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HELP!!! I am so depressed...
I just returned from my doctor and she said that I have AA. When this first occurred back in October 2016 it was the day after I got my hair done and I reached to scratch my head and felt a fist size bald spot. I immediately was devastated and booked an appointment with the skin care doctor. She didn’t do any biopsy or blood work and just looked at it and said alopecia. She gave me injections in my head and some topical formula and sent me on my way to return once a month. Last week I noticed more hair being gone and made an appointment and today I looked at my hair and there is a smaller spot on the top of my head. I am a beautiful blonde 22 year old so this entire situation has been soooo hard. I panicked and went to my doc who saw me. I goggled things it could be, because I was for certain that it had to be something more serious. But when I asked to do a blood test my doctor got so mad at me “don’t take me to school, I know what I am doing” I wasn’t trying to take you anywhere I am scared and uninformed. I got more shots in my areas and went on my day… I am starting to take biotin, iron, and vitamin B supplements to help. How do I deal with this? Will I recover? Will more of my hair start to fall out?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Return_life on
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Hi Kim,
stop stressing with this. it won't help that's for sure. I am not saying that it is stress related but it won't do any good so stop depressing. it happened to me also at 22... I am a male and was extremely cocky and very good looking. one spot became two, then 3... 1 year after I had full regrowth with even more beautiful hair. but a few months after I lost everything... everything... today I am eyebrowless, eyelashless and bald. yes it is hard. well it is VERY hard. am 33 now. am not gonna lie, my WHOLE life changed. supplementing wont really help. u can do it if u want but unless u are celiac or anything like that diet and AA are not related.
now listen to this. a small minority of people become AU. most cases have spontaneous growth after a while. what u should do is monitor ur alopecia. if it gets worse and worse... meaning too many bald spots and u can't hide it anymore don't wait until the condition becomes too severearly, jump on a immunosuppressor like xeljanz. it is easy to get it prescribe now. it's a new drug. success rate is good. educate yourself on the drug cause it is for a lifetime but in my mind it is better than being AU. I hope the best for you girl. I worked 10 years in immunology dept of a few pharmaceutical companies... if u got questions don't hesitate.
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Hi return life. Just wondering did you have your hair back with xeljanz? I have read so much about it. Seems to be real good
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I had 95% progress with my nails
50% growth body hair
20% growth on hair and eyebrows
I wasn't able to continue due to high cost. we don't have the copay in Canada. so I had to stop... I started again 6 weeks ago and am already seeing good signs. xeljanz works for most of the people, the challenge is to find the right dosage. I personally know people who had regrowth with xeljanz after having AU for 30 years!
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Hi kim,
Well you have come to the right spot to learn about the condition. It is autoimmune so start researching what that means first. Your body basically attacks itself is some respect with autoimmune. In our case it is hair. The trigger is unknown. I am not going to point you to a bunch of supplements or things to try. However, there are some studies indicating that controlling our gut bacteria can have benefits. You can research that also and see where it takes you. Xeljanz does work and can be prescribed but is not typically covered by insurance and it is very expensive. If you just have AA, there is a strong chance for remission. Do your best not to stress about it. You will always have the ability to grow hair...it does not destroy the stem cells.
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hi return_life, may i aks you a question, CXCR3 delpeting antibodies prevent and reserves vitiligo in Mice. a research paper published by Dr. John Harris- an vitiligo expert. what is depleting antibodies? if mice is successful, how long is will test human being? thanks
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Your doctor is an a$$!! You have every right to ask questions and request blood work. And, NO, your doctor does not "know what she/he is doing". The healthcare industry keeps trying to treat Alopecia externally when it is most likely an internal problem. So if they "knew what they were doing", we would have more effective treatments. I am not surprised that you are depressed. It is a very depressing disease. But you have many people here who understand and support you. This condition is very unpredictable, but there is every chance that your hair will grow back. Alopecia Areata does not kill the hair follicles. It simply puts them in suspension. Best of luck and remember that we are all here for you.
