WHY IS MY HAIR FALLING OUT???

[Penelope1911]

I just don't get it. My labs are all still good. WHY THEN is my hair falling out??? I have been "shedding" a little since the second week or so, but nothing big...I have VERY thick hair, so I don't think it will make too big a mess. BUT, my hair is falling out all over the place, my mother found a bunch of it on the stove yesterday, and told me I needed to start wearing a hair net in the kitchen...I was SOOO embarassed. It is everywhere...in my bed, on the furniture, but most irritating of all, DOWN MY SHIRT!!! ITCHY, ITCHY, ITCHY!!!! It's like if you go to get a haircut and its all down in your shirt. EWE!! And then how gross it is in the shower when I wash my hair and its mixed in the shampoo in my hands...YUCK! Then in the towel I'm trying to dry off with...I am soooo sick of this today...I know I shouldn't be this upset over this minor sx, and probably shouldn't even post this. Like I said everyone is suffering with way worse sx, and mine have actually improved a little over the last week or so. Well, maybe I am adapting to feeling like c*** too who knows, but anyway, could someone tell me WHY this could be happening?? Like I said, my blood work looks pretty good, just a little low on platelets and a few thousand drop on ANC. Nothing big. OH and my head ITCHES sooo bad, so does body but not like my head. I don't have bugs...lol.

[NYgirl]

I've lost 70% of my hair in the last 52 weeks.

It has nothing to do with your labs - its the fact that you are on chemotherapy unfortunately.  Also, I had thyroid trouble and that assisted with the falling out.

There really isn't anything you can do that will help. I've tried it all.

I contacted my doctor, finally, yesterday to get a letter from him stating that I am on chemo. The insurance company will pay $500 to a specialty wig salon so I have decided to go for it!

I can't wait. I just can't wait.

I'm sorry it happened to you...but know that it is temporary and when we are done with treatment it will grow back just perfectly as it was before.

Debby

[Penelope1911]

Do you mean to tell me that I could lose THAT much hair? I am only supposed to do 24 weeks if I am clear at 12. Im on 8 Thurs. I mean it took you quite awhile before losing it right? You poor dear have been on this train for some time now. It takes time right? I mean this recent heavy shedding hasn't made a noticable difference yet, just in my "widening" part. So it won't stop till after tx? Goodness, I just thought that we "shed" during tx. Ok then, thanks for the info. I'm glad to see your hanging in there like you are...you are such an inspiration to me and others. I love to read your comments. I just hope you are getting as much out of MH as you put in. Blessings and Big Hugs to ya nygirl!!!! Mkeela

[GrandOak]

Hair thinning is a common sx according to the PI for both Pegasys and PegIntron.

I haven't really noticed it because being a guy, I simply gave myself a no-woodtick hair cut (stubble just short of shaving bald).  I figured that why no one would notice if I lost any hair.

[cajunlady]

I too like NYGIRL, have lost about 70% of my hair. It was long and thick before tx.  At first I thought things were horrible with the hair.  I do not go into the kitchen unless my hair is pulled back one way or another. I find that if you sleep with a soft hair wrap at night (terry cloth) most of my hair clings to it and does not end up all over my bed. It is amazing how much hair I vaccuum up from my vanity area.  I can just about imagine the drain in the shower.  Don't even want to look at that.

At first I bought every cap motion picture hospital had in every color.  I do not like to sweat in my head and the caps did cause that on some days.  Now I have a hair clip with long hair attached to it.  Found one that matches the color I have with a little weave in it.  I put my hair in a ponytail and clasp the clip.  Works great and most people its my real hair in the back.  My hair is as thin as a 5 year olds.  My ponytail is about the size of my little finger right now. I lost my hair gradually so it does help to adapt to what is happening.

Good news, it all grows back; it's just frustrating while going through this. I am sorry you have to go through this, but part of the treatment.

Don't let it get you down.

Cajun

I will take shot 39/48 on Friday.

[bobbyullc]

wish i could have gotten the ins. co to pay my plumber to clean my pipes of hair. a base ball cap will be a lot cheaper and look cooler.

[cajunlady]

Wish I could have done that with out anyone noticing.  I would think that would be the way to go for the guys.  My husband lost his hair in 2003 when he had Hodgkins - Chemo and Radiation.  He lost his hair all over his body.  There was none left, like a babies skin.  When I finally started growing back, he cut nothing for a long time. When he finally did cut hair and shave the face again, he kept his hair shaved and is still that way 3 years later.

cajun

[Penelope1911]

WOW! looks like you're bookin right along at 39/48!! Good job! I am fortunate that I got a short womens haircut (for the first time in my life) about 6mo. ago. I think this "shedding" is better with shorter hair than it would be w/ longer hair. (knock on wood) But I don't think it would be so itchy if it was longer...LOL. I HATE the itch!!! (down my shirt!) Heck, I itch anyways I guess.
I really thought that losing hair had to do with the blood counts or something. I don't know why I thought that. I'm glad so many came to let me know!
If I was a man I would DEFINATELY shave my head today!!!! That would be soooo cool to do! I can hear the guys sayin, "welp, solved that problem!!!!!" LOL! Thanks all for the replies, and sorry if this was a stupid thread...I have been panicking for two days now, and my moms comment just did me in..LOL.

