Hair Loss

Hi there I need advice quickly.
It's been about 5 months since i've been diagnosed with crohn's. I'm 28 and only found out because i had blood in my stools. I tried natural therepies but started feeling sicker. I finally decided to go on Pentasa. The think is i've been on Pentasa now for 8 weeks and about 2 weeks ago I noticed significant hair loss. I'm young and have long hair and it's stressing me out. Doctor says if I stop pentasa hair should grow back. But then i'm scared symptoms will come back. Before starting pentasa I had nausea, diahrea, constipation and just felt sick all the time. I still have blood in stools every so often! What do I do? I'm scared to take steriods. I just don't want to go down that path yet as i'm also trying to have children!

Advise PLEASE!!!!:depressed:

HI Cins, welcome to the forum!! Sorry you are worried and it is understandable. A lot of the times drugs do strange things to our bodies, but Pentasa didnt make me lose my hair. I am on Prednisone and yes it is only temporary and just started Methotrexate, my hair is lifeless because of the drugs. Crohn's is an automimmune disease and therefore it alone can cause nutrients for hair and skin problems. Hopefully you are taking Calcium and Vitamin D in good doses.

You may want to cut your hair a bit shorter, to take the weight off your hair and use some primrose oil in your conditioner to get the meds out of your hair naturally. I capsule in your conditioner in your hands and leave it in whilst you shower. Cheap way to keep your hair shiny and gunk free. I realize you are young but if you go off meds because of your hair, you could be causing more problems down the road. Deal with your Crohn's first, always. Hang in there, I hope this helps. Glad you found us, everyone is great here and will give you their advice!

Hey Cins. Regarding steroids.....Budesonide / entocort is safe for pregnancy. It's all about weighing up the risk. You need to be relatively well in order to conceive & carry to full term. This disease causes hair loss ( as well as the meds) unfortunately. Hope you get things more controlled ASAP.

Hi cins

yes, I agree with the others, It's crucial you try to control your Crohns, and if you read our threads on the steroids, it should ease your anxieties a bit, they're not all bad, and I know you are young, I was once! but hair loss is the least of your worries, it won't fall out completely, just one of those things that accompany an auto immune disease like Crohns.
I have hair loss too, have for many years, and it does grow back in fits and starts.
Try some supps too and Penny's recommendations for primrose oil, its nice
If you're having a lot of symptoms,ie blood in stools, and D, then in my opinion, Pentasa alone is not enough, not strong enough, think about a short course of one of the steroids,
hope you get sorted soon, lots of people here to help and support you
lotsa luv
Joan xx

I too get hair loss. At first I thought it was the Asacol I was on, but it has happened on whatever meds I have been on. Take care of your Crohn's before pregnancy and talk to your OBGYN about your Crohn's. As for your hair I can only suggest nit tying it up. Rubber bands can pull the hair out more.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this disease causes hair loss...I've had it ever since I was diagnosed. I'm currently not on any meds and still have it. But, it's not that bad...I haven't gone bald yet! lol

Welcome to the forum...and good luck!

Hi Cins! Welcome to the forum!

I understand exactly how you feel. I too have long hair that used to be very thick until diagnosed with Crohns. For the longest time, every time I washed my hair I would lose clumps of hair and stop up my shower which was very upsetting. I started taking Folic Acid, Vit D, E, and Calcium which all seem to help a bunch. Seems as though my hair has gotten a little thicker these days (hopefully it is not my imagination ) Anyway good luck, and just remember think about your Crohns first. Trust me, you will benefit from it in the long run!!

Candace

Thanks everyone! I'm taking multivitamins now. I've had my bloods checked and all minerals and vitamins are good. I've also started taking silica does anyone take that? Suppose to be good for hair and nails.
Doctor has booked me in for test to check bowel sig... can't remember the full name! Anyway it requires a fleet enema. Has anyone one had that? Any advice? I'll be going in on the 6th of April and scared !!!!

I'm not on any meds but my hair falls out. Not in clumps but several strands at a time.

Prenatal vitamins are awesome for hair. Must be the extra folic acid.

My specialist told me that if I am in remission before I get pregnant I have a better chance of staying in remission after the baby is born. If you are flaring when you get pregnant its the rule of thirds. One third of women get better, one thirds get worse, and one third stay the same.

I was in remission when I got pregnant and I stayed in remission for about 16 months after she was born. While my flare was still mild I was trying to get pregnant again but now that its severe I have put trying to have a baby on the back burner, until I get into remission again.

Anyway, my point is sometimes a short course of steriods/stronger medication may let you heal enough to be able to get pregnant later on. Its hard to conceive and keep a pregnancy if there is a lot of active inflammation in your body. Of course its a very personal decision.