Hair loss after hysterectomy

[murphlib]

How common is hair loss after hysterectomy?  I am at 6 weeks post op and have noticed a small amount of hair coming out with daily showers.  Twice weekly Vivelle patches were upped from .05 mg to .10 mg.  I am feeling ok otherwise.  I still have one ovary intact.

Murphlib

[jml1986]

It wil take some time, for your hormones level out. It is one of the side effects of hormone issues.

[murphlib]

Thanks, jml ... this forum is great to ease some of the fears.  I recall losing quite a bit of hair for a few weeks after having my two children years ago ... as long as it's temporary! ;-)

Murphlib

[gma718]

I had a hysterectomy in May 07...I lost so much hair thankfully my hair is thick...I remember crying from the hair loss..I was balling all around the hairline..It started to fall out about 6-8 weeks after my surgery...It lasted for about 2 months maybe slightly longer..then all of a sudden it stopped..I also am on the vivelle patch. Hope this helps. Take Care...Gia :)

[Twilight_Princess]

I believe it could be the hormones as well. I am not on hormones yet (just had LAVH on the 1st). It also could be from having the surgery as well. I have heard many, especially women complain of hair loss after some type of surgery. I think it is called Telogen Effluvium. I too was suffering hair loss, but it stopped about 2 months ago. Hopefully my surgery doesn't set off another bout of hair loss! Believe me it is quite tramatic to go through a bout of hair loss. I know how you feel :-(

[murphlib]

Thanks guys ... it is such great support to know we are not alone with these questions on our minds.  My hair loss did stop, with the exception of a few strands (normal), at about 6-7 weeks post-op.  My doctor said not to worrry about it, at the 6 wk check-up, and he was right.

Much happier!
Murphlib

[baldie0207]

I have had a tender spot in my head since the day after surgery. I was able to keep both ovaries. I had noticed my hair shedding but to my horror yesterday I found a bald spot as big as a quarter. I am so upset. I am 19 days post op and scared to death. Thankfully I have thick hair so I can mask the spot but is this is it or will I have more spots. I'm terribly afraid. I called and the nurse said nothing to do with surgery. Saying is probably sleeping on the same side since surgery. I've been sleeping on the same side for as long as as I can remember prior to surgery and no balding.  Good to know that it might be normal. Still scared though.
Baldie

[madgeOwens]

Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss


It is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow. This is the result of the normal hair growth cycle. Hairs will grow for a few years, then rest for a few months, shed, and regrow. Telogen is the name for the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state. Telogen effluvium can be acute or chronic.

If there is some "shock to the system", as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the "shock". This sudden increase in hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium. This is a different problem than gradual genetic hair thinning. However, this can be seen in the less common chronic telogen effluvium, only after a significant amount of hair has already been lost.

A considerable number of different causes for telogen effluvium exist. Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate protein, and a variety of medications. Most hair loss from medications is this type and causes include retinoids, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, and NSAIDS (including ibuprofen).

Typically, abrupt diffuse hair loss is noticed several weeks to several months after the incident has initiated the biologic program for hair loss. While the most often noticed hair loss occurs on the scalp, some individuals may also notice hair loss elsewhere on the body. Significant hair shedding usually occurs when shampooing, combing, or even when gently manipulating the hair. Shedding usually slowly decreases over 6 to 8 months once the cause for the hair loss is no longer present. As some of the causes represent ongoing problems, it is important to determine the likely cause when possible and take appropriate measures to prevent continued hair loss.

These shed or loose hairs all have club-shaped "roots" typical of resting, telogen hairs and may be easily identified under the microscope. After shampooing, the bulk of existing loose hair has often been shed and loose hair may not again appear until additional hairs enter this resting phase. When there is any doubt about the presence of this condition, a small piece of skin may be taken from the scalp as a biopsy to be examined under the microscope. In this way, the condition of the hair follicles, the tissues that produce the hair, may be determined.

No treatment is needed for most cases of telogen effluvium. Remember that the hairs fall out when a new hair growing beneath it pushes it out. Thus with this type of hair loss, hair falling out is a sign of hair regrowth. As the new hair first comes up through the scalp and pushes out the dead hair a fine fringe of new hair is often evident along the forehead hairline.

The most important issue in telogen effluvium is to determine if an underlying cause for the problem is present. Blood tests may need to be done if the cause is not obvious, such as mild iron deficiency. If the telogen effluvium is caused by a medication, the medication needs to be stopped. When the cause of the hair loss is something like giving birth, a transient illness, or other self-limited problem the induced telogen effluvium is also usually self-limited and requires no treatment.

Chronic telogen effluvium is recently recognized and not uncommon. It often occurs in women who previously had very thick hair in their teens and twenties and still have an apparently normal head of hair to a casual observer. It affects the entire scalp with no obvious cause apparent. It usually affects women of 30 to 60 years of age, starts suddenly and has a tendency to fluctuate for a period of years. The degree of shedding is usually severe in the early stages and the hair may come out in handfuls. It does not cause complete baldness and does appear to be self-limiting in the long run.

[Twilight_Princess]

Yes Madge is right! Surgery CAN cause TE.

Two years ago I had Gallbladder surgery and almost exactly 3 months later I had more hair shed than my normal shed. It actually wasn't that bad of a shed, but enough to freak me out!, but it didn't last long - maybe a month at the most.

I had surgery on the 1st of February and I'm expecting another big hair shed soon, so I am bracing for it, BUT this time I know it will soon pass :-) If it's a big one you can bet I'll be here posting about it. LOL!

[madgeOwens]

I can't believe all these things we have to deal with LOL.......we will have to start attending AAA meetings if this keeps up.

[Twilight_Princess]

Yeah really! When I die and come back I will be a MAN! *just joking* they seem to have the least problems. They can go bald and look fine with it, but not a woman (not me anyway) and I can't pull off the "Hat look". I don't look right in hats!

[madgeOwens]

They do make really cool wigs now however.......I guess to someone on chemo we must sound quite shallow.