Question:
Hair loss question
Does anyone know specifically what minerals and vitamins we are missing that causes the hair loss post-op? I see a lot of people talking about the effects of anesthesia etc. and I'm sorry I do not buy it. I've had 3 general anesthesia surgeries, all about 2 hours, which is what my surgery should take barring any complications and never had any hair loss. I have also gone cold turkey and lost 200 lbs in 13 months with no hair loss, but I did it on normal food and the standard pyramid system, so I wasn't likely missing some nutrients that I will after WLS. So I feel it has to be from lack of certain minerals, vitamins, nutrients and a multi-vitamin is not enough to compensate. I've tried to figure out what are the vital components to try and load up on those in hopes of eliminating or minimizing the hair loss. I assumed it would grow back but I just talked to someone tonight who's sister now wears a wig. That I did not want to hear. So what has everyone tried with success and are there any nutrition experts out there that can help me figure this out? Heck I finally just dyed my grey hair and I don't want to lose it now! Getting ready for my new look early! — zoedogcbr (posted on January 6, 2003)
January 5, 2003
Hey there Chris. My surgeon said I might want to start taking some Biotin
and Zinc pre-op. He said it MIGHT help hair loss. I like you have had two
MAJOR surgeries on my abdomen and I DID lose hair each time for no other
reason, I was told, than anesthesia. My hair is very fine and looks thin,
altho it really isnt, just fine and it is just now coming in from my last
surgery. Guess what, it is coming back in silver. Bummer. But I also worry
about hair loss with this surgery. Mine is Jan. 30th. Also, about your
groceries, I saw one of those food savers in the K-Mart paper yesterday for
$69. they are 120. everywhere else. It seals your food in and takes the air
out for great leftovers. I might get one. This has also been a concern of
mine. My best friend had surgery in November and you should see the big
pots of beans, soups, and chili she makes. lol. Says she just cant get the
hang of cooking less. Good luck. also. thanks for your supportive e-mail
yesterday. I sure got a few hateful ones. But I can handle it.
— Delores S.
January 5, 2003
Hi Chris, I am 11 months post-op, down 92 lbs. I starting losing my hair
at around 6 months post-op. My surgeon recommended I take 50mg of Zinc
every day. I did that for about 3-4 months, then stopped taking it. My
hair loss has now stopped. I didn't lose enough to have to wear a wig,
although my hair wasn't super thick to begin with. Now I have hardly any
hair loss (I can tell by what's in the shower and in my brush). I think
everyone is different. I don't know if the zinc helped or not, but I was
willing to give it a try. I also had two major surgeries (C-sections) in
the past and had NO hair loss either time. Who knows??? I wish you the
best of luck!!
— [Deactivated Member]
January 5, 2003
I have been reading posts for over a year now and have learned one thing
about hair loss. No matter what anyone says, there are no guarantees about
whether you'll lose hair or not or on how to prevent it. I have read posts
from people who did all the 'right' things, lots of protein, Nioxin,
Biotin, zinc, etc. and still lost their hair. I have also read posts from
people who did none of those things and didn't lose their
hair.<p>Barbara Thompson was in Denver to speak a few weeks ago and
someone asked her about hair loss. She replied that in the time she's been
speaking all over the country, she has yet to meet a bald woman.
— garw
January 6, 2003
Hi Chris...I think you raise a very good point. Just what does cause our
hair loss after WLS? I would also like to know! I've also had general
anesthesia once before with no hair loss afterwards. I'm going to do some
research on the Internet and see what I come up with.
<P>
For me...my hair fell out from months 3.5 to 7 post-op. At any given time I
was sporting about 2/3rds of my normal hair volume, with 1/3 of it out, on
the floor, in my hairbrush, in the sink. It got kinda scary for a while
there! I took Biotin (still do...it's easy to take and cheap to buy) from
about month 4 forward. I THINK it has helped. I can see little wispy
bangs growing in at my hairline in front that are now about an inch long.
So if your hair grows 1/4 inch a month normally, then it's been growing
since about month 4 (I'm 8 months out). So basically, it falls out once,
and then grows back. What I'm trying to get at is, that new growth isn't
falling out. Hope this helps, and I'll let you know if I find out anything
about post-op hair loss with WLS. Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
January 6, 2003
I disagree with you and think the hair loss is a combination of trauma to
the body caused by the surgery and the anesthesia. If you did not
experience hair loss with a previous surgery, then perhaps the type of
anesthesia used did not react that way with you. I had two previous major
surgeries, one each year preceding the WLS surgery and BOTH times, just
like clockwork, the hair started falling out at exactly 3 months. And my
diet was no different the first two surgeries so I do not believe it has to
do with vitamins and minerals. My hairdresser also told me that it is
quite common for hair loss 3 months after a trauma to the body, and that
hair grows in 3 month cycles. Best advice I can give for the hair loss-get
a cute short doo and ride it out. It does grow back in..
— Cindy R.
January 6, 2003
Chris,
I was told that while the lack of vitamins, anestheics, etc., can and do
contribute to the hair loss, however a lot of the hair loss is due to the
body thinking that it has gone through and going through a trauma (its
survival is in jeopardy)and it starts to shed those things that it doesn't
need to survive,i.e. hair, slows nail growth and so on. That is why the
surgeon says to maintain your protein to help. The continuous ingestion of
protein helps to keep your body from reacting as if there was trauma, I.e.
if it feels it is NOT in jeopardy, then it won't need to feel like it needs
to conserve its energy and won't shed the hair. This also helps to explain
why some people lose hair and some don't, it is based upon each
individual's body. I lost hair at about four -six months and then it
stopped and it started to grow again. That three to six month timeframe is
the time it takes your body realize something has changed, the quick weight
loss must mean "bad thing happened" and I better conserve my
nutrients! I hope this helps!
— Kelly L.
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