Question:
Hair Loss??????

I am 13 weeks post op and I have begun to loose alot of hair. Does the hair loss get to the point that other people notices? I worry about loosing too much!    — Noreen M. (posted on August 17, 2003)

August 17, 2003
hi i had thinning of the hair pretty bad till about eight months out it started at about five months out and got to the point that you can tell. it has already begun to grow back i have two inch hairs all over my head. i thought i ate enough protein but my doctor told me thursday to start drinking a supplment. i already would have if i could find one i liked...yuck. kimberly open distal rny 11/12/02 -120lbs
   — kimberly T.

August 17, 2003
Just a tip on protein drinks -- the premixed Myoplex is the only one I've found that I can drink. It's not bad. Both the chocolate and vanilla are decent. I get them at Vitamin World. Without them, I'd be sunk on getting enough protein.
   — Pat D.

August 17, 2003
Hi Noreen, My hair is coming out in massive quantities at 4.5 mos out. I have seen people with RNY hair loss who look like they have been through chemo, but they are far few and far between. Everyone is different. From day one I stuck to the correct amount of protein, so while protein deficiency is one of the theories for hair loss, I am far from convinced it is the main reason. Zinc is another theory, but my Dr has us on extra zinc to address that theory, so I am not convinced that is the reason either. The last prominent theory is anethesia, I have had 8 major surgeries in the last 3 years, and none of them caused hairloss. Personally, my Doc and I agree that it may be hormonal. Weight loss throws various hormones out of whack. Even fat produces hormones like estrogen. Hang in there. One thing I have learned from this website, is that the hairloss does subside eventually and in most cases it grows back.
   — M B.

August 17, 2003
Noreen, I have lost huge quanities of hair for every surgery I have had. My hair has been falling out for two or three months and you can see at the support meeting how fine my hair is anyway. It is getting to the point where i actually have bald spots on the side. I know I was not getting enough protein but since mine has come out every time I have surgery, my doc thinks it is anesthesia related. You have a nice thick head of hair and I don't think you have to worry too much about yours being noticeable. Like I said, my hair is very fine to start with. One surgery I had several years ago, it got so thin I wore a wig for about a year. Am thinking about that now but it is just too darn hot. I don't buy the hormonal thing because I have been post menopausal for five years. I had my tonsils out and my hair even came out then. So, mine is anesthesia related I am sure.
   — Delores S.

August 17, 2003
I lost alot of hair. And yes, it did get to the point that other people noticed. However, I promise you it is only temporary and will grow back. Have faith!
   — David C.

August 17, 2003
HI - My hair is falling out (I'm almost 5 mos post op.) It began falling out a little over a month ago. Generally, I do fine with my protein intake, so it must be related to the anesthesia. Hair is also growing back in....unfortunately, it is coming in gray! So, the loss is temporary...and, for me, so is the gray!!!HHEHE!
   — teresa M.

August 18, 2003
I don't think I had a lot of hair loss, but my DH has! I keep telling him that as he loses weight the hairs will get closer together (tee-hee!) He is about 5 months out, and is doing pretty well at getting the protein in, so his hair should start to thicken up a bit soon. (I hope!)
   — koogy