on 7/1/ 12I am told I have Alopecia Areata...
It started days after having a titnium dental implant on 6/1/12 .

I told the oral surgeon, their comment 'bizare'.
I told my regular doctor, his advice ,blood work negative,, take rogaine.
I told my dentist, theri response 'no comment'
I saw a dermatoligist , their advise, topical steroids or injections, no thanks.

I have lost a good amount of hair on the back of my head and on the side. At the moment I can comb it over.

What is troubling is that my mother had a terrible blood auto-immune disorder that started at around my age. I wonder if this is just the start.

I have a call into my oral surgeron, to inquire if I can get the implant removed.

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Hi Jessica,
Is it possbile that you can answer me;

How do I know the difference between 'AA' and 'AU' ... is it possible I have 'AU' and I dont know it yet? I've been lossing hair from my head gradually for about 9 weeks. Doenst appear to be stopping.

Thanks.

hmmm. I developed alopecia universalis about 6 weeks after a knee replacement(2 years ago). Now am being assessed re a dental implant. I had searched on line and hadn't found much but... maybe I'll stall a bit. Would love to hear from others

Hi Heartland, I think it's irrelevant now to take the the implant out ...I mean, the factor that instigated the dormant alopecia has already been triggered and there is no reversing it. Unless you are somehow allergic to the titanium your alopecia has been woken from a deep sleep and it'sparty time for it.

I had a similar experience. Four months ago. I came home from a hiking trip in Maine only to find a big chunk of hair missing....I could blame it on the "Deep woods" insect repellant I doused in, or the gigantic black flies that feasted on my neck and scalp or on the very delicious lobsters i indulged myself with...My dermatologist told me my condition is genetically predisposed and that somehing triggered it and once triggered it cannot be ignored nor reverse....

Experiment with everything you can to help solve the mystery ( and misery ; ) )...but I doubt seriously taking the titanium implant out will make any differnce. What is working for me know is anti-inflamatory diet and cortisone shot in my scalp. Best of luck

re: I think it's irrelevant now to take the the implant out ...

Hi Sandy,
I have kind of come to the same conclusion but if I any more AI diseases happen, I will reconsider removing it.

I had been following a vegan diet- and If I interpet your comment anti-inflamatory diet correclty, this means balancing the foods you eat by paying attention to their inflamation factor- which I have been doing for some years already. I use an web site called nutrionself to determine the anti-inflamtory values etc.

My dermatologist adminstered several 10 cortison shots about a month ago .
I chose not to continue the treatment because in my mind I think the medicine is worse than the disease.

My feelings going forward;
My younger brother shaved his head when he was 20 and he never looked back. Now it would be odd to think of him with hair.
When I was 18 - I went into the Air Force- so I am familiar with that shaved look myself. As for my eyelashes and eyebrows... I will deal with that when it and if it happens.

Speaking only for for myself - I am very leary of drugs because of all the side affects known and unknown.

I think bald guys are just as handsome and sexy as guys with hair...I think the bald guys work harder at staying in shape maybe to compensate, or maybe due to their alopecia plight, where they learned how important diet and exercies are to stabalizing their immune system. So If I was a guy, struggling with AA, I would just shave it all and embrace my new bad ass sexy look : ) Governor Scott of Florida is bald, he looks great!

I think diet and exercies are the key. I will make that my main focus!

I am wondering if you kept your dental implant or had it removed.  I have had one for about six years, and I never thought about it leading to health problems.  I have been to at least eight endocrinologists, hair specialist doctors, hormone specialists and alternative medicine doctors since my regular doctor looks at my blood work every year and says "you're fine".  What doesn't show on my blood work is the fatigue I have felt for years and the hair loss that is very evident to me but my dr. says is just age.

Even though I have had all of these doctors tell me it is in my head, I keep looking for an answer. Then a few weeks ago, an integrative medicine doctor suggested it could be the implant.  I couldn't believe it when I saw your post--I regret that it has been so long ago and I am afraid you may no longer be checking this website.  I would love to know how you resolved it.  

When I look back at pictures, my eyes even look different before and after the implant.  I have felt fatigue since the day I got it.  I looked back at my calendar and had three exercise classes on it the week before the implant.  I have only been to three classes total in the six years since the implant.  I attributed it to being in my 40s and having my third child in my late thirties--it was catching up with me--but I honestly think it was the implant and it has robbed me of the past six years of my life!  I am terrified to have it removed as I am not sure what to do next.  

My doctor put me on thyroid medicine shortly after the implant.  My TSH was borderline.  This helped with the fatigue, but the hair loss got worse.  The hair loss is as equally terrifying to me as the fatigue.  I am so afraid I will be bald by the time I am 50.  I used to have very long, thick hair.  My doctor completely dismisses my fears and tells me there is nothing I can do except Rogaine.  HELP!  I am so ready to find an answer.  

One dr. gave me a drug that absorbed the testerone in my system to see if that was the problem---it made me miserable and didn't change anything.  Another one gave me something to balance estrogen--which is what i am still taking (progesterone) but I am only supposed to take it a few days out of the month.  My dermatologist did a scalp biopsy and topical fluconise (????) or something like that and it changed nothing.  One doctor looked at my hair loss pattern and said "it is definitely worse on the right side" so I thought maybe it was my cell phone?????  But that is also where the implant is (upper right).  I feel like a crazy lady!  I have bought over $2,000 worth of supplements over the past few years and nothing seems to work.  I feel like I see improvements every once in awhile and then I will see myself in the sun and notice that I can see my scalp in places!  Even my eyebrows have quit growing! 

I would love to hear the rest of your story.......

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