Question:
When do we stop losing hair??
I am 4 months out and down 77pds. I have been losing alot of hair lately. I am really getting worried I am going to go bald. Can someone please let me know how long we deal with the hair lose? I am getting really freaked out about it. I have long hair and my hair has always been my favorite part of me. And it is scarey I am losing it. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! — Mechegirl67 (posted on October 25, 2003)
October 25, 2003
I noticed that I was losing more hair than usual about a month ago. (I am
almost 3 months out.) At that time, I was in between protein shakes, and
was not meeting my protein needs. About 2 weeks ago, I found a protein
powder that I really liked, have been getting in 75+ grams of protein with
shakes and meals, and have just noticed that my hair loss is much less.
Might even say is has returned to normal-for-me. Are you getting in your
protein each day? Good luck on your continuted success!
— Rachel T.
October 25, 2003
Luckily, I have really thick curly hair. I began losing it drastically
around 3 months post op and it basically stopped at 5 months post op, to
the day. I estimated I lost about 1/3 of my hair (it was beginning to
kinda freak me out, too). Following the loss, my hair was super duper dry,
no moisture or protein at all. I used the Nioxin products which are
reportedly supposed to help encourage hair re-grow. Now, at 13 post op, my
hair is thicker and curlier than it has been in probably 15 years. What a
head of hair I have now. Hang in there, it will get better.
— Kimberly L. A.
October 25, 2003
My Dr. has a whole regement you go though for 12 to 18 mo. post op and
besides the UltraMeal, Perfict Protein, Mulitvitamins, Calcium , Vit B-12.
He also recommends taking Zinc (8-11 mg per day is the RDA. Higher doses
needed for deficiency for (skin, hair, nails). Also some may contain
Biotin, which may be helpful. Of course all are to be chewable. Also try
adding some fish for some fatty acids which may help hair loss. Hope this
helps. Kim
— Kim D.
October 25, 2003
I was freaking out myself! I started losing hair about 3.5 months out and
now I'm 5.5 months out and it has slowed but not not stopped entirely. I
am thankful I had a thick mane to start with or I would have been bald.
I've also been using nioxin products and I'm not sure they helped but made
my scalp feel better. My hair was also dull and lifeless until recently
when I got a cute cut. I've taken fish oil also in hopes of restoring some
of the lusture.
— Happy I.
October 25, 2003
A few weeks ago someone posted . . . about Nexus Vitatress a three part
system shampoo. rinse and vitamins (biotin). I was losing a lot of hair and
I was worried. The Vitatress is great . . . I am losing only slightly
now. I am 4.5 months out and it started a three months. The Vitatress is
great!! Michele RNY 6/6/03 88lbs
— Michele D.
October 25, 2003
I started losing hair at the end of my 2nd month. I'm just over 6 months
out now and still losing hair...but slower. I cut it shorter and I don't
mess with it a lot (no brushing, heating, curlers, etc.) I wash &
condition it, pick it and let it dry naturally. It's starting to look
healthier now. I can't wait till it stops falling out completely! I do
notice that I have some re-growth so maybe it's starting to turn around
now. I was also lucky that I had a lot of hair to begin with. Cutting it
shorter helped a whole lot! I wouldn't mess with the special shampoos,
etc. because I find that regardless of what you do, some people lose and
some people simply don't. I've always consumed more than enough protein
and it did not stop me from losing. For what it's worth, when I compare my
weight loss to my hair loss, I'll take the latter any day!!
— Amy A.
October 25, 2003
I also had the same problem. And like you, I also thought seriously that I
would go bald before the hairloss stopped. But I have good news and bad of
course. The good news is that, you won't go bald. At least I have never
heard of anyone going totally bald. However, the bad news is.... I tried
lots of different home remedies trying to stop or at least slow down the
loss. And to tell you the truth, I honestly never found anything that
helped. Not to say that there isn't anything out there that doesn't help.
I just never found it. You are welcome to read my profile on the subject
though. It does list everything I tried. I think that if you happen to be
one of those unlucky individuals that lose some of their hair during this
journey, then that's it. But again, it's only my opinion. Although that
didn't stop me from trying quite a few things, without success. I also had
long hair like you but cutting it really helped me (again, it's not for
everyone). Even though my hair continued to fall out, it
"appeared" like it slowed down, only because I didn't see as much
in the drain after my shower (I can imagine it was only because my hair was
shorter, so of course there was less hair). At any rate, it definately
helped with the anxiety of it all. I hope I didn't scare you too much or
step on anyones toes (I am always afraid of getting chewed out by other
posties). Which is why I stress that this is only my opinion, not the law.
