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Have not been on the board in a long time. Had to undergo unexpected surgery back in August due to a ruptured appendix that had became entangled with my intestines.
I am still weak, but well into recovery. This past week I have been shedding hair more than ever before. (Many times clumps of hair fall out, I have never had that happen.) I have been told that hair loss after surgery is common and can last for a few months. Has anyone had a similiar experience following surgery. I have a thick mane but at the rate I'm losing hair it's not going to be much longer.
Karsten
Mark, good to hear that you are recovering! That was quite an ordeal you've weathered over the past month and a half.
Bummer about the hair loss, but glad that you are alive and on the mend.
Big Hugs,
- Oren
Thanks Oren,
Had hoped to get to Knoebels at the end of the summer but that of course did not happen.
Karsten
Karsten
Glad to hear you are on the mend.....sounds like an awful thing to go through.
A very good friend of mine who has always had long hair (since age 8; now 57) suffered a brain aneurysm, and while immediate surgery saved his life, they had to shave his head. His hair is coming back full and thick, but is still very short. He is currently have great fun walking right up to old friends and acquaintances and none of us recognize him.
I would suggest you speak with your doctor/surgeon about your hair loss.
Keep us posted and Keep Well my Friend
Walter
Thanks Walter,
One never knows when something is going to go wrong with one's health. This was the first time I had ever had any serious problem.
Karsten
Karsten,
I am glad you are recovering from your ordeal
That is what matters right now
Birdman
Thanks Birdman,
...and you are right.
Karsten
I'm glad to hear that you're on the road to recovery Karsten. My sister-inlaw had a ruptured appendix and almost died from the infection. I don't think she experienced hair loss, but from raising dogs I know that the anaesthesia can sometimes cause them to shed a lot of coat. I don't know if this helps at all, best to ask your doctor.
Bruce
Thanks Bruce,
Glad things worked out for your sister-in-law also.
Karsten
(n/t)
CEEtheDinoman,
Thanks for the prayers.
Karsten
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This is a bummer. You may want to try biotin and MSM. Get the high potency biotin. One 5 milligrams biotin (5000 mcg) and maybe 1 level teaspoon of MSM per day may defeat the shedding. I take these, about 1.5 level tsp of MSM and about 1.5 milligrams of biotin daily. This has helped me to defeat excess shedding. Hopefully it will work for you.
Scott
Thanks Scott,
I just started taking Biotin again and hope it helps. Where does one find MSM?
Karsten
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MSM can be found at your local health food store. It helps joints as well as hair and has an energizing effect as well. It is best not to take it before going to sleep.
Scott
Good to hear you are recovering Karsten. My appendix also ruptured 3 years ago, i lost a little bit of hair following the months of my operation but it soon grew back.
Did you have keyhole surgery? I really wished at the time that they hadn't of done keyhole and just cut the stupid thing straight out. Yeah I would of had a much bigger scar but, given the state they left my navel in and 2 other points of entry.. i would of much preferred it. Plus.. they wouldn't of used the gas, as it feels horrible for weeks afterwards :(
-Aamie
Aamie,
Glad you also recovered from surgery. I am not sure if my was keyhole. I had a large wound below the belly button and a smaller one above. The smaller one is healed over now, but the larger one is not, but progressing nicely. As my surgery started out as exploratory I am not sure what was needed once it was discovered that my appendix had ruptured. (I was orginally sent home with a diagnosis of stomach flu when I first went to emergency. Five days later I had to return by ambulance.)
Karsten
Hi Karsten,
I'm sorry to hear of your needing surgery but I'm glad it's over and that you're on the mend.
I had surgery in May and experienced a very bad shed over the summer. I had a terrible shed last summer as well so it's probably a seasonal thing but it's also possible that my surgery added to it this year.
Any shedding due to your surgery will be a temporary thing I'm sure as it's most likely just caused by the shock to your system. The hair will rethicken.
Jason
Thanks Jason,
When I was in the hospital a nurse braided my hair for me and that helped alot to prevent tangles during the initial couple of weeks after surgery. The bad shedding has just been occuring in the last couple of weeks so I am hoping it will let up soon.
BTW, your mane is still looking awesome!
Glad your surgery went well.
Karsten
I'm really saddened to hear that you are having this problem after having dealt with such a serious surgery.I've never known anyone who experienced the hair lose problem after a major operation so hopefully its just a fluke and it will slow down very soon.I guess it can't hurt trying the supplements that Scott suggested but as a backup I would confront your doctors on this as they may have another suggestion.Anyway I have been thinking of you Mark and hope your recovery is quick and you'll be back to the old Karsten soon:)Keep the faith my friend.
