Please help: going bald

[oxcat1]

Last summer I was very I'll, developing septic shock after a pneumonia 'went bad'. I had kidney failure, liver failure, lung failure etc, but was very lucky in that everything eventually resolved. I've been very anaemic since, usually with a Hb of 8.5-9.5g/dL and have needed several blood transfusions since when my Hb has fallen below 8. I have tried, abd failed, to succeed with any iron supplements (ferritin is 2), but am going to give Spatone a go, plus the docs are looking into intravenous iron infusions.

I've thought my hair was thinning over the last dew months, and although initially he denied it, he has now agreed. It was just large lumps of hair in the shower or brush, but over the last couple of days this has increased and handfuls come away if I run my hand through my hair.

What can I do? Please help. I imagine it's caused by many things - my weight is less than 8 stone, on steroids, was septic in hospital again only last week etc etc - and so I hope as I get stronger it will improve, but any suggestions for now? I haven'r been to a hairdresser since being so ill last May, but I'm scared to go in case they laugh, or dry too roughly or something. Would cutting my hair help? It is mislength and generally tied back.

I'm trying to touch it as little as possible, but still The pillow (still in hosp) is permanently covered.

Any suggestions to help, either short or long-term? I know it should be insignificant, but I'm really struggling emotionally at the fear of going bald within the next few weeks.

Just bumping for the morning crowd.

I know this isn't a big deal, and indeed I know it really doesn't compare with what others are going through. In fact if doesn't even compare with my own health problems, which is why I haven't asked my doctors.

Any help nuch appreciated.

Sorry you are going through this at the moment oxcat1. I'm sorry I don't have any advice but did not want you to be unanswered. I hope you are out of hospital soon and feeling a bit better.

oxcat - if it's making you miserable it is a big deal - and I think hair loss is pretty traumatic for any woman. Do talk to the doctors about it again - I don't know much about any treatments, but I believe there are some thing they can do to help.

maybe a daft idea - but if you are in hospital, do they have a hairdresser - some hospitals do, - that might be an option.

Again another suggestion would be a wig (and again they can advise you about this in hospital) although I don't know whether wearing one would inhibit hair growth in any way.

But I wouldn't worry about hairdressers laughing. I had chemo a couple of years ago, - and my hair was very patchy when it was growing back - without exception every time I went to have it tidied up, the hairdressers were very kind and understanding.

I'm so sorry you have been so poorly and hope you are out of hospital soon.

I'm so sorry.

Someone here suggested Folic acid could be the cause sometimes - not iron, as she had thought originally, and she started on a folic acid supplement and the problem resolved.

I don't know if this might help but worth a try maybe x

Many thanks for your messages - made me well up with tears!

Kerri: I was nervous about posting as so far this problem really doesn't compare with that of chemo patients. It's just so unexpected though, abd indeed yet another very visible sign of severe illness.

Ingrid: thank you for that. I do actually have some folic acid around as we had hoped to start trying for a baby before all these health problems started. Worth a go.

Meg: thank you.

I haven't actually spoken to my doctors. As an in-patient, the docs are primarily concerned with, as they put it, 'fire-fifhting'. I have an out-patient appointment on Wed so will have to bring it up then. I feel embarrassed, and even ashamed, partly because of what it is, and partly because I feel like it's vain to care. I'm terrified to touch my head though, and wept after brushing my hair this morning as the sink was just full.

I don't know anything about this but didn't want to leave it unanswered but it strikes me that after all your body has been through your hair might have had a shock as well? I think since you're still in hospital you must try to access medical help over this- maybe one of the drugs you were treated with has caused this? It is not trivial to you even compared to your recent health problems as it's all linked with your self-esteem so I doubt they'd be dismissive of it.

I hope you manage to get to the bottom of what's causing it soon. It might not stop you going bald temporarily but seeing a doctor about it might give you hope if it growing back.

Oxcat - please don't feel embarrassed and ashamed - honestly although at the moment the docs are concerned with treating your illness, they do understand how distressing hair loss can be, and they will take you seriously.

It is in no way vain - having lost my hair - I know it really is a shock to actually see it come away - and I was expecting it, so it was much easier for me to deal with - and I still felt sad and vulnerable.

Your hair is part of who you are - really you mustn't feel it is in some way a trivial problem because it isn't. You have been very ill and will probably have lost some of your confidence - but don't be worried about asking the medics for help with this- that's what they are there for

I lost a lot of hair after a bout of pneumonia quite a few years ago.
I didn't go "Gail Porter bald" but my hair was so thin. I took to wearing hats, and eventually had what was left cut off. The doctors said there was nothing wrong with me and couldn't explain it. It took a year or so but it did grow back. Maybe not quite as thick, but it's normal enough now.

I really am glad I've got a side-room: you lot have really got me blubbing now!

I suspect everything you've all suggested contributes. I remember that all the skin on my hands and feet gradually peeked off after the septic shock last year - a bit like after bad sunburn - so I would imagine hair is pretty low down the priority list. I think it began then, but I don't know why it's really started over yhr last few days. Probably septicaemia last week (not as bad aa last year but clearly still serious).

Buoyed by your support, I did talk to the staff Nurse when she bought in lunchtime meds. I think she was a bit taken aback when I demonstrated, and is going to talk to the doctors, so thank you. She also thought it was a combination of everything. I don't imagine there's anything that can be done to help now, so I'm just trying to touch and fiddle as little as possible. Once I know quite how far it's going to go, il l'll be better able to decide whether to ignore, cut, hats, wigs etc.

Thank you.

