Telogen Effluvium

99oakers99

3 days after surgery my hair started falling out like crazy. I couldn’t wash it or brush it without it falling out. My naturopath put me on iron supplements after seeing my bloodwork ... it was low... but my dr said I was in the range so I was fine and my 2 separate dermatologists (one in Canada and one in the US) said iron wasn’t a factor. I’m using a shampoo sold to me by the one dermatologist... “Anaphase”, which I can buy at shoppers... it stopped after 3 months, but then I had another big stress and it started up that day as the stress was happening... stopped about 3 months later.. but over Christmas with all of the stress of various family issues... it is worse than ever before. I used to be a vegetarian but am now eating meat.
The natureropath also put me in GABA for stress reduction and b-calm and biotin.
The iron supplement she put me on is called INTRGRATIVE IRON COMPLEX, as she said that it absorbed quickly into the body. I got tested for thyroid but didn’t have it. My ferritin was 18 when I got tested... which was in the range so the two drs I saw said it was fine... but my naturopath said was very low and I definately needed to up it.
The TE comes on from stress in my case, and it doesn’t help looking in the mirror at thinning hair and seeing hair all over my clothes and the floor constantly. I even went wig shopping. It’s been an emotional journey that I’m in the thick of. And I feel for anyone going through this. I work out everyday for 1.5hrs to rid myself of the stress but am afraid that might not be helping. I weigh what I should and have only fluctuated 5 lbs give or take throughout my life so I can’t see that being the case. Any help on what worked for anyone else would be appreciative.

aokoye

Given all of the stress that you've mentioned, have you thought about seeing a therapist to help address that? Especially given that you said that exercising every day for an hour and a half might not be helping (also depending on what you're doing that might not be sustainable).

kshama2001

When my anemia is not controlled I lose a lot of hair too, but other deficiencies can cause this as well, such as iodine, which wouldn't be an issue if you eat normal iodized salt, but could be if you don't. (For example, Himalayan and some brands of Celtic salt wouldn't be iodized.) Has your doctor checked for other deficiencies?

What are you doing to address the stress? I've cut toxic family members out of my life at times. I realize this would be harder if you are referring to children or loved ones with illnesses. My brother is mentally ill and my mom's IBS acted up the year my brother was in a mental health facility awaiting trial. Prior to that, his meds had stopped working and he got into trouble. It was very stressful for us all.

A few years ago my mother said she was ending gift giving on Christmas and just doing birthday gifts. This cut way down on Christmas stress for everyone. This last Christmas celebration was small, as some family members were away, and my OH said this was the least stressful Christmas he'd ever had.