Okay, so I had my appointment today and I just knew I would have an "answer" to my hair loss; first off I waited nearly 40 minutes to get screened before I saw the doctor; she looked over my lab results and asked the typical question; "why are you here".

I explained to her that I have been experiencing hair loss of 2 years now but it became really evident over 7 months ago; I told her about the clumps of hair I was losing in the shower and detangling my hair, irregular periods (which have come back normally now), fatigue (which has subsided since I saw the trichologist) cold hands and other health issues...she asked about my family history regarding arthritis, lupis, etc, she asked my ethnicity and I said Vietnamese & Black and then she said from what I told her it sounds like I have Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). 

I'm like "what?" so she explains that its a mixture of different genetic diseases and asked if I've been stressed or feeling stressed, having heart burn, muscle/joint problems, dry mouth... and I'm like "no.  Just hair loss", so she's like well stress will do that.  So she prescribed some medicine...and the prescription is sitting in my car as well as a higher dosage of Vitamin D.  I'm still searching the internet trying to figure out in layman's term of this "disease" is so I can better explain to my mom.  My mom and I both laughed and thought the diagnosis was crazy. 

The doctor ordered more blood tests to re evaluate the previous lab work, as well as urine sample to make sure that my kidney is functioning ok because kidney (and other internal organs) problems is symptom this MCTD...I have an appointment to get a screening of my heart & lungs just be safe; then next May I go back to see her to review my prognosis but if my lab work comes back with negative results she'll notifiy me.   Not once did she ask about my diet (and I should've brought that to light) because I'm a vegetarian and have not touched meat in nearly 14 years!  I thought that was odd but hey I'm not medical doctor I don't know all the "right" questions to ask.

So, regardless if I go see a Primary Physician, Rheumatologist and I doubt trying to see a dermatologist would do me any justice.  The ONLY answer I was given to my hair loss w/ through my Trichologist.  Oh well...on the flip side of this, its day 109 of my laser treatmeant the shedding in the shower has gotten better and compared to a previous blog where I was thinking, I'm going to have start doing comb overs; I'm not thinking that anymore.  Its still thin at the top but I don't have the wide part like I did 4 months ago.  I made my follow up appointment w/ my Trichologist 2 days after Turkey day and see what he thinks, but I feel like I'm seeing progress.   I'm not crying anymore so that's great! 

But this "diagnosis" is still tripping me out.  I have no plan on taking this medication that she prescribed, I'll wait to see if she calls with any news on my lab and if I don't hear from her then I'm just going to keep taking my supplements and do my laser therapy.