posted
Yes, I've been dealing with excessive shedding for months.
There are so many things that can contribute to it.. Hormone imbalance, thyroid issues, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, adrenal problems, candida problems, etc. etc.. Even excessive stress from an illness can cause it for some people...
I'm not sure, but maybe lyme itself and/or co-infections can cause it as well..
I'm trying to figure out which item is causing it for me. Sorry I don't have a straight answer for you!
Hope your daughter feels better soon.
-------------------- "The simple things can get you through the hardest times." Posts: 628 | From Connecticut | Registered: Sep 2010
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steve1906
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16206
posted
Here's some info on (11 year old) now 16 years old...
posted
I lost a LOT of hair during treatment, to the point that my scalp almost showed all over. It happened during the worst of my herxing.
I've always had very thick hair. When I took a break from ABX, after I was getting better, most of it grew back in, but it is still thinner than before.
I'm on a less strenuous treatment, recently changed, and am hoping my hair gets back to it's original thickness, but I am older, so maybe that won't happen.
Posts: 563 | From New Mexico, USA | Registered: May 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
me too. nothing has worked. strands go down the drain every time i shampoo my hair.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
I honestly thought I was going to be bald. I have always had nice thick long beautiful hair. The hairdresser actually has to thin it out.
But it was falling out like crazy. My former llmd started me on thyroid meds despite my thyroid being in normal lab ranges (low end normal) and it eventually stopped completely.
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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scorpiogirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31907
posted
Yep same here... I stopped counting them now b/c I scared myself when I did. I don't know how I'm not bald yet! Sheesh!
-------------------- Posts: 1391 | From Lyme Land | Registered: May 2011
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posted
I had very thick hair and I have lost at least half of my hair, it was coming out in clumps in the shower and our bathroom was covered in my hair, finding it all over my kids clothes, just everywhere
I have been taking Biotin supplements daily and using Biotin shampoo and conditioner, along with those I think we have my Thyroid working better through a compounded med.
Since those changes I have stopped losing so much, hoping to grow some thickness back but I am really happy that something seems to be working. Give Biotin a try. Hope your daughter has this symptom under control soon, it is a hard one to deal with.
Posts: 76 | From IL | Registered: Oct 2010
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
Yup, I had this, too. It's much better now, but not all gone.
It was from a med that caused it, and also from being on too little thyroid meds (am very hypothyroid).
So look at what meds she is on, if any, and their side=effects. Also, hypothyroidism, which can happen when the blood tests look fine. It should be a clinical diagnosis. Where have we heard that before?
I"m sure there are other causes from Lyme, too. Lovely disease! NOT!
Posts: 3792 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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momlyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 27775
posted
I just had a friend visit me from Hawaii. She commented that my hair looks thick and shiny... just healthier than it did a year ago.
It wasn't until then that I realized I don't see the big clumps of hair at the shower drain anymore.
In my case it was moving out of my moldy home that made the difference.
This may be because mold affects hormones.
I have been meaning to start a thread on this but it seems to fit here in response to hair loss. I apologize in advance if this is too much information. I do believe it is medically relevant.
I (unknowingly) lived in a moldy home for 4 years. Just moved out two months ago.
In January, 2008 I saw an OBGYN because I was having major pain and my period was not coming at all... no chance I was pregnant.
They said I had a cyst on my ovary the size of a baseball and they had to operate.
All went well and supposedly everything was supposed to go back to normal. Except it didn't. I never got my period. 3 years... nada. Nothing.
Moved out of my moldy home. Got it the next week. It was black.
28 days later... red & regular.
Mold affects hormones. I am sure of it from my own experience.
-------------------- 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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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
I lost a lot of hair, too. What hair I didn't lose was in bad shape and broke easily. It did come back with treatment, but took a long time for the "bad" hair to grow out completely so it was replaced with healthy hair.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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merrygirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12041
posted
Yes I lost at least half of my hair
Posts: 3905 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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t9im
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25489
posted
Thanks everyone. This helps.
-------------------- Tim Posts: 1111 | From Glastonbury, CT | Registered: Apr 2010
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Tammy N.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 26835
posted
I, too, have hair issues, but it has been improving in recent weeks/months. For me, I think it may be due to KPU treatment (taking Dr. K's Core supplement). I had a major Zinc deficiency, among others. I have lots of little hairs growing in all around my hairline, and I'm assuming throughout the rest of my scalp. Yippie! Hope it continues.
Momlyme - Wow!!!! How amazing!! That is GREAT news. Now, just think of all the other wonderful corrections your body is making. Sooo happy for you! Keep on going.
Posts: 2238 | From East Coast | Registered: Jul 2010
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Jamers
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Member # 28016
posted
Wow, I didn't know hair loss could be caused by so many things. For me, I was losing a lot of hair in the drain everytime I washed my hair. It got a little better after treating Lyme for 3 months. Im sure mine is just related to the infections and will return to normal once I get better.
-------------------- Diagnosed Pos. Lyme Nov. 17, 2010, Igx. Pos. Babesia Duncani March 2011, Igx. Clinical diagnosis for Bartonella Posts: 1127 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2010
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blinkie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 14470
posted
Ditto what many other posters have said, I had a lot of hair loss too. Thyroid/hormones and also for me, it got better when on anti malarials. I think the anti-malarials were killing whatever was causing my hormone problems though, because my body temp also improved greatly.
Also, some meds can cause this. I'm on one now, an anti-fungal that lists hair loss as a major side effect. My eyelashes are falling out.
