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I'm taking control of my alopecia- it's not controlling me! Head shaved
I was having a routine hair cut in July 2013, when my hairdresser noticed a bald spot the size of a pea. I was upset but tried to put it out of my mind. Within weeks it had grown to the size of 10p then an egg size, soon bald patches were sprouting all over my crown and merging together!
Gutted is an understatement on how I felt. (Im 35years old.) But I was able to hide them by tying my hair up in a pony tail for about 4 months. In that time I never really noticed my hair falling out and hiding the bald spots became normal.
Doctors were useless as they prescribed steroid in liquid form that I applied twice daily - didn't work.
I spent money on vitamins, and a product called Plantur by Dr Wolff for meagre hair loss - didn't work.
I paid for the Aveda revitalising shampoo/conditioner/revitaliser spray - didn't work.
In short I don't believe anything works.
I decided to purchase a wig 4 months after the balding started and believe me it was the best thing I could have spent money on - Fact!
Shortly after getting the wig I then suffered even more hair loss that was noticeable when combing/washing and just running my fingers through my hair. That was a depressing fortnight where I pretty much cried daily, as until then I had tried to put a brave face on it.
It wasn't long after that I decided that there was no point holding onto half a head of hair that was shoulder length, so I had it shaved off. I cried for my 4 kids more than me, as who wants a bald Mum (I know that's silly, But its how I felt)
I wasn't going to let the alopecia control me, I was taking control of it if that makes sense?
Since then I have felt more relaxed as Im not having to deal with the hair loss anymore, and now I cant tell how much hair I am losing, in fact I don't think it has got any worse. Ive even grown a peachy fuzz on the top, which is as soft as baby hair. My bald head looks like a patchy mess and there are days I feel so tearful.
I know its a long road, but Im loving my wig its always a perfect blow dry lol, and its not half as annoying as I thought it would be. Obviously I would rather have my own hair but accepting it may never grow has relaxed me, so if it does come back, well it will be a bonus.
I think another thing that has helped me, is trying to put this into perspective, its only hair after all its not life threatening Im healthy. Things could be worse.
The thing I find hardest is trying to work out why this has happened to me, what has caused it and and the fact there is no cure!! and the unknown of if it will ever re grow... Mine was very likely stress related :(
Im under no illusion after reading so much that this may not be the only episode of alopetia I may suffer in this lifetime, but Im trying to weather the storm the best way I can.
One of the things I am so sad about is that my youngest daughter has never seen my real hair, I really hope it grows back just so she believes I really did have hair!
I want to be able to take her swimming and go to the beach, these things are not wig friendly and Im not confident to go bald in public yet. Maybe that will change.
Lastly I just want to say Im so grateful for this site and to just know that I am not the only one.
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Comment by Emma on January 14, 2014 at 2:43pm
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I'm not sure if the itching is related to losing the hair, or it growing back. But I think losing it is the sign.
Your bald spots sounds more promising, but then I kind of thought I was going to escape it getting worse cos I went a good 4 /5 months being able to hide it. But when it went it was so quick! I would say I've lost about 60% of my hair it's almost amazing how it lasted so long hidden.
It's just an awful thing to happen to anyone you just can't believe it's happening to you.
I guess everything has to happen to someone and that someone is all of us :(
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Comment by Leisa on January 14, 2014 at 2:47pm
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Yeah, it has been since August for me... so 6 months. But I only had one patch for like 3-4 months and now all these new ones have popped up... so it may be a bit more progressive now? but I have soooo much hair naturally I would have to lose a lot to NOT be able to cover it up. :)
I know right. Weird things happen to people all the time and I somehow get MS and Alopecia??? Life is so not fair...
Sorry you have to go through it too. :\
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My hair was quite fine but because it was shoulder length I was able to tie it up and it hid all the balding as it was all around my crown, there was none at the back or underneath that showed either, it was when it crept towards my parting line at the front that It became an issue.
You never know some people only get a few spots and it never gets any worse. Let's hope your one of those :)
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I'm so sorry about your MS I just read that properly.
I have a friend with it, I know how terrible she feels, that's far worse than my hair loss.
Maybe the stress of ms has effected your hair?
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Oh... bummer. Mine is creepin' towards my front part. :( I parted it the opposite way to cover it. HAHAHA.
Yeah, the MS. It is not progressive and I have had very few 'episodes' as compared to some. I have recovered from those episodes as well so that is good. I have very minor flare ups and my last few MRI's have looked very good. :)
MS is also considered to be sort of an immune type thing to so I wonder if they somewhat go hand in hand? Perhaps the body stress of MS has effected it? not sure though.
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Comment by Barbara on January 14, 2014 at 9:21pm
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I am with you 100%! I wear my wigs everyday and although I'm happy to take them off when I get home, they are wonderful. I wish I knew why this happened to me, and that is definitely the hardest part.
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Hi Aimee thanks for the website link. Will definately check it out :)
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Hi Barbara,
I can wear my wig 9-5 at work but the minute I'm in I just want to be bald.
It's that feeling that you have a hat on all day isn't it.
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Leisa,
Glad your MS isn't too hard to manage.
My sister has under active thyroid which is also auto immune so you do have to wonder if it runs in families. Or if one auto immune disease links with others like in your case.
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