Hello!

I saw the doc for my post op visit yesterday and complained about being so very tired. Well, the answer to my problem appears to be Protein.

Seems protein is the answer to everything. Not only does protein prevent hair loss, and the drawn look people get from weight loss - it also helps increase energy.

I've been informed to increase my protein from 60g per day to 80-100g per day to increase my energy level. By the way, I wanted to share a tip that the nutritionist shared with me - I hate the chemical/weird smell of protein powders; well, the nutritionist suggested that I add extract to the shakes. I add 1 teaspoon to each drink and that has actually gotten rid of weird smell. She also suggested, almond, orange... extracts.

Just wanted to pass this along.

I am being banded on Friday, Aug. 28 so I got out my notes from the dietitian this afternoon to reread them. My dietitian is at Methodist Hospital, Houston and she works with Dr. Robert & Dr. Garth Davis on BIG MEDICINE. This is what she had on her powerpoint:

hair Thinning/Loss

* Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency

* Usually seen 3-6 months after surgery

* Can last 6-12 months

* Faxseed oil 15 mL/day OR Milled flaxseed 1 tbsp./day

* Zinc sulfate 15 mg/day

In my own handwriting, out to the side, I wrote "Flax seed or Omega 3 for hair loss."

There was so much information given that July day that I can't remember anything else that she said about hair loss. I hope this info helps.

I guess I've been lucky, I haven't experienced ANY hair loss and I'm actually starting to see some definition in my face. I've since increased the Protein and don't feel as fatigued - could be mind over matter.

Whatever the case, whether there's a correlation between hair & protein - energy & protein... I'll continue to follow the docs orders - increased protein, walking, Vitamins... as this seems to work for me.

Give it about 4 months and then let us know if you are losing hair.

I am being banded on Friday, Aug. 28 so I got out my notes from the dietitian this afternoon to reread them. My dietitian is at Methodist Hospital, Houston and she works with Dr. Robert & Dr. Garth Davis on BIG MEDICINE. This is what she had on her powerpoint:

hair Thinning/Loss

* Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency

* Usually seen 3-6 months after surgery

* Can last 6-12 months

* Faxseed oil 15 mL/day OR Milled flaxseed 1 tbsp./day

* Zinc sulfate 15 mg/day

In my own handwriting, out to the side, I wrote "Flax seed or Omega 3 for hair loss."

There was so much information given that July day that I can't remember anything else that she said about hair loss. I hope this info helps.

This is the first good possible cause I have heard yet.

Thank you I will get some flaxseed or flaxseed oil this weekend. It is certainly worth a try.

Donna

I hope it helps!

I wasn't sure if you were supposed to take Flaxseed oil AND zinc sulfate together or just choose 1 of them to take. I wished I had paid closer attention to this part of her lecture!

I have heard Richard Simmons say for years that his hair fell out during his weight loss because he cut out the fat in his diet. Maybe this is the key? I'm a math teacher, not a doctor/nurse so I don't know.

I actually thought perhaps this was the problem and began to add back a little fat (tablespoon of p-nut butter) to my diet and just up'd my workout to offset the fat intake.

I think you're on the right track with the peanut butter. My hair is naturally thin and my daddy & brothers are all completely bald so I'm concerned as well. Let me know if the flaxseed or omega 3 work. I plan on buying some this week. Good luck!

I also don't buy that it's from lack of Protein, nor do I subscribe to the "trauma of surgery" theory. I do, however, believe it does have something to do with the anesthesia. I read something about the anesthesia interrupting the fallout cycle of the hair when you're under anesthesia for several hours. I don't know how long you went under in your previous surgeries, though, so you might be able to totally discredit this, since you've had lots of surgeries. This was my first.

Anyway, it's said that it "resets" the hairgrowth, so to speak, and puts the follicles in resting state. So for a while a large portion of hair follicles are on the same fall-out cycle and the hair loss seems more extreme. That makes sense to me, because I drowned myself in protein and still had hair loss BUT... the hairloss is slowing now. I'll post a link that kind of explains the hair cycle thing. Oh, just read that it's called telogen effluvium.

http://www.hairsite.com/female-hair-loss/forum_entry-id-21940-page-0-category-32-order-last_answer.html

I'm not a doc or even a nurse, and I don't know if that's right, but I think it's interesting and plausible.

