Losing hair

BekahC1980
BekahC1980 Posts: 474 Member
in Food and Nutrition
i was curious to see if anyone is having an issue with clumps of hair falling out since they began dieting & working out.

I have noticed while washing my hair or brushing it i have to clean the drain/brush every time I do either activity. I have approached my doctor with this and her response was to either ignore my question or she didn't have an answer because I got no response and I have asked on more than one occasion.

Thanks for your responses in advance

Replies

  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    edited October 2015
    If you're significantly undereating your calorie goals, it can be a symptom of malnourishment.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited October 2015
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  • BekahC1980
    BekahC1980 Posts: 474 Member
    I actually do take a multivitamin everyday and also fiber supplements :smile:
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Protein! Are you hitting your protein targets daily?
  • BekahC1980
    BekahC1980 Posts: 474 Member
    at least my goal sometimes over
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    BekahC1980 wrote: »
    at least my goal sometimes over

    Are you using custom goals from somewhere else?

    The reason I ask, is because you don't always eat to your calorie goal (sometimes leaving 500-600 uneaten) and you don't always meet the protein goal at the bottom of your diary.

  • BekahC1980
    BekahC1980 Posts: 474 Member
    edited October 2015
    I am on a 1300 cal diet from my diabetic dietician 45% carbs 35 % fat and 20 % protein. and I am not supposed to eat any of my exercise calories back but I do sometimes do that.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    BekahC1980 wrote: »
    I am on a 1300 cal diet from my diabetic dietician 45% carbs 35 % fat and 20 % protein. and I am not supposed to eat any of my exercise calories back but I do sometimes do that.

    Have you mentioned the hair loss to your dietitian?
  • BekahC1980
    BekahC1980 Posts: 474 Member
    yes and it was answered the same way my doctor answered it.
  • BekahC1980
    BekahC1980 Posts: 474 Member
    catscats222 wrote: »
    sometimes, on low calorie diets a person does not get all the necessary nutrients and protein
    would you consider starting to take a daily multi-vitamin?
    stress and anxiety can also cause this
    21 reasons why your hair could be falling out:
    http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20727114,00.html
    * too much fiber can interfere with nutrient absorption. ex: calcium, iron, magnesium, etc. hope you are not taking fiber supplements with food http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/reduced-absorption-nutrients-excess-fiber-11914.html

    thanks for these links
  • BekahC1980
    BekahC1980 Posts: 474 Member
    catscats222 wrote: »
    any other medications you are taking? high stress a couple months ago?

    I am on a LOT of medicine sadly, and stress is a common factor unfortuanetly.. I have 2 children with autism
  • snikkins
    snikkins Posts: 1,282 Member
    BekahC1980 wrote: »
    yes and it was answered the same way my doctor answered it.

    Then I'd think it's time for a new dietitian and/or doctor if at all possible.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Diabetes can lead to hair loss, too. My second guess since protein is fine, is stress. Exercise like walking can help reduce stress as well as help keep your blood sugars stabilized.

    If you can bear another pill, you might try biotin.

    Expect any turnaround to take a few weeks.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Lots of things can make hair fall out. If you're concerned and you think the doctor is blowing it off, get a second opinion.

    I lose more hair than normal because of a thyroid thing. Lots of different reasons.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    About a doctor's hierarchy of concerns. My dad is in end-stage COPD and fights for every breath. His goal these days is to stay mobile as long as he can. He's on a steroid now that has some unfortunate feminizing side-effects. He mentioned it to his doctor, and the doctor shrugged. Dad interpreted this to mean, in the grand scheme of things, breasts aren't a big deal. The doctor's goal now is to keep dad breathing.

    I imagine in the hierarchy of concerns, getting your blood sugars in control are right up there. Take care of that and a few other problems may go away.
  • BLifts38
    BLifts38 Posts: 248 Member
    I lost a considerable amount of hair during my weight lost the past few years. Probably from malnourishment. Also, I recently found out that one of the side effects from my birth control is hair loss, so I'm sure that played a contributing factor as well. I now take a vitamin for my hair, skin, and nail growth.
  • BekahC1980
    BekahC1980 Posts: 474 Member
    My blood sugars are in the best control they have ever been (was taken off of insulin) , but your right some doctors just want to take care of the bigger things.

    I've been through a few doctors and I can't switch again until next year, as far as dietician goes the one I see is the only one my insurance pays for.

    I get over an hour of cardio in 5 times a week and also strength training 3 times a week when possible.

    I guess it's just something I'll have to deal with. I was just curious to see if anyone else experience this.

    Thanks again
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Hair loss is a common consequence from the VLCD diet the couple months following bariatric surgery. So it is pretty common. It sounds like you are doing so many things right. I hope you all success in the coming months.
  • dawnmcneil10
    dawnmcneil10 Posts: 638 Member
    I took a look at your diary for the past couple of weeks, if that's pretty normal for you then you're eating pretty well. A few more veggies wouldn't hurt but otherwise it looks pretty good. What sticks out is not eating back many of the exercise calories yet you typically burn quite a bit. I see above that it sounds like that's a part of the plan.

