hair loss - Hair Loss / Alopecia Message Board

hanging on · 09-14-2003, 08:11 PM

I am a 41 year old mother of 4. I am type 3a. I was diagnosed after donating blood for the first time. I have 6 shots to go in a 24 week program. I don't know how or why I have this but the doc says those aren't important issues. I'm not a drinker, drug user, and have been in a monogonous relationship for 6 plus years. He tested negative. My question is about my most severe side. I once had long thick hair. I've lost probably a 1/4 and still 6 shots to go. How much more will I lose. I started losing most of it this past month. I tried Nioxon shampoo but it made my head itch. Any other sugestions? Good luck to you all.

eyesofblue · 09-15-2003, 08:24 AM

Sorry to hear that you have hepC, but happy to hear that you are treating it with the proper medication and trying to rid yourself of this disease. I also have hepatitis C.

Common side effect of the combo therapy hepC medication is losing hair. I have heard this many times from people who are on treatment. I also have had experience with hair loss, hair thinning.

I am on my 23 week of treatment, I am 1a genotype and will do 48 weeks or medication. As you know by now, the treatment that they have for hepC right now, is not easy.

I use a voluminizing shampoo and conditioner and it seems to help. I don't think that you can really do much about your hair loss. The good thing is that once you are off treatment and the medicines have gone out of your system, you hair comes back. I've hear this from people who suffered with hair loss and are now, post treatment anywhere from 1 month to 1 year.

I believe the most important thing you are doing is taking the medication to treat your hepatitis. The hair thing is just secondary to what you are doing for your liver. The treatment medication can work, it is and it does.

Hang in there, you are alomost finished. Have you cleared the virus. Wishing you good luck and good health !

hanging on · 09-15-2003, 09:20 AM

I don't know if I've cleared the virus yet. The doc said we will do a repeat of all tests at the end of 24 weeks and see where we are. My viral load was only just over 7000 when I started which is extremely low compared to most. Maybe that's why he's waiting until 6 mo. My white blood count got low at one point and I did half a shot which got me back in check. Lots of lab has been done just to watch my blood counts. Seems to be his most concern at this point. I don't mean to sound vain about the hair. It's a small price to pay but the meds cause the loss which adds to the stress which is another factor in hair loss. Would I do this again? If it clears it I can say yes. If not I don't know. Maybe after my system had a rest period. I swear sometimes I don't know which emotions are real and which are from the meds.

Wes1212 · 09-15-2003, 10:09 AM

i didn't lose any hair but i think it only grew an inch in 8 months. i kept it and my whole body conditioned every day. my eyelashes got longer...