Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Brianne on November 12, 2008 at 7:13pm

I got the shots for a while when I was in high school and I would say for about 9 months. That is a very rough guess. I don't remember it much. lol The dermatologist kept telling me that my spots were all filling in nicely and that my last appointment would be soon..but that slowly diminished. My hair was falling out more rapidly than it was growing back and said he couldn't do the shots any longer. So I would agree with Linsey, see how rapidly the hair is falling out and if you are headed to AU. I didn't have any side effects at all though and don't regret the treatment by any means. It was the first treatment I ever tried..and it was followed by many many home remedies until I decided to quit. When we discussed the injections with the dermatologists, if I remember correctly, he didn't state any side effects and that is why we decided to go along with them. My parents were strongly against anything that would have side effects.

I hope everything works out! Keep us updated!

Have a good rest of the week!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jason Campbell on November 13, 2008 at 3:38pm

Thanks for the feedback. My main concern is maybe letting this thing play out to see if it regrows by itself. I've always had some sort of facial hair so I think thats why I'm having such a difficult time with this, plus the constant shaving doesn't help. My wife and I had a lot of stress from going through a miscarriage about 5 months ago, so I've heard that that could be a cause, even though no one knows for sure. Plus we would like to continue to work on starting a family so I wanted to make sure these shots wouldn't effect my swimmers. Thanks again for the responses.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brianne on November 15, 2008 at 4:39pm

I am sorry to hear about the loss! I wish you luck on everything!!

I did forget, the shots made my scalp dent in. I had dents in all the areas the shots were injected. They went away pretty quickly though!

But I hope all goes well with you and your wife!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lynn AKA Mom of 2 w/AA on November 16, 2008 at 12:14am

Hi Jason. I would give it more time, and be consistent with injections every four weeks. My kids' dermatologist states that it can take several months for the AA to go into remission. She has a lot of experience and states that her patients go into remission well within one year. She also states that there are no proven side affects with Kenolog (spelling?) injections. So far, my kids have gotten injections every four weeks for six months. The shots keep the AA from getting much larger. When my daughter was 8, her AA had spread within six months, to the loss of 1/4 her scalp hair -treating with a steriod cream & Rogaine. Her hair regrew & AA was in remission for two years. After that much hairloss the first time around, the kids still want to treat with the shots. However, do remember that AA is different for everyone. Good luck to you & I hope remission finds you soon.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by baldiegirl on November 16, 2008 at 2:56pm

For a period of time I took steriod injections.I remember that usually the day after the injection I would feel very energetic a sort of rush!. However usually I would feel nauseous all day long, extremly tired. I would bruise at the slightest touch and have constant aches and pains. I got sick with pnemonia as a result of taking steriods (pills/injections/creams) for along time as a side effect.Basically my immune system was very weak. I felt as if i was dying as the days went by.I have stopped all forms of medication now and finally I am healthy once more.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Georgie on November 16, 2008 at 3:29pm

Hi there,

I've been receiving injections regularly....with squaric acid. Some of my patches have had different rates of growth. Other patches have required a couple of rounds to get going. I haven't experienced any side effects from the injections (when I used to only get the injections w/out squaric acid.) And all the injections have been near the top of my head....so the pain is tolerable. I can see how lower down on the head it would be a bit more sensitive. At the moment my patch situation is like a wild goose chase....I call the derm. when I find a new patch since the spacing between each is so sporadic right now. Best of luck with everything! -G.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jason Campbell on November 18, 2008 at 9:05am

Thanks again to everyone for the feedback, it's very helpful and encouraging to hear the progress you all have made. I'm going in tomorrow to discuss the side effects and all the treatments with my derm. and to get a plan, hopefully it will help put my mind at ease for awhile. I will update you all when I can.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by juliepeach on November 18, 2008 at 6:21pm

I have to agree with everyone- esp Linsey. The lower on the back of my head/neck has been the most painful for me. I also generally give myself the afternoon "off" afterward, as it is a VERY disorienting thing having needles in your head... even if you don't necessarily feel physically ill from it. It's something I never thought I would do, and now it's like a once-every-three weeks treatment for me. !

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Patricia on November 25, 2008 at 8:00pm

i have been doing the cortisone injections for nearly 10 years now, just about every 6 weeks. it can get pricey but thats about the only negative. i have experienced some "thinning of the skin" in the areas of injection. basically the area indents a bit. i have skipped injections on my eyebrow area (totally bald now) becuuse the dents were more noticable than the missing hair. i am moving towards AU more now, so I am going to pause on the injections until my body figures out what its doing. good luck! patricia

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Zoey on November 25, 2008 at 9:18pm

I got the injections many years ago, when I was first diagnosed. I remember it being very painful, they didnt really work for me. But, I have heard from people on here that it worked a lil bit for them.
I think its different for everyone.. I do remember the tropical solutions they had me putting on my scalp were the worst!
I remember breaking out in many bumps all over my scalp.. It itched and was sooo painful!!! Never again!!

I do not have treatments of anykind anymore.. Maybe I will return someday, but right now I am fine and I dont like being a testing subject..

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JeffreySF on November 26, 2008 at 12:22am

I tried the injections in the begining of this journey and unfortunatly there were no results. As far as side effects I was moody. However, this was probably due to my overall newness to Alopecia.

Jeff

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tony on December 3, 2008 at 6:59am

Hi Jason,

Welcome. Like you, I've lost patches of facial hair. Years ago, a Doc told me that steriods were a bad idea on the face as they cause the skin and fat layer to thin too much. Perhaps that has changed or was just one docs opinion. Good luck to you my friend in whatever you decide.

• ▶ Reply