hair loss?

Hey guys, currently trying to recover from my 2nd of the 3 surgeries to reconstruct my bowels after having UC for 15 years. I'm trying to conquer the j pouch formation and a large incision, they didn't do it laproscopically this time. Anyway, besides the typical cramping and exhaustion and dehydration, I'm noticing a significant amount of HAIR LOSS! This freaks me way out because this is also something I noticed after my first surgery when they removed my colon. But I figured I'd grow it all back by the time this surgery came around and I haven't. My hair is getting so incredibly thin. I could just wave a couple fingers through it and giant clump comes out!! It's also very noticeable in the shower too. What can I do to help this?? Has this happened to anyone else??? I used to be so proud of my long hair it's finally its natural color and it was thick and healthy but now it's all falling out! What should I do and why is this happening?? Any advice / input is helpful, thanks guys.

Happens to me after every surgery. I found Parkhurst cotton hats and berets very useful. I got very cold without my thick, curly hair. It will come back! Be sure to take a healthy multiple-vitamin to speed things up a bit.

I also have very long, straight hair. 4 months post op, I was just horrified to the hair loss. The shower was just covered, it just fell all over the place, I brushed my hair constantly and it was to no avail. I thought I was going to be bald. I had 2 prior surgeries, 2 children, and hair loss wasn't so bad. But I guess my colectomy/ileostomy/4surgeries/38 day hospitalization/TPN for over a week was so much stress, thus making the hair loss more predominant. After 2 weeks, I couldn't take it anymore and started taking Selenium (took this for hair loss after my pregnancies) and biotin. The hair loss lessened, stopped in about 1 week, could have been the vitamins or the duration. My regrowth is the same texture as before, and it's growing in nicely and at a good pace.

WOW! and i thought my recent hair loss was from getting a perm!! Good to know, and you are totally right, run your fingers thru it and huge clumps come out!! Again, so glad to know I am not crazy and this happens to everyone else too!

So glad to read this. I have been secretly freaking out for the past month or two due to hair loss myself. I had a colectomy in November and started noticing more than usual hair loss around February. I am 25, had long, medium-thick hair, and was always proud of it. Lately it is very thin and falls out EVERYWHERE. It's all over the shower, I have to sweep the bathroom floor every single time I do my hair, and I can't run my fingers through it without pulling out pieces! I am really hoping it stops soon.

I have an ileostomy, surgery was february 29 and my hair is still falling out! We just recently redid our bathroom in white/beige tile and I can't believe how much hair is on the bathroom floor, let alone my tub and sink. I think it is going to take time for our bodies to adjust and I also heard that the anesthesia from surgery can cause this to happen. I feel so much better my UC is finally gone for good!

Post Edited (Salamore) : 6/4/2012 3:39:31 PM (GMT-6)