Please talk to me about post menopause hair loss

[AnyFucker]

Or if not, just let me get this out. Not sure if it belongs here or in MH. Get a cuppa, this will be long.

I am post menopause. I am suffering with anxiety and labile mental health since working on COVID ICU last year. This seems to manifesting itself in intrusive thoughts and health anxiety.

My biggest obsession atm is my hair. Through the various lockdowns it started to fall out more. I let it be, couldn’t get to a hairdresser for months then denied/avoided it. It grew from a pixie cut to straggly, thinner below shoulder length.

I finally saw the hairdresser who has cut it into a shoulder length bob and put a few fine highlights in. She tells me I lose no more hair when she washes and styles it than she would expect. I have discussed the above with her and she is lovely. She may be trying to spare my feelings, I dunno.

But I lose LOADS. A full tangleteezer brush or comb in the shower. Another full brush/comb/handful carefully combing through product after the shower. A full styling brush worth at blow dry. Literal handfuls I have to flush down the loo. Then when I am finished I pick another couple of handfuls from my clothes and the floor.

This can’t be right. Admittedly, one long hair seems much more than my usual short hair. I have lost perspective, possibly. My hair does seem fine and thinner (for example my pony tail is like a rat’s) but no receding hair line, no male pattern loss, no bald spots. It is otherwise in good condition but when it hangs down you can kind of “see through” it more, it isn’t a proper curtain of hair.

Is this normal post menopause? I spoke with the GP who did some blood tests and recommended Vit B12 supplements otc but no more. I have sought support from the Resilience hub at work but finding that mindfulness and all that stuff isn’t keeping my hair on my head.

Is it stress ? A combination ? I have a stable, treated under active thyroid.

I thought I was doing ok with it all. Obviously not, as evidenced by this essay. My anxiety is high just now as I have also convinced myself I have a melanoma which is getting checked this week (it will probably turn out to be nothing). Despite my health anxiety I hate being the “patient” and will delay assessment until I literally am at breaking point.

I don’t take HRT and don’t especially want to. Does anybody still reading have any calming words for me ?

I'm sorry you're going through this.
You might be okay.
I've found that I have times when my hair thickens back up again and times when it seems thinner.
Being a middle aged woman is shitey enough without adding fucking hair loss into the mix!

Oh and I second the supplements.
I took Perfectil for 3 months and thought it hadn't done much good so I didn't buy any more. A couple of months later I stated it again because I could see it had been having an effect after all.

I’m you AF. Since menopause I’ve had more anxiety and the loss of my father and his slow decline beforehand was an additional trigger for my hair.

Again bloods ok and no hrt.

I started taking perfectil hair nails and skin and after a few months I could see the hair regrow. It’s slow but it is there. I have long blonde hair and it is beginning to look good again. I can’t say for sure that this wouldn’t have happened anyway and the perfectil just makes expensive wee, but I’m sticking with them.

Best of luck.

@TheBullfinch

HRT

Honestly, you'll never look back. It'll take care of the moods, anxiety and hair loss. Takes a few months though.

I have been on HRT for 2 years and I still have anxiety and thinning hair. It did help with some other issues though.

I note you say that you’re only brushing your hair twice a week. This will give the appearance of greater shedding when you do brush it. If you brush daily you’re likely to have fewer hairs in the hairbrush? If I brush my hair before I wash it, I the have less shedding in the shower. If you’re really obsessing would you consider getting it cut short again? I never noticed any shedding when my hair was short.

With regard to your mental state, do you think you may be suffering from trauma or ptsd perhaps?

One other thing, I’m on full range HRT and for me it’s been the best thing ever for me. Maybe revisit it or read up on it especially the NICE guidelines.

I'm post menopausal and my hair is definitely much thinner now, especially my fringe. HRT didn't agree with me, so I'm just having to accept it but I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me

Just to add... unless you're vegan, then your GP should be prescribing B12 injections, not oral supplements. Oral supplements only help dietary deficiency but will artificially raise your B12 blood level and mask an absorption deficiency. Low B12 can definitely make hair loss worse

@Deux

I note you say that you’re only brushing your hair twice a week. This will give the appearance of greater shedding when you do brush it. If you brush daily you’re likely to have fewer hairs in the hairbrush? If I brush my hair before I wash it, I the have less shedding in the shower. If you’re really obsessing would you consider getting it cut short again? I never noticed any shedding when my hair was short.

With regard to your mental state, do you think you may be suffering from trauma or ptsd perhaps?

One other thing, I’m on full range HRT and for me it’s been the best thing ever for me. Maybe revisit it or read up on it especially the NICE guidelines.

Ah I've stupidly never thought of that! I wash my hair two or 3 times a week max, but never brush or comb it otherwise, so it makes send that more comes out after washing. It is also the season for shedding more hair. What is full range HRT?

With regard to your mental state, do you think you may be suffering from trauma or ptsd perhaps?

@Deux I am definitely not the same person I was 18 months ago

This will give the appearance of greater shedding when you do brush it.

My hairdresser told me this. Most of the time I am learning to chill about it but spiral every so often. Like yesterday.

@AnyFucker

With regard to your mental state, do you think you may be suffering from trauma or ptsd perhaps?

@Deux I am definitely not the same person I was 18 months ago

You don't sound like your normal self. I was also wondering about PTSD/trauma. Can you speak to someone about that?

I am in touch with the Resilience Hub, thanks. Not really found it helpful, tbh but it’s very hard to explain unless you were there, IYSWIM

I have talked a lot out.

Hi Anyfucker
Sorry to read that you're having a hard time.
Did you have your ferritin levels checked when you're bloods were done? When mine were low bottom my hair shed constantly. It became thin crispy and wispy. I empathize. Take care.

Thanks for the empathy and the sympathy.

I've been on HRT for years, because of unbearable hot sweats and violent mood swings. Stopped it recently as a bit of an experiment and first thing I noticed wsscmy hair felt thinner and, weirdly, the horrible hag hairs on my lip and chin slowed massively. Great!
However, the depression, the rages and the mood swings came back with a vengeance and I couldnt wait to stick that patch on!
Try it. You can always come off it if you dont like it

HRT is tricky for some. You may need to try a few different brands over a year or so. Testosterone can help mood and energy too but has to be on private prescription.