    If you can get a nutritionist onboard with whatever medical treatment you have that might be beneficial. I also am not personally impressed with the responses you got from either the dietician or the doctor when you asked about it.

    If you're willing to try different things I would suggest eating back half of the calorie burn, it could slow down your weightloss but it'll be fueling your body and perhaps stop that hair loss. If you're seriously undereating you'll likely become irregular with your menstral cycle.
  • scastor27
    scastor27 Posts: 204 Member
    Ask to get your thyroid checked out if you can. My sister in law was having this problem and her dr sent her for some tests.
  • blwasson73
    blwasson73 Posts: 92 Member
    My mom was losing hair and her iron levels were found to be extremely low. After her levels increased, the hair loss resolved. Maybe some bloodwork would be useful.
  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
    I know you said that your dietician advised not to eat back your exercise calories, but are you required to do that much cardio?
  • BekahC1980
    BekahC1980 Posts: 474 Member
    tincanonastring wrote: »
    I know you said that your dietician advised not to eat back your exercise calories, but are you required to do that much cardio?

    she wants me to aim for at least 45 minutes 7 days a week but because of heart issues I can only do it 5 days a week so I try to get as much as I can those 5 days.
  • tincanonastring
    tincanonastring Posts: 3,944 Member
    BekahC1980 wrote: »
    tincanonastring wrote: »
    I know you said that your dietician advised not to eat back your exercise calories, but are you required to do that much cardio?

    she wants me to aim for at least 45 minutes 7 days a week but because of heart issues I can only do it 5 days a week so I try to get as much as I can those 5 days.

    Wow. That seems like a lot of cardio!

    Have you talked to her about how that means you net 300-400 calories on some days? Are you concerned with that at all?
  • KourtneyChristine
    KourtneyChristine Posts: 33 Member
    Hair loss like that is a sign of malnutrition. Usually people who suffer from anorexia have clumps of hair fall out like that. Maybe you should increase your calories?
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    tincanonastring wrote: »
    BekahC1980 wrote: »
    tincanonastring wrote: »
    I know you said that your dietician advised not to eat back your exercise calories, but are you required to do that much cardio?

    she wants me to aim for at least 45 minutes 7 days a week but because of heart issues I can only do it 5 days a week so I try to get as much as I can those 5 days.

    Wow. That seems like a lot of cardio!

    Have you talked to her about how that means you net 300-400 calories on some days? Are you concerned with that at all?

    @BekahC1980 do point out that you are netting 300-400 calories on some days.

    I'd also want my thyroid and iron levels checked.
  • bibimazoon
    bibimazoon Posts: 50 Member
    omg! This is me too! I don't notice clumps so much as my part is getting wider as my hair thins. I went to the doc just a week ago, she ran a bunch of blood tests I'm still waiting to hear the results.
    She thinks it's prob a combination of my weight loss and age related hormones, I'm 54
    It also runs in my family...my mom and all 3 of my sisters have hair loss

    In the grand scheme of things, I can buy a wig or hat...but my mobility and joints are much happier carrying around less weight. Good luck!!
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    I'm having this problem (again) but I have a few autoimmune issues including thyroid issues so it seems to happen every few months (grrr). I'm guessing I can attribute this round to:
    • illness - I just got over shingles and now I have a cold
    • stress - we're unemployed, my kids homeschool and it's getting busy, and I am organizing a school board function for 300 this week
    • thyroid meds - I've lost about 35 lbs so the medication that was a bit low for my body weight might be getting a bit high for my size
    • Fast weight loss - I lost 35 lbs in under 4 months. I was eating 1500 kcal per day and completely sedentary, but perhaps that was not enough for a 5'8" woman.
    • I did have an autoimmune flare-up a couple of months ago and that often goes hand in hand with hair loss

    All I can do it wait it out and hope I don't have to shave my head. Hubby would *love* that....
  • ZeroDelta
    ZeroDelta Posts: 242 Member
    BekahC1980 wrote: »
    i was curious to see if anyone is having an issue with clumps of hair falling out since they began dieting & working out.

    I have noticed while washing my hair or brushing it i have to clean the drain/brush every time I do either activity. I have approached my doctor with this and her response was to either ignore my question or she didn't have an answer because I got no response and I have asked on more than one occasion.

    Thanks for your responses in advance

    You are your own advocate. Many times medical practitioners do what is convenient for them, not what is best for the patient. It is up to YOU to get answers you need. Please do yourself a favor. Ask questions and don't allow yourself to be ignored. If your physician doesn't answer your question, ask it again, immediately. If they still don't answer call them on it! "I asked you a question! Why are you ignoring me?"

    I need my physician. I also need my lawn service. Both provide me with ADVICE. I pay for this advice. Granted the physician's advice is more expensive than my lawn service. If I am paying you for advice, you will give me what I'm paying for otherwise I need to find a new vendor.

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