Hair loss

[Fran08]

I was ventilated for 10 days in ICU from Covid19. I’m 13 weeks back home now. Physically had to learn to walk, muscle pain was horrendous, sleep pattern all over the place. Pain all gone as well as my various “aids” to help around the house. Now my cognitive ability is awful and to add insult to injury my hair as almost but all fallen out! Please tell me this is temporary 😅

[Lisa_H73]

It is temporary. It’s called telogen effluvium. I had it and it’s the icing on the cake after all you’ve been through 😢 but it usually resolves itself. My hair is in much better shape now! Hang in there xx

[Sepsur]

As @Lisa_H73 said, it usually grows back, mine grew back much softer.

“Hair loss vitamins such as Biotin, Niacin (Vitamin B3) and Vitamin C, and minerals for hair loss such as Zinc and Iron, provide essential hair nutrients to nourish healthy and longer hair. Eating enough of these key hair growth vitamins can help prevent hair loss in both men and women.”

[FamilyHistorian]

Fran08 I spent 6-8 weeks on a ventilator and have been home since mid March;I didn’t have hair loss. Cognitive issues however are very much a problem. I have lost my memory from at least 2 months before my op, I have difficulty working out what are real memories and which are nightmares/ hallucinations (it might sound daft but these are very real) and my behaviour is becoming inappropriate (I am going to write a post about that later).

I have had difficulty with simply practical skills e.g. my wife needed to go in the loft and we use a 3 ladder sliding ladder with each held in place by a very simple clip. I couldn’t remember how to slide it up! First I had to work out what to do and then how I was going to do it “simples” you say oh no it wasn’t!

A group such as this is really helpful first of all you will find out what is “normal” what ever that means and secondly they will listen and share.

[Copse77]

I know when my brother was discharged from ICU it took months for his anaemia to resolve alongside regaining ability to walk. Iron deficiency is particularly an issue for women. Please have your Ferritin checked as this is a measure of iron protein store and it needs to be around 80 to sustain hair growth otherwise ferritin will be used for essential tasks like cell renewal. I will send you a link to a useful article.

[Copse77]

philipkingsley.co.uk/clinic...

Best wishes for your recovery. Hair loss in this way is temporary but you may need iron tablets from your Dr to boost your iron stores.

[Rotherham66]

Yes it was for me. I had undiagnosed sepsis after flue, and was put into an induced coma for two wks. My recovery to where you are was a lot slower as I have severe nerve damage and drop foot in my left foot.

When my hair started to fall out , I couldn’t believe it. I have very fine hair anyway. But it will stop, and hopefully grow back really well. My hair is quite curly now and was straight before. Try not to worry too much. You will be fine xx

[Joanne020773]

I lost clumps of hair too and had big bald patches. The hospital told my family it was due to trauma. I rubbed castor oil into my patches and it’s all grown back now x thoughts are with you xxx

[M-RES]

My wife's hair became very thin and brittle up to 6-12 months after spending a month in coma. She had it cut quite short after she was discharged, but it has fully grown back now and 5 years on is longer and thicker than it ever was before.

[Myfanwy58]

Hello Fran. Glad you’re on the mend, albeit that you’re having to deal with some ongoing problems. Like you, I too was very ill and ended up in a medically induced coma & mechanically ventilated. I’ve been recovering at home for 12 weeks after having spent 4 weeks in hospital’s ICU. After making slow but steady progress in strength, stamina and cognition, I’m still struggling somewhat with a stridor, breathlessness & voice quality. These problems are being addressed by GP, Pulmonary Rehab & ENT teams. Just wanted to offer you some hope that cognitive function will highly likely continue improving over time. Mine certainly is. It’s such a common occurrence post ICU. The effects of severe illness, drugs used for sedation, fluctuating levels of consciousness, harsh environmental stimuli etc. You’ll get there. As regards your hair loss, you have my absolute sympathy! Mine’s just started dropping out in handfuls! In fact, clumps. Very distressing, particularly as I’m known for my wild, tousled masses of auburn hair😞. I’m trying to keep my chin up by reading others accounts on here of their hair loss having eventually subsided. I’m a registered nurse and my husband’s a medical dr, and whilst completely understanding the physiology of hair loss following severe acute illness it’s a different ball game trying to deal with the emotional aspect. Hubby’s quite convinced and reassuring that as the body recovers, it’ll just be a matter of time before hair loss slows down and re-growth begins, although this is likely to be a slow process over a number of months. In the meantime shall have my Thyroid & Vit D blood levels checked as I’ve been deficient in the past therefore perhaps worth re-visiting. Iron too?

