Where acceptance is all there is!

I Am Not My Hair

Mandy 27, Female Fort Wayne, IN, United States: 2yeazamz559yq; Share

Photos (30)
Discussions (84)

Mandy's Friends

View All

Mandy's Groups

Fort Wayners (3 members)
*Midwesterners with Alopecia!* (2 members)

sending a message (68 members)
Newly Diagnosed with Alopecia (79 members)

Men Who Don't Mind (75 members)
Chicagoland Alopecians (20 members)

View All

Mandy's discussions

The First day of the Rest of my Life....

Replied Aug 8

Latest Activity

Linsey left a comment for Mandy 15 minutes ago

Mandy left a comment for Jessica 2 hours ago

Jessica left a comment for Mandy 1 day ago

Mandy left a comment for Jessica 1 day ago

Jessica left a comment for Mandy Aug 18

mustangmoran and Mandy are now friends

Aug 18

Mandy left a comment for Carmella Aug 17

Carmella left a comment for Mandy Aug 16

Leave me a message on my fridge! :o)

Profile

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. 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...I didn't see the point in it for so many reasons...I'm fine with letting what's going to happen just happen. Every once in a while God may throw us a curveball, but only if he knows we are capable of knocking it outta the park!

----------------------------------------------------------

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)

Are you 18 or older?: Yes

Mandy's Blog

Got the new hair!!!

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!

Posted on August 13th, 2008 at 5:32pm — 8 Comments (Add)

Ok...I'm gonna get addicted to buying new hairstyles! Help me decide on this one.

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)

…

Continue

Posted on August 4th, 2008 at 12:42pm — 4 Comments (Add)

It IS a Small World After All

So since I'm moving out of state, I've been calling everyone and making plans to see people before I go. So I just called the mother of a girl I used to babysit for since she was an infant. She's now 14 and I've stayed close with her and her family. I hadn't spoken to them since like Christmas time, so this family is about the only people in the world I had not yet told about my Alopecia. So I made plans to go see them Sunday. Before hanging up I said (to the mother), "I should prepare you for s… Continue

Posted on August 1st, 2008 at 2:28pm — 3 Comments (Add)

OMG I'm so nervous!

My boss took a vacation day yesterday, which was nice because it gave me another day to not think about having to quit. But he's back today. I was planning to give my notice tomorrow, but now that he's here I just don't think I can wait. It feels too awful keeping it from him. As much as I hate my job, he's a good guy. So yeah...I'm gonna give my notice towards the end of the day today (so he can have the evening to freak out rather than freaking out while I'm here). I plan to give him 3 weeks j… Continue

Posted on July 22nd, 2008 at 11:53am — 4 Comments (Add)

Is anyone from the Fort Wayne, IN area?

A lot of people don't put their locations on their page, so I thought I'd throw the question out there and see what I find. That's right...I'm currently taking applications for a Fort Wayne BFF (that means best friend forever, if ya didn't know). I've decided to rent out my condo here in Chicagoland in order to move back with my parents in Fort Wayne, IN so that I can afford to go back to school. I just realized how miserable I am with my job and I think that life is too short to spend it feeli… Continue

Posted on July 17th, 2008 at 2:53pm — 3 Comments (Add)

Mandy's Photos

Loading…

Add to Facebook

View All

Comment Wall (317 comments)

You need to be a member of Alopecia World to add comments!

Join this network

At 6:41pm on August 20th, 2008, Linsey said…: Um, excuse me! I love the stacked wig! It looks so good on you! I just wanted to check in and see how you are doing.

At 1:04pm on August 19th, 2008, Jessica said…: Hey,

I'm so gald you are getting settled in, where are you going to look for work? Hey maybe you could get a job at a wig shop. I think you would have a lot to offer someone in your shoes that maybe isn't as positive about it. Just hey think of the discount on all the hair you could add to your collection.
Will you be back here to maybe make a get together with us?
Jessica

At 1:28am on August 18th, 2008, Jessica said…: HOPE ALL IS WELL IN INDI. GOOD LUCK IN SCHOOL.
YOUR GONNA KNOCK THEM DEAD WITH YOUR NEW SEXY DO.

At 6:48pm on August 16th, 2008, Carmella said…: I just can't get over how awesome that new wig looks. I knew you could put it off, that smile fits with any hairstyle!!
XOXO
CAR

At 5:36pm on August 16th, 2008, Angela said…: I'm doing well thanks.

At 5:10pm on August 16th, 2008, Jillian said…: I've been away. You look great girl...with or with out! Jillian

At 2:42am on August 16th, 2008, Becky. said…: You look so beautiful with your wig! Truley, you enspire me. When i look at how happy and beautiful you look it makes me think, wow having halopecia isn't really bad at all. It makes us who we are honestly, your amazing <3

-im so sorry i havn't been on in awhile, summer is amazing lol i hope you comment me back <3

At 7:16pm on August 15th, 2008, Angela said…: Hi Mandy, you are just too cute. I love your photos!

At 11:14am on August 15th, 2008, carl said…: you look really good with or without the wig and i really mean that by the way not just saying to make you feel better

At 1:17am on August 15th, 2008, Melissa Harris said…: Mandy,
Thanks for commenting back on the wigs. You new style looks great! Life to too short for us to let hair loss get in the way to living live to the fullest. I have my bad days too don't get me wrong, but I see that there is hope for us too. Wish you all the happiness in the world, you keep moving on girl! You look great! Thanks again!! Melissa