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Two months turned my world around
This is my first post on this site. My journey here began two months ago.
A little about me, I am a 32year old woman, from Canada and 9 months ago I moved to Italy for work. While the move and culture shock has been stressful, I never expected this to happen to me.
Two months ago, I had a full, healthy head of hair, I even went on shopping spree in August while visiting home and bought a bunch of hair care products I'd read about. I saw my hairdresser and got my usual highlights and cut, she did not notice any changes.
Mid September, I notice a lot of hair shedding, but nothing shocking. Then I notice, when I air dry my hair overnight, in the morning, it felt greasy and damp (like I left too much conditioner on). So I make an effort to rinse it extra when I wash it.
Soon after, every time I touch my hair, it was coming out, to the point where I was going to the bathroom several times a day to throw out handfuls of hair.
I went to the dr and got blood tests. Everything was normal and the dr wasn't concerned.
Within just a few weeks of these changes, it got to the point I had a large bald spot in the back of my head, which I could cover with a pony tail. But then the front was thinning so badly there was no hiding it.
I went back to the dr and broke down in tears, and she was very sympathetic. She did more tests, all which came out normal, and believes this began because of stress (from moving and living in a foreign country). But she did not give me a diagnosis, only referred me to a psychologist.
While moving and living in a foreign country was stressful, I was in generally a good mood before the hair loss started. When the hair loss got really bad, I was crying constantly and didn't want to leave the house. The hardest part was going to work and trying to look and act professional when I felt terrible. I was lucky to go to London for a weekend and got a wig. I am very happy with the wig, it has made a world of difference and it has been a month now of wearing it and it feels like part of me.
I have been seeing the psychologist which is helping, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it is not just "stress", I went back to my general doctor and she told me I do have Alopecia. I am going to see a dermatologist next week and maybe there can be some treatment options, maybe not. I just like to know what the options are.
I just found this site and am glad there are others I can relate to
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jim In Cali on
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Welcome to the site. I sort of agree it's not just stress with the alopecia. I have little stress in my life other then a 5 year old. My alopecia started 3 years ago when my normally thick hair started getting thin right in the typical male pattern baldness spot on my head. Made an appointment for hair restoration clinic (hair transplant) to combat my male pattern baldness. Few days before the appt, I stepped out of the shower noticed I had no armpit hair, or arm hair or chest hair. Cancelled the hair transplant doctor and contacted my dermatologist. My doctor, ran every test known to man all came out fine. I didn't even have the typical circles that are common in AA. I'm athletic, run 5 miles a day, eat balanced nutritional meal, very few sweets...why was this happening? Doctor immediately started the Cortisone shots. Made a miraculous recovery after a few months of the shots, even the hair on my arms came back. Quit getting the shot. 6 months after stopping Alopecia showed me who is boss. This time within 2 weeks I was completely bald. Every day would have clumps of hair. Started shots again, after 6 months my hair came back but not quite as thick as it normally was.
Not sure but swear Alopecia is effecting my skin, making it dry and flaky. I seem to get sore easier when working but that could be age, just turned the big 50. Jim
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Really true. My first and only period of regrowth was when I moved to England for several months... I was incredibly stressed. Came back to Canada and it all fell out again :/ Nobody really knows the trigger.
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