Question:
Any advise in dealing with the excessive hair loss?
I am four months post op and experieing terrible hair loss! From what I understand this can be quite common but I was wondering if any one had any suggestions on dealing with it. I get about 60 grams of protin a day and take my vitimins and calcium too. I would aprechate any advise in this department. Also how long does this last for, and will it grow back? Thank you all — reagan H. (posted on August 17, 2005)
August 17, 2005
I have heard from many people and all my research that Biotin (that may not
be how it's spelled) is really good for hair loss, and also at about 6
months your hair should start to grow back so ive heard I have not
experienced this yet myself. Good luck
— melindameyers
August 17, 2005
Reagan,my nurse educator has suggested a couple of things to help with
this. One is fish oil and the other is B12, the sublingual or injections.
hope that helps you some.
— Tera P.
August 17, 2005
Biotin and zinc may both "help" with the hair loss. There is
really nothing you can do about it. The hair loss is caused by the roots
going dormant due to the lowered nutritional intake. Once your body
adjusts to this, the hair loss stops and it will grow back. I have heard
of one surgeon that recommends using a shampoo with zinc in it (most
dandruff shampoos have zinc as an active ingredient). Hair loss varies
amongst all patients, so don't expect miracles based on any one else. I
know of one who is just now having the hair grow back and she's more than a
year out! Good luck! Carmen
— kccjer
August 17, 2005
Hi,
Don't spend a lot of money on anything, It most likely won't do any good.
It's just part of the WLS patient. It
does grow back in a couple of months. You can cut your hair into a shorter
style it odes help some. You have to
up your protien & keep it there for it to do any good. This is only a
temporary thing & yes, everyone is different as to how much or how long
it falls out. But it a small price to pay for getting your life back &
quick weight loss in the
beginning months. Good luck & trust us, your hair will stop
falling & grow back in a couple of months. you will start seeing little
hairs start growing soon.]
Marilyn
— Marilyn C.
August 17, 2005
THE SASME THING HAPPEN TO ME I HAD MY SURGERY 05/03/2002 YOU NEED TO GET
SOME VITAMINS FOR HAIR SKIN AND NAILS I TAKEN THE ONE FROM GNC WORKS GREAT
WITHIN A MO IT STOP GOOD LUCK WRITE ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHAT
— ROSEMARY A.
August 17, 2005
I am also 4 months post op. My doctor told my to use Rogaine for men(I am a
woman). He said that the mens is much stronger and wouldn't hurt us. He
also told me to take niacin and biotin supplements. I have started all
three about a week ago and the hair loss has slowed greatly. I am still
losing, but now it is just a few hairs in the shower. I was losing
handfulls every time I washed my hair. Good luck. I hope this helps.
— kylady372
August 18, 2005
I started taking Biotin before I had my surgery so my hair loss wouldn't be
as bad. At three to four months it was coming out in handfulls. After
about three weeks I started using the shampoo and conditioner Nioxin and
after two weeks my hairloss slowed down. I lost alot of hair and my hair
was already thin. Now... I have a head full of curly hair. It was
straight before surgery. I knew I'd lose hair cause of WLS so it was worth
it. Good Luck
— [Deactivated Member]
August 18, 2005
Has your doctor advised you about Zinc? With this surgery is at times a
lack of enough Zinc. Check with your doctor on the dosage right for you
and have your nutritionist help you find the right foods to supplement your
zinc and help your hair from falling out too much. Peace and Blessings.
— jstplainwyrd1956
August 18, 2005
I use Biotin and Nioxin shampoo and scalp treatment and my hair is the
healthiest and fullest it has ever been!
Like one of the other posters said, it is part of being a WLS patient so
let it take it's course but I HIGHLY recomend using both!
Much love and peace
— Tracy P.
August 19, 2005
I can't tell what kind of WLS you had, but if yours involves malabsorption
of protein (as the RNY does), then I think you would be well-advised to get
in more protein. Sixty grams is low for somebody who is malabsorbing
protein (it's more like the guideline for people who don't malabsorb at
all). Protein shakes are helpful to get that number up and compensate for
the malaborption of protein.<P>That said, I am in the camp that
doesn't believe there's any point to special hair care products and
vitamins *for hair loss* only -- because it's temporary and it's hard to
pin down exactly why it happens. Many theories abound, most commonly the
"protein deficiency" and "shock from anesthesia"
theories. I used lots of protein shakes and got temporary hair loss
anyway. Bought biotin, never opened the bottle it came in however, and the
hair loss stopped on its own in about three weeks (perhaps merely buying
the product was enough to enjoy its powers -- just kidding). Point is,
hair loss will start and stop, and people can only guess at causes and
cures.<P>Meanwhile, get that protein intake up to compensate for the
malabsorption, if you had a malabsorption surgery, regardless of hair loss.
:-)
— Suzy C.
August 19, 2005
Well, I got a big long lecture about this from my doctor, because I was
very, very bad. :)
I am about 8 months out and about month 5 began to notice that my hair was
thinning out, and yes it was coming out A LOT daily. According to my doctor
this is a direct result of not getting enough protien, so I upped my
protien intake significantly by eating mainly meat and veggies and *forcing
myself to take a suppliment. (They are truly disgusting things if you ask
me..)
But anyway, now the hair loss has stopped and hopefully the problem solved.
I'll know in two weeks when I go back for blood work.
So I'd say, there's no point in buying hair care products to thickin it up.
Just get in more protien because the 60 g that you are getting apparently
isn't enough for your body. The unfortunate thing is, eventually, whether
you get enough protien or not, the hair loss will stop. I say
"unfortunatly" because often many people use that as a sign of
whether or not they are getting better, and my doctor says that this is
not a relaible sign of getting enough protien. It could mean either the
problem is solved or you still aren't getting enough and the body is
turning to other sources to get it. According to my doctor, the body takes
first from the blood, then the hair, then when there is no more to take
from, it will turn to your lean muscle mass, which includes the heart. Also
the lack of protien can interfere with healing from injury, and you just
feel tired all the time.
It can take months to build back up once it gets to this point, so it's
important to work on this daily. 60 g daily may be enough for you, but by
the looks of it more than likely not. I'd say listen to your body. If you
are feeling tired and run down all the time, hair falling out and such, the
lack of protien is probably why.
Trust me on this here...I don't mean to sound preachy, but it comes from
the heart. You don't want to be 8 m out like me and having to play catch up
with the protien. Good luck. :)
— Vicki B.
August 19, 2005
Protein, protein and more protein :) I am four years post op and cannot
stress this enough. I still have some hair loss issues. It doesn't come out
like it used to but, still a little. I was losing so much hair it was not
funny. I had even lost my entire set of bangs and that was not a pretty
sight. It has thankfully grown back and my hair is just as thick as ever.
Good luck to you!!
— ncgal
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