High testosterone (and low ferritin)

I had my blood retested this week from February when it was first done. I was low in ferritin, B12, viamin D, zinc and high in copper at the time. My hormones were all normal and I was on the pill (Yasmin - which actually started the hair loss). So, now everything is good, except for ferritin which is still low (wow it takes a long time to get that up. I'm aiming for 70 which it needs to be to start hair growth, and it's at 39).

What has changed is my hormones. Now I'm off the pill the real reason is there in black and white on the page (says my doctor). I have high testosterone (not way high, but over what it should be and enough to cause hair loss). Damn it. It always seems to be hormonal eh. I did start to get acne coming off the pill too, so thats another symptom.

She thinks I have PCOS and now need to go off to have a rather lovely test that involves an internal ultrasound to check for cysts. Other than hair loss and monthly acne and irregular periods I don't have other PCOS symptoms. But maybe that's enough though, I don't know. My hair loss is general thinning overall not in a pattern which is common with PCOS. I don't have facial hair, body hair or middle weight gain and I'm not insulin dependant (she tested for that too).

Its possible that the Diane 35 I was taking hid the symptoms (hair loss and acne) and it wasn't till I swapped to Yasmin that it started.

She thinks that combined with low ferritin it has caused a TE. But TE isn't patterned like with PCOS - OMG it is SO confusing! Can testserone cause diffuse thinning?

So, my questions are;

• Does anyone else here have hair loss because of high testosterone and do they know what caused the level to go up?
• Can testosterone levels be high because of anything else other than ovaries (that's my main worry).
• When testosterone and androgens are blocked does the hair loss stop? Does that which has fallen out come back?
• Has spironalctone or BCPs helped anyone who has raised levels of testosterone? (as in decrease it and hair loss stop?)

So she's started me on spironlactone straight away, only starting at 25mg though then increasing. She also thought I should restart Diane 35 as this stops androgens with a high success rate (it was stopped here in NZ though because of blood clot risks, but she thinks it's ok). But starting BCPs again will mean high copper, and I'm just scared to have anything to do with BCPs at all now - they just seem evil to me now LOL.

So many questions, and so confused!

If anyone has any advice or info it'd be greatly appreciated! :-)

Hi Guys,

I'm after advice on what type of hair style is best for thinning hair. My hair is thin all over evenly, a bit more on the sides. I don't like pulling it back now. Its very long and I have a fringe (bangs) at the front. You can see my pics to see what it looks like now. I am wondering if the length is making it look even more fine/thin. Is a bob good? What styles are best for fine hair?? I really don't want to go to a hairdressers at all and I haven't been since I started losing my hair which is about 10-11 months since it started, so am scared stiff about it!. The last time I had "normal" hair and asked for it to be thinned out, as I always used to do, now I'm looking for ways to make it less thin/straggly. Anyway advice on what would suit/help would be great!

 :-)

Hi All,

I have some questions about spiroaldactone. Could anyone who has tried it tell me how it well it worked?

Do you need to get a blood test first to see if you have high androgens? And can a GP prescribe it, or does it need to be a dermotologist?

I read that it can lower blood pressure. Is there a cut off limit for when you can take it? My blood pressure is low, at about 80/50 (and has caused me to faint in the past). Has anyone who has taken it had problems with feeling faint or had a reading where its lowered your blood pressure?

And very importantly has it worked at hair growth?!?

My GP and trichologist both told me I need ferritin and B12 and vit D, which I have now, and minoxidil to help with growth, but they never mentioned this drug spiroaldactone.

I also read it can mess with your cycle/periods. Is this true if you're on the pill or off the pill? Or both? I am now off and am a bit scared of taking drugs that could mess with my cycles.

I actually don't like taking drugs at all, I have always been into natural medicines, but I am taking minoxidil. And I would take spiro if I thought it would help and not harm me! 

Does anyone have advice on this drug or could tell me about their experience with it? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

:-)

Hi Guys

I was interested in knowing if anyone has had or is considering a hair transplant? Are there any forms of alopecia which fare better with a transplant (ie FPB over TE etc)? Do you need to be a certain level of hair loss or need to have tried other treatments first? Any advice or experiences in this (and other treatments) would be really appreciated.

Thanks :)

Chari

PS: Does FPB stop at a certain level like MPB does??