I have fine thin hair and was very worried about losing ANY!! I was very happy that I didn't seem to have any hair thinning and I really do not know why. I did get all my protein in every day, consumed a lot of tuna the 1st few months, took Biotin (not lg doses), used nioxin hair products along with my usual most of the time, and that's about all I can think of. Now, I am having another major surgery on Sept 3rd so it will be interesting to see if I am so fortunate this time. I sure hope so, but I will let everyone know!!

I actually thought perhaps this was the problem and began to add back a little fat (tablespoon of p-nut butter) to my diet and just up'd my workout to offset the fat intake.

Interesting because I have eaten lots of peanut butter throughout my weightloss journey!! In fact, I was thinking there might be a fat link to the hair loss months ago as I read about it. I had forgotten. I started incorporating a couple TBS pf PB at night early on when my weight loss slowed and my NUT said it was due to not consuming enough cals. Maybe this is the secret to preventing hair loss and flax would probably be a very healthy choice

Hey 123crod:

Do you drink your Water everyday? If so, Special K has the powders that you add to your water (much like Crystal Lite) and it has 5gms of Protein in it. That is one way I get my protein in.

I was banded on August 11th by Dr Miles in Birmingham, Al and am doing great so far. I am 67 years old and heading for my 70's. Yippee.

Hope you manage to resolve your protein problems. As a nurse, I would encourage you to find any means of getting in your protein that you can manage.

Please, Please tell me that it grows back! I am in a total panic about all my hair loss latley.

I agree w/Unforgetable. During the week I also eat Greek yogurt for breakfast... I do drink protein shakes but I use them to suplement my protein intake, I drink them in between meals. I have 2 a day, at least during the week. I use the Pure Protein brand and in my opinion don't have any funny smell to them. I stick w/the chocolate flavors and I get a big jug in Target for like $18 and it lasts me a few weeks. I usually eat 1-2 hard boiled eggs a day, that also gives me a lot of protein... and I also eat Morningstar brand Veggie Patties, which have like 14 grams of soy protein and I also eat a lot of chicken breast (deli style) because it is protein. I take in on average 75-100 grams of protein a day...

Well as everyone has stated, all docs are different, well we are too..so some of us will loose hair and some wont.. I am 6 months out, never had a problem, until recently, i have been slacking on my drinking, use to drink 6-8 bottles of Water a day and now i am like doing 3-6, bad i know, and i am not eating nearly enough Protein, and my hair is starting to really thin, i comb it and hunks of hair come out and i have noticed big time in my part, it is balding..not happy with it so i am trying to drink more and i am doing a Protein shake a day and trying to eat a lot more protein,,i cant go bald..eeewww, i will have to hide..lol

t-rose..dee

Exhaustion is also one of the signs of vitamin B defficiency. That's easy enough to check with a trip to your GP.

I should have named this thread "HAIR" ; - }

The flaxseed has the added benefit of keeping you regular. At least it does for me. I sprinkle it on my oatmeal or mix it with strawberries. It has an earthy, nutty taste. Not bad, just took some getting used to. I did experience a bit of hairloss despite my efforts to get enough protien in. I started taking Biotin pills and using Nioxin shampoo/cond and it did seem to help. Or maybe it was just coincidence, as I've heard the loss phase doesn't last that long. Now I have new little 'baby hair' growing in at my temples where it had gotten thin. I waited a few months before getting highlights because I didn't want to further damage my hair. I got highlights in July and did feel like I was losing hair every time I showered, but I think I'm just really aware of it more now than I was before. It could likely be the same amount I always loss with each shower. Who knows.. lol.

I do struggle to get Protein in sometimes, but before banding I wasn't this diligent about protein so I have a hard time believing it's the protein that is related to the hair loss.