Hair falling out

[Junebug812]

In the scheme of things, my hair falling out more than usual is not a big deal, though I thought it would be before tx. But I am curious as to what others' experiences have been with this while on tx. I am in my 17th week and since about two weeks ago, I noticed my hair coming out in small clumps. It's been increasing, but not in large clumps, but definitely constant, throughout the day. I seem to always be picking fallen hairs off my clothes and when I run my hand through my hair, I always get a bunch of hair in my hands. Is this how it starts?

As I said, in the scheme of things I am grateful to be UND at this point, even with all the difficult sx I've experienced, so if I lose my hair, it's not the end of the world. Just wondering what others have gone through and if anyone lost all of their hair.

Thanks!
June

[Junebug812]

It is scary, when you first start tx. The unknown is often frightening. Just take it day by day and listen to your body. You're right, you may encounter more sx once the Riba is in your system more, but then again, you might not. We all seem to have different experiences. As for the hair loss, I'm ready if it happens. As NYgirl says, it's better to have a healthy liver! Besides, healthy hair will probably grow back.

Also, you might find that as you're on the tx longer, you become more resilient. That seems to be happening in my case. It's been a hard 17 weeks but at this point I'm ready to say, "ok, next sx, bring it on so I can kick your....."

:)

[Junebug812]

I was more worried about hair loss before tx as well. Like I said though, in the scheme of things, dealing with all the other stuff, hair loss is not a big deal. I'll figure it out.

As for your earring thing, I find my skin is sensitive overall since being on tx.

[paen53]

If I remember correctly, I started noticing the hair loss more about week 20, thereabouts. I remember thinking that I had lucked out, LOL. I cut my hair shorter too, easier to scrunch and later, cooler under wigs and scarves. I think I was more worried about it before it happened. Once it did, I was like, oh well......Plus I was feeling crappier by that time, so it wasn't high on the list of stressors by then.

One thing I noticed - and I only mention cuz i like wearing earrings, especially once my hair was shorter. My ears became very sensitive, even to high grade metals and wearing earrings became painful. I stopped during the rest of tx as I was worried about infection at that point - and even now, I have trouble wearing them for extended periods. Just an aside..... Pam

[nygirl7]

Better to lose your hair then your liver.  Always remember that it, will make dealing with the sides much easier.

[willbb]

  Not everyone experiences severe side effects.many go thru treatment feeling nothing more than you are currently and most folks don"t lose all their hair.

  Keep up the good fight..and again..... you may be one of the lucky ones ,with mild or no side effects.

  Good luck
WILL

[BooBoo2020]

I'm so nervous about that! I really don't wanna lose my hair!!! I took my second shot friday. I'm nervous bc I thought I would be so sick and miss work... I feel normal and great. So I feel like it's just bc I just started 2 weeks ago. I'm worried in a few weeks I'm gonna start getting really sick and lose all my hair!!! My doctor told me it doesn't happen to everybody but I feel like things are going to good and I'm just expecting something bad soon. :-(

[Gee704]

My hair began to fall out at about the same time. It stopped for a little bit near the end of tx (maybe reduced Riba helped). Then shortly after tx it started  to fall again but much less than during tx. Now almost 8 weeks post, I think it has stopped to fall out again but I haven't noticed regrowth either.

Although I have very straight hair and no body, it was extremely thick. I believe I lost nearly 50-60% but if you didn't know me, you wouldn't even guess I had lost so much as it appears just thin now. It took months for me to finally cut it all off. Actually I just had it cut short last week. I feel more confident now as I can actually style it and it is a whole new look for me. I just might keep it this short and let the gray come in as well.

Have fun with it.

Positude was actually my inspiration as she had cut hers short as well!

[Fnzol]

Mine started thinning at about week 13 or 14.  Now I'm about to do shot 21 and it's still thinning out.  Not clumps, but just several hairs every time I run hands through.  In the shower, I see them going down the drain.

My case nurse said that the ribavirin dries out the follicles and that makes them release their hairs, but they do recover and it does grow back.  Keep drinking that water!

[meakea]

You've got the right attitude June.  Just own it...make it fun (if you end up needing to)!  The answer to "when" hair starts falling varies so much from person to person.  I know of one woman who did 24 weeks of TX and her hair didn't start falling out until AFTER treatment ended.  So, some start losing it early on, some later and some not at all.  Pretty much a crap shoot on that one.  :)

[Junebug812]

Yeah, mine seems to be falling out kind of fast. Not huge clumps, but definitely clumps. I had my thyroid checked recently and it is fine. I've had a thyroid problem for about 15 years and have it under control with meds. My doc checks it regularly and my hep doc also just checked it.

I love the idea of different color wigs to match your outfits! And I really like the ide of it growing back like a weed! Thanks for the encouraging feedback and I'm sorry you had to lose so much of your hair during tx.

[nygirl7]

Make sure you have your thyroid checked - when mine went bonkers around week 20 hair fell out at a much faster rate.   I lost about 75-80% and went on ebay and bought a ton of wigs and made it fun, matching them to my outfits different colors on different days.

It grows back like a weed usually and is nice new healthy shiny hair so that is the good part.

[Junebug812]

My hair is shoulder length. I stopped dying it before tx because I read that it is not a good idea to dye your hair during this. I'm kind of liking the silver bits actually.

And yes, hair loss *****, but after these past 17 weeks and how hard this has been, hair loss is not going to get to me. If I end up needing a wig, a friend of mine said she'd go wig shopping with me. I could actually make a little party of it with several friends. Could be fun. I told my boyfriend that if he'd like, I can get a blonde wig to wear once in a while! ;)

[Junebug812]

thanks for sending the link. I read through the posts, some were quite funny. Good to keep it all in perspective. I like the line about rather having a liver than hair. I agree!

[babs824]

dear june. mine started about that time and seems to still be going on 2wk after tx. as u can see from photo my hair is quite short. this makes it easier to cover with a bit of mousse and jel and the loss has not been in clumps. i hear that short hair makes it easier to disguise. you are right to put in perspective but hair loss is frightening. statistics show that hair loss is the biggest fear in traditional chemo! (more than sickness and death) so...hang in there, babs

[Junebug812]

Thanks. That's helpful. What period during tx did hair loss start to happen for you both? I am kind of surprised that it took this long to start. I figured since it didn't happen by about the 5th week on, that I was in the clear with this sx. And yes, thinning is the appropriate word. I don't have patches but definitely have what seems like a lot falling out each day.

[paen53]

Everyone's different in the hair loss department, some notice a thinning that may or may not be noticeable to others. Others like Meakea and me experience it to a greater degree. Mine was more an ongoing thinning more than it coming out in clumps. I did use wigs later on and felt much less self conscious at work. I was more concerned about scaring my grandsons, but they took it all in stride.  I even had some fun with it between the wigs, hats and scarves. Luckily, it grew in thicker soon after tx ended even with a thryoid that was bouncing around.

[meakea]

Yes, June, that's how it starts.  Most people just notice a thinning of their hair that is not readily noticeable to other people.  There are a few of us (and I emphasize FEW) that lost enough hair that we resorted to wearing a wig...I was one of them.  I did not lose all of my hair but it was enough that I was not able to go to work looking the way I did with patches.  Once I started wearing a wig (and I had several cute ones) my life was so much easier going to work...just pop it on and my hair looked great.  :)  

Again, my hair experience was more exaggerated than others so don't worry...I suspect you will continue to notice the falling hair but it will just result in an overall thinning and not patchy loss.

[mikesimon]

http://www.medhelp.org/search/expanded?cat=posts&query=hair+loss+treatment