Chicagoland Alopecians
This is a group for Alopecians from the Chicagoland area. Let's get together!See More
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Mandy
- 30, Female
- Fort Wayne, IN
- United States
- Blog Posts (22)
- Discussions (79)
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- Groups (8)
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Mandy's Groups
Mandy's Discussions
Wigs 101
Started this discussion. Last reply by annie dranker Apr 9, 2010. 60 Replies 0 Favorites
Insurance coverage?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Char May 27, 2008. 6 Replies 0 Favorites
Are treatments really worthwhile?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Donna DeHoog Sep 18, 2009. 12 Replies 0 Favorites
Hello Alopecians! :o) You are not alone.
Profile Information
- Relationship Status:
- Single
- About Me:
- My story in a nutshell...
I found my very first spot on April 28th, 2008. It was in the center of my head on top about the size of a quarter. I didn't think much of it...just thought I must have pulled it out somehow or something. A couple days later I woke up to see another spot about the same size a little to the side of my head. I kinda freaked out but pushed it aside pretending to myself like nothing was wrong. Then at work my friend came to talk to me...I was sitting and she was standing over me so she could see 2 more big spots in back that I couldn't really see myself before. So yeah...I had 4 spots in a week...the 2 in back were very large (check my photos - they are dated). So I went to the doctor that week on May 2nd. He diagnosed it right away as alopecia areata. I was terrified to be honest. I had never heard of AA. He did the first treatment of injections that day for treatment. I was so in shock that I didn't really know what was going on. I was very upset for the first couple days. I LOVED my hair. I was always blessed with some pretty kick butt hair. LOL. But anyway, I found this website right away after diagnosis. The first thing I did when I got home from the doctor was jump on the internet and research, research, research. Found this website in the process and I read every single blog post and every single forum discussion and response since its inception. I got more knowledge from this site than anywhere else. It's always better getting the facts from people that have actually gone through it, I think. After seeing all these brave women on this site as well as getting a phone call from my boss who basically said "get over it and move on with your life" I snapped out of it. I realized...I can either feel sorry for myself and be sad about what I've lost or I can accept the disease, move on, and be happy with what I HAVE. And I've honestly been fine ever since. It's ALL about attitude and acceptance. Your attitude affects the way your life will be. You can be perfectly happy with AA if you want to be. It's up to you! :o) This is mainly why I decided against the injections...they didn't work for me for one thing, but I also didn't see the point in it for so many reasons...I'm fine with letting what's going to happen just happen.
Overall, I have learned that treatments don't work for me, and honestly, even if they did, I wouldn't do them. It only adds stress to your life thinking of yourself as broken and needing to be fixed. Think of all the money and time you will spend trying to fight the hairloss...wouldn't you rather be living life? I love helping people and am more than willing to help in any way I can if you need a friend, some support, or want to talk about wigs and how to make pretty bandanas and scarves. But honestly, if you're looking for advice on treatment, you won't get that from me. :) I will only try to help you love yourself for who you are and move on.
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I started a Chicago group as well as a Fort Wayne, Indiana group (I'm from Chicago, moving to Ft Wayne for school so I'll be there a while). If you're from either area, please join the group so we can start planning some get togethers! :o)
- Do you have alopecia?
- Alopecia areata
- Are you age 18 or older?
- Yes - I am 18 or older
Leave me a message on my fridge! :o)
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Latest Activity
Chicagoland Alopecians
This is a group for Alopecians from the Chicagoland area. Let's get together!See More
Emily Jayne left a comment for Mandy
That's really awesome! Is teaching English hard? And I am going to come down to Indiana this August.
Tracy commented on Mandy's group 'Chicagoland Alopecians'
Please keep me posted of the meet date. I would love to meet some fellow alopecians! Looking forward to the meet.
Mandy's Blog
Hi from Mandy!!!!
Posted on February 19, 2009 at 5:30pm 2 Comments 0 Favorites
I hope everyone is doing well!! I'm sorry I've been keeping so busy with school this semester that I'm really slacking on keeping up with all my websites. School is going good though...and...as you can see...so is my hair! I have a few areas that stayed white (no pigment), but grew back nonetheless. And I have just two small bald patches on the top, but since I've started letting the hair grow, you can't hardly tell any more. Sooooo...yay! I'm letting it grow out now. We'll see what happens.… Continue
New hair for 2009
Posted on January 5, 2009 at 10:30pm 9 Comments 0 Favorites
Hey everyone! So I haven't been on here in forever and I'm sorry! I've been so busy through the holiday season that I haven't had a chance to get on here. I think also since I am so happy I just sort of tend to neglect the site sometimes - which is awful because this site was so helpful for me when I was first diagnosed and I want to be there for others, too. So even though I'm not on here as much I still want everyone to know that I will continue to check up on my site here and respond to… Continue
Where the heck is Mandy??
Posted on August 28, 2008 at 10:30pm 3 Comments 0 Favorites
Hi friends!! What an unbelievably busy month it has been! I'm sorry I haven't been on and active as much as usual! It makes me sad and I miss you guys!! Just to let you know what's going on...I've quit my job, picked up and moved from Chicago back to my parents' basement in Fort Wayne, IN so that I could afford to go back to school full time. So I'm here now and settled in and taking 15 credit hours of classes. This week was the first week of class. How CRAZY strange it is to be back in school… Continue
Got the new hair!!!
Posted on August 13, 2008 at 5:32pm 10 Comments 0 Favorites
I named this one Cassie...cuz she's a little bit sassy. ;o) It's a Jon Renau synthetic mono top. I'm IN LOVE with this wig!
Ok...I'm gonna get addicted to buying new hairstyles! Help me decide on this one.
Posted on August 4, 2008 at 12:42pm 4 Comments 0 Favorites
Ok time for your HONEST opinions. I've never had short hair in my life. What better time to try than now that I can have any hair I want! I'm thinking about this wig below. Be HONEST and tell me if you think I could pull off a sexy style like this. I've never had a sexy style before, so for me I just can't picture it. But I really wish I could pull off a look like this. I'm looking for a sassy "go out" hair style. :o)
And I'm thinking… Continue
And I'm thinking… Continue
Mandy's Photos
Latest Activity
Cheryl, Co-founder favorited Terri's blog post 'Declaration of Self-Esteem'
NAAF 27th Annual Conference at Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill
July 19, 2012 at 8am to July 22, 2012 at 6pm
btflbaldgrrl replied to btflbaldgrrl's discussion 'useful links for those new to an alopecia support group' in the group Vancouver Alopecia Support Group
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