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New to this too!
Hello all,
It's so awesome to have a place to ask questions with people that are experiencing the same condition. Mine started about a month and a half ago. My "comb overs" are barely an option anymore, I'm losing hair so fast. I'm working full time in the public eye. I ran into the restroom 5 times today to see if my bald spots were still covered. I sprayed more hair spray on them to try to keep them concealed. I have to learn to keep my fingers out of my hair. The gusts of wind outside our windy town leave me feeling exposed around friends. Never in my life did I think I'd have to worry about this situation. Did you tell your coworkers? Did you quickly buy a wig to conceal it? Did you take a leave of absence from work to figure things out? I'm afraid I'll be bald by my next scheduled work shift. I would love any advice you can give me. Thanks!
P.S. Did you try Rogaine right away? What strength? The package insert stated it might cause hair loss at first. What was your experience?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Pam D. on
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I had cortisone injections for the first 2 bouts, and was even more aggressive previous the this last one, which of course didn't help at all. The doctor never injected my entire head, only the worst areas of hair loss. This time, the loss being as extreme as it is, we didn't even bother. Since my hair came back 2 times, I thought the injections were helping; now I think that perhaps the hair loss was (at the time) cyclical. This condition seems to be very fickle, affecting us all differently; your course of action may not be the same as mine and I think we all have to try whatever the doctor suggests and make our own decisions based on how extreme we want to go. Some people will try anything, others don't want the drugs, etc., and some, like myself, are only willing to go so far.
I've been on the Plaquenil for only a couple of weeks; we are giving it 3 months. This is it for me; if the Plaquenil doesn't work, I'm done. Some of the things people are willing to try are too extreme for me. My dermatologist prescribed it.
It would be interesting to know if unusually healthy people are affected by this more often than less-healthy people.
Yup, I ride; 2 horses, a paint and an Arab. Gave up showing; only ride for pleasure, although I sometimes compete in distance riding sometimes, hunter paces, and judged pleasure. My head is naked under my helmet, BTW, unless it's cold out. The picture I posted was taken after my first round of hair loss; that is what grew back. It is different than my pre-AA hair...courser in texture, but I'll take it.
Some day I hope to be "brave" enough to go out there w/nothing on my head; a hat is as close as I can come, which is farther than many others are comfortable doing. I saw a woman once (I was in my car) who had no hair, but she looked fabulous. Stylish dress, big sunglasses, she just "owned it". I wish I could have told her she made my day.
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Permalink Reply by Mangostein on
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Pam, You should be proud of your journey. You seem to be well on you way to the acceptance phase. You are self confident, knowledgeable, know your limitations and are beautiful inside and out! Being stylish and bald takes sass and attitude! I know you could pull it off, if anyone can! I hope the Plaquenil works. Did you do all the hormone and autoimmune testing? I wonder if hair regrowth is similar to when women can't conceive. When they stop the infertility drugs, and stop trying, they get pregnant. I don't know if anyone has had this experience. Can we message each other?
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I actually accepted this very early on, then my hair grew back! This time, when I see "sprouts", they fall out again; there is no scarring, so if my hair decides to grow again, it can. I first went to my doctor and she had blood tests done to rule out some possible causes; when they came back normal, she sent me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist had a biopsy done; the diagnosis was AA, so that's what I've been treated for. I have to switch doctors when I go to Florida in the winter. The first doctor was great, then she moved and I had to find another. I went to one doctor who seemed to want to be a detective and figure out the root cause. He sent me for all kinds of blood tests ($2,000 worth that insurance wouldn't cover because I was out-of-state), told me my vitamin D level was low (hard for me to believe since I spend so much time outdoors and I had just had a check-up back home), so I took vitamin D...nothing. I can't remember what his last "theory" was, but I stopped going to him. This year I tried another doctor down there; he took one look at me, said you have AU, there's nothing I can do, but try Rogaine, which I did; wasn't surprised when it did nothing, but I think he felt obligated to offer something. After all the doctors, all the tests, time, and money, I am at the point where if the Plaquenil doesn't work, I think you can see why I don't see the point in going any further. So, that's my story up until now.
I put in a friend request, but I don't spend much time here; you could message me and I might not see it. Message me and I'll let you know how to get in touch w/me. Good luck; I am interested in your journey, which is, I hope, I short one with a happy ending.
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