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Long-term steroid shots
I have had AU for 3 1/2 years now. Have tried every topical steroid out there without any success. I gave up for a while then found a derm that that is very knowledgeable in AU. I have been receiving steroid injections in my arm and hip for a little over a year now from him. I started out every 4 weeks, then 5 weeks, and now get them every 6 weeks. All of my hair on my head grew back within 4 months, but from the neck down was still pretty scattered and show growing. Well, he thought this was success so he stopped the shots. It fell out again. He immediately started the shots back up and I now have full growth again...this time everywhere. He's talking about stopping the shots again and I don't want him too. I completely understand there can be side effects long term but I'm willing to take that chance right now. I want to know if there is anyone else out there that has AU, do you also receive steroid injections in the arm or hip and for how long have you been getting them? My doctor gave me a homework assignment to try and prove him wrong that I can get these long-term. Now, I know he knows that answer already, but I'm convinced I CAN prove him wrong. I wish I were one of those people that can just accept it and move on bald or not, but I'm not.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bald and Fabulous AKA Terri on
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I have been AU for many years. I would say for over a decade. My scalp hair was the last to leave and I believe that was due to the treatments I received on my scalp for 10 years. I did injections every 5 weeks of steroids then after dcpc. My body hair long since was gone before my scalp. When I would pause in treatments the hair loss would be worse and I was desperate enough to continue the painful treatments. This I can say for 100% certainty the injections cause major mood swings and depression. It wasn't til I decided to stop torturing myself with painful ineffective treatments that I noticed how much the steroids were affecting my emotions. Since then I stopped all treatments and Im living bald. It wasn't a easy journey to get here but its worth it for the peace I have given myself. I learned that I wasn't going to let alopecia run my life. And since the I can look at myself, bald, but I can see me not alopecia. I wish you all the best with whatever you choose but honestly long term steroid injections is not the way to go.
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Permalink Reply by Linda on
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Dear Terri, I go along with your story. And mostly with your point on "rather bold than up and downs (physically/ mentally)". And yes, rather work on "just" your mental self than your mental self AND the pysical outtakes with stereoids. Only thing is, I DO see myself alopecia. It was made me. A bit stronger than the average person. Yet again like many who struggled any kind of challenge in their life. So kind of average again.
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Dear Andrea, I have had same experiences with different medications for like 25 years. And yes, some did not help at all, others did help but only for as long as I had the treatments. So it would mean a lifetime being full of medication "just" because of not having hair. If there was a treatment that would stop Alopecia forever, I would do it again. But because there is not yet a permanent cure I decided to rather stay bold. And wait for nature to bring hair back if it wants to. If not, after having all kinds of alopecia and especially AU again since 5 years I feel more confident with it then fighting against. It is my lifestory, like a scar. I rather stand up to it than the other way around.
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Permalink Reply by Debbie on
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I have had AU for 7 years now and everything the offer to bring my hair back has side effects, the way I look at it, is I'm healthy just bald, I'm not going to take anything that will make me unhealthy just so I can have my hair back. Just throw a wig on and call it a day, God must think we're strong enough to handle it.
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