About Me

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New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
This blog is dedicated to the low-carb menu challenge presented by Jimmy Moore. I'm living the Louisiana low carb lifestyle, where low-carb is the new way to go ! I live southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana....have three awesome kids. We are deep down in the heart of sweet Cajun Country, where we kick back and relax, go hunting, fishing, or make groceries! My doctor told me that my blood pressure numbers were getting too high, so I had to loose weight. She challenged me with ten pounds in three months. That was October 7, 2008. I lost 26 pounds !!! In February of 2011, I found that I had gained a few pounds more than I would have liked, weighing in at 170 pounds. I had to get back into the swing of living the low carb life again !! I am loving the 'low-carb' style and wish to contiue it . I exercise three times a week at the gym, and off the 'off' days, I learn to RELAX !! November 2011, finds me in different circumstances -- a new lifestyle, great community of friends and a challenge to keep that 45 pounds that I lost OFF. Feel free to read my blog, browse around, or just sit a spell!!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Hair Today, Gone tomorrow..


Gimme a head with hair, long beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming, steaming, flaxen, waxen
Give me down to there, hair!
Shoulder length, longer (hair!)
Here baby, there mama, Everywhere daddy daddy

CHORUS:
Hair! (hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair)
Flow it, Show it;
Long as God can grow it, My Hair!

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Good morning, hope you are having a great one !

I'm sitting here comtemplating the news I was given yesterday about my recent hair loss. You know, one day its thick and flowing, and the next it is coming out in strands as you brush, or you find it covering the drain hole in the bathtub.

I've been noticing this for about six weeks now, and never really thought much of it, till I started asking around.. and as more and more came out. Granted, its not coming out in clumps, but its enough for me to notice.

I originally called my primary care physicians office because, honestly, I did not know where to begin looking. I had three options :

(1) Primary Care physician
(2) Gynecologist (I had a hysterectomy last August)
(3) Dermatologist.

The primary care physician suggest the dermatologist, so I begin there. The dermatolgolist suggested it was some strange words called :



Telogen Effluvium


Telogen effluvium is a form of nonscarring alopecia characterized by diffuse hair shedding, often with an acute onset. A chronic form with a more insidious onset and a longer duration also exists.1,2 Telogen effluvium is a reactive process caused by a metabolic or hormonal stress or by medications. Generally, recovery is spontaneous and occurs within 6 months.

So in effect, its been about eight months since the hysterectomy, but its been six-seven weeks since I noticed the hair loss, thus the post 'six-month period since the hysterectomy

Understanding the pathophysiology of telogen effluvium requires knowledge of the hair growth cycle. All hair has a growth phase, termed anagen, and a resting phase, telogen. On the scalp, anagen lasts approximately 3 years, while telogen lasts roughly 3 months, although there can be wide variation in these times between individuals. During telogen, the resting hair remains in the follicle until it is pushed out by growth of a new anagen hair.


Physiologic stresses that can induce telogen effluvium include febrile illness, major injury, change in diet, etc. So there you have it, DIET and MAJOR SURGERY.

I do not know if any of the low carbers out there reading this blog have experienced hair loss, but I'd certainly like for yall to share.

Remember, I lost the majority of my 30 pounds during the FIRST FOUR MONTHS of my low carb diet. I'm sure that 'shock', in addition to my surgery could be the reason for the hair loss.

I'm scheduled for a round of blood tests today, including thyroid and FSH levels. He also suggested I take Biotin

BIOTIN

Its supposed to be a nail and hair strengthener.

I'll let yall know what I find out when I do. In the meantime, LOVE YOUR HAIR !!

2 comments:

Harry/JP said...

I think you're on the right track, BB. Hormonal changes and any type of trauma can definitely affect hair growth and loss.

The blood tests are vitally important, IMO. Good job of getting those done. Biotin may help too. As a bonus it will likely strengthen your nails. :-)

Hair loss is pretty common after weight loss surgery - because of nutritional deficiencies and due to the rapid loss of weight. In that case, extra protein and a variety of nutrients is often suggested.

I hope your doctors can help you to sort out the underlying cause and the cure for the loss. Please let us know how that progresses.

I'm actually going to be writing a general article about women's hair loss next week. My wife's hair dresser requested that I do so! I'll alert you once it's posted. There may be something of use there. I hope so anyway!

bayoubabe said...

Thanks for the insight Harry, I cannot wait to read it. How timely, huh ?

I can remember seeing pictures back in the ole days when the women would wear their hair BIG on top of their heads, like in the 1800's.. funny how times change ...

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