Will my hair ever stop falling out?? Ugh - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

gottaloseit · 05-07-2007, 11:28 AM

Hi all,

I am a little over 5 months post op and don't post often but I read alot. I feel like I know you all! I wondered if the hair loss will stop eventually and will it grow back?

I have always had pretty thin hair but atleast it covered my scalp. I am getting enough protein, never missed a vitamin, even take Biotin. My Doc tells me that my scalp is reflecting what happened at the time of surgery and it will eventually stop but I am beginning to think it won't since it has been falling out for about 2 months.

Any words of support or information?? Thanks everyone!

cnvh · 05-07-2007, 11:40 AM

Mine has been falling out more than usual, but I have a lot of hair to begin with so it hasn't really been noticeable... except in the shower drain-- some days it looks like there's a dead mouse there waiting to be picked up! I am also about 5 months out and am wondering when it might stop. My last lab results were all within normal ranges, so I don't think I have any deficiencies.

I've never heard anyone say that the hair loss is permanent-- and sometimes when the regrowth hits, the hair comes back at a different texture than it was previously-- i.e., straight comes back curly or vice versa.

So I'm in the same boat as you but am trying not to stress about it... easier said than done some days, I know!

newlife4me · 05-07-2007, 11:50 AM

OMG!!!!! I thought that was the worst thing ever. When we are heavy we have few things we like about ourselves and well usually it is the hair. I had great hair. It was something I could make nice.....It was quite a shocker when it started comming out in handfuls. It looked awful, I cried.....but at about 6-7months it stopped and now I have tons of new stuff, looks kinda funny poking out but it looks fuller and healthier than it has for quite some time.......I am restored!!!!!!
Relax, enjoy the process, take your vitamins and hold on for the ride of your life

Lori

JenBear7 · 05-07-2007, 11:56 AM

You wont lose it all, and it will grow back. Losing hair is what the body does when it is traumatized. Any surgery will cause loss of hair to some degree.. the longer the recovery, the more the hair. Alot of medical reasons.. dont worry about it too much... Id shave my head bald at the chance to be healthy forever!

Deb2 · 05-07-2007, 12:30 PM

I, too, am about 5 months out and losing my hair by the handfuls. It's very creepy and I don't like it! It's encouraging to hear it will grow back.

...right?

paige52 · 05-07-2007, 01:29 PM

Not really losing "handfuls" but I'd say about 200 hairs a day.

Started out with very thin hair anyway.... so every little bit counts!

Here's teh two versions of hair loss thoughts

Body goes into "starvation mode" because we eat soooo much less than we used to. It's not so much lack of protein at this stage unless of course you're not getting any! Anyway, one of the first things teh body stops protecting when you are short on nutrition is hair folicals, so since they aren't being stimulated the hair falls out.....

Estrogen is stored in body fat, when you are heavy you have a lot of estrogen in your body, hence the wondreful hair we were all so proud. Estrogen is the hormon that deals with hair and nail growth, amoung other things... so we dump a ton of estrogen rather quickly and the hair root isn't getting stimulted, hence the hair loss....

Keeping in mind that it could be a combination of both factors.

My hair loss has "slowed" in the past 2 weeks that I have been using a new hair product called Murad for thinning hair. It's function is to stimulate the hair folical. It feels weird for about 1/2 after you wash your hair, like using that cream called IcyHot, all tingly and cold.

Oh yeah it also makes my hair more greasy, like I used to wash my ahir every other night, now I wash it at night and in the morning it's stringy looking from the oil that is produced overnight. I guess more oil is a byprocess of stimulating the hair folicals.

I don't have any bald spots but I did cut my hair very short last weekend, just it case it starts to look spotty.

Paige

LyndasRoom · 05-07-2007, 02:24 PM

OH Yeah, it sure does come back! I have about an inch and a half of new growth...you'll notice it in a month or two...it's subtle, but it comes on gangbusters...I was hoping for waves or curls like some folks here, but alas, mine is just like the other...stick straight!

momto4 · 05-07-2007, 03:07 PM

i am 6 mths out and i was FREAKING out at how much haor oss I had... but... sure enough this month it has slowed way down and I have lots of new growth

DON'T WORRY!!! Also, my Dr. told me it is a good sign when you lose hair ~ shows your body is going thru exactly the expected process etc... seriously DO NOT WORRY!!!

paige52 · 05-07-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LyndasRoom

OH Yeah, it sure does come back! I have about an inch and a half of new growth...you'll notice it in a month or two...it's subtle, but it comes on gangbusters...I was hoping for waves or curls like some folks here, but alas, mine is just like the other...stick straight!

So did you hair fall out completely...like it's time to buy a wig.... bald?

gottaloseit · 05-07-2007, 04:24 PM

Well, I hope you are all right cuz I am starting to worry. My hair is really straight too and some curls would be nice. The Murad shampoo you were talking about above, it makes your hair kinda greasy? I have finally found a shampoo that does not dry out my scalp and cause dandruff and it is Matrix Sleek Look but it is rather pricey ($30 for a liter of each). Where do you buy the Murad? I might want to try it off and on.