Hairloss post EOT

[Marte313]

During my whole 48 I have kept my hair. Yes, it has gotten thin, dry and frizzy, but at least it has been there. Today I suddenly got a big bold spot, 12 days post EOT. I know it hasn't been there before. Is this normal??
As some of you know I have gotten a lot worse after EOT than during TX. I have barely slept even though I am tired all day, I have been depressed at the edge of breakdown, and I've been throwing up. My father has a illness called Alopecia Totalis which have caused him to loose every hair on his body. This runs in familys, but often skip generations and are most likely for men to get, so I haven't worried about this until now. This can break out because of stress, so I am wondering if my hairloss is due to the TX or if I am getting this from my father because of my other worries. In the last case it would probably be permanent, hence my worries...

[Marte313]

I was planning on making dreadlocks since my hair is so frizzy, but now I will have to come up with something else. Wouldn't be able to cover the boldness with that I think. I accept tips with gratitude =P

Will try to talk to my dr. about something to help me calm down, even though I seriously doubt that they would give me a prescription after only two years of being clean.

[nygirl7]

It will grow back like a weed and healthier than ever before.
My hair NEVER grew that fast. Usually hair grows at 1/2" a month but I swear it was growing much faster than that (I lost about 80% and so I was really happy to get out of my wigs finally!!!!!!!!!)

You'll be fine just post treatment jitters....we ALL get them to some degree.

[meakea]

Marte313, I know of others on this site who have finished TX within the past few months who are still losing hair so I believe that what you are experiencing is a normal part of treatment and not the alopecia you mentioned.  Keep in mind that stress can add to hair loss so try to put the hair issue in a place where it won't cause you stress.  

I had to shave my hair down to about 1/2" about 2 months ago (I just finished TX about 12 days ago) because I had lost so much hair in a very uneven fashion.  No growth yet -- still just 1/2".

[Marte313]

My thyroid are normal. The spot is right on the top of my head, brobably lost it in the shower. When I thought about it afterwards, I noticed that it felt different to wash my hair today. When I got out I noticed the big shiny spot staring at me, but when I look at it closer now I see that there actually is tiny tiny hairs there. So I guess your right. Don't think it would be that if it were Alopecia. I really find it quite strange that everything is coming in post EOT, but I will at least try to be better at the patience.

Thanks a lot for the calming words!

Don't think anyone would prescribe Valium or anything like that to me. Got a prescription for AD's but don't think I want to start using them.

[Marcia2202]

My hair only stopped falling out around 2-3 months after tx. it was still falling out by the hands full. It is normal to still fall out for some time after.

[newleaf09]

Check thyroid just to be safe.  I continued to lose hair at a great rate for 7-8 wks after EOT.  Then it just went back to normal hair loss.  There are a lot of other goofy little things that will pop up related to interferon/ribavirin therapy after discontinuation.  Depression around 2 weeks after EOT is pretty standard, so are a few weeks of mild headaches.  Joint aches, peripheral neuropathy, skin issues.  They are all very distressing since you think you are done with all that after you stop the meds.  They are TEMPORARY.   Check the thyroid, since that may require attention if it is truly off course, but otherwise, exercise all of the patience that you built up during the long course of your chemotherapy.  All should straighten out by 12 wks. post, but give it a full 6 mos. to be really certain.

[Bill1954]

Hi Marte,

Have they been monitoring your thyroid production on treatment? The test results to look for would be TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), T3, and T4 (free T4). If you have copies of your lab results, maybe you could review them, or check with your doctor just to be sure. I imagine they have been watching this, but ask anyway. Of course, your father should be able to answer questions regarding the genetic possibilities of the alopecia he has. He is a doctor, you said once.

I lost a lot of what little hair I have left during treatment; and it got very brittle dry, and turned grey too. It took about 4 or 5 months, and most of it has come back now… try to be patient, and see what happens.

Take care, and good luck with school—

Bill

[nygirl7]

No I'm sure it' not Alopecia calm down...calm down...chances are as you said it's been getting dry and  frizzy and just pooped out on you.  I noticed that more of my hair fell out while I was sleeping then in the shower.  I guess from laying on the pillow all night long.  Can it be in a spot like the back of your head where if you slept on your back it would be on it all night? Or on the side or something?

Just calm down and try to relax.  If you can't then how about you call the doc and see if they can prescribe a low dose of valium or something to help you get over the stress and anxiety?

I'm sure pretty soon you'll be feeling better but some people do seem to go through some withdrawl from the meds...give yourself some time you've  been through a major trauma doing tx and it's going to take some time - it does for almost everybody!!!!!!!!!

Hang in there!