Anyone have scalp hair loss/thinning occur with fistula/abscesses??

[adoregirl6]

I just signed up for the forum today. I am losing hair....badly. Thinning all over. The texture has changed dramatically. Pretty certain it is telogen effluvium.
I was convinced it was as a result of being diagnosed with ADHD/ADD & anxiety disorder and the medications I had began in August 2014. Because by the holidays 2014, my hair was noticeably thinner and breaking off. When I visited my psych doc, he assured me it is NOT a common side effect of my mess. He then asked me if I had any underlying medical conditions (only been told IBS), thyroid/hormonal issues (I am still on birth control) or gastrointestinal problems etc... Hmmmm gastro problems could be the Aha! Moment...

Last January of 2004 I had a perianal abscess. The abscess was drained, given a regimen[email protected] of antibiotics, told I had IBS, prescribed Bentyl and sent on my way. Ever since then I have had issues with diarrhea and some occasional seeping at the point of drainage. Fast forward to January 2015, an abcscess recurrence in same locay but MUCH MUCH worse and more painful. I Scheduled an appointment with the GI to have it drained however, it "spontaneously drained" on it's own, pain subsided and took antibiotics again. So, I cancelled and re-postponed the GI "drainage" appointment. I finally had an appt yesterday and told an anal fistula has formed (this cycle of abscesses will repeat itself indefinitely without surgery) My GI drained the new formation of the perianal abscess yesterday & I have surgery scheduled for next wed. Before he drained the abscess, he examined my anus & he could see endoscopically the fistula opening & draining inside the rectum. So a seton will likely be put in next wed. I began asking about my other symptoms ie bouts of diarrhea, recent blood and mucousy stools, my obvious incessant HAIR LOSS but he is more a colorectal surgeon whom said after repair and healing of my fistula...we could began testing. He said he didn't think it seemed or likely to be Crohn's. So I am not yet diagnosed with any IBD, only IBS. And I am only to take bentyl as needed so no GI meds or biologics or steroids to blame for this state of TE diffuse hair loss. It has been thinning since November 2014 but has REALLY gained steam and been falling MUCH more rapidly all through March. Does ANYONE know if fistulas/abscesses cause hair loss?? Or impede absorption of nutrients/vitamins?? It is NOT surgery trauma b/c my surgery isn't til next week! I want to know/hear from anyone who has experienced similar coincidences & if ANYTHING helped Please!

 

[24601]

I'm so sorry to hear of everything you are going through.

Now I'm not a doctor but I do think that with the symptoms you are having that this could be Crohn's and appropriate testing should be done.

Crohn's patients can experience hair loss (and not just as a side effect to meds, although that happens too) and it can be related to malabsorption.

I'm sure there are other people around on the forum who have experienced hair loss and there are certainly a lot of people who know all about fistulas and abscesses. If you do have Crohn's then treatment to reduce inflammation would give you the best chance of healing the fistula and preventing recurrence.

Good luck with everything

 

[D Bergy]

I lost a lot of hair when my fistula infection got out of hand. I had no diagnosis until a couple of days before surgery. By that time I was septic so no wonder I lost half my hair and 40 lbs of weight.

I am pretty sure it was from being malnourished the whole time. When I am flared, nothing stay in me long enough to really do me any good.

Once I got the flare under control, after surgery, everything else returned to normal, including my hair.

For myself, a long flare means hair loss.

Good luck.

Dan

 

[adoregirl6]

Thank you for the responses. It is reassuring to know that a fistula may indeed be the culprit for this chronic hair shedding. I am scheduled for surgery this Wed 4/15. I am hoping that my hair issues resolve once this fistula is repaired. My GI said this surgery is necessary first, then he can begin testing for any IBD diagnosis once I have healed.

 

[24601]

I'm no expert on fistulas (as I'm an all stricturing Crohnie) but I from what I've read I don't think you should wait to get tested and possibly treated for Crohn's. That should help your fistula heal and healing the fistula alone may not stop your hair thinning - there may be inflammation elsewhere. If I were you I'd get a second opinion from another GI if this doc is insistent on waiting. Hopefully some other people on the forum can chime in with their views on that.

Good luck!

 

[kaydee]

Hi adoregirl6! Sorry to hear you are having a rough time, I hope it gets better soon. I'm waiting for a fistula surgery too, I know it's no fun. about the hair loss, it happens to me when I've been unwell but breakage happens to my mom who has no gastro issues but does have a slightly lower thyroid hormone level, so it might be worth asking your doc to keep an eye on that. hope this helps and you start to feel better soon!