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Daugther Just diagnosed but short doctor visit
I took my daughter to see her pediatrician, for a bald spot on her head. She is 8. He took a quick look and said it was Alopecia and referred us to a Dermatologist at St. Louis Childrens Hospital. I am just concerned because shouldn't he of run some blood work to make sure there is no obvious underlying cause? I questioned it and he said no because it looked like the hair follicles were completely gone. We can't get into the specialist until August and I am not sure how I can go about getting a second opinion or if I should be patient and wait?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sweetee104 on
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What happened to you is exactly what happened to me as well. I took my 5 year old son to the Pediatrician after I noticed a bald spot and he referred us to a Dermatologist but ran no other tests. The Dermatologist confirmed it was Alopecia just by looking at it and we started using steroid cream which has done nothing in 10 weeks. I took matters into my own hands since my Pediatrician seemed so passive about everything and found a children's specialist. The first opening they had was in June and I plan to get his blood work done there and also do some food intolerance testing. I say try to get an appointment sooner with another specialist if you can because if you are anything like me waiting is very tough to do as you watch your child's hair fall out. I think a lot of Pediatricians do not know much about Alopecia so they do not do blood work to try and see if there are any underlying causes. I hope you can find another specialist and get an appointment sooner.
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Same exact thing happened to us, we knew there has to be a cause and were determined to find it! We went to Team Clinic in Champlin , MN and they did a huge work up on him and his blood levels were very off and confirmed an allergy to Gluten and eggs which they think is the reAson why he is so deficient in vitamin levels and caused a autoimmune disorder. We are now doctoring at Mayo Clinic and have 2 appt tomorrow. Our son had so many sings of problems since eating solid foods like chronic stomach pains, constipation and many infections, including 8 cavities in 6 months.
I hope you can find a clinic and a dr to help you and your child get to the bottom of this and begin her healing process. We are very hopeful about our sons outcome but wonder how any more cases there may be out there just like Logan's!
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Very interesting, Is that a chiropracter? Thats what I found when I googled it. I didnt know they would do blood tests. How did you find them? Are you in the area, when it comes to my baby I will do anything even travel.
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Logan is our precious baby too/ we felt the same way after so many dr visits- we just couldn't believe no one had more answers. Team Clinic is a team of different practioners from an MD to physical therapists to Chiros to nutritionist and physical therapists. They were so helpful, so informative and have a special program through a lab that runs very expensive panel testing at a more affordable rate for their clinic patients. There are clinics that probably have similar programs- I can check and will let you know when I call them. Logan is on a gluten free diet and will always be, now our entire family is also on it. We are at Mayo to get possibly more info- they are the best for information and if Logan needs further med test to find out how much damaged was already sustained and if he need more steroids internally to stop the system so he can really start healing and his supplements can be at total strength!
I will get back with other places that do the full blood work ups and I know most allergist can do allergy testing - unfortunately you have to find one who won't think your nuts for wanting it!
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Thanks for the info I believe their is a reason for everything so I am not one to take 1 docs opinion as the only answer. Knowledge is power! I am also worried about further damage to her body if there is an underlying issue. My hubby was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer 3 years ago after all said and done was only stage 1, big misdisgnosis glad we didnt take that as the final word and watch him.die we were proactive and just research research researched.
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If you aren't sure about the diagnosis, the best thing you can do for your daughter and your family is to get a second opinion. Treatment will only be as successful as an accurate diagnosis, so taking charge up front now could save you headaches (and money!) down the road. Have you contacted your insurance company about getting an second opinion? You may need to push and advocate for yourself quite strongly, but it'll be worth it in the end. I know there can be alot of hesitancy about going to get to a second opinion so I wanted to share these two articles with you that have helpful tips for how to go about it successfully.
http://www.patientadvocate.org/help.php/index.php?p=691
http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/how-to-ask-for-second-opinion
Best of luck to you!!
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Thanks yeah i have no problem getting a second opinion its just there are not many Dermatologists and they all have waiting lists 4months out so I guess I will just have to be patient and wait for our appt.
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Hmmm Cary, the normal course of action is to run some tests to rule out a thyroid problem and some other things while you wait for the dermatologist appointment. Is there another doctor you can visit? Maybe from a referral from a friend or family member? The diagnosis of Alopecia is usually only made after everything else comes out negative. If you can't get the tests done before you see the dermatologist then make sure you tell them that no test were done to rule anything out first and they will help in that regard. But make sure you don't get stressed out yourself about this because either way the dermatologist will help.....well they'll just be able to confirm it anyway. Just so you know a lot of the times this is harder for the parents than it is for the children so if you need advice or reassurance this is an excellent forum for you. There are many knowledgeable caring people here to help.
Best Regards,
James X.
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That was my thinking exactly so I was able to fund a doctor to see her may 6th hopefully he will be more thorough. It definitely is harder on me. I think she is enjoying the attention. The kids at school haven't made fun of her but ask if she knows she has a bald spot.
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Go here and print this out and bring it to the doctor or flat out get another doctor. We are in the same boat.Very frustrating. I actually yelled at the Pediatrician and dermatologist.
http://www.hairlosstalk.com/alopecia/diagnosing-alopecia-areata.php
It says, "If your physician says these tests are not necessary, or refuses to do them for you, then it is advised that you find another physician to handle your situation. We cannot stress this strongly enough. You need to have these tests done, and you need a qualified specialist to review them, and your scalp, in order to get the care you need. The reason is simple. Cortizone injections or Rogaine may help the problem in the meantime, but if there is an underlying cause, your hair loss will not stop until that has been rectified."
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Thank you so much for the info I printed it and will be taking it to our appointment I agree I don't want to cover up the issue but get to the root of it!
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So we finally got into another dermatologist and he didn't do much but give her 5 little injections of steroids. He thinks there is no relation between allergys and alopecia. I am so frustrated I don't know what to do to try and find a doctor that believes the same as I about exhausting all possibility's of trying to find a cause for this. I feel like I can not feel at peace until we have tried everything else to find a cause. I have read too much about stress and reactions to foods as causing it, to just sit here and except that its just something that happens and nothing you can do about it. Seriously thinkin of traveling to the doctor that was mentioned previously if that is what it will take. Or maybe I can call them and get some info. And the Injections of course did not seem to do anything yet.
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