posted
My hair is falling out in clumps when I take a shower, this happened last year and went away and now it is back exactly a year later. I am on mino with bactrim, pulsing flagyl once a week. Could any of these drugs be the cause?
I lost my dad and grandmother last year and this is when it started, then it stopped and now it is back. could this be all stress related? what can I take. I am getting very worried.
thanks Diana
Posts: 256 | From Boston, mass | Registered: Jan 2008
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lymeboy
Unregistered
posted
Spring Valley hair skin and nails, it is cheap, and it works. Also, look into a dechlorinator for your shower.
My Fiance was having hair loss problems and the Spring VAlley product helped her quite a bit.
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Sorry to hear of the loss of your father and grandmother.
I can't answer all your questions but diabetes (high blood sugar) or thyroid issues can both make your hair fall out. Sounds like you need to discuss this with your doctor so appropriate tests can be done.
Good luck, Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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Low andrenals can make your hair fall out easier.
Posts: 458 | From Miss | Registered: Mar 2009
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Catgirl
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 31149
posted
Stress can absolutely do it (the stress of lyme alone is enough).
-------------------- --Keep an open mind about everything. Also, remember to visit ACTIVISM (we can change things together). Posts: 5418 | From earth | Registered: Mar 2011
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
You might want to have your gyn check your hormone levels. If estrogen is low, this will happen.
That's why some old ladies have very thin hair.
You can take estrogen and reverse it if this is the cause.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Regenemax has helped with hair loss.
Posts: 312 | From Utah | Registered: Nov 2010
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Sammi
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 110
posted
Definitely get your thyroid and hormone levlels checked. Regarding thyroid testing, ask your doctor to run the Free T3, Free T4 (besides the T3 and T4) and thyroid antibodies in addition to the regular panel. These are blood tests.
From what I understand, saliva testing is better for adrenal and other hormone testing.
Posts: 4681 | Registered: Oct 2000
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momlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 27775
posted
When I was living in my house, I was losing HUGE amounts of hair AND I did not have my time of the month(cycle) for nearly 3 years. Since my local health center "team" couldn't find anything wrong with me, they said I was in "early menopause" told me this was "normal."
Years later, when I found out there was toxic mold behind the walls of our tub and we were being poisoned, we moved out.
Five days later, I got my cycle back. This may be TMI, but I feel it is a very important clue as to what had happened to me, the first "cycle" was black. Since then it has been red and regular most of the time, unless I get exposed to a lot of mold. I have been out 8+ months.
IMO, taking estrogen is treating a symptom. It's ok to treat symptoms if you do it on a temporary basis, for comfort while you find and treat the cause.
Hormones are being messed up by the toxins around us. For me, my major toxin was a mycotoxin, the tiny particles that some molds produce.
In my case, I had 234,000 stachybotrys per cubic foot. That is an enormous number. Anything over 10 per square meter of stachybotrys is unsafe to live in.
I have Lyme and Bart too. As long as I stay away from the mold, my hair and cycles are normal.
-------------------- May health be with you!
Toxic mold was suppressing our immune systems, causing extreme pain, brain fog and magnifying symptoms. Four days after moving out, the healing began. Posts: 2007 | From NY/VT Border | Registered: Aug 2010
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Once I got rid of lyme and coinfections, I came out of "menopause" and no longer needed hormone replacement. My estrogen, etc. all returned to normal.
So, we take these things temporarily while we work on the cause of the problem--lyme and its coinfections, for most of us.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Thyroid
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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blinkie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14470
posted
I second hormones...and you could supp with iron and folic acid. That stopped my hair falling out in clumps. I only had to take them for 2 weeks and then I was fine.
Posts: 1104 | From N.California | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
My hairdresser has lost a lot of her hair and now wears a wig. It is due to severe candida. I hope you have been taking a lot of probiotics. Hard enough for a normal person to lose hair but a hairdresser....
Posts: 705 | From WA state | Registered: Jul 2011
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jackie51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14233
posted
I just read recently that dandruff was caused by a fungus. So, if you have dandruff and are losing hair, then up the probiotics and find an antifungal. I wonder what the ingredients are in dandruff shampoo.
Excess estrogen is linked to breast cancer. That's why my gyno tells me that I shouldn't carry any extra weight, because estrogen is related to our weight. IMO, supplementing estrogen needs to be carefully monitored.
