They said it would happen....

...and it is!  My hair is falling out!  I have a pretty full head of very thick hair and have always noticed a little "shedding" when I wash my hair or run a brush through it.  This week I have noticed that when I wash my hair I literally have hand fulls of hair!  I had read prior to surgery that this is a common side effect but that making sure you hit your protein goals each day would help to prevent this atleast keep it to a minimum.  I have been SOOOOO good about getting my protein in everyday, I was surprised this started happening to me.  Good thing I have a good thick head of hair!  I think you could have put a head of hair on a Barbie doll with the hair I lost just this morning!

I decided to do a little research on the matter and see what I could find.  Hmmm remember what I said about being bad about taking my vitamins?  Ummm... read this entry from BaldingBlog.com

Hair loss, and change in hair color and hair quality after gastric bypass surgery are common problems and typically happen within the first year after the operation. Your body goes through a period of severe starvation and tries to divert nutrients toward more vital organs. Although carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and vitamins (especially the family of vitamin B) have been blamed for the hair loss, the exact mechanism of this problem is not known and multiple factors might be involved. The good news is that your hair loss after gastric bypass is usually temporary and will be improved when you get out of the rapid weight loss situation. Any patient who had a gastric bypass should have frequent doctor visits following their bypass surgery as the procedure is associated with incidence of iron, vitamin B12, folate, calcium, and vitamin D deficiency. You need to be on supplements of minerals and vitamins and you should also be monitored with regular laboratory tests for these deficiencies. Please keep in mind that gastric bypass produces medically controlled malnutrition to force weight loss.Evanston Northwestern Healthcare's website:

According to

Why is there hair loss after Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Some hair loss is unavoidable, usually starting in the third month after surgery, but is only temporary and fully resolved by the sixth to ninth month post-op.  With proper nutrition, it is rare for a patient to have thinner hair a year after surgery than the amount they had before surgery.  Some patients have fuller and healthier hair because the body’s hormone balance has improved with weight loss.  The medical term for hair loss is trichatrophia.   It occurs partly in response to having had a major surgery and exposure to anesthesia, as well as the sudden calorie and protein deprivation experienced just after surgery.  Hair follicles have a three month life cycle.  The hair follicles that were born on the day of your surgery inside your scalp, working their way outwards over three months, were born unhealthy and will fall out, leaving an empty socket until the next hair follicle emerges in the same spot.

SO - the good news is by June this part should be over - hope I don't get a bald spot between now and then!  OH! and I will be MUCH better about taking my vitamins!! I've done OK this week - only missed 2 nights.  Not great, I know but better than it was!