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Post by melanie74 on May 5, 2014 17:14:39 GMT -5
My hair is falling out at alarming rates. I have short hair so I can't go much shorter without shaving my head. People even ask me if I have "just had a haircut" when it's been weeks since my last trim.  My hairstylist barely cut anything this last weekend because there isn't much there. I knew to expect this - but how long does it last? Am I going to look bald before it gets better? Have others used wigs? Is there a good place to find a nice quality wig? Any suggestions welcome. |
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hayley88
New Member
Posts: 46 
Surgery Type: Revision
Surgery Date: RNY to DS 5/8/2013
Surgeon: Dr. Stewart
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Post by hayley88 on May 5, 2014 18:19:06 GMT -5
I lost hair for months and months. It sounds though like yours is really short. I had enough length to help hide the loss. I've only had to get a trim once this whole year and it grows really slow now. I could pull out my hair by the fist full! It did slowly stop once I got about 7 months out. Wish I had words of wisdom but I don't.
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Post by bboop on May 5, 2014 20:17:19 GMT -5
That's part of the surgery - don't know if it's antibiotics or anathesia but out it comes. I haven't grown any back...but Biotin did help me to stop losing. I found some great Biotin at CVS, I think it's 5000 mg and it does help.
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Post by newyorkbitch on May 5, 2014 20:35:12 GMT -5
It's the massive drop in estrogen - it affects some people more than others.
Unfortunately nothing is going to help except time, and it could get worse before it gets better. For some people it never comes back fully.
So sorry this is happening to you. Happened to me after I had a baby (also massive drop in estrogen). Eventually it filled back in but not like it was before.
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Post by Taterweight on May 5, 2014 22:39:10 GMT -5
Mine is coming out too, Melanie. I told hubby if I start to look patchy - TELL me! I'm happy to wear a wig! When and if that time comes I'll make an appointment at a local shop and get fitted, so I have my size and such. There are some beautiful styles online I would love to try. My hair has always been black, super fine and straight. I'd love to look different in a good way!  Just wanted you to know you're not alone! I grow weary of cleaning a handful of hair out of my brush every morning. |
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Post by Leonie on May 6, 2014 0:12:24 GMT -5
I also lost hair, and never saw any visible regrowth, but my hair looks much better now. I have lots of thin hair that used to get oily within a day. Now it has much more body and curl because it is drier. I have to keep up the fat though, or my hair and skin goes really dry.
The hairloss does eventually stop.
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Post by Mariposa(Heather) on May 6, 2014 4:24:48 GMT -5
I am also losing massive amounts of hair. When I have a big weight loss week I'm pretty sure most of its hair.  |
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Post by newyorkbitch on May 6, 2014 6:58:13 GMT -5
It really sucks, doesn't it? When I lost so much hair…at first I tried a weave and eventually I just gave up and cut it really short. It took a long time to grow in, but it did happen.
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Post by Girlrocker on May 6, 2014 8:41:46 GMT -5
I know, it does suck and I'm sorry, plus your nausea has returned. I know my pictures look like I have a full head of hair, but I've actually lost half of it, and have see through spots when I wear it up in a pony tail or clip. The heavy hair loss phase finally did subside, but it's never come back fully the way it was, and I still deal with breakage. I'm fortunate I can still mask it overall, but I have to use certain combs/brushes, hairspray. It couldn't hurt to add biotin and I emptied the capsules into my protein drinks. Some people use nixoin for hair care. Results vary, so don't crazy spending too much on these products, but both are worth a shot to see if you get any results or at least it helps slow things down, protect what you have, until you can figure out next steps. |
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Post by west4thavenue on May 6, 2014 11:57:59 GMT -5
I have decided that if/when I reach a point where my hair loss stresses me out, I am going to buy the best wig I can afford. They make such great ones now.
