B12 defiency and hair loss

[Joolsaq]

Hello, I don't have chrones but have recurrent ovarian cancer. I have had both small bowel and large bowel resected and I now have chronic diarrhea/malabsorption syndrome as a result.  My b12 was very very low and I am gettiing injections now.   This is probably vain but I am loosing so much hair,  it is falling out everywhere, I guess because of b12 deficiency.  I am wondering how long before this stops now my b12 levels are ok again. Or what other vitamin defiecny could I have that is causing this.  Probably by the time the hair recovers I will be bald again from chemo. Jools    

[lizziecee]

Hi Joolsaq -  

Good to hear from you.  As far as I am aware, the only vitamin I have ever been tested for is Vit.B12 as my Crohn's started in the terminal ileum, which is the only place Vit.B12 is metabolised.  My GP's nurse checks my B12 monthly, along with my other blood tests - particularly full liver panel and C-Reactine Protein.  The liver panel is required as I self inject methotrexate weekly. The C-reactive protein is always high, but as she said yesterday:  "we know you will always inflammation in your intestines, and nothing to worry about at present."  Good enough for me!

I take Calcichew/Vit.D3 twice daily, as the steroids (30+ yrs) and 4 yrs of Arimidex (an aromatose inhibitor, which I am trying to change to Aromasin or Femara) for breast cancer have caused low bone density and ostepeonia.  I had two spontaneous fractures in both feet last summer so am concerned about a hip fracture. I saw a Professor of Endocrinology in Feb last who said I was on the optimum treatment for both breast cancer and Crohn's - have to trust the docs sometime I guess.

Is your dietician based at a hospital?  I have seen quite a number in the 38 yrs of Crohn's and without exception they advised me to keep to a low fat,low fibre and high protein diet, which I do. I eat very little red meat, but do eat veal when I can get it, liver and kidneys (in a steak and kidney pie which I make), chicken and a lot of fish, which is very fresh here by the sea, and we often buy it in the wholesale fish market, the day it is landed.  I have never been advised to take any supplements other than B12 shots, and Calcichew/Vit.D3, but every patient is different.

Jools - many thanks for your kind post on my appointment as the Community Leader for Crohn's - I don't always know the answers to posts, but where I have pertinent experience, am always happy to respond to others.

Take care,
Liz.

[Joolsaq]

Thanks for your post, isn't ovca enough on its own!  I am on a couple of medications, femara since february, and an antidepressant.  i was on sandostation (octreotide) and initially it made my hair thin but that was last october.  since probably early this year, hair has been shedding profusely.  do you post on any of the ovca sites?  i know it's only hair but having hair lets me lead a kind of normal life. most poeple in my life don't know i have cancer and that is the way i like it.  otherwise i am treated differently and pity is the last thing i want.  just want to be a normal mum.

Thanks Liz - I have been tested for a few deficiencies and suprisingly my vit a, e, d and k have come back ok as well as trace elelemnts zinc, copper and selenium.   i think i will talk to my dietecian and see what she thinks.  i can only think b12 or other deficiecny due to malabsorption caused hair to 'die' and it is still shedding with hopefully healthier growth happening as it goes.

[lizziecee]

Hi there - I have IDC breast cancer and Crohn's and have had monthly B12 shots for some 25 yrs. Luckily, I didn't lose my hair when on FEC chemo for breast cancer,as I had the cold cap treatment alongside, but it thinned enough that I could see my scalp on top of my head.  30+ yrs of steroids has thinned my bones significantly, so I was prescribed a bisphosphonate (Alendronate) alongside calcium (Calcichew) and Vitamin D3. My hair is a lot thicker now. You might wish to get tested for Vit.D as I understand that some 50% of the population who do not live in sunny climates, are deficient. Not sure if it affects the hair though.  Try googling "hair loss vitamin D" and see what comes up.

Gah - regarding hair loss and hats - quite a number of my fellow bc sisters in England swear by something called "Buffs", which you can buy on-line. They say they are easier to wear than hats or scarves and come in many different colours and patterns.

Liz.

[gah_70]

I also have recurrant Ovarian Cancer, and Crohn's Disease.  What medications are you on other than B12 injections?  I have found many of the other medications I take other than chemo make my hair fall out.  I am currently not taking IV chemo, but still losing hair.  I guess I've gotten used to hats, but look forward to the day I don't need them!