Hi Lisa, Yes, I've given up most sugary products! One thing I've really noticed is that things with a lot of sugar in them taste disgustingly sweet to me. I tasted Em's donut this morning and I thought it was gross. Too...
Hi Misty, You know, I really can't recall a time when I've ever been busier! I'm sorry that Emma had a "consequence" in school! (cute way of putting it, though). It reminds me of Ryan at that age. He has a...
Hi Lisa, That's so interesting, that your doctor would agree that losing so much hair so quickly at our age is uncommon. I got a completely different attitude from my derm. That almost makes me feel better , you know? Like the...
Hi Lisa, I so hate this helpless feeling of not knowing what to do to slow this madness down. I find myself doing something a little different with my diet every few days, and I have no idea what, if anything, is working. I counted...
Hi Misty, Emily is doing well, thanks for asking. Bathing is a pain in the butt, and I have to wash her hair (oohhhhhhh the complaints about "pulling" her hair), but other than that she's ok. She's bummed about not ...
Hi Lisa, Send me the details on the thyroid temp. thing, if you would! I think I read a post you made to someone else about taking your temp., and did it mid-day . I think it was 97.4, maybe? I don't know how accurate my digital ...
Hey, Melissa. You are so brave to give up sugar!! Wow, I'm so impressed. I don't think I could do it (I mean, if I knew it would help with this situation, I would but I need a vice right now, u know?) It probably is not helping.... So, how are you finding it? Do you think that giving up sugar will help with some of the problems you've had? I sure as hell hope so.
I'm glad Emily is doing OK. (Cute about the matching cast and outfit) I can't imagine being a young girl these days. It must be so hard. I've heard all about the cliques (I don't even know fi that's right either) from my best friend, whose daughter is in 7th grade. He says these girls can be such jerks sometimes. It sounds like you guys made a really solid decision about her class, though.
Yeah, this rheum was super nice, but I didn't have a ton of confidence in him, I must say. And actually when he told me this didn't happen too often at my age, it kind of made me feel worse than better. I dunno, like I'm so freak, ya know? I know that's not true but it's just hard. It would be so much better if we all were dealing with something people knew more about and could fix. But noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!
About my shedding, ti's the same, but it's been pretty wicked lately. Just diving off. I think it's cause I'm on my period. I'm at the point now where I think I can't let this get the best of me. I have to just move on. I really do wear hats a lot now. It's just so much easier. My friends think I"m crazy. But I just feel much more comfortable than trying to arrange my hair to cover all the thinning spots, especially the nightmare that is the back of my head!!!!
As far as the next step, I'm in a holding pattern right now. Just kind of going with the flow. I've run out of steps so I'm just kind of being right now. I might go see a naturopath at UC Irvine but I might not.
Does your hair just fall out all day? That's what mine does. I just find hairs hanging lower, waiting to fall or find them all over stuff. It's weird cause I don't have this massive hair fall that others talk about in the shower. But it's consistently coming out all day so that's why it's thinning.
I hope things are going well for you. Did you start your new job? Take care, Lisa
p.s. Melissa, I just have to say that I think you are a very logical and grounded person. I just wanted to say I apreciate bouncing stuff off you!!
I swear, this medicine must be doing wonders on me... I'm keeping my cool pretty good through all of this mess. I have been trying to NOT think about everything going on. I pretty much have things together with the new school.. which is a private school. She's is public here now, but we really liked the christian school at the new location. We were pretty unsure of the area, and didn't really have time to investigate school districts, which are changing after this school year. So, we decided we would do with the private setting. Classes are small, which I like - plus we get the christian influence, which is good. I hope she adjusts well... I'm sure she will, but I was just getting used to the routine here... now I have to start all over again too!!
We are lucky in one respect... my husband's company is moving us... so the movers come next Wed. to pack, Thurs, to load the truck, and the move will happen Friday after we close at 9am. It all happens FAST. So, I have been trying to go through drawers and such... but that is about it. They pack everything up... dishes, furniture, clothes, crap, toys, appliances... then they put it all back together again! Everything but unpacking!! BUT that is my excuse for "cleaning house" I am getting rid of any toy that has missing pieces, any article of clothing that we don't wear. There is a Goodwill close to our new house... they will get lots from us!
