iron supplements, biotin and amino acid complex, acupuncture, pilates and positive thinking

Plenty of details in "About Me" but I'll focus on the positive here. It's been a wake up call to pay attention to my health and my happiness. I had spent years just going through the motions of life and trying not to think about painful stresses that were affecting me in ways I didn't even realize. Since noticing the hairloss I've lost 60 pounds and made important lifestyle changes. I am focused on being mentally and physically healthy.

I have always had thick, curly hair that people would compliment. I noticed in September '08 there seemed to be less volume and a more noticeable part in the scalp. I started getting nervous and researched my birth control pill (tri sprintec) and saw a rare side effect was hair loss. I saw my gyn and got off the pill. In retrospect I think getting off the pill actually CAUSED the massive shed to follow because of the hormonal shifting.

After my PCP and one derm said TE, I got a biopsy and it came back AGA. I know believe AGA may have been accelerated with a bout of TE from getting off the pill. My shedding has improved but I have lost significant volume and though my profile pic (taken in June '09) does not show it, believe me when I say I can tell more and more looking at the top of my head. And I often wonder if others can as well.

The past year of my life has been exceptionally stressful. About a month after this started, I found out my boyfriend had cheated on me. I was devestated and endured severe emotional stress. We have been to counseling and are back together but the stress was more than I've ever dealt with.

In addition, I've dealt with serious family issues. My brother struggles with severe mental illness and my father is an alcoholic. I finally started going with al anon to deal with the emotional roller coaster I've been on for years trying desperately, largely unsuccessfully, to help the people I love.

On the positive side, the hairloss prompted me to look more closely at my physical health and how I deal with stress. I began eating well and exercising and have lost 60 pounds. This has changed my life in many ways and made me realize how my emotional issues were holding me back and stopping me from paying attention to myself.

At this point I've done tons of research for my hair and I'm afraid the only thing that might change something is going on hormone blocking drugs and I'm not sure the potential side effects are worth the risk. Yet I'm still unhappy with the situation and feel it's progressive.

I stopped looking at this site for several months because I was too overwhelmed with information in too many areas of my life. I saw all the specialists and didn't get any answers I liked. When the shedding at least slowed down I just wanted to take a break from thinking about it.

I'm back to the point where I think sharing with others - even if it does not change my circumstances - can help me cope and maintain a healthy perspective. I'm not here to find miracle solutions but I am here to find and offer support.

Thank you for listening.