hair loss after sepsis and septic shock

[jennjoom]

got sepsis, and then went into septic shock in April, and was in the ICU and almost died. Three months after that I've started to experience MAJOR hair loss. It started about 2 weeks ago, and I would say that I have already lost 40% of my hair. I'm terrified. Did this happen to anyone else? And if so, did you lose all your hair? When does the hair loss stop? How long did it take for it to grow back? The last couple of days my scalp feels itchy and I read somewhere that this can occur just before a major shedding!! I'm freaking out... a major shedding and I might have no hair left. Please help

I'm so sorry you went through that. A good friend of mine also survived sepsis and it did knock him for about a year afterwards. It took that long for him to recover himself and feel normal.

Hair loss is a common after-effect of sepsis....I don't know a lot about recovering after it but here's a good website with lots of support, chat and information for those affected.

sepsistrust.invisionconnect.com/index.php/topic/33-how-long-til-i-feel-like-me-again/

Thank you so much for responding and for that thread. That was a helpful site you sent me... pity I'm not able to subscribe to it. There is something wrong their captcha. But at least I can read what's already there :-)

I know someone who had sepsis and lost their hair including eyebrows and lashes, unfortunately theirs didn’t grow back, I believe they have some but it’s patchy and they still wear a wig. Everyone is different though, there’s no guarantee either way. I’m sorry you’re going through this.

sepsistrust.org/get-support/my-local-group/

Look here OP...you can find your local support group.x

Could it be Telogen Effluvium? (Google it) Could grow back in 3-9 months x

Poor you I know someone who this happened too also - lost about 60% after 3 months, looked better after a year when started to thicken from regrow, think hair keeps growing then the effects of the illness show after this time span when your body stopped and went into survival mode. Person I know stopped washing or brushing as much to stop seeing it fall out, distressing but v normal reaction to severe illness

Thank you. I'm really worried about my hair growing back since I'm approaching 50. I would guess your chances are better if you're younger, but I hope I'm wrong. With everything else you go through with septic shock, losing one's hair shouldn't be so bad, but it is. I can't bear watching all my hair fall out and my scalp becoming visible.

AjasLipstick - thank you for that link.

My hair grew back wavy (it was straight before). The actual falling out happened over quite a short time but it took a good few months to visibly grow back and I cut my hair shorter to avoid the straggly look while the new bits were growing. There was an odd phase where I could feel the new growth sticking up if I ran my fingers through my hair and it felt very springy.
I also had the skin on my palms and soles fall off, which was weirdly fascinating. Bizarre to look at but not painful
I hope the rest of your recovery goes smoothly - I did find my general confidence was knocked a bit, so be kind to yourself don't feel bad if things take longer than you would like.

Hi. I contracted sepsis and spent 6 days in ICT just before Christmas. I was warned that one of the after effects might be hair loss. I thought I'd got away with it, but about 4 months after I was discharged, my hair suddenly started coming out in in handfuls. I blocked the hair trap every time I had a shower; my bedroom carpet had a permanent top layer of hair; I work in an infant school and the children kept commenting that my hair was all over their books when I went round the tables to mark their work.

This went on for a couple of weeks and then the fall-out gradually stopped. The hair is growing back and seems to be getting back to normal. You mentioned you were worried about age - well, I'm 56.

Thank you for your answers! It's about 3 weeks now and the hair loss continues! Every day I wake up, I hope it has stopped but it's still coming out by the handfuls. And the hair I have left it has a strange texture - kind of soft and fluffy. I don't know if it feels that way because it's thinned out, but its weird.

tartanbuggy - I couldn't help laughing about the kids commenting that your hair was all over their stuff. LOL. My kids are picking my hair off everything too, and one of them suggested I put a cap on before making them dinner. She has a point!

Thank you for the reassurance about age. I'm not feeling that confident about my hair growing back, but at least I'm hopeful now.

Wishing you all good health, laughter and happiness.