I've noticed in the last few weeks that there is a lot more hair collected in my shower drain than there used to be. I would have attributed it too low thyroid, as I take thyroid meds, but I just had it tested and it's fine. I feel fine otherwise.

I have almost shoulder-length hair, and while it looks like there is still a lot of it, it's disconcerting to see more of coming out when I shower.

Any ideas on what can cause this? I haven't had any trauma or been under any new stress that might cause this.

WriterMom

I went through exactly this one and a half years ago, when my estrogen left the building (me!). I remember very distinctly feeling a blob of something go down my back when I was shampooing and then I realized it was hair! After that it was never as dramatic, but every time I washed my hair there was a gob in the drain, and then again when I combed and dried it, more in the sink. I had my thyroid tested, I went for all sorts of autoimmunie disease tests and everything came back negative. The endocrinologist asked me about my family history (mom, grandmothers) and both had thinning hair as they aged- AHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I am doomed! Another fun treat in meno land.

I too, wore my hair shoulder length and I loved it. But let me tell you I was freaking out everyday when I saw the globs. So, I found a fantastic hair dresser who cut my hair chin length, but a very cool cut. She told me that as we age our hair breaks and that was accounting for some of the fall, and also that foil highlighting was a no no for thinning hair- it is too damaging and now I get my hair highlighted the old fashioned way, through a cap with a highlighting agent that is only on my hair for 3-5 minutes. She has me brushing 100 strokes a night with a boars head bristle brush to stimulate my scalp- and to keep the oils flowing ( and you know how much oil we meno birds have, NONE)-

Bottom line- it has been 18 months since it all began, and since December, thanks to my hairdresser, I am not losing anywhere near as much hair- only about 20 every time I do my hair, from shampoo to finished product, (yup, I got to counting because I was sure I would be bald)- and it is considered normal to lose up to 100 a day so that new hair can grow in.

I feel your pain. It has been a real kick in the pants...

Thanks so much for your feedback. I had a feeling meno has something to do with it. I haven't had a period in 10 months, and take vitamin supplements and soy that help with other symptoms, so I was't sure if it was meno or not. My hair is very curly, so cutting it shorter only makes it curl more. I look like Orphan Annie with shorter hair - not very professional looking. I keep it longer so I can smooth it out on electric rollers. I am not good at blow drying my hair - feel like I have 2 left hands. Although, I've noticed that the gray hunk of hair right by my face isn't as curly as the rest.

I still seem to have a lot of hair, and I haven't counted them yet from a shampooing, but I'm very tempted! Ugh. Seems like every couple of months there is something new.

Your hair style sounds lovely. I also get mine dyed with something called Shades. It makes the gray look like it's highlighted gold, and the rest is my natural brown color. It's very conditioning. It doesn't strip your hair color at all. The gray is definitely a little coarser than the rest.

WriterMom

I too have shoulder length hair and at one point went through the same thing. All of a sudden, noticed I was losing more of it....even my hairdresser noticed! This lasted a while and I noticed that now it is not such an issue, so seems it was one of those things that stayed around for a while but is better now that I am getting through this meno process. I've notice this with most of my symptoms, so I think there really is light at the end of this dark tunnel.

No one would believe us if we sat a group of young women down and tried to tell them what this crazy time is like, you know! We can talk talk talk until we are blue in the face, but unless you are there....

THANK GOD FOR POWER SURGE! AND OUR DEAREST!!!

Have a great weekend ladies.

Jan (aka Jonesy)

So does the hair loss stop once you are considered menopausal? Not in peri I mean.

I noticed more hair loss closer to reaching meno.

A few months back I noticed that when I washed my hair my hands would come out just tangled up with hair!! And it did freak me out...and the bathtub always had hair in it, and the counter, and the sink!! I mean I could have built my own wig with all the hair I was losing. My hair is retardedly curly, which is why it was always wrapped around my fingers after shampooing!! But I noticed it was getting straighter, as well as falling out. Lucky my hair is extremely thick, so I could loose a lot before it would be noticable.

I opted for BHRT, FDA not compounded....and now I find I am loosing way less hair, more like the regular amount, and my hair is much thicker again, and seems to be regaining its curl. I am convinced that it is direcly related to loss of estrogen.

Yup, yup and yup!! I have my losing my hair for 1 year now. I also had very thick hair. For me it was my nicest asset as I was not blessed in the chest area..haha! But, yes, I still freak out and think I am going to go bald.

I lose hair in the shower, when I comb it out and blowdry. I also had long hair and had it cut to my shoulders in hopes it would help..nope. I actually started counting and I lose about 60 hairs from the time I step into the shower until I am done blowdrying..and I can't believe I count. But, it can be frightening.

I am learning to let it go. I mean I can't control it..so I am learning to live with it.

It is hard I know (I am living it now), but the way I try to look at is, there are far worse things I could be going through...

Have a great day!

Sunny

Your hair grows, and is lost, from the follicles in your scalp. Cutting it can make it seem thicker, but it will have no effect on hair loss, which is a normal part of menopausal hormone fluctuations: less estrogen means a relatively higher proportion of testosterone, which is what causes balding in men.

If you've been pregnant: remember that luxurious head of hair you had...and how a lot of it fell out once you gave birth? A similar process is at work now. I sympathize - I also shed like crazy!!

I agree with the estrogen... It's funny that one of the doctors said to look at your family history...the problem with that is that we are seeking answers and taking hormones....my mother and grandmother did not. That along with blood pressure meds, lead to them losing their hair! I think the key is being proactive...because not all people who age lose their hair...lucky devils lol! I am hoping that BHRT helps with the shedding and thickens it back up again!!!

My hair loss has actually slowed down since I started this thread last summer. I had one period a month ago, but before that no periods since Sept. 2007. I'm hoping my hormones are settling down, although I think they are crashing because I'm having more anxiety lately. Had to up my BP meds because of it. I'm working on it.

My nutrition store recommended Biotin and something else I think is called BiloSil. I checked with my doctor, and he says they are ok to take. No harm. The nutrition store said it will help increase the collagen we need for hair production, and also help with skin and nails. My nails have vertical ridges in them and seem to chip much more easily. I forget to take it every day like I should, and it's only been a few weeks, so don't know if it's made any difference. I'll check back here in a couple months and let you all know.

Instead of setting my hair on curlers to straighten it all the time, I'm letting it curl naturally. The gray hair is a good bit straighter than the rest, so one day I won't have these curls and probably wish I did! I think that has helped with the hair breakage.

Oh yes, the hormones definitely mess with our hair - not to mention the rest of our bodies! I can live with the end result, I just want them to settle down.

WriterMom

I just remembered something that my doctor had me to get and that was Centrum Silver because the vitamin mix was supposed to be good for your hair so I've been taking that as well!

TJ