Yes, Emma is a little talker. Always has been... very much the social butterfly! I like that though... I was always shy, so I know how hard that can be. Evan on the other hand, not so social! Very different, those two! I can only assume that this is the first of many "consequences" to come. It's funny how all schools have their own way to get the kids attention. The new school/teacher has ice cream cones with 3 scoop... the more you are called down, the more scoops you loose! :o)
When do you go for your testing on the blood sugars? I sure hope you can get something figured out!! As for the hair lightening, I have actually lost less hair than I was. He did give me a good trimming as well... which usually helps with the shedding for some reason. He really didn't lighten it much, but just enough to give it a boost! It's been so long since I have done anything like that to my hair. I'm not much on it, anyway, but it is nice to have a little something new to look at!! I'm trying really hard to not think about what "may" happen. That is not good for me, and I know it. I get too involved in trying to figure out situations when I only have a few facts. Another not so good trait of mine!!
Hope you all had a good start to the year. Have a good Friday and we'll talk more soon!
Thanks for thinking about me.... that's sure nice to know!! Lord knows I need all the thoughts and well wishes I can get! :o)
Good luck tomorrow with school! I'm sure you are super busy and swamped right now. I'm totally right there with you.
Full days are going well so far. Emma likes to talk, so I think she had a "consequence" (which consist of putting a red dot on her smily face star with her name) for talking to Sydney... wonder who Sydney is and what they were talking about? I'm sure she will learn that she had to follow the rules! :o) makes it hard on mommy though!!
I see you went to counting again! I thought we weren't going to do that anymore. :o) I still do in the shower, but not after! I can't take the stress and pressure! It's too much for me!!
I got weak and lightened my hair over the weekend. Well, I didn't do it, but my brother in law did. He just did it a little, and it's really not that noticeable... it's the first time I have done that in close to 2 years!! I was scared, but did it anyway... hope I don't regret it!!
Anyway, just wanted to say hi. I started to write you back last night, but I was so tired, I couldn't keep my eyes open... it was nearly midnight though!! :o)
Talk to you tomorrow!! Have a good first day of school!
Hey, Melissa. I totally know what you mean! How do you know where to draw the line? I feel like I'm getting at the end of my journey with this damn thing. So now I just have to learn to somehow deal with this -- no small feat at all.
I guess I will think about going on a different pill, but I'm totally scared. I hate being on it in the first place and it sure as hell hasn't helped so far. Ugh, what to do, what to do...
I went back to the rheum today. He told me after I left last time ,he called a friend at UCLA and ran my case by him. The guy said that this Double Strand DNA thing could have been "turned on" by the fact that I've had seizures. So I've decided not to have all these expensive tests done. It just seems that's a much more probable explanation for these results than actually having lupus, u know. Then he says, "this is very uncommon, losing hair at your age." GREAT!!! Thanks, doc.
So, what the hell can you do about it. Oh yeah, nothing! :(
Sorry I'm down lately. I just hate how much power this has on my life. I hope things are going OK on your end. I know how crazy you have been. How is Emily doing?
Hey, Melissa. Sorry your shedding is stressful. I think you're brave for counting, tho. I'd be way too freaked out...
No problem on the temp stuff. Keep me posted. When will you be drinking that lovely drink?
I'm going back to the rheum tomorrow to tell him that my insurance wont' cover some of these damn tests. I got a statement today that said the last round was $1,000. God knows how much this is gonna cost me. Well, it's been a long day. Em has bronchitis. Perfect timing..Talk to you more later. Lisa
Hey, Melissa. What I wouldn't give to have my "cushion" back. Ugh. I hate that feeling. It is, as you said, a while ago, like a baby's head in that I can feel skull, not hair. My daughter has fine hair so I'm used to that with her, but not with me.
Today, I bought a couple of new hats. I'm just sick of freaking out every time I go out. This will be just easier on my psyche if I'm only going to get groceries or to the park, u know? Now, I can't wear them to my biz meetings tomorrow so that shud be fun!!
I"m sure this is less noticeable to everyone else than it is to me, but I can see real changes, and it's a bad, helpless feeling. Ugh. I'm so sick of freaking out about this, u know? It takes way too much energy from other things.
OK, the thyroid thing.:You need to take your temp for five days, before you get out of bed or have anything to drink. Put a thermometer under your armpit and keep it there for 10 mins. It's best to begin this on the second day of your next period. Ovuluation can screw it up. Basically, once you have recorded it for 5 days, average the results together. A low body temp can be indicative of hypothyroidism, even if the bloodwork comes back normally. If the average is less than 97.4, u cud be hypo. Average temps are from 97.8 to 98.2. I wish I had a scanner cause I could scan this in and post it online. But that's the gyst of it. Mine average was around 97.2, I think.,and that's one of the reasons they put me on the med.
As for the pill, I don't know what the hell to do, u know? I am going to go back and see the rheum, tho. These doctors must just love me!!!
Hang in there, Melissa. This just sucks SO MUCH. :0 Lisa
Melissa, yes things are hectic, but when aren't they? That seems to be our normal these days.... it's the slow quiet days that are less common!
