IBS/ Celiac Disease - Major Hair Loss!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
IBS/ Celiac Disease - Major Hair Loss!
10
Wed, 11-03-2004 - 9:43am

Please help me! I'm 24 and have experienced all the wonderful varieties of symptoms and related-diseases to Celiac Disease, diagnosed at 21... and the eventful and frequent bm's from IBS. from migraines, to muscle aches, back pain, onset of arthritis, skin irritations, nausea, new allergies, sinus infections, bruises, diahrrea, constipation, memory loss or "Brain Clouds", severe fatigue, weight loss, weight gain, , cysts, ulcers, polyps, loss of eye sight, cramping and bloating, breakthrough bleeding, cavities etc etc.


well now?


I'm noticing my hair is falling out BIG time. I've had to buy new ponytail holders bc the old ones used to wrap twice to hold my hair, now have to be wrapped four times to hold my hair tightly... and my hair still falls out, like when i go running. So i went and got the small bands and those i wrap twice, but I notice they are getting to the point i might have to wrap 3x.


when i take my ponytail down, my hair falls out in clumps... HUGE clumps. In the shower I am constantly pulling the hair off my ends or stopping it on my back bc my drain clogs every time, and afterwards my trash can looks like i threw a wet rat in there... bc there's so much hair. its all over my clothes, pillows, couch, chairs, everything. always falling out.


im really getting concerned.


but i dont know if it could be the laxatives/diahrrea or new reactions to Celiac and IBS Disease, stress , the new cold season here in DC and im not used to it or what.


my skin also broke out since going off BC and my hair is alot more oily. im all of a sudden allergic to my contact lenses, getting sinus infections, and daily headaches... like my body is just turning against itself.


what kind of doctor should i see about this? my gastroenterologist just shook his head and said "i dunno".

neurologist checked and said my vitiman efficiencies looked good as well bc my diet is veeeery strict and limited. and there is no sign of thyroid problems. heeeeeeelllllp!!!!!!!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2004
Wed, 11-03-2004 - 4:55pm
Dear saradia2004, I, too, am on a celiac diet, the SCD one. Since yours is very limited also, I'm guessing that's the one you are on. I have been on it since July 30. Just this past week I noticed that I am experiencing some hair loss, also. Mine is very short and I am elderly so it wasn't thick to start with, but actually twice now had to scrape quite a bit more out of the tub bottom and drain than usual. Your hair loss sounds much more pronounced, but given the differences in amounts to start with, this could come from the same type of problem. I guess I do find myself wondering about the total effect of omitting all grains from my diet, even rice . I do use a multvitamin , glucosamine-chondroitin for my arthritis, vit. e, calcium citrate with vitamin D, magnesium. I have just started taking Provex C which contains bilberry and ginko biloba among other things. Can't remember th others. I use the internet at our local library. Like you I have mainly constipation, but just recovered from a couple months of loose bowels, (frequent loose, skinny stools). Have now gone back to serious constipation. I was taking 1 tblsp. Milk of Magnesia for a few weeks, but was concerned because I was passing alot of urine and wondered if the magnesium was bothering my kidneys. I also have alot of body aches, arthritis, bloating (right sided) , burning from under right center ribcage over upper ab. (have had gallbladder surgery), forgetfulness , possibly age-related, although I have always had trouble with memory. Weight-wise, I used to go up and down alot, It is too soon to tell how My body will react to this diet over time. I have lost quite alot of weight since last spring. I am down to about 120 lbs. my scale, 130 at the clinic. I am tempted to get out my wedding dress and try it on, however, I doubt it would fit. 6 children has probably changed my body shape too much. Around a year and a half ago I weighed 160 lbs. My Dr. isn't worried about my weight. He feels it will level off. I am wondering about the hair loss, though. On the plus side, I have more energy and sleep better since being on the diet. I'll be interested in hearing what your Dr; says about hair loss. I'll run this past my Dr., too when I see him again. Figure it's too soon to ask him about it yet. Cheers, Ruth
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Thu, 11-04-2004 - 5:52am

you are right, I am on the SCD as well. been on it since April 2004. Lost alot of weight too. you pick your battles with this one bc the benefits outweigh the tortures.... but i've had my vitimans checked and theyre all good, thyroid's good and other than recent diagnosis of IBS... most everything checks out okay.


but like i said, just seems like my body is turning against itself. little things, im used to. but since the diet i dont get the cramping and bloating as much and im accustomed to the on/off diahrrea and constipation etc. skin rashes bla bla bla. but now and then its always something NEW.


but this time? hair loss at age 24??? i was getting a little upset about the memory loss or 'brain fogs' and frustrated etc, dizzyiness, and tendencies to get sick easily... but i can deal with it. but at 24- not bald spots! im losing more than my hair- im losing my mind! literally and figuratively! i just want to know whats going on and how to stop it!


and unfortunately, with a temporarily handicapped husband and permanantly handicapped MIL, and phys. therapy 2x a week and fulltime job in venture capital... I dont know WHEN i can see a doctor about this!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Thu, 11-04-2004 - 5:23pm

Hey Sara!


Wow, I have heard of this happening and I am trying to wrack my brain here and think were I have heard this and what it can be attributed too.

 
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Thu, 11-04-2004 - 8:37pm

Are you Bleaching or Having your hair colored?

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Fri, 11-05-2004 - 6:43am

Hi Lynn,


thanks. I usually take my B Complex vitamins, but havent been too good /faithful about that in the last couple months. I guess I should keep that up. I know I dont get alot of B in my diet.


I'm going to call the dermatologist I suppose. Thats what everyone is telling me to do. the only med I'm on is Topomax for my migraines and I've been on it for years. Just went of BCP in June/July after being on that for 8-9 years. Asked obgyn if it could be attributed to that and he said I shouldnt give BCP so much credit for symptoms like that.


any home remedies to keep my hair? my hair is also breaking around my hairline on my face and i look like Medusa with little shorter pieces of hair just sitcking up everywhere... and im starting to see scalp along the sides above my ears.


=(

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Fri, 11-05-2004 - 6:54am

dont color my hair ever. dont use any products in it either, i dont even blow dry it!


hair loss doesnt run in my family either which i find strange too, everyone elder person over 70 has so much hair its ridiculous. wash it every other day... and no drugs accept for migraines

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Fri, 11-05-2004 - 7:14am

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Fri, 11-05-2004 - 8:08am
nope- but im gonna try ALL those. anything and everythign. ill try.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Fri, 11-05-2004 - 1:45pm

Sara

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Sat, 11-06-2004 - 12:26pm

HI Sara!


Stress can wreak havoc on the body.