- Joined
- Jan 5, 2013
- Messages
- 2
Hello,
I am a 50-year-old female, previously quite healthy, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis this past July. Long summer started off with C. difficile infection, diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, and subsequent hospital admission with toxic megacolon. Fortunately, I left the hospital with my colon still intact this time but quite sick and I am very aware that this may only be temporary. Over the period of time of 3 months, I lost 40 lbs and was extremely dehydrated on multiple occasions. I became malnourished and very debilitated. I have just had a follow-up colonoscopy and am now felt to have Crohn's because of how my small intestine looks. With all of this, and this will sound quite vain, the hardest thing I am experiencing now is hair loss. Not a little bit but I am starting to look like I have male pattern baldness. Has anyone experienced this? I am going to see a dermatologist next week but wanted some input from people in similar circumstances. I have been told it could be due to the Crohn's/ulcerative colitis itself or to medication. They said it could also be due to the extreme weight loss and malnutrition even though it started months after my hospitalization. I am currently receiving Remicade infusions. I am also on Lialda. My doctor wanted me to come off Lialda as he thought this might be doing it but I was only able to go off for 5 days before symptoms started to get worse. I understand that there are more important things to worry about and I am oh so grateful for the excellent care I received and am receiving but wonder if this is temporary or something I will just have to live with. Thank you for "listening" and any feedback would be much appreciated. Again, I am sorry if this sounds petty or vain, but this hair loss, amongst every thing else, has me pretty down. When I told this to my GI doctor, he said, and I quote, "Sometimes, all we have is our vanity." He also has Crohn's and is quite understanding. Thanks again.
I am a 50-year-old female, previously quite healthy, who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis this past July. Long summer started off with C. difficile infection, diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, and subsequent hospital admission with toxic megacolon. Fortunately, I left the hospital with my colon still intact this time but quite sick and I am very aware that this may only be temporary. Over the period of time of 3 months, I lost 40 lbs and was extremely dehydrated on multiple occasions. I became malnourished and very debilitated. I have just had a follow-up colonoscopy and am now felt to have Crohn's because of how my small intestine looks. With all of this, and this will sound quite vain, the hardest thing I am experiencing now is hair loss. Not a little bit but I am starting to look like I have male pattern baldness. Has anyone experienced this? I am going to see a dermatologist next week but wanted some input from people in similar circumstances. I have been told it could be due to the Crohn's/ulcerative colitis itself or to medication. They said it could also be due to the extreme weight loss and malnutrition even though it started months after my hospitalization. I am currently receiving Remicade infusions. I am also on Lialda. My doctor wanted me to come off Lialda as he thought this might be doing it but I was only able to go off for 5 days before symptoms started to get worse. I understand that there are more important things to worry about and I am oh so grateful for the excellent care I received and am receiving but wonder if this is temporary or something I will just have to live with. Thank you for "listening" and any feedback would be much appreciated. Again, I am sorry if this sounds petty or vain, but this hair loss, amongst every thing else, has me pretty down. When I told this to my GI doctor, he said, and I quote, "Sometimes, all we have is our vanity." He also has Crohn's and is quite understanding. Thanks again.
