Hair stopped growing!

[certainagedwoman]

I have very recently (was discharged two weeks ago) spent 10 weeks in hospital - 5 weeks in the ICU (including two weeks on a ventilator and then I had a tracheostomy) and then 5 weeks in a normal ward. I had pneumonia, kidney failure, and sepsis.

My hair is usually completely grey in colour but I get it coloured regularly. I got an all over colour and highlights done two days before I went into hospital.

Now comes the weird thing. Although it is now three months since I had my hair coloured, I do not have a single grey root showing - not 1 millimetre! And my hair obviously hasn't grown at all. My body hair and my nails I've grown as expected during that time.

I've googled this phenomenon and apparently it is a thing, if you're in ICU and/or critically ill, your body can stop growing your head for a period of time. The article I found also said that when the hair starts growing again, it can grow back a different colour or texture

Just wondering really, if anyone else has experienced this , either themselves or someone they know, and how long it took for the hair to start growing again ?

Sorry to hear you have been so ill. I don't have direct experience of this but it's fascinating what our bodies can do. It makes sense to focus your energies on vital processes. I have anecdotally heard of people losing their hair and it growing back different e.g. curly/straight, although not actually known anyone this has happened to.

Thanks. I have to admit that it was self-inflicted - after my DH died I couldn’t take the pain and just wanted to sleep forever. When I was found my blood oxygen level was down to
66% and the doctors thought I might be brain-damaged so I had a lucky escape there. And apparently I recovered extremely quickly, although 10 weeks in hospital didn’t seem quick at all!

yes, it is really interesting how the body reacts to trauma and stress (also the very strong medication they use when you’re on the ventilator). I have very curly hair so it would be very strange if it grew back straight, but I wouldn’t mind if the grey disappeared! I really hope that it does start growing again soon, I don’t want it to get thinner and thinner with no new hairs coming through.

I hope you are feeling a bit better now OP. I am so sorry for your loss. Do you have people to talk to? Well done on your physical recovery. I hope you are able to see some light and a future very soon.

Thank you. Yes I do have family and friends to talk to. During the 10 weeks I was in hospital, it was like my grieving was put on hold (I was unconscious/out of it for the first 5 weeks anyway), so it feels like my grieving has only just started. I still feel the same way (that I wish I wasn’t here), but now I know he possible consequences (ie long-term coma, brain damage), I know I have no choice but to carry on.

ive been staying with a family member since I got out of hospital, but will be going back to my place in a few days. That’s going to be hard but I need to do it.

sorry, seem to have derailed my own thread!

Just bumping this, in case anyone else has experience of hair stopping growing after illness/ICU

A few years ago (10+) I had severe eczema on my face and across my eyelids. My eyebrows didn’t grow at all. All my other hair did though.