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Anthony
Member
Username: Mka1823

Post Number: 2
Registered: 07-2013
Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2013 - 05:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hello, I got a kidney transplant on Feb. 5, 2013. I am very happy that I finally got a transplant after 3 years of waiting.

I am starting to lose my hair and it is making me feel sad... every time I take a shower I see all of my hair falling out, about 50-80 strains of hair a day! Does anyone have any tips or advice that can help me out with this crucial problem?
Alaskagal
Member
Username: Cheathers

Post Number: 139
Registered: 06-2011
Posted on Thursday, July 11, 2013 - 09:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Oh Anthony, that happened to me as well.... and I talked to the doctors about it.... they said that they gave a drug (totally can't remember what) while I was in the hospital for transplant that they believed caused it, and that once it was out of my system, my hair should grow back. I had my transplant 8/23/11, and my hair has come back... whew. So, perhaps that is the situation for you as well... I sure hope so.

Congrats on the kidney!!!!!!
Kidney tx Aug. 23, 2011 Seattle Swedish Hospital.
Cora
Member
Username: Cora

Post Number: 501
Registered: 06-2007
Posted on Friday, July 12, 2013 - 01:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi Anthony. It is the nature of a transplant, especially at the early stages. Both the trauma as well as some of the drugs (like prograf) can cause hair loss. The good news is that it slows down and even stops. In my case, my hair eventually grew back nice and thick. It was kind of funny actually. I had a few medical traumas before dialysis and then before transplant. This happened about 4 times and I lost hair in waves. As it grew back, I had the equivalent of tree rings in the hair growing out. It was at 4 distinct lengths until it all grew back.

Congrats from me too on the new kidney.
Dx with T1 in 1966
Kidney tx in Minneapolis 2002
Pancreas tx in 2008
Jay Lackritz
Forum Leader
Username: Jay_ny

Post Number: 545
Registered: 01-2007


Posted on Friday, July 12, 2013 - 10:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Of the immunosuppressives that we transplant recipients take daily, Prograf (Tacrolimus) has as one of it's side effects hair loss.
On the other hand, Neoral (Cyclosporine) has as one of it's side effects increased hair growth.

Here is an interesting paper that was presented to my lung transplant support group. Lung recipients take many of the same meds as those who have had other solid organ transplants.

Here's the paper in Powerpoint or Adobe format:

http://www.Lackritz.net/MedsPostLungTxp.pdf

http://www.Lackritz.net/MedsPostLungTxp.ppt
Jay Lackritz@Optonline.net
Jay Lackritz.com
Bilateral Lung TX, May 10, 2007, Columbia University Medical Center/NYPH
Google doc
Google doc
Alese
Member
Username: Olade

Post Number: 109
Registered: 06-2006
Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2013 - 02:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post


Hi Anthony...

I am 10 yrs out post-kidney/pancreas transplant...I can't speak for anyone else on hair loss after txp as I don't think the meds affected my hair loss. In fact, I had heard years ago that if you had straight hair it might come back as curly and vice versa. I didn't have that either....

I am female and always had fine thin hair. In the last couple of years I've noticed a male baldness in the front. Still hair and my hairdresser is able to fill that in with a fiber product.

Also, I noticed your 5 mos out from txp and hair loss might happen, goes thru cycles of sleep for a few months and then grows back....that is the normal process of hair growth but we never notice unless we have substantial hair loss. Give it a few more months to see what happens.

Good luck to you.

alese in FL

SPK-Pancreas/ Kidney Transplant--April 21, 2003
Univ. of Miami/ Jackson Hospital, Miami, Florida
Diabetes and complications:
Legally blind and kidney failure
Dialysis for 1 1/2 yrs before transplant.

Live in SE Florida outside Fort Lauderdale...

Username-Olade- is what I am.. an Old Lady!! ;0
BD-April, 1, 1943 (Txp surprise was 20 days after my 60th birthday!)- two birthdays in April!!! YAY!!

KEEP HEALTHY AND BE WELL...... HUGS, alese
John Vo
Member
Username: Pbmunkey

Post Number: 1
Registered: 07-2013
Posted on Monday, July 29, 2013 - 07:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

i was prescribed Finasteride and my hair grew back soon after having been on the drug. i still take it today, 2 years later
papillonbleu
Forum Leader
Username: Papillonbleu

Post Number: 2257
Registered: 10-2007


Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 - 07:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I had a multivisceral transplant. My hair by the time I had my transplant was already in a bad shape, falling out and there was a balding spot. I had almost always had very long hair, but by the time I got out of the hospital (about six months) after the transplant surgery, my hair was in even worse shape. This may have been from the medicine but probably also from lying on it so much while in a hospital bed. I ended up having almost all of it cut off about a month or so after the transplant because of its bad condition ( even above the ears I think). I have been taking Prograf since my transplant. I have been very fortunate in that my hair has finally come back. I no longer have any balding spot and it is as long as it was before I became ill and started to lose it (it falls down to my waist). I am now about 7 and a half years out from my transplant. I hope that with time, your hair will also improve and start growing back. When I started to lose my hair, it meant a great deal to me as it was one thing I self identified myself with. I even had someone come to me in college who I had known in high school and tell me they remembered me as the girl with the long hair. It is a simple thing, but sometimes these things can mean so much. I would rather have life and love rather than my hair of course, but still the hair can be important as part of one's self-esteem or in other ways according to the individual. Best of wishes to you.
Bobbiejo
Forum Leader-Multivisceral
dx: GERD 1995, gastroparesis 2002, pseudo-obstruction of the bowel 2004
multivisceral transplant, 6 organs, 10/06/05
University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital

