Wow! I'm so glad to have found ya'll! I'm in the interesting position of being 50 and having 7 children from the ages of 34 to 4. AND I'm pretty sure I'm starting menopause. These posts have been really reassuring and so funny. (Believe me, after spending my days parenting a pre-schooler and 2 teens at my age, I need a good laugh!) Thankfully, I'm in great health and have only fairly mild symptoms of menopause. The biggest issue right now is hair loss. I always lost a huge amount of hair following the birth of every child and throughout the time I was nursing. And it always seemed to come in again relatively quickly. I thought this was part of that cycle since my little guy wouldn't quit nursing til he was 3. But it doesn't seem to be coming back and my hair is also now very dry and coarse. It's predominately falling out in the front - top and sides. Is this something anyone else is experiencing? Is there anything I can do - short of HRT of course? Any thought or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Terry - mom to Mandy 34, Lori 32, Neil 31, Nick 26, Sebastian 17, Myles 15 and Fisher 4

Have you had your thyroid tested?? I know some women do lose some hair but it can be caused by other things too. I had Graves disease in my 30's that also caused hair loss. Just a thought and hope it helps.

Oh, yeah - Welcome! :waving:

Hi Leah, Thanks for suggesting the thyroid check. I had it checked about 9 years ago as part of a routine physical and it was okay then. But I have read that women of menopausal age have the highest frequency of hypothyoidism. I guess I was just hoping someone had any other ideas so I could avoid going to the doctor! I don't know much about Grave's disease - is that a hyperthyroid condition? Do you still have to deal with it?

T

Well I am not sure about the hair loss thing. I ahve not read much in my studies about it although i am sure you are going through a normal process of all the hormone flux.
Nettles is really great for the hair as a hair rinse, but I am not certian if it prevents hair loss.

I will see what comes up and will post anything that does.

My df a hairdresser highly recommends NIOXIN for hair loss. He is super crunchy too so I kinda trust his judgement that it is not a bad thing for health. His entire family uses it.