How is Emily's arm? A little girl at church came in with a cast for a buckle fracture... made me think of Emily. I'm sure she is getting tired of the cast.... it's got to be a pain!
How are you feeling? Do you feel tired a lot? I know that when your blood sugars are off... whether too high or too low, it can make you feel like crap. I went to my GYN last monday for a f/u and told him that I was totally free from my bc pills... I can tell from the PMS that I am NOT used to at all. My face is broke out like a teenager and I get really moody/cranky - that's one thing that I never really had to deal with. BUT, I am not willing to go back on a pill.. we will all just have to deal with a bad day once a month!
How is you shedding? Mine is about the same... still losing more than I like with a shampoo, but nothing like it was back in April/May. My new growth is still hanging in there... I'm afraid to investigate it too much!! :o)
When does school start for you all? Are you ready for Matthew to go? Tomorrow is Emma's first full day. I'm hoping that she adjusts well to that. They have to take "rest" in the afternoon... she's not going to like that. I told her she had to be respectful for the others who need to rest. If she doesn't want to sleep, that;s fine... just be quiet!
Talk more tomorrow... I need to get in the bed earlier tonight. Morning comes mighty early!
Hi, Melissa. Well, it sure sounds like you are on the right track, particulary with the episodes you described. If you think u have a thyroid issue (hyper or hypo) you can test your body temp in the morning, before you get out of bed. I can give you more details if you're interested. But a low body temp could be an indication of hypo. Some people are "tissue resistant" which is why they have thyroid disease but it doesn't show up in their bloodwork.
Yeah, that drink is pretty nasty. What a doll Bob is for going with you!!!
So, things with me are the same. I started my period today -- more than a week earlier than I should. WTF? That's three months now. Misty says the estrogen is too low for me, and I think she's right. I just hate the idea of adding more estrogen into my body. Ugh.
Shedding is still the same. I go between freaking out and just saying ok, whatever. I just have felt pretty weepy lately (course, I didn't know my period was on its way so that could be it.) I'm gonna go back to the rheum and find out where to go from here since stupid Aetna doesn't cover a bunch of the tests he wants!!
I hope things have slowed down for you and that you can get some rest today!!!
Hey Melissa, Just checking in. Things are ridiculous busy around here... but that's good I guess. Our house finally sold... not the best timing in my eyes, but I keep saying over and over that God's time is perfect. School started Monday, and we are closing in the 12th... so 2 weeks from now, we will be moving Emma to a new school. Not exactly what I wanted to happen, but what can I do? I feel terrible about it.. like I made bad choices and she is having to pay for it, even though I know this was out of my hands, for the most part!!
How are things? I was just reading about your blood sugar levels... sorry to hear that, but it makes sense with your dizzy spells. I hope you can get something figured out. Maybe just knowing that you are validated will get things going on the right path! I'm crossing my fingers for you!! You deserve to know SOMETHING!
Just wanted to say hi... I haven't been able to hang out here as much as I usually do... This was a big week for us! School has been a hit so far... hoping the excitement continues!!
Melissa, I know this sounds weird, but I think it's actually pretty positive that something came back out of whack. Maybe you can figure this whole thing out, you know? I mean, I know it's kind of a double edged sword, but just to have a clue as to why this is happening is great, I think. (Kind of like how I was hoping to have diabetes and/or lupus!!!) Very interesting, though. I don't know much about adrenal gland failure but this all def sounds ilke it could be connected.
Do you have dizzy/clammy episodes? I know my husband gets really clammy when he hasn't eaten enuf. Not sure if that's common or not. Anyway, the glucose tolerance test isn't bad at all. You just have to drink this yucky drink, then sit around for four hours. (Bring a good book!) I was dreading it, but it went by a lot faster than I thought. And also think it's great that she's taking you seriously and is getting you into see a new endo!!! Yeah for progress!!!
(I mean there is a connection somewhere between insulin and hair loss. Maybe this is your situation??)
Congrats on the job. I think that's awesome. It does sound like you will be very, very busy!!
I went to see my therapist yesterday and told her I thought I was regressing. She said regression is all part of progression, that this proces isn't linear. (Yeah, as a control freak, that's not really how I want this to go down!) Oh, well. It was a good session and I feel lighter today, if that makes sense.
I told her how when I was boxiing last week, I was telling myself, "I am not my hair" with each punch. She wants me to say "I am....." or just "I am" instead. She did this funky visualization thing yesterday with my heart chakra (sp?) It kind of made me laugh, but whatever you know!!
Pls keep me posted. Wouldn't it be great if this mystery were solved?? Have a great weekend. lisa
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