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Post by willowrayne on May 6, 2014 19:54:11 GMT -5
I was devastated over my hair loss. It came out in clumps so bad that it looked like I poured Nair over my head. It really got to me when people started staring at my scalp when I talked to them.
It did get better. Biotin helped tremendously and I notice a difference if I don't take it. It's not like before surgery but it isn't so bad either.
It helps for me to keep it colored. As soon as the gray starts showing, it looks thinner.
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Post by amydroe on May 6, 2014 21:35:22 GMT -5
I was devastated over my hair loss. It came out in clumps so bad that it looked like I poured Nair over my head. It really got to me when people started staring at my scalp when I talked to them. It did get better. Biotin helped tremendously and I notice a difference if I don't take it. It's not like before surgery but it isn't so bad either. It helps for me to keep it colored. As soon as the gray starts showing, it looks thinner. How much biotin do you take? |
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Post by newyorkbitch on May 6, 2014 21:37:23 GMT -5
Please so some research about biotin before you start taking it. And read reputable sources, like from dermatologists.
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Post by Girlrocker on May 7, 2014 10:46:31 GMT -5
Please so some research about biotin before you start taking it. And read reputable sources, like from dermatologists. Can you elaborate at all, what if any consequences or guidelines there are regarding Biotin? I have to say, all these years that's not something I've ever come across, would definitely be interested in educating myself too, especially since I'm looking into it again, my hair continues to fall out, partly due to age/menopause, but also the malabsorption. |
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Post by newyorkbitch on May 7, 2014 11:02:13 GMT -5
From what I've read, and discussions with a couple of dermatologists (and anesthesiologists), it is very, very rare for anyone to be biotin deficient. Only biotin deficiency would affect hair loss. Our hair loss has nothing to do with biotin deficiency - it's post surgical trauma and hormonal changes. For example many women lose hair after they give birth (myself included), because of the massive hormonal shift. Biotin doesn't help - only time and hormonal rebalancing helps.
I'm not sure your hair loss has anything to do with malabsorption…it's likely age and the hormonal changes due to aging/menopause.
You'd have to check to see if you are in fact biotin deficient but that is highly unlikely.
Anyway if you do some googling about biotin and hairless, and read legitimate things from medical sources, dermatologists, NIH, etc…..you'll get more info. FYI, I believe biotin is not fat soluble therefore not malabsorbed…we get enough biotin without supplements which is why biotin deficiency is very very unusual in this country.
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Post by willowrayne on May 7, 2014 21:01:17 GMT -5
Interesting information.
I take 5mg per day. My dermatologist endorsed it and I do notice a difference if I don't take it.
I haven't been tested for deficiency but I have had other major surgeries. - - two cesarean and a nephrectomy. I lost hair with all of those surgeries too but nothing nearly as bad as this. The nephrectomy was post menopausal so I am pretty comfortable that in my case, it is due to malabsorbtion.
If the effect is a placebo, that is okay too. :-D
I am very happy with the results. Everyone is different, that's for sure.
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Post by newyorkbitch on May 7, 2014 21:32:45 GMT -5
Malabsorption of what? What do you think you are not absorbing that is causing the hair loss?
Also lots of women lose hair as they age.
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Post by willowrayne on May 7, 2014 22:07:50 GMT -5
Protein, B vitamins.
But regardless, why would it be an issue if I feel it helps me?
We lose hair when we age but what I was losing was not normal.
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Post by goodkel on May 8, 2014 3:30:47 GMT -5
Not enough protein can definitely cause hair loss. I would increase that first.
Biotin worked wonderfully for me. Just not on my head. Shortly after starting it, I grew a few mustache and chin hairs. Threw the rest of it out.
Three years later I lost all of it from cancer treatment and it has never filled in to pre-treatment levels no matter what I do. I changed how I style my hair and shrug it off. It is just something that happens. No tragedy. Just life.
Wigs can be fun but, I don't even bother with them anymore.
