Hello to all:
Well, I have been upset lately. Last October, I noticed a lot of hair loss. In November, my hair thickness had diminished by50%!!. I have been really upset. I am going to a dermatologist in two weeks. I am not putting up with this loss, in getting older. It feels pretty devastating. I am on hormones for post menopause. I am getting bloodwork done this week. That will include thyroid studies. Has anyone ever had this? And did you get back you hair thickness? I had very thick hair. I want it back. My hair was 2-3 inches thick when I put it back in a ponytail. That's how thick it was. I did take hair vitamins, but they didn't help any. So, I'm going to a dermatologist with my son, when he has an appointment. Part of me is fearful he will say there is nothing he can do to get my hair thick again. I don't like getting old, but I am NOT putting up with this hair loss. Has anyone had this happen, and got their hair thickness back? Please, I would like to hear your story. I don't abuse my hair, at all. I don't pull it back, or abuse it by perms etc. If someone has an experience with this, please write me.
Sincerely,
Bonnie :So Sad:

Hello Bonnie,

I don`t know if you are taken any medication? At some anti-seizure med. your hair
can become thinner. Even after a couple of years. I know Valproate( is this the right name in your language?) is one of them.

I'm 53 and have thinning hair but my chemo meds are doing most of it.

I just make sure I use an awesome color job and a great cut and no one else notices. If they do, they haven't been rude enough to mention it. Hell, one of these days I'm just gonna shave my head anyway. :crazy:

Hello to Birdbomb & Mom from Holland,
No, I am not on any anti-seizure medications, or chemo-therapy. I have read that women in their late 40's and 50's can get thinning. Also, post-menopausal women can get thinning. I know there are medications that can help, but they are prescription medicines only. I try and take a good B Complex Vitamin daily. And I am on hormones for the post menopause. And I have NO intention of going off of those, and loosing my mind and memory. I always condition my hair every time I wash it, so it is easy to comb out. I still haven't got the bloodwork done, and I don't think my thyroid is out of balance. Only I notice that it is thin, no one else notices it. It doesn't look thin around my face, it is only the thickness that has decreased. I won't be able to french braid it anymore in the summertime. There are medications that can help. I read up on Minoxidil, but that didn't look like it was the right medicine for me. So, that's when I decided to see a dermatologist.
Thanks for the feedback though.
Sincerely,
Bonnie
:Thanx:

i just read another posting of yours saying you had been trying to get on disability and phychiatrists kept telling you there was nothing wrong with you, go bac to work, well now have a doc that got you your disability but doesnt take insurance. sounds like you have been losing hair from stress related causes over the last year and abit. that is not unusual, when my seizures are worse my hair falls out which is constant right now. try some meditation or anything that calms you.
best of luck,
brain babe

I haven't had any hair thinning with the VNS? Could it be something else?

My hair is thinning because of Lamictal. What medications are you taking? I'd look into that.

Hi Bonnie,

Quite a few medications cause hair thinning, both anti-depressants and anti-seizure meds. I know I had alot of problem with this when I was on depakote, my hair was just coming out like crazy. However it also happens alot to women when they are going through menopause. My mother and sister's hair have both thinned quite a bit over the years due to menopause.

Try using a henna as that will help thicken your hair or as BB said, coloring does it too quite often. That is how I deal with mine.

:im_033:

Lamictal made my hair thin also.

Dear BrainBabe,
The time you are describing is over. Those years waiting for the disability were HELL. My internist was the only doctor helping me. Those years are over, and yes they were VERY stressful. I'm not as stressed right now. I had no hair thinning those years, when I was going through trying and waiting to get the disability. I have some stress now, but nothing like then. The hair thinning started last Oct. 2007. I am taking hormones for awhile now for post menopause.
Dear Petunia,
The medications I am taking are Wellbutrin (the generic), Topomax, and Seroquel. I don't think it is this either. I have been taking these medicines for awhile now. I am not on any anti-seizure medicine. I have been on the above medicines for over a year or longer. You would have thought my hair should have been coming out during the high stress of working on getting the disability; that was HELL. And bad stress.
Dear Gel61820,
Am I understanding you correctly? Are you saying coloring your hair helps to make it thicker to some degree? I don't use Henna, as that is another haircolor. I have really stubborn gray. I only do my roots like once per month. And always condition afterwards. Should I change to Henna instead? You know, I was post menopausal and didn't know it. I was not on hormones yet, but my hair was still thick. I started on hormones right away. I was post menopausal for about one year. My MD missed that one. My OB picked that up. I insisted something was wrong; that's when he discovered this. I was a bear at home :Really Mad: I have been on HRT for over a year(or longer) before my hair started thinning. I have lost some weight. I haven't had my bloodwork done yet. I hope my thyroid is out of balance; but I bet it isn't. I have an appointment with a dermatologist. Thank all of you for writing me.
Love,
Bonnie

Bonnie ,
Topamax is a anti-seizure drug, and is well known for causing hair loss. More so then Lamictal.

Topamax made my hair come out in handfuls.