Hair Loss

[BeachLove]

Hi everyone, I have been on dialysis for 9 months. I am on the registry for a liver and kidney transplant. Along with other symptoms that so many of us suffer from, it is devastating that I have lost half of my hair : (( This started about 6 months into dialysis. Thyroid issues have been ruled out. I would appreciate any feedback! Thank you : )

[larrymontague826]

I started losing my hair during stage four of CKD. I did five years of dialysis before transplant. Once I got my transplant it has kind of leveled off. I hope you get a transplant soon and it may be the same for you. Good Luck.

[BeachLove in reply to larrymontague826]

Thank you!

[Sassyansweet]

My hair started thinning when I got on dialysis but after my transplant it’s so much worse one of the anti rejection meds can cause hair loss . My hair has always been baby fine anyway but I now have bald spots. Mostly on the top, and sides of my head. This Halloween makes a year that I have had my kidney.

[BeachLove in reply to Sassyansweet]

Thank you for your feedback and congrats on your kidney!

[BabyTee]

I also lost hair during dialysis, but I felt too horrible to do anything about it. I did peritoneal (PD). I think it was because my appetite was so low that I had trouble getting proper nutrition. They told me that if I could eat 1.2g of protein for every kg of my ideal weight, then my hair would start growing. I am 5'2", and they told me to use my weight at a bmi of 25 for my height. That means 63kg x 1.2 = 75g/day. That was impossible for me. I also was losing 15g of protein/day through my urine (albuminurea). I was pretty malnourished, though, and not just protein. I think the docs were trying to simplify it too much.

Ask your nephrologist how much protein you should be eating to see if that might be the problem. What my doc said to me may not agree with what your doc says.

Also, if you are NOT vegetarian/vegan, you could try collagen tablets. Costco sells Youtheory Collagen + Biotin tablets. Some people use that plus the Natures Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails supplement to assist with hair growth. I'm going to try that when I start losing my hair from the Tacrolimus. I am not allergic to any of the ingredients listed.

Now, 8 weeks post kidney pancreas transplant, I am able to eat 70-80 g protein/day, two pieces of fruit, and 3 cups of veggies/day. I was told to eat between 1.2 and 1.5g of protein/day to assist with healing for the first 6 months. After 6 months I can cut back.

Good luck figuring it out. Also, if the docs use terms like "lean weight" or "ideal weight", don't let them get away with that vague term. They need to help you figure out what that weight is for you.