STILL losing my hair!

Hello everyone.  This past Wednesday, May 16 was my one year anniversary.  From all I have heard and read, my hair should start growing back after about 7 or 8 months, but mine just keeps falling out.  I try to get in at least 60 to 70 grams of protein per day, I even take biotin capsules everyday.  Does anyone have any ideas as to what may be the problem, or how I can help my hair to start growing again?  Thanks very much.

Have you had your iron checked lately?  Low iron can cause hair loss.  HTH

Yes, I take 2 prescription iron supplements per day.  Thanks for your reply.

So you have had low iron already?  I had such a difficult time getting treatment for my Iron deficiency.  My Hemoglobin always has been in the normal range, but my iron stores (ferritin) were depleted. I was not able to bring up the numbers enough with oral iron.  Once I brought up the ferritin, with an IV Infusion, the hair loss stopped.

Thanks so much for your reply.  I hope you don't mind, but I have printed out what you said so I can bring it with me to my surgeon in a few weeks.  Perhaps the problem you had is what I am dealing with now.  Thanks again!

What exactly is your protein and supplement regimen? Have you had hormones/thyroid checked since surgery? Sometimes the hormones whack out, and nobody knows til it's tested. Which rx iron are you taking?

Hello Michelle, I take NIFREX 150 Forte Capsules twice per day.   I so have an underactive thyroid also, and I take medication for that as well. I take many vitamin supplements every day including biotin, which I was told might help - no such luck.  My blood is checked every 3 months by my primary care doctor, and my surgeon requires additional blood tests every few months also.  I am not sure if they are checking my hormones, but I will definately ask.  Thanks very much for your reply.

My hair has thinned to the point it's looking dry and fly away no matter what I do to it, or what vitamins I take. I'm 16 months out.

Please let me know if/when you are able to find a solution.  Thank you

Hi! I feel your pain deeply! I am almost two years out and still can't put my hair into a ponytail like I used to before. My hair loss was like everyone else's (3 months - 7 months post op), but then a year later it started up again. Here is an article that I found and a few other tidbit that I hope help you. Pick and choose what you like, but it is what I did to stop my hairloss and regrow my hair. Also, take high quality vitamins...I have read several studies (email me privately if you would like a copy) that indicate hard coated tablets (like most vitamins are) are useless to us because we do not have the stomach acid to break that hard laquer coating or our modified anatomy does not allow for correct absorption. Try to find vitamins in gel capsules or drop your vitamin into a glass of warm water...if it disolves completely, then you will benefit from them, if it does not, then you just flushed your money down the toilet (literally :) My vitamin schedule consists of: 6 BA (bariatricadvantage.com) Multi vitamins capsules, 2 BA Supreme B Complex Vitamins, 2 Andrew Lessman Health Hair, Skin & Nails capsules (hsn.com), 1 Zinc chewable tablet, 2 - 500mg w/vitamin C calcium citrate chews, 1 Superior Source 1000 mcg b-12 w/ folic acid, and I alternate every other day with 4 tender iron and then 1 gel capsule of Ferrous Fumerate. My labs have been outstanding and I have even been able to raise my lron level, so I think I am doing well. I have also started increasing my protein intake to include 1 isopure ready to drink supplement (40 grams each bottle, I drink 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 in the afternoon) so I get a total of 100 mg of protein per day. About a month after I fine tuned my vitamins and protein, I noticed that my hair loss started to reduce and now my hair is really starting to grow back. Still not as thick as before surgery, but at least it is coming back :) Hair Loss - Nutrition/Vitamins Connections

Hair loss occurs when the diet is inadequate in the B vitamins - especially B6, biotin, inositol and folic acid; and the minerals magnesium, sulfur and zinc. The B vitamins, especially B5 (pantothenic acid and B3 (niacin), are especially important for hair growth.

Certain essential amino acids are found to control the thinning and thickening of hair in laboratory animals. For example, when rats were fed a diet deficient in magnesium, they lost their hair in bunches. The situation was even more serious with some other B-vitamins. When rats were fed a diet low in biotin or inositol, they became hairless! This nutrient-deficient condition was found to be reversible. When the rats were fed a diet that was rich in B vitamins, it resulted in the complete restoration of hair.

Heavy intake of vitamin supplements, in some cases, have resulted in stimulating hair growth. Men deficient in vitamin B6 often lose their hair. When they are deficient in folic acid, some men became completely bald! As in case of animals, when normal intake of theses vitamins were restored, the hair also returned in most instances.

Taking large doses of vitamin A (100,000 IU or more daily) for a long period of time, on the other hand, can trigger hair loss, but stopping the vitamin A will reverse the problem. As in case of deficiencies, often the hair grows back when the cause is corrected.

Essential fatty acids (flaxseed oil, primrose oil, and salmon oil are good sources) improves hair texture. Prevents dry, brittle hair.

