Question:
16 mos post-op, STILL LOSING HAIR!!!

Are there any long-term post-ops out there that had hair loss this long??? I started to have hair loss at approx 5 mos post, then it finally subsided at around 9 mos post. Now it is back and more than ever! I literally have about 1/3 of the hair I had originally and really am getting scared. I believe I am done losing - haven't lost anything in about a month. My protein levels are 60-80 and I take my supplements, drink my water, work out 4 times a week. Help!    — Kimberly P. (posted on September 13, 2004)

September 13, 2004
please take biotin. after 2 months you will see new growth. i still have some loss, but not as bad and lots of fuzzy new growth. kinda looks like a soft fro comin up. i take extreme biotin 1500mcg made by rexall. i got it at wal-mart. good luck
   — dawngal

September 13, 2004
Kimberly, I was still losing hair at 10 months out and was kind of panicky because I have very thin, fine hair. I doubled the Biotin I was taking, switched to pre-natal vitamins, and started using the Nioxin bio-nutrients cleanser and scalp therapy and the cyto-nutrients leave in treatment. Several folks in the medical field told me that the pre-natal vitamins were the most complete vitamin you could get and I knew that pregnant women always look gorgeous! Now, one month later, I have tons of new hair coming in. It's very soft and fine and curly but it is really thickening up. The Nioxin stuff is kind of expensive but boy has it proven worthwhile for me. I have more hair already than I've had since I had thyroid disease in the early 90s. I also have very nice finger nails and I haven't had nails that would grow out nicely EVER in my whole life.
   — scbabe

September 13, 2004
Kimberly, Please call your doctor. My personal advise is eat your protein first with every meal. Make sure you take all your vitamins: multi, iron, calcium, and any other your docotr has told you to take. Protein is what makes your hair and nails grow. I had the surgery in 1998 and went from 243/130 in 9 months. I still have some hair lose daily this is normal. When I had the surgery we were never told about protein drinks, in my opinion they do not give you the proper protein to sustain your hair and nails. I have not used proptein drinks and I mantain a protein level of 6.5 the reference range is 6.0-8.3. My point is there is no replacement for animal protein, try it and you will see your hair & nails grow and your hair will be shiny. Good luck, Shana
   — shana1569

September 13, 2004
Call your Doctors Office and ask them to call in to your Pharmcy a Prescription of "Vitaplex Plus" I have been taking these since 4 months out due to my hair falling out! it really never got to bad, only because right after my surgery my Doctor told me that when I got to this stage her would order me the Vitamins and it would stop it right away. Boy he was right,in fact I'm 1yr. out now and my hair dresser say's my hair is thicker now then before my surgery! anyway this Vita Plex Plus really works. If you need any more info email me at ([email protected]) Best of luck to you, Jeri
   — Jeri L.

September 14, 2004
I know what you are talking about girl. i am 18 months out and still losing hair. In fact, I have a couple of bald spots in my temples. I sometimes take offense when people say, eat all your protein, take all your vits and etc. believe me, I have done all this and spent a fortune of hair products and etc. My surgeon says the only people that benefit from all that are the people that sell it. He also said it will come back. I do have some regrowth that is gray and curly. But if you are doing all you know to do, don't let people make you think you are doing something wrong. Some people swear that some of the products work for them but in acutallity, there is nothing we can do and most docs will tell you that. Now the vitaplex vit that the first poster mentioned, might work. Sounds like it does and might be worth a try but I have spent a small fortune of things like that and nothing has helped me and I eat my protein faithfully. It's just a wait and see thing. Sorry I can't encourage you more but we are among the small number that don't get over it in five or six months.
   — Delores S.

September 14, 2004
I'm only 9 months out but i was losing hair then started eating protein bars and it helped alot...Its pretty much stopped now. I ran out and hair started falling out again. Might try that i use nitro-tech and meso-tech bars from gnc they have 35 grams of protein in them.
   — Kris C.

September 14, 2004
3 year post op, had same problem........it was iron! Nothing to do with protein. Maybe check iron levels???
   — Phiddy B.

September 15, 2004
Look beyond WLS now. I'm a protein supplement user but that does not guarantee a lifetime of perfection. Check thyroid (again) and hormones, too. Pretend you never had surgery or nutritonal issues and tackle it from that angle. Sometimes even WE cannot see the forest for the trees.
   — vitalady