[Lady E]

I'm so sorry you have to be going through your hair loss.  At wk 2, I just cut mine short. I figured it would make dealing with it easier.  It worked. Short & sassy cut, just wash it, mess it with my fingers and Im good to go (and kinda cute too LOL)j/k. I don't have to deal with any knotting which I believe helps with less hair loss. I recommend it.
Good luck Honey!
((Hugs))
E

[goldyn]

Ive lost about 65% of my hair, but I had 3 heads full of hair
starting tx, ive had to clean my drain at least 4 times not counting the times my husband cleaned it out for me, it was really hard for me in the begining, but i adjusted to it , it started to slow down around 33 weeks but still is shedding...

[Penelope1911]

OH YEHAY!!!! I just seen the photo, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!! Great look for you!!! Looks like I keep following your "hair trends"..LOL..maybe I'll do that next! (if I got any hair left by the time I feel like goin' to get somethin done with it) ooooooooooo itchy head!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dyce]

Ha , you doin the riba rub too . After me shower tonite I noticed my scalp showing but I'm a dude and don't care.

  I'm noticin from readin here, that it varies with diffrent folk, man the itchin, hair loss. My sheddin has been slow but if I gave a sh!t it woulda been the opposite.

  Maybe I'll stuff a pillow or sumthin with the folicles.

[fishdoc]

well yesterday, it occurred to me that I no longer have to worry about split ends, or taking care of my hair.. I already cut it way off because handfuls of 2' long hair lookkkk reealllyyy bad in the tub.. so yesterday I visited Ceasar.... told him think punk, think multiple colors, think wild hair.... today I went from grey to  blonde and dark red, most of blond on the top, sides short, spikes on top, with the back combed straight up........I call it my REBEL YELL do!!  keep in mind, I have never dyed my hair, never bleached it, never had a permanent, always had hippie hair... told the hairdresser I was finally in the 80s..... look out for retirement age...

[amirtracy]

please ohh pleasssee post a picture on the aussie site! i betcha look AWESOME!!! you're my hero.

[fishdoc]

I was just at the aussie site!!!  Forseegood posted a pic... what a pretty lady....I'll try and get them to post it, a before and during treatment.....It is posted at the Tired site,... I think I sent you an invite?... maybe its in PPM at the aussie site... did I mention my hair is blond now...giggle giggle...

[painterlady13]

I am so sorry you are starting to lose your hair too.  We are at the same stage of the game here a week apart.   Did you see my post a few days ago about scalp pain?  I have the itchiness too and have just started noticing a few more hairs here and there floating around.
Did you get Nioxin shampoo?  Supposedly it does help for people on chemo.  I started using it from day 1 of TX.  The only thing I can say is mine is not coming out by the bunches yet so maybe it is helping?

[jennkPA]

My hair recently started falling out in large quantities too. I noticed that when I brushed it I ended up with handfulls of it, and it's thin to begin with! It's also growing in lighter, or else you can just see my pale scalp glowing through, because three people last week asked me if I dyed my hair, which I  haven't done in 10 years or so since high school. One guy at work saw me from behind and thought I was another woman whose hair is white, and I'm a 26 year old blond! The texture is totally different too.

This didn't start until after 4 months in (i do shot 20/48 this week). This is about the time my thyroid went crazy (Hyper then hypo--both extremely so). So it's hard to tell what is causing what, but it definitely sucks regardless. I clean my stupid shower drain every day after I shower, and we still had to do Draino yesterday. I didn't even think I had enough hair on my head to lose this much!

[way]

I guess it's a fact we have to deal with. Mine was so thin to begin with, and I've lost so much since TX, especially in the shower.
I wash hair first then body so it doesnt get everywhere--I leanover frontwards and gently runfingers throughn to remove whats gonna come out, then its in your hands-- and do this several times and get wads of hair out or off. that way I'm not removing it from my clothes bed car etc. I wear a white tshirt and go to the mirror and look on my back and pull 20 or more hairs off shirt every time I go pee. This CAN"T go on much longer or I won't have any left.

Anybody ever post that they lost it all?

[fishdoc]

wells bells... we'll just make lemonade, right girls!!  and the blonde thingy.... like youknow... these days its very appropriate...

[anise]

Where is the Aussie site?  

I have been so busy building a deck that I have not been on line.

BTW, 2 months post treatment and my hair is  still falling out.  Talk about the drains, hair everywhere.  They say it will stop soon. Waiting patiently for it all to stop falling out.

[fishdoc]

http://hepcaustralia.thruhere.net/

[anise]

Thanks for the site, I am interested in looking at it.

[Tater-ToT]

LoL....
I gotta go look at ya'll's pictures.... see ya miss a day or two of posting around here & ya get left behind in a hurry...
Fish... Did U Really..???
Oh Be Back Soon....LoL

:)

[friole]

well, I can't wait to see that!

[Tater-ToT]

WoW Ladies.... Ya'll Look MARVELOUS!!!!

Fish I absolutely ADORE Your new Doo... It Looks Fabulous on you!!!

Foresee... WoW... I gotta agree with goofers... You look too YOUNG to be hanging with us... LoL Great Pic.... & Hey Fish is Right... That's Mother In Laws Tongue (Not Cactus) but I like the way it surrounds your head... Kind of like a Halo Of Sorts....LoL

Thanks for sharing Gals!!!! Ya'll look GREAT!!!!
:)