good for your hair.

Totally normal, and totally survivable. If your hair is already thin you may notice it a bit more than other folks. Mine started falling out at about three and a half months and is just starting to slow down now at almost five months out.

There's nothing you can do to stop it. Keeping up your protein, supplements and fluids will keep it from becoming worse, but it won't keep it from happening at all if it happens to you. Keep in mind that not everyone experiences it, and it can vary in seriousness between people. If you have concerns you may want to look into wigs to get you through the worst of it, or consider a stylish super short cut (a la Jamie Lee Curtis) to help. An honest consultation with your hairstylist may give you some other ideas.

Honestly, with how I'm feeling now and the results I've had from surgery, if they'd told me I would become completely bald for a while I would have been ok with that. The trade off is worth it!

Good luck!

Wow, great to know, Pam, thanks!  I guess I can hope to be one of those that won't experience it, I'm glad to know it doesn't just automatically happen to everyone.  And I think you're right - who's gonna notice my hair when all those pounds are melting away, right???    (Besides... I look great in hats!)

Hats! Now there you go!

Ok, maybe something a little less...dramatic. But I like the way you're thinking!

LOL!  Love that red hat!!!  But yes, maybe something a little less conspicuous. 

I lost all of my hair while I was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.  Believe me, not worth wasting one bit of energy worrying about it.

My hair falling out is my hubby's biggest fear for me. He asks me every nite if I took all my vitamins and has already started looking for loose hairs in the bathroom. I just had surgery 4/25 so I told him his fears are a bit premature. Lol