Thinning hair

[Lurcher-lady]

Has anyone had problems with hair loss. I’ve always struggled with fine hair, but recently (6weeks after loading doses) it seems to be shedding more.

[pitney]

Yes my hair started to fall out about the time I was diagnosed , I have been using the Plantur 39 shampoo for about a year now and it does seem to have helped but is expensive and you do need to leave it on the hair for a few minutes after you have lathered it up . Good luck and best wishes

[deniseinmilden]

Mine (also always thin) fell out in handfuls until I was worried that I wouldn't have any left! I found I had become short of iron and all sorts of things because I was having general absorbtion problems.

It would be good to have blood tests to check your levels of other things especially iron and folate.

Many people benefit from taking a broad spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement plus extra folate, potassium, magnesium and iron, maybe vitamin D, ideally from their diet.

Be careful about supplementing with minerals and vitamins other than B12 as it is possible to have too much of the others. I suggest that you Google them to see what the symptoms of deficiency and excess are, and what dietary sources you might like.

The processes of cell replication, nerve function and energy release that use B12 need lots of other things to work properly and during the process of healing the damage caused by the deficiency, other vitamins and minerals may get used up, therefore limiting the rate of healing from the extra B12 and may also cause their own deficiency symptoms.

It's a bit of a balancing and fine tuning act but it is possible to get there!

Once I'd got enough B12 and supporting supplements I discovered that my head (I usually had my long hair tied back) developed a sort of fuzzy "halo"... which I discovered was lots of new hair growing back through! It was great!

Eventually I had a two-part pony tail with a reasonably thick bit and then a really straggly tail - which I eventually cut off; glad to see the back of the time when my hair fell out because I was so ill!

Well done for recognising the problem, good luck with sorting it out.

[deniseinmilden in reply to deniseinmilden]

PS my cat has B12 deficiency issues too and I gauge when to give him another jab (all in agreement with my vet) by the condition of his coat: I know he needs another one if he gets itchy and his hair starts falling out!

This stops him becoming sick (probably dizzy) lethargic, cranky and generally looking like he's dying... Not that I'd recognise these symptoms or anything!!! 🙃🤪😁

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Hair loss is a symptom of B12 deficiency - possible that you are one of the many for whom 3 monthly maintenance isn't enough as some people need to maintain much higher B12 levels post loading shots (something seems to happen that affects the efficiency of the transfer from blood to cells). How are your other symptoms doing?

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Gambit62]

Hair loss is also a symptom of a number of other conditions such as iron deficiency and thyroid problems so may be worth getting tested for those

[Lurcher-lady in reply to Gambit62]

Of course, my doc says I’m within normal range for iron, thyroid etc despite being at the lower end of normal. Looks as though it could be iron I’m thinking as was diagnosed as low iron a couple of years back. I’m thinking docs could save a lot of messing about (and money) if they just looked at symptoms.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Lurcher-lady]

yes, its really frustrating that most seem to think that symptoms aren't important and everything can be done through tests - tests help clarify but they are rarely 100% fool proof and need interpreting in the context of symptoms

[sueeaton]

I also have had very bad hair loss and know that it is so upsetting. I went to a trichologist who told me that my iron levels should be much higher. I had been diagnosed with b12 deficiency, had the loading doses and initially 12 weekly injections. Ended up on 5 weekly injections but now self inject as our surgery appointment system meant that my injections weren't being done on time.

My hair loss continues though; sometimes it slows down and there appears to be new growth but then the new growth also falls out. I have found that if I wash my hair more often it's better as less comes out (obviously eventually the same amount), and that just makes it seem less awful!

Perhaps check your serum ferritin levels - apparently the NHS level is much lower than that needed for regrowth. The trichologist said it should be above 100ug/l for hair regrowth.

[Lurcher-lady]

Sounds as though iron could be my problem then sueeaton as my ferritin level is 41. I’ll give that a go along with my b12. Thanks

[Nackapan in reply to Lurcher-lady]

My hair stated to fall out at the same time my ferritin levels dropped from 61 to 31. I'm taking iron at present my hair is thicker than normal now! Bloods due in a week so see if I've taken enough iron. My hair tells me I am. My fatigue says something different

[Lurcher-lady]

That’s wonderful Nackapan. Hope for me yet then. Thanks 🙂

[Lurcher-lady]

Oh just realised you’re still fatigued, that’s not good then ☹️

[Reemfali]

By the way how was your injection. Hope all went well ?

[Lurcher-lady]

Not done it yet Reemfali, I go to my daughters tomorrow. I’ll report back

[Lurcher-lady]

Hi Reemfali. Well I just have to tell you (and anyone else) that I did my first self injection today and it was so so easy. It was a difficult thought to stab myself, but unbelievably I didn’t feel anything at all. I was very nervous so not as relaxed as I should have been, but honestly I felt absolutely nothing from the needle, just a very slight sting from the fluid going in, then nothing when it came out and no blood or seepage. I feel liberated and so much less anxious about relying on doctors. I’d just say to anyone....go for it and take back control 😁