I know this must have been discussed a miillion times but I need some advice and reassurance...big time!

Once your hair starts falling out:

1) How long does this last?

2) How much do you generally loose?

3) When does it start to grow back?

4) Is there anything to do? Use? Not do or use? Anything to help to stop it and start it re-growing?

5) Is there anything to take or eat to help? Such as amounts of Protein to increase to or types of Vitamins or minerals to increase?

Where's the big hairy shedding dog hiding? Oh, no, that's ME!

Thanks from the the gal who wanted to be thinner, everywhere, BUT her hair! :think

His own dietician that works with him (who is banded) has thin enough hair that I can see her scalp.

In his reply to my email, Dr. Curry pointed out that his dietician had thin hair before she was banded. I didn't even mention his dietician and her thin hair (although I did notice it when she was speaking with me in his office). I emailed him about it because I've read so much about hair loss on these boards, yet he was quick to point out the fact that her hair was thin before the banding procedure.

In either case.......c'est la vie. Being at a normal weight means more to me at this juncture than does a thick head of hair.

I don't think many bandsters actually lose their hair. I think that has to do with malnourishment and most of us aren't malnourished. I didn't lose any hair.

I am not malnourished...I eat a much better diet now than prior to my surgery. Just not the carbs. Granted I don't eat as many calories but I do take my vitamins and protein drinks! It can't be that for me. What about the rest of you hair-losing bandsters? Do you think you are malnourished????

No I am not malnourished, I believe Telly hit the nail on the head in her earlier post. My body is in shock I believe from one of, or a combination of the surgery with anesthesia and all that, as well as a weight loss, and a change in diet. I had a food diary I kept to track calories for awhile, and my Dr. was impressed by the quality of my diet. Hey wait a minute, I KNOW why my body went into shock and my hair began falling out....exercise, I never exercised before!!! I lost it before, with chemo, and with weight loss...and it will come back, this will NOT stop me!!! Might depress me, but not stop me!!

Kat

I have PCOS and my hair falls out as a result of that. Not much but a little at a time. I shed like CRAZY . When i take a shower there is always a wad of hair in the drain when im done. Im pretty much expecting to loose some hair (More hair) after surgery . I have no rhyme or reason to expect it just do because of the PCOS LOL

Mindy

Okay... I have ALWAYS had more hair than I know what to do with, very fine, but alot of it... About 3 months after my surgery I started heavy shedding of my hair.. this has gone on for a couple of months. Now at almost 6 months past surgery,the hair loss has dramatically slowed and hopefully stopped. I have always gotten in at least 70 - 90 grams of protein in, so it wasn't that for me. I think it just boils down to the anesthesia and rapid weight loss. Hormones are stored in fat cells and when those fat cells go bye bye, the hormones are all out ot wack... My periods went crazy as well. I think that my body has now adjusted to my new diet and recovered from the shock of anesthesia and weight loss. I've had the same hair stylist for years, so she "knows" my hair. She only noticed some thinning around my face, and she said that I didn't loss much if any hair when she shampooed and combed throught it, so I feel better about it now.... It did freak me out when I combed through my hair after showering and the comb was covered in hair, and that I noticed hair all over my clothes at the end of the day.. As my boss said, "your hair may be shedding, but at least you know it will come back, I said goodbye to mine forever"... (He has a ummm.. significant receeding hair line). Chin up ladies, this too shall pass!

Malnourished? I would say not malnourished but comparatively to how I ate before....definately.

I was consuming probably 2200 calories or more per day of food. I am sure my body was used to that. But when you cut your calories in half and tack on strenuous exercise...you will put your body through shock.

I always lost alot of hair, in the shower it would come out in clumps and even after it was dry, I could run my fingers through my hair and always come out with strands. You should see my hairbrush! The past week I have noticed my hair rolling around the house like hayballs! This morning it was all over my bed. It is definitely falling out even more now. Luckily I have thick hair and lots of it, but I swear I feel a bald spot happening on the top in the back.

I started losing my hair when I began preparing for surgery. I've lost a lot more since (August 16). My husband swears he can't see a difference but I feel completely self conscious about it. When I go to work I think "everyone can see my damn scalp!!"

I guess I may be the only one to notice - I'm eagerly awaiting the time it will finally grow back - which I know will happen eventually. 3 months since surgery though I'm really hoping its soon!!

I'm kind of glad to hear that it's going to happen no matter what because I have really struggled to take in 80 grams of protein each day and I've been worrying about it. It's hard to remember to drink that protein drink at exactly the right time so it doesn't come too close after one meal or too close to the next.

I asked my friend, a hair stylist, about what you could do to rebuild your hair, or help it to grow in thicker and healthier after a significant loss. She recommended hair Vitamins. Hairtopia, to be exact: http://www.hairboutique.com/tips/tip1012.htm

She swears by them. I already take Flax Seed Oil, and it has my hair a little glossier, my nails are stronger and my skin glows. I am going to look into the Hairtopia vitamins. I am resolved to the fact that I will lose some hair. I plan to cut it short at that time. My hope is that it will grow in thicker and faster after the cut with the help of the vitamins. I already placed the order and I'm excited to see how much faster my hair grows.

Nat

Ok guys. The inevitable has happened again. I had a tummy tuck in October and at that time, my hairloss was at a complete hault. Well since then and up to last week, I've noticed it's happening once again. I figure...if it's going to come out again like it did before b/c of the surgery/trauma...rapid weight loss...etc...to go ahead and have my breasts done soon so that my hair won't stop and start all over again.

*sighs*

and I thought I just had...weak hair...I had no idea that my hairloss could be directly related to weightloss...what an enlightening thread. thanks guys.