I have started shedding again! But I will not let all my hair fall out again without having tried everything...so now I am going the "natural way". I am off to see a Naturopath in london who has helped someone with alopecia that I know. She works with remedies, diet change etc...
will keep you guys posted!
Btw...would not mind having some more friends with alopecia so please add me!
jojo

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My 8 year old daughter has also been seeing a naturopath that has experience dealling with autoimmune disorders but specifically Alopecia. I would love to hear what your naturopath does for the alopecia. We have been seeing our doctor for 6 months now ever since she was diagnosed with AA. She is on a special diet, taking dietary supplements and homoepathic drops. We are also going to be starting her on an all homeopathic regime next week. I would love to share notes and experience with your on your NP experience. Not to many people have tried this route on a long term basis that I know of.

Tracy
Wow that seems excessive! I pay about $75 every two to three months for a 45 minutes visits with our naturopathic doctor. But when I think I pay a $20 copay for 3 minutes with our primary western docter and get no results, I consider the NP a good deal. We did run some allergy tests and a GI test because my daughter a long history of allergies and asthma. She has been on a restrictive diet for 6 month including gluten free and supplements. The supplements are about the same cost ($100) that I was paying in copayment for the allergy and asthma medications she was on and the twice a week allergy shots all of which she is not needing to take anymore. It will take more time to see if it will help her AA. I just would rather she grow up with hair and have the resources to try alternative routes.

We are starting her on an all homeopathic remedy next week to see if we can keep her immune system stong. We'll see. He doesn't have experience dealing with AA but has many patients that he treats successful with other autoimmune diseases like lupus and RA.

Take Care
this sound mad! the one I went to see is not that expensive but the remedies are...plus have to fly in to see her! so not sure yet I will do this...must decide....
Hi Jojo,

If I recall correctly you are a new mother. Did you just wean your little one? Weaning will cause an extreme fluctation in hormones for some. Some women experience post-partum alopecia but you seem to have the opposite, but a nursing mother can often delay post-partum symptoms of other sorts until she weans her child so perhaps alopecia is no different. Just something that pricks my curiosity.

As far as the Naturopath, good luck with that, but as Thea posted in an article she wrote, but wise and cautious. Some of these alternative medicine practitioners are after your wallet.
I've never heard of weaning to cause a fluctuation of hormones so extreme. My first bald patch appeared 6 months after I weaned my daughter. She was almost 2 at the time I weaned her and I was absolutely going nuts. The nursing had to stop. She wanted to nurse more than eat....it was extremely stressful for me...plus she only wanted to nurse on one side....so now I am lopsided.

Yes, naturopaths are good and bad. Choose wisely. I did a lot of research before I chose mine and I asked around. I also had to make sure that the naturopath I chose was somewhat covered by my health plan. Yes, she costs more...and no, we haven't "solved" alopecia. But we discovered a lot of other things that my GP could have cared less about. It's good not to feel lousy anymore. Any my alopecia really doesn't bother me since I feel so good. ;)
Dom,
I am so glad that you are back. Whenever I am tempted to buy one the many advertised lotions/potions to cure AA, your posts just stop me short.
Thanks,
Myem
Hi Georgie...

This is something I did quite a bit of research on when I was in High School about post-partum psychosis. Note in the last year Oprah did a special about this "new" phenomenon...I've known about it for 20 years. Estrogen and progesterone levels bottom out in a new mother about 3 days after birth resulting in baby blues, post-partum depression, and worst case scenario post-partum psychosis. For mothers at risk, a heavy duty shot of hormones can be administered at the time of delivery to avoid the hormone fluctuation. Sometimes the hormone levels remain during nursing and weaning will cause the bottoming out.

Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made and medical science still hasn't got a lock on everything. Things that make doctors go "hmmm..."
How would you know you are at risk and need a shot of hormones? Both my pregnancies were perfectly fine. No issues. Being pregnant was easier than having a newborn and getting no sleep. I loved being pregnant but seriously dreaded what I would be required to do after the baby came. Of course now.....it's better that my kids are older and our family is complete.

After both pregnancies I did take an anti-depressant.....mostly because I was going nuts. It was a situational thing.....stay at home Mom....spirited babies....husband who traveled a lot.....nursing....new parent issues. Everything was so overwhelming. My first child hated the stroller, so I always had to carry her or put her in the Baby Bjorn.....and that's rough on the back...And then I got sciatica. *sigh*

I often wonder today if I had taken a different road.....would I have these autoimmune issues in my body? Hashimoto's reared its head after my first child....and then AA and gluten intolerance came after the 2nd child. It's been a rough road. I'm not trying to throw a pity party....but admittedly, it is unfair that women go through all this hormonal stuff with their bodies.
Hi Georgie...

From what I recall the mothers most at risk are those who have had a personal or family history of some form of depression, psychotic break, bipolarity, etc. Also women with true PMS seem to be more at risk. And of course, if your previous pregnancies brought forth something more than the baby blues (generally starting about 3 days post partum and lasting 3-7 days) you are at risk for increased symptoms in future pregnancies.

Fortunately the psychotic breaks are rare indeed, and of those only a few mothers act on the psychotic visions/voices. I have a friend who will confess that she wanted to kill her child. I was so angry at her doctor who brushed these real issues off and did nothing for the second go round. Fortunately, hubby was very supportive, but a woman without a decent network might be more at risk.

There is speculation that Susan Smith was post-partum psychotic. If you recall she drove her car into a lake and drowned her 2 little boys. I think she was just plain psychotic.
Well....my Mom passed away when I was 7. My father never remarried and was a semi-dictator. Life has had many ups and downs since then....I completely agree that something so life altering can cause issues down the road. Unfortunately, to date, my primary care doctors and even my OB/GYN could have cared less about my past. I was on zoloft for a while....the best thing was to get off of it. It helped for a while....but then I was like, but, I'm not really getting to the root of my issues...

I've been without a Mom for 30 years. I came to nearly complete terms with her absence in my late 20s after a lot of therapy. I hardly think about it now because I know no other way. My father is in his 70s....and still a thorn in my life. It will still take lots of time to heal my past with him. *sigh*

I try to focus most on being the best that I can be with my children and husband. Life is short and I try to make the most of it...one day at a time.

Hi Georgie,

Thanks for sharing your experience. Do you remember how old were you when you see your first spot? and has your alopecia progressed to AU?

i did not nurse at all since I started on rogaine and topical cortisone right after giving birth in order to avoid hair from falling out. it was a difficult decision but i made it...

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