Hair Loss After Ostomy: Anyone Else?

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13
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232
tbird56b
May 31, 2025 7:24 pm

I've had my ostomy for 3 months now. I see a ton of my hair falling out daily. ☹️ I have had no type of cancer treatment. Is anyone else experiencing this?

SusanT
May 31, 2025 7:43 pm

I think you need to see a doctor ASAP. Hair falling out like that is likely a sign of a health problem. I doubt it is related to the ostomy. Maybe a lack of nutrients if you have an ileostomy? But I really shouldn't guess here; you need a full health evaluation and blood work.

Ben38
May 31, 2025 9:33 pm

Happens a lot after surgery. So I'm told it's to do with meds and anesthetics, and stress almost always grows back.

corlsharonl49
May 31, 2025 9:41 pm

I agree with Susan. This could be a serious issue with nutrition. My hair thinned when mine was bad.

Jo 🇦🇺
Jun 01, 2025 1:02 am

Significant hair loss is quite common, particularly a few months after any stressful event to the body, whether it's surgery, trauma, an accident, childbirth, grief, etc.

It's usually just a temporary condition; give it another few months, and it will grow back to normal. My hair became quite thin a couple of months after surgery, but after about 5-6 months, it grew back thicker and longer than it had ever been.

In the meantime, I'd try increasing the protein in your diet: plenty of eggs, dairy (full-fat versions), red meat, and chicken; foods that are also good for overall healing and well-being.

 

My Ostomy Journey: Jearlean | Hollister

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IGGIE
Jun 01, 2025 1:29 am

G-Day tbird56b,

I would do everything that Jo said, but still go see your doctor and find out with some tests.

Regards, IGGIE

Windchime
Jun 01, 2025 1:55 am

I was just about to say the same thing about surgery. Any type of surgery (even outpatient) is traumatic on the body. It takes a few months, but it will stop.

Karliegirl33
Jun 01, 2025 5:26 am

I am 15 months out from my colostomy surgery, and I had significant hair loss from the anesthesia and trauma. It stopped about 4 months ago, and my hair has finally grown back in!

Patience and time.

Axl
Jun 01, 2025 7:34 am

As others say, it's common when the body is traumatized after major surgery; it will pass.

infinitycastle52777
Jun 01, 2025 3:42 pm

I would consult with your doctor just to be sure it isn't something serious. If your doctor says it's to be expected, then I would just deal with it, but if he/she suspects a nutrition deficiency, then at least you can get it addressed.

cacanuck4
Jun 01, 2025 4:07 pm

That's exactly what happened to me after my first surgery. My surgeon explained that everyone's body reacts differently to the disease, the drugs, and the surgery. Your hair will grow back, but it may grow back a little differently, e.g., darker, thicker, wavy, etc. Mine came back a shade darker. Hang in there; I recall how upsetting it was. You'll soon see new little hairs growing in.

TerryLT
Jun 01, 2025 8:41 pm

I had four abdominal surgeries over a two-year period, and my hair was falling out like crazy. I was told this is quite common. It stopped at some point and went back to normal.

Terry

Kyle
Jun 01, 2025 9:59 pm

I lost hair from a Crohn's attack. It was at the back of my head, so I didn't notice right away. I chopped my hair really short, #3 on the clippers. Luckily, once I felt better, it grew back. Two solid months of diarrhea caused me to lose hair, but I didn't lose an ounce of fat. If your hair doesn't grow back, look at wigs from Paula Young - it's in the States and very reasonably priced.

k9rulz
Jun 16, 2025 10:57 pm

So, as always, make sure to talk to your doctor about this as well, as there can be a medical condition causing this that may need to be addressed. That said, as others have stated, and as I personally experienced, post-surgery from my total colectomy (from toxic megacolon caused by C-Diff), about three months after surgery, I noticed my hair all started to fall out and got really thin. This apparently can be caused by stress, lack of nutrition, or anesthesia (or any or all of these), which interrupts the hair growth cycle (forget the name for it), but it takes a few months for this to show up because of the way hair grows. I freaked out at first too, but it did eventually stop and grow back. Interestingly, my hair was thick and coarse before (59M) and now it's back but very soft and not as coarse. I've been told this may also revert back to its original state, but so far, I like having softer hair that's not as thick and hot and itchy as it used to be.