Hiya, Just to let you know I went to the Doctor this morning. She is arranging for me to have different blood tests to eliminate possible causes. When she felt my hair first she said, yes it is quite thin on top, though it does not...
Hi Misty, have read through your blog and know exactly how you feel. I too, wonder how my hair will be in five years time. Furthermore I am single the last two years, and dont just have the confidence to go dating because of my hair.
Hiya, ta for the messages. I guess what I am afraid of is the unknown. I reckon it is the andronegic alopaecia I have which could be incurable. I am not getting much support from my family, all my mum will say is " I've too muc...
Hey Amanda, Welcome to the Network! This is truly a wonderful place to find support and healing.
I come from a very Irish ancestry. My mother's maiden name was Casey, and her family immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland in the 1700's. They settled in Kentucky and basically never left the area they moved into. My mom's generation was the first to leave Kentucky and move around the states, but we still hang onto more Irish traditions (corned beef & cabbage and homemade soda bread) and I can see the Irish roots in some of the things my mom says. When we were children and made a lot of noise she used to tell us that we sounded like wild banshees. That's not something you would commonly hear in American speech, and it wasn't until I was much older that I realized that it must have been something that had been passed down through a few generations.
I have always wanted to visit Ireland and see the places from where my relatives originated. Maybe when my children are out of college I might be able to afford the trip. My sister has done a lot of research into our ancestry and would be able to tell me exactly what areas our ancestors started in.
I too hope you can get some answers and someone who will listen to you. The first dermatologist I went to said, "yep, you're losing some hair. Buy some Rogaine. It's hereditary." That made me feel so terrible... even if what he said was true. There was no listening to what I had been experiencing, just a 2 minute visit. My GYN is the one who made me feel that I wasn't stupid. My periods are incredible screwed up, and that is something I have never had issues with... ever! My hair is coming out, and I was just feeling that my hormones were out of control. He told me that the hair loss (which he noticed, and agreed in a nice way) and the periods being out of control could be related. He did lots of blood work, which was all normal. Who knows what causes it... but I do know that I just washed my hair and a handful came out. It's sickening to look at it. I also hear that I am making it worse because I am worrying about it. My question is, how in the world am I not supposed to worry about something that is emotionally making me a nervous wreck!
Hopefully, you will get some peace of mind once you visit the doctor. There are treatments available, so maybe one will be right for you. My concern is that all the treatment options have so many horrible side effects. That is a little scary for me... BUT I can't stand the thoughts of not doing something!
Ireland was wonderful. We loved how everyone walked around with their kids in strollers with plastic covers. We were ready for the rain, knowing it was going to happen. I loved all the castles.. I loved the Aran Islands and the cliffs of Moer? (spelling) We walked to the top and gazed at the sites. I also LOVED all the soups and bread. That was my favorite to eat. I first drank hot tea there and now I drink it as if I were from there... with milk and sugar. (Most people here don't add milk to hot tea.) We feel lucky to have been able to experience it, knowing that we may not be able to do a trip like that again for a while. Why Ireland?? My husband had a college professor who does a tour every 2 years, and that was where they were going. He asked if we would like to go, and we jumped at the chance!!
The same thing happens here in the states. I live 45 minutes away from the mountains and I have never been skiing! How sad is that?? We are a 2 hour flight to NYC, and I just went a couple of years ago for the first time. We sometimes feel that because we are "close" we can always do it later, whatever the case.
hang in there... I know how you feel. I have a Rx on my desk that I haven't had filled because I am concerned with the possible side effects.
I visited Ireland about 7 years ago and we loved it. We did a tour, and were by far the youngest people there. Our tour guide was a young guy, and he was really good... when we would get back to our hotel, he would tell us to rest, change, and then he would take us out to show us more. We had a great time, and I am glad we did it. Traveling seems to be much much harder with kids. We flew into Dublin, went to Kilarney, Kilkinney, Aran Islands, Kerry, and then flew out of Shannon. My spelling may be off some on the cities, but you know what I mean. It was an awesome trip... We were glad we got to visit. Awesome accents, as well. :o)
I hope you are finding the network to be a great place to talk about your feelings and get information from people with experience. (I'm not one of those, but I am learning from others)
Just thought of one more thing, with your reference to your fringe being very fine. When I got my B12 shot this week the doctor was saying that overall shedding can be many things, but a pattern of thinning like through the temples or fringe area can be common with PCOS, and also androgenetic alopecia, and I thinks she said thyroid imbalanace can trigger those too (that type of pattern). But then if you have overall thinning sometimes those areas can have residual thinning too that looks like those two things but isn't it. So basically I think she was telling me its very hard to tell, or to identify what people have just from the pattern or type of shedding. Its all very complex! Blood tests will help to identify PCOS, thyroid, iron (and ferritin stores), B12, hormone imbalance, and also gluten intolernace. Will you consider seeing a dermatologist? I'm thinking of that - and am going to see a naturopath for things. I wish that trichologists were more common and in every city so that they could see us personally :)
Hey Manda :) Thanks for your message. I hope you're well. I saw you're from Dublin - I've visited and loved it. I stayed with an old flatmate while there and think its one of the most awesome cities in the world - friendly people and amazing history :) I tried to trace my ancestors down - I got to County Cork. I'm from the other side of world in NZ. Do you know what type of hair loss you have? I still don't, but this shedding business is driving me crazy - its masses and masses of it everyday and scary, and I have no idea how long shedding is meant to go on for. Will you ask for anything to be tested, like iron or B12 levels?, as they're common for hair loss, I've learnt :), also if you've came off or started the BC pill. Have you thought of trying anything natural, like vitamin supplements or anything (guess you'll need to find what you're deficient in first - tests will show that). Anyway, I hope the trip to the doctor goes well :) - it'll be weird given you haven't been for so long. It was like that for me too, never needed to go then wham need to go for many tests - now she and the nurses know my face quite well LOL :) Good luck for Tuesday :)
I can relate!! I first noticed some short hairs at the side and my hair line. Then I saw a picture that showed my part... that is when I really freaked. It has been a spiral downfall for me emotionally since then. I too have the crazy, wild, frizzy hairs at the hairline... No idea what those are all about. Are they new, are they broken, why are they out of control?? Seems to me that we could be twins here.
It is stressful... I find myself thinking about it more and more. I am SO uncomfortable talking about this, and dealing with being emotional is something I am not used to. Just last night my husband said he feels like I am so involved in this that it is taking all of my emotions and not leaving anything. That is pretty much how it is. I keep saying that he doesn't get it, but he told me I am not talking to him about it and keeping it all in that he just doesn't know what to say. That is true, I can't talk about it without wanting to cry... I am not a good cry-er, so I try to hide the fact that my emotions are taking me over.
I am glad that you made an appointment. At least you can feel that you are being proactive and that is worth something in itself.
Keep us posted... we all understand. I know I do..
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