This should improve with treatment but if it comes severe it should be looked at for another cause. And, be sure to mentio it to her LLMD.
Posts: 1104 | From N.California | Registered: Jan 2008
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dmc
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posted
Losing it now due to my thyroid issues again...It's so bad I won't cook.
Posts: 2675 | From ct, usa | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
I never had a lot of hair so losing it is scary. I could stuff a throw pillow every month with the hair I lose and I won't cook without having my hair all pulled back either. I did take Synthroid for about a year, but I think it actually made my hair loss worse???? I do alternate low TSH and low end of normal so I don't know if that means anything.
I just posted a bunch of lab results on another post, can't remember what I called the topic...figures it was only a few minutes ago!
-------------------- Down on her knees, she wept on the floor. This hopeless life, she wanted no more. Dead in the mind and cold to the bone, She opened her eyes and saw she was alone. ~Seether Posts: 427 | From Rhode Island | Registered: May 2011
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t9im
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25489
posted
Hi everyone, thanks again.
blinkie - she has been on mepron / zithromax for 13 full months (tindamax for 7.5 months and we stopped 2 months ago).
Tammy - you may want to look into Dr. M as he follows Dr. K and spoke with him in NYC last year.
-------------------- Tim Posts: 1111 | From Glastonbury, CT | Registered: Apr 2010
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posted
I learned to look along the hairline for new hair growing in (it's easiest to spot it there.) If you see little, new hairs, the loss isn't permanent.
Through the worst of my treatment, I didn't see any, and about the time I started to panic, it all started growing back. It was about the time I came through the worst of the herxing, and most of the infections and heavy metals were gone.
Now I'm in new treatment, which is effective, and I have more herxing--yup, more hair loss, but not as bad as before.
I recommend Nioxin cleanser and scalp treatment. I heard that sometimes, in older people, old skin clogs the pores, and the cleanser clears them out, allowing the hair to grow. The scalp treatment has a lot of nutrients. It seems to work for me, at least what hair I have is a lot healthier looking than before.
I know that last paragraph doesn't apply to an 11 year old, but thought I'd put it in here for those who are older and reading this thread.
Posts: 563 | From New Mexico, USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
I'm still PO'd because I had to have a heart stress test in May. My hair has been falling out ever since!! Still looks OK, but I wish the hair loss would slow down!!!!!
So chemicals play an important factor in hair loss too.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I second the biotin. 5000 mcg twice a day, although for an 11 yr old 5000 mcg a day would probably do it. Are her eyebrows thinning from the outside edge in? That can be a sure sign of a low functioning thyroid (hypothyroid). As I understand it, Lyme spiros like to settle in the thyroid, so maybe she needs a thyroid panel done.
During the worst of my hair loss, my scalp was clearly visible. My hairdresser cut it in such a way that it was much less noticeable. And as much as I don't like chemicals, I actually colored my hair lighter (I am a natural brunette) so the contrast wasn't as high between my scalp and my hair. The hairdresser was careful not to get the dye directly on my scalp itself. That made me feel better as I thought adding another chemical to my body would not help my health any.
I also notice I lose more during my period. So I guess it's hormonal too with me.
-------------------- Country Mouse
6/2011 IgX: IGG: 31 IND, 41+++, 45+, 58+ IGM: 31+, 39 IND, 41 IND, 83-93 IND Band 31 confirmed to be Lyme epitope by Igenex 7/2011
8/2011 IgX: POSITIVE IGG: 31+, 34 IND, 39 IND, 41++, 45+, 58+ IGM: 31+, 34 IND, 39 IND, 41++, 83-93+ Posts: 169 | From Western Mass | Registered: May 2011
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posted
I've been taking biotin for about 6 months....before the stress test. Probably a good thing I have been taking it.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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scorpiogirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31907
posted
Hi, I just wanted to say that since starting with my new LLMD 8 weeks ago, my hair loss problem has gone away!! I can now check off one less symptoms on my long laundry list. I honestly don't know if it's the IV meds that are helping or the supplements I'm taking. Either which way, seeing symptoms disappearing is good sign to me, so I'm happy! So there is hope after all!
-------------------- Posts: 1391 | From Lyme Land | Registered: May 2011
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posted
Just an FYI, everybody loses 100-120 hairs a day on average, depending on your hair type and length it may be more or less noticable. Also, people tend to lose more in the warmer months, kind of like dogs shedding their winter coat. I judge my hair loss by how my hair feels while shampooing or how thick (or actually how thin)my ponytail feels and how much shiny scalp I can see when the sun shines on my head.
-------------------- Down on her knees, she wept on the floor. This hopeless life, she wanted no more. Dead in the mind and cold to the bone, She opened her eyes and saw she was alone. ~Seether Posts: 427 | From Rhode Island | Registered: May 2011
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posted
Yes, I've been losing hair for years now. I lose a ton every time I shower and it gets all over my clothes. No fun.
-------------------- Contracted Lyme 1999. Diagnosed January 2011.
"The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy." � Thich Nhat Hanh Posts: 64 | From North Carolina | Registered: Jan 2011
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t9im
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25489
posted
Hi All:
As a follow up we stopped the selenium (our daughters thyroid has been impacted by Lyme) and this seems to have helped.
Its been about 6 weeks since we stopped and the hair loss has decreased considerably.
You all know how it is, one step forward at a time with those two or three steps back every so often.
-------------------- Tim Posts: 1111 | From Glastonbury, CT | Registered: Apr 2010
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