Question:
Do you continue to lose your hair through out ? Can a vitamin supplement protein?
I'm three months post-op and have lost 80 pounds. However, everytime I wash my hair, I find several strands in my hand each time. I'm lucky to have thick hair but I can really tell it is becoming thin. Other than protein, what can I do to prevent it? — June S. (posted on December 19, 2002)
December 18, 2002
I am still pre-op but was concerned about this issue because after having
my son my hair fell out by the gallons. I figured since it happened then it
would happen after surgery too so I made sure to discuss it at my consult.
The nutrionist, as well as the surgeon, both said that if you notice hair
loss to supplement with zinc and it will help with that problem. Don't know
if it's for sure and haven't talked to anyone that has tried it but it's
sure worth a try! What do you have to lose besides more hair?
— Dee ,.
December 18, 2002
I am have been having that problem as well. I have read a lot on the hair
loss and have heard many different suggestion on how to stop the hairloss.
I am now almost 5 months out and still have not found anything that works.
I have personally tried the zinc and have tried the biotin and have tried
the protein and nothing has worked yet. There are two other things I have
not tried yet but plan to and that is SKIN, HAIR AND NAILS vitamins and
also Nioxin shampoo. You are lucky to have had thick hair to begin with.
I already had fine thin hair to start so I am seriously worried. I know
the hairloss is temporary and that it does grow back. But I am worried as
to what I will do in the meantime. It's not to the point that I am looking
at wigs yet but I could see the need for one if the loss doesn't slow down
soon. I have also read that in some people the hairloss can last up to the
eleventh month! I know that at the rate mine is going, I definately won't
have enough to last that long! If you find something that works please let
me know. But I am really starting to believe one post I read. They said
that if you are going to be one of those unlucky people that loses your
hair, there isn't a darn thing you can do about it. Good luck!
— Laurel C.
December 18, 2002
Hi June! I had surgery 6/3/02 and my hairloss began about month four and
is just now slowing dramatically (just past the six month mark). There are
many theories as to why it happens: lack of protein, lack of zinc, or the
one I choose to believe.. that it's the bodies natural reaction to the
trauma of major surgery. I get 100 grams a day of protein, 120 ounces of
water, take my supplements faithfully and take a hair skin and nail
supplement (called MSM from Trader Joes). My lovely thick strawberry
blonde hair started to come out just a few strands at a time, and
progressed to giant hairballs each time I brushed after a wash. I took to
wearing it braided or in a ponytail always to keep from losing some just by
getting caught in a doorway or anywhere else. Though it never came out in
clumps, it was stil horrifying. My hair was my main vanity as a pre-op,
and I am so thankful I had a ton to begin with.. as I've lost about half of
it. Loss varies from person to person, I'm not telling you this to scare
you but just to share, that sometimes no matter what you do you just have
to let it happen, it will stop coming out and grow back too. I have photo
links to my profile that will show you my progression. Knowing it will
come back makes the loss a bit of a 'trade off'.. kind of like trading my
handful of prescription meds for a handful of supplements. It's a pain, but
in the end it's worth it. Best of luck, peace..
— Joscelin
December 18, 2002
I am almost 3 months out and have not lost any hair as of yet. About two
weeks before surgery, I began using the shampoo, Nioxin. I got it from my
hairdresser. I try to get in all my protein but I am not always
successful. I have lost 63 pounds.
— Susan H.
December 19, 2002
I am 5-1/2 months post-op and my hair loss began at nearly 3 months. I am
also fortunate to have thick hair but the thinning is noticeable. I've
learned to live with it. I have tried adding a protein shake, tried the
Hair, Skin & Nails vitamins and also the Nioxin shampoo &
conditioner....lots of money spent and wasted is how I see it now. I
believe those who say it really just has to run its course. Heavy
sigh...hopefully that course will be run real soon. My goal is to have new
hair growing by the time vacation rolls around in mid-February! Good Luck!
- Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -98lbs.
— Anna L.
December 19, 2002
ON THE HAIRLOSS SITUATION..ABOUT THE 5TH MONTH I STARTING LOOSING IN LARGE
QUANITYS..NOW I AM AT THE 10MN AND FINALLY SLOWED DOWN. I STARTED TAKING
LIQUID PROTIEN..AND MY VITIAMS..YOU NEED THE AMMO ACIDS A MAJOR FACTOR ON
LOOSING THE HAIR, ALSO YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND YOUR BODY IS GOING THRU A
HUGE SHOCK FOR LOOSING WEIGHT SO FAST..ITS A SHOCK AND FRUSTRATING BUT
RATHER HAVE THIN HAIR RIGHT NOW THEN THE 100LBS BACK I JUST LOST..GOOD LUCK
EVERYONE
— TAMMY B.
December 19, 2002
Sometimes nothing. I have thin hair so did everything I could to try and
prevent/reduce loss including lots of protein, biotin, nioxxin, hair skin
and nails complex, vitamin E, you name it. It still came out in handfuls,
but at 16 months out, it's back. I had to have a second surgery a couple
of months out so that probably didn't help.
— mom2jtx3
December 19, 2002
4-6 months. Pretty much a done deal. No, a vitamin can't replace protein.
Many take zinc, but it's connection is that it aids protein uptake. Zinc
alone doesn't do it. There is some zinc & some biotin & some flic
acid in your 2 multi vites. Protein is protein. You can anhance the fair
that comes back in with protein (supplement) NOW. It takes awhile. I use a
HSN products, too, never stopped, but I don't believe it is The Great
Answer. My hair's just better than it was pre-op.
— vitalady
December 19, 2002
Two things. First of all, I have read way too many posts from people who
did all the 'right' things, extra protein, zinc, biotin, Nioxin, etc. etc.
etc. and still lost their hair. I know there are people who will swear
that some particular one of those things stopped their hair loss 'in its
tracks', but IMHO, they just happened to start whatever miracle supplement,
mineral or whatever at about the same time they would have stopped losing
anyway.
Second, Barbara Thompson was in Denver to speak last weekend. She wrote a
book on WLS and speaks all over the country. Someone asked about hair loss
and her answer was that in all her travels and all the speaking engagements
she has done, she has yet to see one woman who is bald.
My hair is not all that thick to start with and I lost LOTS at about 4
months out. I finally just went in and got it cut very, very short. My
hairdresser says it is starting to come in again and I am 7 months out.
— garw
December 19, 2002
I never lost hair (my hair is short and very thick), however, my hair
thinned quite a bit. My beautician watched my hair every month and after
about 6 months, everything seemed to be normal.
— dolphins94
December 20, 2002
hi i started loosing my hair at 3 mos when i went in for my 6 mo follow up
my dietechian told me to go to vitamin store and get some hair vitamins
make sure they had 18mg of zinic in it i wet to gnc got some started taking
in november and now there is hardly any hair loss at all good luck
— ROSEMARY A.
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