EGADS! Hair falling out!

[lenshanem]

I'm on Atkins, have been for awhile. Hit my goal now I'm adding some carbs back in, BUT my hair has been falling out in hand fulls! Anyone else go through this? Just started out of nowhere three days ago. Luckily, I had really thick hair, but not anymore! YIKES! I'm totally freaking out! I can really feel the difference when I wash and blow dry my hair. I'm almost afraid to go up and wash it this morning. At this rate I will be bald in a week!
Any thoughts? Am I missing a vitamin or something? I take several already. Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[karebear1]

You should go see a Dr. and have your thyroid checked. With the dieting and losing weight- it could have had an effect on your thyroid.

 

[Hollyann]

I completely agree. The diet may have to do with losing your hair, but it may be something else entirely. Go see you doctor and get a complete check up. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[TigerBear]

Definitely go to your physician. I had a similar problem about a year and a half ago. I wondered if it was diet or stress related. I had blood work done and everything was fine. The physician told me that all of us have periods where are hair sheds. It was reassuring though to know it wasn't a medical problem.

 

[thotfulspot]

Do you know, the same thing has been happening to me lately, although perhaps not quite so dramatically. I've noticed for the last month or six weeks that my hairbrush is much fuller after I've brushed my hair than usual, and it's especially noticable when I wash my hair. It seems to be tapering off, so I'm not as freaked out as I was at first. I would definitely echo everyone else's advice and say that it's a good idea to check with your doctor -- he or she may be able to figure out what's going on here.

And then please let us know what you find out!

 

[wilderness01]

I agree, you need to see a Dr. Maybe it is your thyroid. I know everyone goes through periods when they shed hair but I don't know if it is normal to once have thick hair and now so thin that in a week you would be bald. I hope that was just an exaggeration! Maybe you also have some hormonal shift. After my 2nd baby I was shedding hair by the clumpfulls. It totally freaked me out. I did go and get my thyroid checked and it was fine. Of course I would always like to blame my weight on my thyroid but it has always been fine. Please let us know what happens. I will keep you in my thoughts.

 

[disboo]

After about 60 - 65 pounds lost, I started to lose hair, too. It wasn't as bad as you describe, but it was definites. After a couple of weeks it stopped, and has not returned. If it is severe, I'd see the DR, too. Good luck! Let us know what you hear!

 

[hlane]

My hair is also falling out in handfuls & I'm freaking out. Literally you could make a small wig each day from all the hair I lose. I also have very thick hair. I have been thinking about going to the dr but have just started taking vitamins to see if that helps.

 

[webray]

My hair was falling out by the handful also...when I was getting a trim, I spoke with the beautician..he said...either stress, or quite putting it in a scrunci all the time. Too hard on the hair, especially when it is wet.

I started letting it dry out of the scrunci, sleeping without a scrunci, etc...all is good. Hair stopped falling out.

 

[lenshanem]

Thanks everyone. I have an appointment tomorrow. My hair is still falling out in handfuls.

 

[Hollyann]

Keep us posted and best of luck!

 

[Brittwoman]

Just a thought...are you eating enough protein every day? Make sure that you're getting in between 50 - 60 grams of protein a day!

 

[FreshTressa]

This happened to me too!! About 6 weeks after I started losing, suddenly my hair started falling out. For about 3 weeks it fell out in handfuls and was so thin on top you could see through it. My hairline even receded a little.

I was so freaked out I went to the doctor twice. I am now taking iron. I decided to take a break from the diet and see what happened. It did seem to stop after I stopped dieting.

Anyway, while it still seems to be coming out a tad faster than normal, I am getting new growth. I think this is fairly common with weight loss. From everything I have researched, it is temporary and will grow back when the diet stops. Your body views the diet/change of eating habits as a stress.

 

[July]

lenshanem,
Hello neighbor (DVC),
Yikes about the hair, I'm glad you have an appt with the Dr. I have a thyroid problem and like the other posters say it could be that. Good luck

July

 

[lenshanem]

Went to Dr. They drew blood and I should know by Friday. Tested thyroid and he mentioned something about hormones?

I told him I was doing low carb, said it could happen, but he was an advocate of the diet. Thought I was gonna get a lecture about the evils of Atkins.


Regardless I feel so self conscious. I'm sure most people would never know, but I've always had a very thick bob and now it seems so flat and thin. And in a week! I guess I might end up having to get a new style.

I'll check back in when I hear the test results.

Thanks everyone!

 

[my3princes]

It could very well be hormones. About a year ago I experience hair loss. I could run my fingers through my hair and have a handful. I had long hair at the time and opted to get it cut. I talked to my cousin who is a hair dresser and it turned out that women often experience hairloss after a pregnancy. I had a baby several months before. Apparently the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can have effect several months after delivery. I notice that I still get teary eyed over the darnedess things like I did when I was pregnant. In any event after several weeks (could have even been a couple of months) the hairloss stopped.

 

[lenshanem]

Thyroid came back normal, but they didn't test me for anything else?!? I thought I was told they were gonna test my hormones.

Hair STILL falling out! I'm wondering now if I should go to the GYN or a dermatologist. Just seems I didn't get anywhere with my family doctor.

UGH!

 

[FreshTressa]

Yah, mine still seems to be coming out faster than normal. You can see through my hair to my scalp .

I hope it comes back!

 

[kathleena]

You should find out from your doctor what thyroid hormones they checked (hopefully TSH and Free T4) and find out what the number was and what the lab ranges are.

Then post back with those or PM me. Even when in the "normal" range, you can still have symptoms of hyperT or hypoT at the outer edges of the range.

Plus they have just recommended lowering the high end of the range, but not all labs have done it.

And yes - losing over 20lbs or so can bring on thyroid problems.

 

[lenshanem]

Wow, no I didn't get any of that info when they called. I need to call back cause I was also gonna ask about a dermatologist and possibly call my GYN, too and just go to her.

Anyway, can't do much until Monday, maybe even Tuesday cause of the holiday.

Thanks!