Hi guys! I know that this topic has been discussed in length on this board. I just really need to know...how long does it take for your hair to stop falling out? Please tell me that even if it doesn't stop soon, that it will at least slow down. I have been dealing with this problem for about a month, and have already lost about 30 to 40% of my hair. I cry every day because of the amount that is coming out. I have added zinc, biotin, folic acid, and nioxin shampoo to my daily routine. I have also added in extra protein. I am not new to hair loss...my hair loss after I had my twins was quite a bit...or so I thought until this started! Please tell me there is a light at the end of the tunnel, because I am so upset.

Amber

Hi Amber, I too have terrible hair loss and mine has been going on for 8 months now. I have a very thin spot now at the top of my head and in the front. Bummer. I do nixoin, take biotin, mvi, and lots of protein too, and nothing helps it. It just has to run its course and pray it slows down. There was a gal that posted somewhere that after a year , hers was still falling out....OMG...I hope that isn't the case or i wont have any hair left....Good luck and congrats on your surgery....

I've only been banded since April 22, 2010 and have read some of the posts about hair loss but haven't experienced myself.

What does your doctor say about it? Does it happen to everyone? It makes me really nervous to hear about because my hair has been my most redeeming feature for years!

It happens to some and not to others. I was one who didn't have to deal with it. I did start Nioxin 6 weeks before surgery, so hopefully it will be ok. You do need to find a way to stop worrying about it. Focusing on it makes it worse. Remember that a normal head of hair has fall out every day, about 100 hairs. Yours may be more right now, but don't expect it to stop completely because it is normal to lose hair. You may have started to slow down, but because you are obsessed with it, you could be making it worse. Relax, it will stop and it will regrow. Make sure you are getting enough calories and make sure you are making healthy food choices, like not eating ice cream for dinner.... Hugs......

Thanks ladies, I truly hope that it slows down soon. I am trying not to worry about it...but it is hard when a full handfull comes out just from brushing it! I have it tied back so I wont think about it as much. Crossing my fingers!

I am 8 mths after surgery, I take multi vit. 5000 biotin and take in plenty protein...MY HAIR IS FALLING OUT LIKE CRAZY!:party: lucky my hair WAS thick before surg. because I would be bald by now!...though if this keeps up, that's exactly what i'll be! Please tell me it grows back and this wont be much longer?!?!

Ya'll need to go to your PCP and have bld work drawn. Some hair loss is normal with weight loss/surgery/trauma, it's called Telogen Effluvium (google it and do some reading). However, there CAN be other things going on. Hair loss can also be due to thyroid issues, other (non thyroid) hormonal imbalances, lack of Iron, lack of selenium, etc.

I started having hair loss BEFORE my banding. I finally went to my PCP, all my bld work was normal. Got sent to a dermatologist. He has put me on Rogaine. It won't make me regrow lost hair, but will hopefully prevent more loss. I think maybe it's helping a little. I'm about to go back to the Dermatologist and ask about some prescription meds.

Btw, Dermatologist said he doesn't think my hair loss is telogen effluvium, but rather post-menopausal alopecia.

Good luck to all!

Oh.. I forgot to mention. Dermatologist said to avoid tight ponytails, braids.. anything that puts tension on the hair.

Ponytails are so depressing to me now.. I used to have so much hair I couldn't close my hand around my ponytail..now it's smaller in diameter than a quarter. However, I look at other women and what I have seems to be about what they normally have.. so I'm trying to retain some perspective. There could be LOTS worse problems to have.