Raw thymus glandular stimulates immune function and improves functioning capacity of glands.

Dosage: 500 mg daily.

Caution: Do not give this supplement to a child.

B-Vitamins

B vitamins are important for the health and growth of the hair. Foods rich in B vitamins include beans, peas, carrots, cauliflower, soy beans, nutritional yeast, bran, nuts and eggs. Take a vitamin B-complex and supplement it with the following additional B-vitamins for best results.

Vitamin B3 (niacin) - 50 mg 3 times daily.

Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) -100 mg 3 times daily.

Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) -50 mg 3 times daily.

Biotin

Biotin is very important for hair health. It is needed for healthy hair and skin, and may even prevent hair loss in some men. Eat plenty of foods high in biotin and/ or take it in supplemental form. Good food sources of biotin include brewer's yeast, brown rice, bulgur, green peas, lentils, oats, soybeans, sunflower seeds, and walnuts. You can also use hair care products containing biotin.

Dosage: 50 mg 3 times daily.

Inositol

Inositol is vital for hair growth.

Dosage: 100 mg twice daily.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C aids in improving scalp circulation. It is important to maintain capillaries that carry blood to the follicles.

Dosage: 3,000-10,000 mg daily.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E increases oxygen uptake, which improves circulation to the scalp. It improves health and growth of hair. Since hair health is tied to the immune health, vitamin E is believed to stimulate hair growth by enhancing the immune function.  Dosage: Start with 400 IU daily and slowly increase to 800-1,000 IU daily.

Zinc

Zinc stimulates hair growth by enhancing immune function.

Dosage: 50-100 mg daily. Do not exceed this amount.

Other Nutrients That May Help Hair Health Coenzyme Q10 - Improves scalp circulation. Increases tissue oxygenation. It is also very important for heart health. Take 60 mg daily.

L-Cysteine and L-methionine

Two amino acids belived to improve quality, texture, and growth of hair. They help prevent hair from falling out.

Dosage: 500 mg each twice daily, and on an empty stomach. (A hair supplement you can check is Pro-Caps Healthy Hair, Skin & Nails by Andrew Lessman, this has alot of the b vitamins plus the l-cysteine and l-methionine). Also available on HSN.

Diet/Food Therapy

A wholesome diet, rich in silica, calcium and iron, will help reduce or prevent hair loss. Green, leafy vegetables, especially sea vegetables, are good mineral sources. Raw oats provide silica. Dried fruits and cherry juice are rich sources of iron.

For women, thinning hair or hair loss can be a sign of a problem in the gastrointestinal tract. It could be a sign of insufficient stomach acids; It could also mean a deficiency of protein, zinc and other nutrients. For men, balding process can be slowed down by taking a low-fat diet. Some scientists postulate that the male pattern baldness is tied to increased testosterone levels during puberty. A high-fat, meat-based diet raises testosterone levels, and that may adversely affect hair follicles. For example, in Japan, male pattern baldness was very rare prior to World War II when the diet was lean and healthy. The Japanese now consume a more fatty, Westernized diet. Baldness is now increasing substantially among Japanese men. Eating low-fat foods may not stop hair loss; but it might help slow down the hair loss.

Anemia is one of the most frequent causes of hair loss (Lab levels lower than 70 mcg/dL will cause the body to stop using it's resources to manufacture hair & nails). Eat plenty of iron-rich foods, like liver (Avoid if you are pregnant) and other organ meat, whole grain cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, eggs, dates, and raisins.

The hair is comprised mostly of protein. To encourage hair growth, adhere to a diet rich in protein. A recommended diet for this purpose includes calves liver, brewer's yeast, wheat germ, and two tablespoons of granulated lecithin. Along with protein, these foods are also high in B vitamins, an important nutrient for hair.

European studies have found that soy protein reinforces hair and stimulates its growth. In one study, The hair growth increased by 15 percent. Tofu and soy milk are good sources of soy protein. Other good sources of protein are: low-fat cheese, eggs, fish, beans, brewer's yeast and yogurt.

Another important nutrient for hair health is silica. Studies in the former Soviet Union have shown that silica therapy slowed hair loss. Organic silica added to shampoo was found to help prevent baldness, stimulate healthier hair growth and assure beautiful shine, luster and strength. Some scientists claim that they have effectively stopped further hair loss by adding silica to their shampoo. This can be applied externally to regrow already lost hair.

Silica is found in the outer coverings of potatoes, green and red peppers and cucumbers. Bean sprouts are also high in silica. Eat whole foods including sprouts.

Vitamin C improves the absorption of iron. Include a good serving of fruits and vegetables in your diet.

Vitamin E is important for healthy hair growth. Eat avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil on a regular basis.

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Hope this helps you with a little more information and good luck.