Hair Nightmare...

I am almost 14 months post op, have been vigilant about taking my vitamins and supplements, but have consistently lost hair since month 3 post op.  At this point, I literally chopped off about 90% of my hair length yesterday because I have hardly anything but short wispy new growth...no volume... and I am NOT a person who should wear short hair (with my long face, nose, and ears that stick out.)  Normally, I have fine thin blond hair... I have been taking biotin for the last month and am not convinced that I am done losing hair yet. 

I currently shoot for about 1400 calories a day, and have been since July (having had a myriad of health issues from my body not tolerating 500 - 800 calories well).  My labs are great but I take Synthroid every day for hypothyroidism (which may be part of my hair problem).  The last few days I have had some tummy issues so that I only got about 700 calories each day. 

I am 4.5 pounds away from my goal but I am not really even trying to lose anymore.  Weight had stabilized overall but I lost a half pound this week.   I am so depressed about having to chop my hair that I am shopping for wigs and cute hats today.  Anybody else keep losing hair a long time, even when your weight stabilized?

Is your thyroid being checked regularly? The only other time in my life that I lost this much hair was when they figured out that I had hypothyroidism. My thyroid went Hyper right after surgery and I ended up going of my Levothyroxine in November, but my PCP is still checking it every 3 months.

I just wonder if your thryoid is all wacked out because of the weight loss and maybe your meds need to be changed.

I'm not a nurse or in the medical profession, but I'd have my thyroid checked. You might need to do it more often than normal because of the weight loss.

Sorry you are still losing hair. I hope it stops really soon.

Yeah, I am getting thyroid checked about every 3 months.  They upped my dose once but it's stabilized too..

so sad b/c I have a hyppo thyroid ...  my hair is growing back sprouts every where   annoying but happy its coming back..thin none the less ... hang in there Im sure it will correct itself!!

It's growing back but it's fine baby hair and I shed a lot (I am constantly being "groomed" by my family - they tell me "you are shedding again" and proceed to pick off all the hair from my shirt...lol)

I found a couple of cute hats on ebay (they were cheap) and am thinking how short I need to go before letting it all grow back out.  It feels better short but looks hideous on me...hence the hats...

Thanks for your support! :)

My wife is on Synthroid because of Graves disease and she has been for years.  Her hair falls out by the handful.  Every day the shower drain is full of hair.  Her thyroid levels are stable and in the proper level, but the hair loss continues.  She has not had WLS or any other medical condition.  Hopefully, you can figure it out.

I got diagnosed with the hypothyroidism in the process of getting my weight loss surgery.  I had to delay my surgery for about 4 months because of the diagnosis so the docs could get it under control.  I think maybe I haven't realy processed that part of the equation...  I know about that shower drain thing...yep...lots of hair in the drain...

Hope your wife is doing okay.  No one really gets the bone tired one can feel with thyroid issues.

This doesn't sound like hair loss from WLS. Hair loss from WLS is due to shock - surgery + extreme calorie reduction = hair loss.

When your calories remain under 800 per day, you can continue to have "shedding" (I'm having that still) but it's not as extreme. Generally that 3-5 month period you lose the big bulk that was shocked into a hybernation status, then it starts to regrow (I look like I stuck my tongue in a light socket, have all this curly short hair sticking out everwhere).

But at 14 months out with 1400 calories a day and good vitamins, I think thyroid is probably the culprit. If it was me, I would be talking to my doctor who specializes in that (endocrinologist?) and asking what you can do aside from the medications already prescribed.

As an added (you probalby tried this) I finally broke down and got Nioxin. If nothing else my hair is SUPER soft and feels great. But I am feeling more growth which makes me very happy. I too had to cut my hair.

Big hugs, you got the double whammy going there.

Most hair meds out there have to be continued for life or else it all falls out as soon as you stop taking the med.  I have thought about the Rogaine, etc.  but I think I am jst going to ride it out.

I strive for 1400 calories per day but don't always make it.   The last few days I think I have been back down in the 700-800 cal range but I am working on getting it back up.  I am pretty good about keeping my protein above 70 (minimum 60 and shooting for 80 plus.)

I had the "by the handful" hair loss experience from month 4 to about 9.  I am very familiar with the shedding monster.  My family is always saying to me "you are shedding again" as they pick off the fly away hair from my shirt.

Thanks for your support! :)  I read that 85% of our hair is supposed to be growing at any given time, while 15% is dormant...eventually falling out.  It feels like the ratio may be off for me and the rate of dormancy is higher.  I may see a dermatologist about it in the next couple of months but am giving the biotin another month.  It's such a big gap between our input/changes and actually seeing the result with hair stuff! ugh!

Me, me, me *raises hand*.  I wondered if I was the only one.  Since day one (well, not exactly day one but you know what I mean) I've taken in at least 60 grams/protein (normally much more) and all my vitamins.  My hair started falling out around three months post-op and has NOT stopped.  I have lost at least half my volume.  My hair has always been so thick and now.....not so much!  My hair also has broken off in places all over my head.  I do have a ton of regrowth and have to believe it will STOP soon.
~Jennifer

edit to add:  I'll be THIRTEEN MONTHS post-op tomorrow