hair thinning quickly

[nancy c. burt]

Hi all
3 months out and already losing my hair in the shower and on the hairbrush! I thought this wouldn't happen until the 6-7 month. My blood work is good and I take all the protein (Prostat or whey) 3 times a day plus whatever I get in my meals. Any suggestions? Shoulder length hair and I am scheduled for a perm in 3 weeks. Probably should cancel that as it may be too harsh?
Nancy

[weeza]

About your hair thinning! Women who have a lot of fat hold onto estrogen. Estrogen is stored in fat cells within your body. Because we loose weight so rapidly the Estrogen level in your body also drops rapidly this causes your hair to fall out. Women who give birth experience this after child birth and women who breast feed may experience this at an even greater extent. So as your fat cells shrink and release the Estrogen and this Estrogen is excreted out you have a rapid decrease in Estrogen and therefore you loose your hair. As you body adjusts to the decreased Estrogen your hair loss will become less and it will grow back. Hope this helps. Weeza

[Rose]

OK, I am not a doctor but I have had a few surgeries in the past and I usually lost some hair (that came back by the way) a short while after the surgery. I was told it had to do with the anaesthesia. I do not know that this is a fact, maybe it is an old wives tale, but maybe it is true and it might explain something.
I did not know about the estrogen thing. I did loose hair after I had babies so that makes sense. I have had irregular periods since the surgery.............maybe that is from the estrogen thing too. Has anyone else had any changes in their periods??????

[nancy c. burt]

Thanks for the input,
I thought hair loss is related to our protein intake (or lack of protein intake)! I remember signing the original paperwork and it reading hair loss may occur in 6/7 months after surgery! At the rate I am losing, the story will be over by then. I am 6 years post-menopausal- how does that affect the estrogen theory? I don't have much "get-up-and-go" either. Less energy now than right after surgery.
Has anyone else lost much hair this soon after surgery?
Nancy

[Regina]

Hi All

Hair loss well people I still get it. I am now 18 months out. Yeah it is not as bad but it is still happening.
Now I think that weeza hit the nail on the head. Then again I am not a doctor but it sounded good. I think it can be partly cause of our estrogen. I am going through my changes too. I think I am anyway, ask anyone in my house. LOL
I have been having irrugular periods but then again I had them before the surgery. I have just had all kinds of blood work done and everything has come back excellent I might add.
I know that we do lose our hair because of the lack of protein intake in the beginning but like I said I am 18 months out.
I'm not stressing over the loss of my hair. It will grow back. It is not something that is permanent.

As far as a perm hmmmm I think if it were me I would wait but then again ask your beautician she should be able to tell you if it is wise to do it or not.

I would say that maybe we should ask this question to Pat about the estrogen at our next meeting. Lets see if we are on the right track with it. Maybe if someone can ask their PCP or even there Gynecologist doctor. They might even know. Heck the more inform we get the better it is for all.

[nancy c. burt]

I agree, Regina, let's ask Pat. I wasn't freaking out two weeks ago when it was just a little bit; but now I can drag my fingers through my hair and eck ! Too much hair loss!
The estrogen theory? Hmmm. How does that play with the guys who also complain of hair loss? If I took estrogen would it halt this shedding?
Who sells wigs around the east end?
N.

[weeza]

Just to put everyone's mind at ease about my back ground. I am a Nurse and a Midwife. I researched this before I posted it. Men who are fat also store estrogen within the fat cells. Estrogen in the fat cells are a weak estrogen but the wt. loss is so drastic that the amount of estrogen lost causes this. Estrogen replacement is NOT advised Just be reassured that it will grow back!! Hope this helps by the way my hair is coming out in huge amounts too! Weeza

[mssfire]

Hi everyone....just wanted to let you know that I went to Cosmetology school and there we were taught that medications leave your body through your hair. The average hair loss per day for everyone is around 1000 hairs...I know that sounds like a lot, but don't forget you have hair all over your body (whether you see it or not!). This is why patients on Chemo loose their hair. And we all know that we were warned that we'd loose it after our surgery. I swore I wouldn't...but was told I would by everyone I talked to... And they were right! Due to my hair starting to come out more and more a couple of months ago I bumped up my protein intake to a scoop ( I use Whey protein... can't handle our beloved ProStat anymore) at least once (usually twice) a day...and it really has made a major difference. Try it in your coffee...or mix it in desserts, etc.

Also I just went to the Dr. today due to getting my period for the first time since last March. I thought that I had been thru "mean-o-pause" as my husband called it and was done with it...but my Dr. said that it's very possible that my system is out of whack due to my surgery. With the major changes my body is going thru she said that it's very likely it will straighten itself out without any problems....

Ah, that wonderful time of your life. And here I thought I was DONE!!!!!!

Cheryl

[Rose]

Thanks for your input on period irregularity after surgery. I had been very regular to a little irregular prior to the surgery and then it stopped totally for a few months after the surgery. Then I got it twice right on top of each other and now nothing for a few months. I dont want it to be gone totally (but I know I have no control over it) so your information was very good to hear. Thanks.