Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group

For the last couple of days I have noticed that when washing my hair and I am rinsing it that I get a handful of hair in my hand and then when I brush my hair the same thing. Then while at work my co-workers are picking hair off me. Is this normal? I have been taking my vitamins and I eat protein at all my meals.

Hi, Katy!! Let me guess ... you had your surgery around the Jan/Feb timeframe? It's normal for your hair to start falling out around the 4th month. It's from the shock to your system. That's how long it takes for your pre-surgery vitamin levels to deplete. Since you were getting so few calories the next 2 months (and less vitamins), your body freaks out and gives you one last surprise.

I can promise you it won't ALL fall out. If you have thicker hair, nobody will be able to tell but you. After about the 6/7 month, it will slow down considerably. And, it will grow back--I promise!!! Then you'll be talking about how ridiculous your hair is behaving because you have so much new growth and it doesn't blend well with the original hair. lol

Stay calm, keep your vitamins up, spoil your hair...maybe get a shorter "do" for summer. It will calm down and grow back. HUGS!!!

yes I am 4 months out. Thank you.

A lot of people swear by Biotin, it's good for hair and nails etc. Try that.

thanks for the "biotin" hint, i use to have hair so long and thick that i had 2 braides, one on each side of my head, about the size of a lime............. now i have one braide down my back the size of half a pencil, my hair use to be down to my bottom too.. i have never cut or trimmed my hair in my life, and now i dont have hardly any, the dr cant get my vit d up is is severly low, i had my surgery 17 mts ago, and im sure that has a lot to do with it. any other advice will be greatly apreciated, i really need my hair to grow back, physically and emotionally need it back...... as for the vit d i have been taking 50,000 units every week for almost a year now but has not brought any results so last week the dr added 1000 units 3 times daily pluse the 50,000 units a week, maybe this will help............. good luck katy thanks bobbi/jus

Vit D is activated by the sun. If you can stand it; go out in the sun for at least ten minutes a day. I am allergic so I take my D's in a liquid form. I also drink Glaceau Vitamin Water XXX every day. My vities have been great. I feel for the people that lose their hair. I haven't been thru that, knock wood.

I notice you said you "need long hair". Why do you NEED it? I love long hair as much as the next person, but really are you hiding yourself in your hair? Has it become your identity? You might find that if you get a new style, a bit shorter (try shoulder-length), your hair will actually grow in healthier.

Think of how hair (or fingernails grow). Your long hair is falling out ... so, the long hair that didn't fall out is still there. But, you have short hair growing in to replace it. It will never "catch up", so you need to go short to give it a chance to even out. Take a look at my pics, I had sortof long hair (for my age) and I've been getting it trimmed every 3 months. One time, it was totally crazy from the new growth and she cut it pretty darn short for me. You can't tell, it's all past my shoulders now.

You are more than your hair-do. You may find you love having a shorter look that you can actually mess with. I was in the Air Force and we weren't allowed to have our hair past our collar. So, for almost 20 years i put my hair in ponytails and buns 5 days a week--just to have 2 days of "long, pretty hair". I realized that I could have beautiful hair 7 days a week if I accepted the shorter style. I know it's hard to give up, but I think it will really help you.

Hey, I have longish hair, not as long as yours but one thing I do know is that longer hair hair definitely breaks easier and is very effected by body changes and environment changes. Make sure you are taking the Biotin and consult with a cosmetologist to make sure you are using the best shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. I have always been one to wash my hair everyday, which "they" say is not good for your hair. I have started an every other day regimen since my surgery and my sister, who is a non-practicing cosmetologist, has recommended several different products that have, so far, kept my from really thinning or flat out falling out. AND always use a de-tangler leave-in conditioner and a de-tangling comb. When I was stationed overseas in not so great environmental areas using different types of products to counter the bad environmental effects really helped keep my hair healthy. I hope this helps cause I know I am not really prepared to cut my hair either! Good luck!!