Has anyone experienced hair loss after an ostomy?

@adlib071
This sounds like my story. So very frustrating and hard to deal with. I bought 1 wig, 3 toppers. Toppers work better for comfort. I wash my hair 1 time a week because I loose so much. Mine is from a weak autoamune disease. Not sure mine will grow back. Good luck, it is so very hard.

@pidge32 You are not alone!! I had a beautiful head of hair last August. Got very sick after a diverticulitis attack, suddenly lost 40 lbs., was afraid to eat. Ended up having major surgery in November that took 10 hours!! Had a followup surgery in March, too. In total, I was under anesthesia 5 times since October After all that, my thick hair was all in my brush, in the shower drain and if I ran my fingers thru my hair, there would be a handful! Several friends have told me it happened to them and their hair grew back. I cry nearly every time I look in the mirror because all I notice is pink scalp and that I look 10 years older! Today, I noticed some short hairs along my forehead hairline! At first I thought that was where hair had broken off, but I actually believe it might be new hair!! I hope so, because I don't like to go out in public like this! I bought 2 wigs, but not comfortable wearing one because they move out of place a bit, plus they get hot and itchy.
I am now using ROUTINE shampoo and conditioner.....friend recommended. I am home most of the time healing from surgery, but I only wash my hair when I know I have to go somewhere (don't want to stress what hair I have left). I have lost at least half of my hair. It's thin, dry and brittle...no body AT ALL.

@pidge32 You are not alone!! I had a beautiful head of hair last August. Got very sick after a diverticulitis attack, suddenly lost 40 lbs., was afraid to eat. Ended up having major surgery in November that took 10 hours!! Had a followup surgery in March, too. In total, I was under anesthesia 5 times since October After all that, my thick hair was all in my brush, in the shower drain and if I ran my fingers thru my hair, there would be a handful! Several friends have told me it happened to them and their hair grew back. I cry nearly every time I look in the mirror because all I notice is pink scalp and that I look 10 years older! Today, I noticed some short hairs along my forehead hairline! At first I thought that was where hair had broken off, but I actually believe it might be new hair!! I hope so, because I don't like to go out in public like this! I bought 2 wigs, but not comfortable wearing one because they move out of place a bit, plus they get hot and itchy.
I am now using ROUTINE shampoo and conditioner.....friend recommended. I am home most of the time healing from surgery, but I only wash my hair when I know I have to go somewhere (don't want to stress what hair I have left). I have lost at least half of my hair. It's thin, dry and brittle...no body AT ALL.

@bettes I definitely believe surgical stress and anesthesia has a lot to do with hair loss. I tried to discuss this with the anesthesiologist before my last procedure but I could tell he was trying to make me think that was nonsense. (maybe was worried I'd sue LOL!) But I have at least friends who lost their hair after surgery and I have researched it too.) All 3 friends said their hair grew back. My primary care doctor told me not to worry, it will come back. Patience is not my virtue!

@pidge32
My hair has grown back thick and curly, where it used to be thick and straight as a pin. Getting used to the curls, but it has been quite an adjustment. I am convinced that the biotin shampoo, conditioner, and vitamins that I started on faithfully is what brought the thickness back--the curls, who knows? My hairdresser said that surgical stress from the ostomy was the cause of the hair loss. I believe her, but I am grateful that the situation was reversed. Be patient.

I used to have very thick hair but started slowly losing it several years back following a kidney transplant. Unfortunately I find I have been losing a lot since my ostomy, looking at wigs now.

@piki
Can you please explain what you mean by granular..
My face and neck area have gotten a “ruddiness” coloration.
I’m not sure if it’s from the ostomy or steroids I’m still taking.

I've been following this topic with some interest because my hair thinned out tremendously due (I have always believed) to an overdosing of sulfa many years ago. I'm old (84) now and my hair is very thin... however I couldn't say whether it thinned out more because of the colostomy .

However I would say that my skin has changed after I had the colostomy becoming quite granular, especially on my face and neck. I wonder if the ostomy had anything do with it. I've also undergone general anesthesia a few times since the ostomy for a variety of causes. From what I've read recently that this is particularly problematic for the elderly (which apparently is what I now am). Any thoughts?