Mark
Thanks Mark,
I'm much better than the last time we communicated. Still having bouts of weakness, but back to work. Caught a bug this past weak and had a bout with vomiting quite a bit but doctor did not feel it had anything to do with my surgery.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Karsten
Hi Karsten,
Of course, I am genuinely sorry to hear about your surgery and your hair loss, but relieved to know that you are on the mend. Althouh I cannot offer a lot of advice in addition to what my fellow members have given, I DO know (my GF had surgery in January, she has quite a bit of loss, but it is thickening very well) tat hair loss after surgery is generally temporary, so I am quite sure your hair WILL regain its former thickness.
Best of luck,
David
Thanks David,
Glad your GF's surgery went well. Everything I am hearing about hair loss after surgery is that it is temporary. Hopefully it will start to subside soon.
Karsten
Hi Karsten
I am so sorry to hear of this and am glad you are gradually doing much better. What a shame about your beautiful mane. But yes, loss of hair CAN happen and now I know 1st hand.
Perhaps this may help: On June 23rd because my heart was going to cease beating, (Cardiac Arrest) emergency surgery was done and I was in critical condition for the next 6 days with a tube stuck right in my chest next to my heart for drainage. I too have lost alot of hair. It is still long, no question about that, but nowhere near as "full" as was always the case and I have also been through the usual shedding period of the Summer. A ponyband is now only about 1/2 the size.
Guess the only cure is for guys in our age catagory to try and make it to 100 without another nasty getting after us so as to have a chance to "fill in the gaps" and have nice full hair again.
My best to you Karsten that from now on there will be no further run-ins with bad health.
Justin~
Justin,
Glad that you are still with us. How scary that must have been for you. When I would have to go to rehab during my recovery I would see others who were in much worse condition than myself. It must be so upsetting to have a heart problem and I do hope you are feeling and doing well.
Guess you and I have some hair growin' to do.
Karsten
Hey Karsten :-)
Thanks Karsten but really, when I knew I was probably about to die I was not scared in the slighest. In fact, I became very happy. Since, I have heard others tell me the same when you're that close.
Whew...........guess I was lucky then because I couldn't have gotten out of that bed if I had wanted to. :-0
Thanks so much but I NEVER suffered an actual Heart Attack. The heart I was told WAS just going to stop. But now, once thought to be a "rare virus" which triggered this problem appears to be an artheritic(sp) problem that must have suddenly hit and presently resides in my entire rib cage as well as in the sac which surrounds the heart. Hence the two weeks of chest pains and yet tests showed my vital signs as fabulous until 1 xray (apparently by mistake) just got a glimpse of what was happenning. I was called and rushed right in with not a second to spare.
That's for sure...........I want to be wrapped in it when they put me 6' under! LOL :-)
Take care Karsten and hope you continue to feel better and much less hair loss will continue for you.
Justin~
Hey Karsten. I hope you recover 100% and that you don't shed toooooooo badly. Get better soon.
Thanks Adam,
Recovery is going well, but for the first time I am feeling my age.
Karsten
Hey Karsten, sorry to hear about your operation and your recent huge hair shedding. I hope you'll heal well and I'm sure your hair will stop shedding soon, it might be pretty normal to increase shedding after an operation. Don't worry.
-Andrea
Thanks Andrea,
I guess hair loss after surgery is very common (and temporary).
Karsten
Hope you get better soon. Ive never heard of that but obviously some of the other guys here have. I did loose a good bit more than usual this past week while I had the flu though. Anyone ever have that happen?
Thanks Jarvis,
I also hear that shedding is more common this time of year. I never heard of the flu causing shedding, but I guess it's possible.
Karsten
Hi Karsten, thats really bad news, but I am pleased to know that you are recovering well. I have no experience on hair loss after surgery, but try and stay positive, the body reacts to positivity much better.
Best wishes
~ Dave
Thanks Dave,
Not going to worry too much about it and let nature take it's course, just hope I won't need to trim.
Karsten
Jann
Thanks Jann,
I suspect trauma has alot to do with the excessive shedding as my body as never been seriously ill. I'm hoping the worse is over soon.
Karsten
This may have a silver lining. I have seen people loose hair due to trauma of various sorts only to have it come storming back in about 12 months even better than before. I know a guy who used to have thin patchy hair; it all fell out following a procedure but now he has this thick head of hair I envy. It's really amazing. Something happens I can only describe as rebooting of the hair growing.
Rob
Thanks Rob,
Perhaps I have something to look forward too!
Karsten
Hi Karsten,
I'm so sorry to hear about your recent ordeal; but, am relieved to hear that you're well into recovery now. My dad had his appendix removed (and at the time the doctor thought he was not going to survive the operation). The good news is that he had a full head of hair right up Until the day he died, which was many many years later.
Hang in there. Eat healthy, including lots of protein, and gradually build up your strength and stamina, and hopefully the hair loss will stop soon.
My best to you, dear friend. I miss seeing your beautiful photography and updates. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Take Care,
Ken
Thanks Ken,
I have good days and bad days. Never felt my age until now. I hope to get a few photos taken while some leaves are still on the trees if possible. I've lost much of my hair thickness but I did seem to gain some length.
Thanks for caring and for the thoughts and prayers.
Karsten