Rita
Forum Leader
Username: Rita

Post Number: 937
Registered: 06-2003
Posted on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 - 06:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I was once told that it is the stress/changes in the body. I lost hair when I was on dialysis and then again right after the transplant. I think also people who dont have our medical issues go through cycles in their lives of hair loss. I dont have an answer for a remedy. Wishing you the best.
Rita
Kidney Transplant 9/95
New York Hospital, NY
Dr. Wang

Rita's Page on Transplant Friends- see her photos

Lessons of Hope, Love and Kindness blog
Fronica Mathew
Member
Username: Fromathew

Post Number: 1
Registered: 10-2013
Posted on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 05:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi anthony congratulations for the successful kidney transplant.I can understand the suffering you are going through , because I suffered the hair loss for a year. Tried many therapies, supplements and many other things but nothing worked out well. Finally opted for remy hair extensions and Now I feel like am having the original hair back.
Hostess Risé
Board Administrator
Username: Rise

Post Number: 17900
Registered: 05-2003


Posted on Thursday, October 24, 2013 - 03:45 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I have heard that extensions are not good for your scalp.
CF- dx at 2yrs. 2nd double lung tx-05 JMH
My Photos on Transplant Friends

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Contact: transplantbuddies@gmail.com
chance4life
Member
Username: Chance4life

Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2013
Posted on Monday, November 04, 2013 - 03:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

My first post here... I am brand new on Transplant Buddies.... Looks like Anthony has not been here lately. I am curious to how he is doing with the new kidney and the hair loss. Is it coming back? Any improvement ?
I received a kidney transplant in 2007, I am like papillionbleu.... I HAD thick, long and healthy hair, which I thought was one part of me that 'looked healthy'. It really means a lot to me too. I --was-- taking Neoral (Cyclosporine) to prevent my transplanted kidney from rejecting. My cholesterol was running high and I cannot take Statins. So.... my MD changed from Neoral (cyclosporine) to Prograf (Tacrolimus) for that one reason ~ about 5 months ago. Now I am losing my hair too, lots and lots of it. I am Very concerned and of course I am thankful for my 'new life'. But it is quite depressing for me.... I am taking 3mg Prograf, twice daily. Total of 6mg per day. (Also, Prednisone and Cellcept). How much Prograf are others taking?
I would like to hear more from others with hair loss, prograf and their outcomes. My heart goes out to with Papillionbleu, she has been through so very much. 6 organs ! Best wishes to her and everyone here.
Hostess Risé
Board Administrator
Username: Rise

Post Number: 17912
Registered: 05-2003


Posted on Monday, November 04, 2013 - 03:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Welcome Chance 4 Life :-)

So glad that you found us. Just curious, how is your cholesterol running now?

Consider improving your diet- ask your doctor if you can take biotin (a b vitamin)
I saw this on Dr.Oz for hair loss. I remember him mentioning to take Biotin with a multivitamin when taken together they work better for hair loss.
I will search for this on the Dr. Oz website.
CF- dx at 2yrs. 2nd double lung tx-05 JMH
My Photos on Transplant Friends

Facebook-TransplantBuddiesfriends

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Contact: transplantbuddies@gmail.com
Hostess Risé
Board Administrator
Username: Rise

Post Number: 17913
Registered: 05-2003


Posted on Monday, November 04, 2013 - 03:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hi Chance for life
I found this for you.
http://blog.doctoroz.com/you-wanted-to-know/you-wanted-to-know-hair-loss
CF- dx at 2yrs. 2nd double lung tx-05 JMH
My Photos on Transplant Friends

Facebook-TransplantBuddiesfriends

Twitter-transplantbuds

Contact: transplantbuddies@gmail.com
papillonbleu
Forum Leader
Username: Papillonbleu

Post Number: 2291
Registered: 10-2007


Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2013 - 08:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Dear Chance4life,
Thank you for your very kind comments. I hope that like my hair, yours also may become healthy again. I have been on Prograf 2mg twice daily for most of the eight years since my transplant except for the first year when there were a lot more changes. I had also heard that Biotin is supposed to be good for hair although you may want to check your transplant team to make sure it is safe for you to take. My hair looks so much better and fuller now, and I hope yours may as well with time return to its former state. Many hugs.
Bobbiejo
Forum Leader-Multivisceral
dx: GERD 1995, gastroparesis 2002, pseudo-obstruction of the bowel 2004
multivisceral transplant, 6 organs, 10/06/05
University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital

chance
Member
Username: Chance4life

Post Number: 2
Registered: 11-2013
Posted on Wednesday, November 06, 2013 - 02:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Thank You Rise & Papillonbleu. Rise was wondering what my chol. is now, well when I was on cyclo my chol was 292 and last (on Prograf) chol was 244. I have been on Prograf now for about 5 months. Time will tell if it comes down further. I do not eat a lot of junk or fatty food. I know one of the 'side effects' of BOTH cyclo and tacro, is elevated cholesterol. Thank you also, for the link to the Dr Oz info.
Papillonbleu, Thank you for your kind words also and the info about biotin. Will check with my MD if it is okay for me to try. ----If anyone is reading this that is on Cyclosporin and have their hair fall out post-surgery, that is absolutely due to the 'trauma' of surgery. That happened to me in 2007, I lost tons of hair then too but I knew it was because of the surgery itself (because I have surgeries before and that happened also). I was on Cyclosporin then. But now, I have not had any surgery recently and am experiencing the hair fallout nightmare. (because of the Prograf which I recently started) That is why I am very concerned now. "Trying to stay positive" hugs.....
Two kidney tx - first in 1990 and second transplant in 2007 - most recent tx at Univ of Wisconsin.
Gitartha
Member
Username: Gitartha

Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2013
Posted on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 - 04:08 am:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I have completed 11 years kidney transplant with no major issue...but some hair loss but it's normal.}}

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