All good wishes for your continuing recovery from this dreadful C-19. 🌿

[Lilly-of-the-Valley in reply to Myfanwy58]

Hi my dear I had sepsis shock a year ago and suffered many of the things you have I had supper thick blonde hair and long I lost two thirds of it yes we are happy to be alive but our hair is our identity and makes us feel good about ourselves I was never warned about hair loss and picking it off the floor was devastating now my hair is growing back well I take hairburst vitamins vitamin d and magnesium I also Lee Stafford hair growth products all from boots the chemist hang in there it does get better keep in touch

[Myfanwy58 in reply to Lilly-of-the-Valley]

Firstly, thanks very much for your response. Secondly, apologies for my slow reply. New to the site. Still feeling my way around. So sorry to learn that you too experienced this dreadful loss of hair following your illness. Yes, such a shock to suddenly see handfuls of it in the shower, in the comb, on the floor etc. The fact that its texture has changed, causing it to mat up when being washed, is also alarming. In fact, last time I washed it it became so matted (even though using quality hair products), that I had no option but to take scissors to it and cut the large clump out! As if we hadn’t had to endure enough! I’m so pleased that your hair’s growing back well now. What a relief this must be. I’m praying that mine will stop shedding soon and that it’ll just be a matter of time before I see signs of re-growth🙏. All good wishes sent your way for continuing recovery.

[Willicecot]

Hi there, I am a similar time scale since I was taken off the ventilator after 16 days following covid 19. I had to learn to walk again. I have recently stopped using my sticks. My hair has started falling out in clumps. My hair was very thick & now my scalp is visible which I find upsetting. I have started using shampoos, conditioners & special liquids to put on my hair to prevent or reduce hair loss. This is available in boots. My memory is terrible, I forget so much everyday. I have altered sensation to my left foot with awful pain in one of my toes, unfortunately this is getting worse rather than better. I’ve been referred to neurology to hopefully help with a solution.

Hope things improve for you with hair loss. It sounds like you have done so well to improve your mobility . Hope this helps. Take care

[robertsona4 in reply to Willicecot]

HELLO I am having some of the same issues. My hair has fallen out too. I hurt all the time. My body is in pain especially at night. I still have issues with my ears ringing, blood pressure issues, headaches every day, and I 'm often running to the doctor. i I'm on all kinds of pills now. My doctor said its called a long hauler. It's very stressful but I am thankful to be alive. COVID IS SERIOUS. But I know of several individuals that have had a second round of COVID after having it before. I now have stopped worrying as much about my hair and just being grateful for each day and trying to do whatever I can to live as normal as I possibly can. Hope everyone gets better asap.

[Le26]

Hi, I was in ICU for 5 days & have been recovering well now since end March. Around May my hair started to fall out in clumps, I am scared to brush it or style in, I have not used a hair dryer or straightened for months! My hair was quite fine beforehand so loosing a lot of hair has resulted in an overall thinning all over. Can I ask has your hair grown back? I’m worried mine won’t and did it change the texture my hair is more dry than normal? I’m wondering how long it will take to stop falling out and how long for it to start growing back.

[brenharrington1]

Mine fell out and its come back black, cutly and much softer, crazy but prefer it, one bonus from my covid coma experiance