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Post by Girlrocker on May 8, 2014 8:09:49 GMT -5
I guess I'm a bit mystified then, because my biotin levels seem to be ok, but I have also benefited a little from taking biotin, slows things down; maybe it's just an extra boost, which was always my perception of it and how it might (or might not) function.
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Post by fluffyme on May 11, 2014 2:37:56 GMT -5
I've also lost a major amount of hair - and I already had thin hair before the surgery - you can imagine how little hair I have now!
I went to a specialist who told me there is nothing I can do (except some temporary solutions)... he didn't seem to care - was NOT helpful!
Just went to natural health centre - after some tests, the doctor there told me my hormones are imbalanced. I've been told to take 'Pure encapulations - Phyto-Balance', for my hormones - lets see how that goes.
I couldn't be bothered to wear a wig (sounds fun though!) it's too much work - i don't even wear makeup - that's how lazy I am.
I've kept my hair very very short.
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Post by goodkel on May 12, 2014 22:09:38 GMT -5
I've also lost a major amount of hair - and I already had thin hair before the surgery - you can imagine how little hair I have now! I went to a specialist who told me there is nothing I can do (except some temporary solutions)... he didn't seem to care - was NOT helpful! Just went to natural health centre - after some tests, the doctor there told me my hormones are imbalanced. I've been told to take 'Pure encapulations - Phyto-Balance', for my hormones - lets see how that goes. I couldn't be bothered to wear a wig (sounds fun though!) it's too much work - i don't even wear makeup - that's how lazy I am. I've kept my hair very very short. I rarely wear make up myself. I'll swipe on some lipstick as I'm walking out the door, but that is as far as it goes. Yeah, the wigs were only for social occasions. I wore a baseball cap the rest of the time and a cotton knit hat around the house. I am curious about whether the Phyto-Balance gives you any results. I looked it up on Amazon and the reviews were all about how effective it was for hot flashes. There was one site with Phyto shampoos, but all their products were for repairing damaged hair, not stimulating new growth. Please post about your results with it. Thanks! |
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Kat
Junior Member
Finally in Onederland!
Posts: 76
Surgery Type: DS
Surgery Date: June 18,2014 (265 lbs.)
Surgeon: Dr. J.R. Salameh
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Post by Kat on May 13, 2014 20:00:58 GMT -5
Though I haven't had my DS yet, I did have a year-long cancer treatment. During the entire time I used Nioxen and never lost all my hair. It did get somewhat thin but it really did help.
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Post by teetster on May 14, 2014 11:53:10 GMT -5
Hi Melanie,
Sorry about your hairloss, I think it happens to most of us unfortunately. I had shoulder length hair and lost at least half my hair I think. I ended up cutting it short, and that helped, but I was ready to go get a wig if need be. I even researched them online and found a good shop in my area. I also considered a weave, but wasn't sure if that was going to cause even more problems for my hair, so I never went through with it.
I was upset about my hair, and embarassed, but figured it was a small price to pay, and I hoped it would grow back. Well, it has been 2.5 years, and my hair is completely healthy now. I did take Biotin, but don't think it helped a lot for me.
Remember, this too shall pass. It just takes a little time.
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Post by fluffyme on May 14, 2014 15:36:53 GMT -5
Will definitely post my results)
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Post by newyorkbitch on May 15, 2014 11:12:34 GMT -5
I'm sorry, but this is hogwash. www.pureencapsulations.com/media/PhytoBalance.pdfIf you are estrogen deficient, go see a physician who will draw bloods and determine if you actually need estrogen supplementation - which would be very surprising at your age unless something is wrong with your reproductive system. Why do you need LH and FSH "mediation?" Have you seen a copy of recent labs - was your estrogen checked? Your LH and FSH? Are you trying to get pregnant? Was your biotin level checked? What specifically is "unbalanced" about your hormones? |
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Post by newyorkbitch on May 15, 2014 11:42:54 GMT -5
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