HA HA! Don't worry, the hairlos WILL stop eventually, even though it seems
like it never will. Mine started in the 3rd or 4th month out I think. I
know it lasted more than a few months. But for me, it didn't last as long
as I had read which could be up to 12 months! I remember all I kept
telling myself is "you don't have enough hair to last one more month,
let alone 7 or 8 more!" A friend in my support group went through it
the same time I did. So we got to cry on one another's shoulder. Hang in
there! You will look back on it and laugh. Now that I am over a year out
I finally got the nerve to cut my hair pretty short. It was one of the
best things I could have done. I can't even tell you how much healthier it
looks now, even how it looked before the surgery! I hope that helps. If
you need a shoulder to cry on, just email. Hopefully I can give you that
light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck! :o)
— Laurel C.
October 25, 2003
3 mos. you'll get better, 6 mos. you'll see hairs growing, at 2 years you
won't notice. UNLESS you don't drink/get enough protien, then, it's your
own fault.
— sandieguy
October 25, 2003
I didn't lose a lot of hair but I know a lot of people do. It is caused
from a combination of reaction to anesthesia and the changes going on in
your body. It will stop when your body is getting the nutrients it needs.
My surgeon explains it as the hair being an organ, just like your heart but
in the "needs" department for nutrition, the hair and nails are
on the bottom of the totem pole. So, your hair and nails only get what's
leftover after the rest of your body gets its needs handled. If it helps
you any, my hair and nails are stronger and nicer than ever and I've had
three major surgeries since November 29, 2001 - the most recent being July
30 of this year. I am just starting to lose a little hair from that one
now.
— Patty_Butler
October 26, 2003
I am unhappy with how Sadie ended her letter. It is pretty well
established now (look through the Q&A log) that hair loss is the body's
response to the stress of surgery and very likely to the anesthetic
experience. IT IS NO ONE'S FAULT. Statements like that should not be part
of this Q&A list. - Deborah (open RNY 10/25/03, 226 start)
— Deborah M.
October 26, 2003
Sadie, is being a little harsh in her response to you, I am sorry if it has
hurt your feelings or has caused you undue worry.
It is very hard for a PO WLSer to get all of their protein in and I am one
of them, but take heart, it will grow back, mine has just started doing
that about a little over a month ago. I started loosing my hair at about 6
weeks because I am just one of those ppl that reacts to surgery and
anesthsia adversely. And my surgery was almost 4 1/2hrs long due to
adhesions so I got more than my fair share of anesthsia. Try to get as much
protein into you as possible to reverse the effects of the hair loss. Your
hair and nails are living protein and it needs protein to stay healthy. I
can see a big difference in my nails now that I have been able to get more
protein in me, they look healthier. Like you my hair is a very big part of
my self worth and the image that I have in my mind of how other ppl view
me. But what I did was try different hair styles to help hide the fact that
my hair was thinning out. I wear my hair short so it was easier for me to
style it. Research this site in the library for what others have used to
combat the hair loss and good luck.
— ChristineB
October 26, 2003
There aren't any medical studies that explain why we have hair loss. Since
it's a temporary condition, it porbably doesn't warrant the expense, or
interest, to conduct studies. The good news in that is that the loss is
temporary! There are lots of theories about why we lose hair, but since no
one really knows why it happens, no one can say what to do about it.
Reaction to anesthesia and lack of protein are the big assumptions (though
I didn't lose hair with other anesthesia I had, and I was always very
good--even at the beginning--about gettting adequate protein); my doc
recently suggested that low iron may play a part. My hair loss started at
2 1/2 months out, and slowed down considerably at six months. My hair was
thin to begin with, so the loss was noticeable. But, it did stop, and is
growing back. Just keep on getting in your protein, water and vitamins,
and it will take care of itself. Best wishes to you. (And, in defense of
Sandie, I don't believe she was saying the initial loss is the patient's
fault. She was simply pointing out that protein is very critical, and that
if you don't get it in long-term you will lose hair from that.)
— Vespa R.
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