Will my daughters have to go through this too? I would hate to think that I have somehow passed this on to them and that someday they are going to start seeing clumps of hair wash down the drain. I would do anything to save them from this type of humiliation and embarrassment. I know that the chances are very good that someday they will have to go through this also.

I try not to be too self-conscious of my hair loss around them. If it does happen to them someday, I hope that they can think back and remember that their mother went through this without it completely devastating her life. I try so very hard not to let them see the tears or the depression. I also don't want them to think that I ever let this slow me down or keep me from participating in any activity that I really enjoy.

I have already noticed that my girls go through cycles of pretty heavy shedding. My 17 year-old daughter has the type of very thick, coarse, straight, shiny hair that any of the women on this website would envy. Sadly, she is the one who has already begun going through the worst shedding cycles. Sometimes when I clean their bathroom I want to cry when I see the hair lying on the floor. So far they still have so much hair and so much regrowth that the loss hasn't been noticeable. I just pray that it doesn't change for them the way it did for me.

So, for my daughters I’m going to go on with my life. I am not going to hide myself away from the world, or allow myself to wallow in self-pity (well, at least not in front of other people). I will continue to spend time outside where my scalp shines brighter than the sunlight (guess I'm going to have to find some really cute hats), and I refuse to give up swimming in outdoor pools or taking walks in the rain.