Post Sepsis Hair Loss

[Milo19]

Hi Everyone,

In March ‘19, I was diagnosed with Severe Sepsis alongside a host of other issues (Strep A, Kidney Disease, pneumonia and multiple organ shutdown). I have been home since mid April (ICU 3 weeks, 5 weeks in hospital overall).

I am on the road to recovery, and have been told by numerous Dr’s how lucky I was, as it was touch and go.

I have had incredibly sore joints as of late (which they believe was a reaction from me taking Linezolid for such a long time and was placed on anti - inflammatory tablets.). Has anyone had this too? Does it ease?

Recently (within the last few weeks), I have noticed huge clumps of hair coming out. I have always had such thick hair, but now it’s so thin, you can see my scalp. If it keeps going at this rate, in a few weeks there will be nothing left.

I am on iron tablets and having a blood test for zinc and iron. I have also started taking hair tablets to try help. Did anybody lose their hair totally? And if so, what did they use to cover it? Scarves? Hats? I have read it should grow back, but is there anything you would recommend? Wash it often/less? I tried to leave it a few days, but huge handfuls came out this morning.

I know after everything, I need to be grateful that I pulled through, but losing my hair is so heartbreaking, and is something I am struggling more to deal with than the other issues I have faced post sepsis.

Anything that has worked for you/any ideas will be so gratefully received.

Chrissie x

[Sepsur]

I was told to keep brushing my hair, the process of brushing stimulates the hair follicles...I have no idea if that worked. All I know is my hair fell out and then slowly grew back again, its called telogen effluvium.

medicalnewstoday.com/articl... ( I don’t know the veracity of this article.)

[Milo19 in reply to Sepsur]

Thanks so much for this article, it has made me feel slightly better!

[Theresan14]

Hi,

I had this last year and used a caffeine shampoo. It look a couple of months but really worked for me

[Milo19 in reply to Theresan14]

Thanks for the advice...I will buy some tomorrow! Did you frequently wash or try and hold off and wash less often? X

[Starr7]

Hi Milo19

I had almost the same things happen to me. I had H1N1 and 3 different types of pneumonia. I was induced coma almost 3 weeks. Hospital stay 39 days. My hair came out in handfuls! Lost 70% of my hair before i shaved it. I understand your pain with the hair. I don’t think there is much you can do. But just love yourself! I am not suggesting do what I did. I had to, I was crying all the time and scared. I had to find out on line that this can happen. I have a YouTube channel about what has happened to me. It has helped me a bit. But I hope you take a look. Nevada Starr C is the channel. I am so glad you are here❤️

[TheGingerDancer]

Hi Chrissie. I had stress induced alopecia after 3 months in hospital suffering from sepsis and ARDS. I was gutted!!! In hospital my hair had got so long and lush. Part of my coming home was to go to the hairdressers and have it washed properly and cut. A few weeks after I noticed a lot of hair coming out. I'd brush it and the brush was full of hair. I lost about 50% of my hair and ended up cutting it to chin length. It really upset me... especially because I thought I was on the road to recovery. Thankfully.... it all came back in the end!!! It came back a little bit different. More course and curly, but after 10 years it's completely back to normal! This is just one of the things that happens after and no one really tells you about. It's sucks, but the hair loss, achey joints, dry eyes and terrible IBS all go with time! Food luck on your road to recovery. Laura

[Lilly-of-the-Valley]

my hair is coming back it is really scary I to was not warned about it try Lee stafford hair growth products in boots also hair vitamins I WASH MINE ONCE AWEEK GOOD LUCK i ALSO WEAR A HAIR NET TO CONTAIN HAIR LOSS

[Terrie1964]

I went through the same thing and i can tell you that after a couple months of hair falling out in clumps,its now stopped and my hair is growing back. Its the stress our bodies went through and its just doing a reset.. relax,,, it will grow back