I know how you feel last year I lost 3 stones on a vlcd diet. This made a lot of my hair fall out, as a side effect of the diet. It stopped falling out when I started to eat food again. Only for me to become ill with a liver problem. When that got sorted out it has recovered a bit.

I now take a hair supplement which to my suprise is working.

I remember when I was aneamic it does cause hairloss. The good news is when you beat the anemia your hair should improve.

Female hairloss is very upsetting and you have a big hug from me!!

I have androgenic alopecia.

I had shiney scalp at the front. when I washed my hair, I had clumps in my fingers. My hairbrush was full of hair every day.

I thought - sod waiting around for this! and I have shaved my head and bought wigs.

Is it at the front of your head? If so, have they checked androgens? (google female pattern balding)

oxcat, u in hospital sorry to hear that
I take revalid occasionally, I am not saying you should, just wanted to show you what your hair needs and I think good food should help it - and YOU - to recover.
Good luck and get well soon.

Thank you for all your suggestions.

Hecate: no, it's all over really. Or at least I can't tell yet as the big handfuls have only been the last couple of days.

Having spent many hours on the internet (how else do you pass a sunny Saturday afternoon in hospital?!), I've decided I think it might be telogen effluvium. It says that this form of hair loss can have as its cause severe infection [septic shock 5 months ago, milder sepsis twice since], major surgery [4 ops in past year], chronic anaemia, malnutrition [lots of weight loss] etc.

I was feeling quite reassured as it seemed to suggest that complete loss was unlikely, and that the hair usually regrew within 6 months or so. However, I then found another website ehich describes hair being reduced to just stubble within 2-4 weeks. No suggestion that anything can be done.

Will just have to face up to it and see what happens. I'm dreading brushing my hair in the morning, abd indeed showing DH what is happening (I'm in a specialist hospital away from home so not seen him for a few days), but I will take positive action. I've remembered that my very close friend has a hairdresser as her son's godfather. Apparently he has a salon-room in his house now, and I've met him a few times and she'd talk to him, so that might bs a lower-risk way of going about getting some sort of cut or something.

Kurri: you're quite right about confidence. My body is covered in scars and I feel I am reduced to the identity of a patient or sick person, nothing more. I don't feel I have any use or purpose as I can't 'be there' for anyone. Everything has to be so one-sided, and I hate that.

I just brushed my hair again, and then burst into tears as so many hairs were on the brush.

Fortunately, perhaps, the rather lovely registrar who has seen me before came in to ask an unrelated question. She couldn't help but notice I was crying, and said she'll look into it, and discuss it with my consultant. I am very relieved really as i think i'd have been too embarrassed to bring it up. Now at least I know they know, and maybe they'll have something to suggest.

Thank you so much for holding my hand today. Days in hospital go so slowly, with too much time for fretting.

Bless you oxcat - you've had a very emotional day haven't you sweetheart?

I'm pleased for you that the are going to look into things for you - that's good news

The confidence will come back once you start to feel well and in control of things more - serious illness is a big knock and you have to be really kind and gentle with yourself and give your self time to recover and get back to being yourself again - it will come .

I'm so glad your registrar knows how you are feeling...it really is important as your feelings will affect your health!

I do hope you feel better soon...and as Kurri says, you are still unwell...you're starting on the road to recovery and your hair will catch up...I know that hairdressers will be able to help and advise...the hospital should know of a specially trained one.

Hope you have agood night.

I developed alopecia areata a couple of years ago, I think due to stress, it was extremely distressing, I wept buckets and went through all the same feelings of guilt because so many people suffer worse things, it is very difficult to deal with emotionally, so please don't feel bad about it. I saw a consultant dermatologist who took me seriously, it is definitely worth following up with the doctors. The dermatologist prescribed stereoids and referred me to a lovely wig supplier,who was very helpful and i used camouflage crream to covere the bare patches (i have very dark hair, and lost about a third of it in well defined patches). I also got a very nice wig on the NHS, the hair grew back within a year and I didn't actually use the wig but it ws very reassuring having it in reserve. Just wanted you to know that you are not alone in this.

I too had low folate and hair loss, 3 months of 5mg per day folic acid (had to be prescribed) and I barely lose any hair.

Really feel for you, you sound really poorly :(

Hi Oxcat1,

I know you posted a while ago now, but thought I'd respond as I'm a trichologist (hair and scalp specialist) and really understand what you're going through. Obviously without seeing you in person I can't make a diagnosis, but from your description of events, I would say that all the ill health you have been through will definitely have had an impact on your hair. Hair is non-essential tissue, so will often be the first thing to suffer when the body is under stress, for whatever reason, as it will not be prioritised for nutrients. However, the most significant thing in your post with regard to your hair is your ferritin (iron stores) level of 2. Obviously you will be aware that this is low, but for optimum hair growth, this should be at least 80! Unfortunately many doctors are unaware of this, but there are published papers on this. So if I were you I would focus on increasing this level, although this could take some time. I would also look at your diet, and ensure you have a good intake of protein every day, as hair is basically made of protein. As tempting as it is, I urge you not to stop brushing and washing your hair, as this will only result in a build up of dead hair, so the hair fall will seem more when you do it again. Hair loss happens due to internal factors, so you absolutely cannot make it worse. The hairs will still be replacing themselves, and hairs that are falling are no longer growing you won't pull out a growing hair as this would hurt!

I hope this reassures you a little, and I wish you a speedy recovery. Do let me know if I can be of any further assistance. X

hi oxcat1

sorry to hear you are having a hard time

my mum was concerned about her hair thinning and loss

• she had a blood test and was found to have an underactive thyroid and is now on dioxin tablets.

best of luck for a good recovery x