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Most importantly, you must destress and right away. Drop anything that's stressing you out that you have control over. Take yoga, exercise, hang out with friends. The more you let it consume you, the worse it will get. Go to therapy, it will help tremendously. Make your number one priority you.
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I'm so sorry you're feeling so down, and I think we all know how you feel. After 50 years of having gorgeous, ultra thick hair, I noticed my first bald spots in September. Mine continues to fall out and I've been wearing a wig full time for over a month now, but the good news is, it's all growing back, so I have hope that I will be one of the lucky ones that holds onto the regrowth. The first bald spots are now thick but short, but it's fallen out all over now, and a new hair has replaced I think everyone that's fallen out, at different stages. But one thing I've learned for sure in all my research is there isn't one story alike, and it's completely unpredictable what will happen.
Believe me, I know it's devastating, but I found once I started talking about it to friends, (I didn't tell anyone for 2 months!)and worked on myself to accept that it is what it is, worrying will not help or put one hair back on my head, it slowly sunk in that it's really NOT the worst thing that could happen, and although I will never be happy about it, I can be okay with it, whatever happens - and you will too!
My doctor did an immediate blood test to rule out lupus or a thyroid issue - which are known causes for hair loss, and your doctor should know that!! I was found to have low vitamin D, so I am taking a supplement (among others) but still my hair is falling out.
If you get to the point where you can't cover your spots, there are beautiful hair pieces and wigs out there that look totally natural - mine does, and again - it's not the worst thing in the world to wear a wig, even though the thought was devastating to me at first as well.....in fact it doesn't bother me at all anymore - you really get used to it, and it's great to have a good hair day every day!
Talk to your friends, vent here - there is hope!
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Permalink Reply by Camryn on
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I feel exactly as you describe since my GP told me I have alopecia ophiasis about a month ago. I'm going crazy waiting for a dermatologist (wait is over 6 months where I am in Canada and I'm scared my hair will all be gone by then) and in the meantime am so down that I basically don't want to leave my apartment. I'm forcing myself to but like you, inside I'm devastated. The oversized egos of some doctors is ridiculous and I'm so sorry you've had to deal with that when you're already feeling low. I'm sure in your shoes the doctor would be requesting various blood tests too.
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Permalink Reply by Rascalx2 on
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Sorry you are going through this. I went to a few dermatologists and was disappointed with their approach. The truth is they really dont know much about it. I felt I was more informed from what I read. One MD prescribed prednisone , another took a biopsy and said "come back in two weeks, we'll go over results" ( I really wanted injections to perhaps slow down fall out until find something else) but in 2 weeks I went from AA to AU. This is an extremely difficult hurdle to overcome... talk with family and friends and seek out their love and support! We all know what you are going through and we all know how you feel. Hang in there, people will tell you not to worry, stay calm yadda yadda but your f**king hair is falling out ! Own the way you feel, noone knows except the people on here
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I understand what you're going through. I was diagnosed with vitiligo when I was in my 20's by a very unsympathetic doctor who made a joke about spots. Before it was <50% involvement I used to pray for the return of my skin tone. At > 50% I prayed for it all to turn so I could be one color. And it did rapidly progress to nearly 100%. I also prayed that this disease wouldn't be inherited by my children. But it was, in another form because of me :-(
Now as a mother, my 17 year old son has alopecia quickly turning to universals. Here is my advice. Find a hospital that is undergoing research for alopecia using Xeljanz and the medication cost is covered.Because my son is 17 he doesn't qualify for the study just yet so we pay cash. But the doctors prescribed him the medicine and in August when he turns 18 they'll enroll him.
I don't know where you're from, but Northwestern in Chicago is doing the research with the medicine. It is in a very upscale and safe area.
Good luck, my thoughts are with you. Stay strong and persist.
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hi christoper,s mom, i have the similar story with you. have you had some info for vitiligo? i read a lot of report that jak inhibitor can treat vitiligo either. have you heard any one try tofa or ruxo? or any news for vitiligo treatment in us? i am chinese.
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