Posts: 1374 | From Crazy Town | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
I suggest supplementing with MSM, as all of us are prone towards low Sulfur levels, which can cause problems relative to hair loss along with many other things.
posted
I can empathize on this one. My hair has been running the same cycles that you are talking about for at least the last four years, now. Extreme shedding- downright loss- of hair in the early to late fall. Every time, I end up chopping my hair short as I feel that it makes my hair look fuller. Though I do have very fine hair, I have a lot of it, so most people wouldn't really know that I have experienced great hair loss. I on the other hand notice immediately. Strand after strand will come out in the shower and on my pillow. I'll even notice it all over my shirt. But, at least up until this point, I have never 'lost' all of my hair (or even come close, for that matter). This is a difficult issue for anyone...especially a woman. I have tried the vitamin B supplement Biotin in the past, and have also used Biotin and Silica-infused shampoos/conditioners; and have found some success with those. I, too, can appreciate the tips above on thyroid and iron. They can definitely be culprits of hair loss. I know that it is easier said than done, but, just try to hang in there while this symptom is happening. As best you can, try not to perservate on the hair loss. You probably don't want to touch/play with your hair too much, but I have found that in times when my hair is really shedding, by pulling it back in a loose ponytail, I don't actually have to witness/see the hair on my shirt, and then, am able to calm my mind a bit. Best of luck!
Posts: 315 | From Negative (-) to positive (+) | Registered: Nov 2011
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posted
Hi there. I am so sorry to hear your hair is falling out. I have been through the same thing. I started taking OTC prenatal vitamins every morning and in one month my hair stylist noticed that not only did my hair grow in faster but the hairline that was thinning started to regrow. I still take it and every four weeks I need my hair cut it has grown so quickly and its very healthy. My stylist says that has made an amazing difference,
-------------------- A little lymie... Posts: 104 | From Greener Pastures in PA | Registered: Sep 2011
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RZR
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 20953
posted
quote:Originally posted by JAC: Hi there. I am so sorry to hear your hair is falling out. I have been through the same thing. I started taking OTC prenatal vitamins every morning and in one month my hair stylist noticed that not only did my hair grow in faster but the hairline that was thinning started to regrow. I still take it and every four weeks I need my hair cut it has grown so quickly and its very healthy. My stylist says that has made an amazing difference,
What brand is your prenatals?
Thanks!
-------------------- Tick bite May 2009 Diagnosed June 2009 Posts: 2329 | From SouthEast | Registered: Jun 2009
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CherylSue
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Member # 13077
posted
I lost hair for seven months and it thinned considerable due to a relapse. I had very thick hair to begin with, so nobody notices but me. I just let my hair grow longer so it still looks like I have a lot.
Posts: 1954 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
Have you tried Biotin Forte for hair and nails? My hair falls out in waves but BF has helped. My LLMD suggested this. It is not uncommon in lyme patients.
Lymeorsomething
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16359
posted
For menstruating women and those with hypothyroidism, low iron (specifically low ferritin) can be the culprit. This should be raised to at least 70 but no more than 125...
-------------------- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong." Posts: 2062 | From CT | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
I have hypothyroidism which continued despite taking Armour thyroid - though the tests showed normal, I continued to lose hair, feel cold, have dry skin, etc.
I read in Dr. Nan Fuchs letter that if your Iodine levels are low your thyroid still will not function correctly, despite tests showing it to be normal.
I bought some Iodoral on Amazon & started taking 50mg daily. I don't lose nearly as much hair now, but my skin is still dry.
There is a urine test you can have done to check your iodine levels. Don't trust the docs that tell you to buy the tincture and paint it on yourself to see if it disappears. That's not a good way to test.
-------------------- Dx with Lyme & homozygous for MTHFR. Antibiotics & nutritional IV's didn't help. Posts: 57 | From Kansas | Registered: Jun 2010
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I went to a naturopathic doctor a while back that tested my urine to see where my iodine levels are--they are very low, I guess.
I don't care to go back to him, however..He said that we would address the low iodine level during my next visit, which never happened, as I really did not care much for him.
But I do think that having the proper amount of iodine is important for thyroid function.. Wondering if I can just buy the Iodoral and take some for a while (?) I could ask my LLMD about it, but I don't know if he'll know much about it.
And as far as the hair loss--it can come from so many things--low iron/ferritin, poor thyroid/adrenal function, candida, and probably the infections themselves.. A tough symptom to put up with, especially for us ladies.
-------------------- "The simple things can get you through the hardest times." Posts: 628 | From Connecticut | Registered: Sep 2010
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Catgirl
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 31149
posted
Skies, I just use iodized salt (salt shaker). It helps.
-------------------- --Keep an open mind about everything. Also, remember to visit ACTIVISM (we can change things together). Posts: 5418 | From earth | Registered: Mar 2011
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