Comment

Comment by Celia on September 6, 2013 at 5:26pm

Karen, what was your eye check like ?

Comment by KarenGinny - Iowa, US on September 6, 2013 at 5:18pm

Linda, Yes I'm having my eyes checked and he will do blood work too. I'm 48 and pre-menopausal so pregnancy is not an issue. I'm also on meds for thyroid and blood pressure but he said would be okay to take them together. So after being on it for a year, have you noticed it helping with the hair loss or inflammation? It seems like with most people it's hard to tell if the meds are working since it seems like the hair will fall out anyway, and burn out when it wants to. But maybe if I had been on this earlier then my hair wouldn't look so bad now.

Comment by Celia on September 6, 2013 at 5:16pm

Linda - what did your eye check up comprise of ? I just read from a card to the nurse - was that the same for you and all others out there ?

Comment by Celia on September 6, 2013 at 5:12pm

Kath - thinking about you and hoping you can rally round and get positive again - sent you a message but not sure if you will have got it ! X

Comment by Chrisy, MA USA on September 6, 2013 at 5:08pm

April, my dermatologist adviced me to start taking plaquenil but stop it right away if pregnant. I've been using it for six months now and I'm not sure if it works for me. The progression is slow so it's hard to tell. I had my annual gynecologist visit last month and she told me that she has some pregnant patients who still taking plaquenil while pregnant. Of course their health issues are much more serious. I think she mentioned lupus. She also advised me to stop plaquenil if I get pregnant. Who told you that plaquenil is BAD if you are planning to get pregnant??

Comment by KarenGinny - Iowa, US on September 6, 2013 at 4:58pm

Kath, sorry you're feeling down, I think we all feel that way about ourselves sometimes with this condition. It's funny how every doctor seems to have a different strategy with this condition and the drugs we use. I just talked to my new dermatologist after he reviewed my previously done biopsy and he wants me to start Hydroxychloroquine, whereas my other derm didn't want to use it because of side effects he said were bad. My new derm said the side effects were minimal and rare. He said I should try it for 6 months to a year before we'll know if it's working. I've been doing nothing for the past year due to my old doctor giving me no hope, but now my new doctor says it's worth a try. I have lost a lot of hair in the front & sides and it's gotten worse in the last 6 months I think. Getting hard to hide it now but I'm not ready for a wig. I took my first hydroxy pill today and I hope I don't have the stomach problems, but if it does cause loss of appetite, I could live with that.

Comment by Kath UK on September 6, 2013 at 4:24pm

For the first time in a while I feel a wee bit down. Saw my dermatologist this week and she basically said I should stop taking the hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) because it hasn't worked for me. She said there were other immune suppressing drugs but they had potential bad side effects and were not proven to work anyway. I said I didn't want to take anything with a risk of bad side effects.
She said that I could continue with the clobetasol lotion and she didn't need to see me again. She said FFA tended to be self-limiting (I knew that already) but every case was different.
I'd be interested in hearing what other people's dermatologists say about how long you should take the hydroxychloroquine as I only took it for about 5 months. My dermatologist said that if it was going to stop the FFA it would have stopped it in the first few months.
Oh well. I guess that's my last treatment hope gone for just now - until they come up with a new medication.
At least I've got my pretty hairpieces. Think I'll go out tomorrow and buy a nice new pair of shoes to cheer myself up!

Comment by April on September 6, 2013 at 4:16pm

Sam, yes they did the shots basically where the hair loss is and around the perimeter.

Comment by Sam on September 6, 2013 at 2:40pm

I totally get it! I'm terrified of medications too! I didn't notice anything after shots, which is why I will try a couple more times and see. It was done where I have hair, 1 cm back from hairline so dents not noticeable if it does happen is my thought...did they your doc do where u have no hair? I am wondering if that is the case on people that have the indentations and the doctors should do where there is hair as it cannot prompt new hair growth. Yes on lattise, I just do 2 drops that seems to go long way, just along hairline. I do see new growth and figure if its intended to prolong growth maybe it will work long enough to get all else in check. I used a topical last night for first time and that I may stop that or just do one spot Bc I feel like I noticed more loss this morning...

Comment by April on September 6, 2013 at 2:23pm

Thank you so much Sam, i think you are right. I was reading through your recent post. Are you using the latisse on your hairline as well? Does it seem to be helping? I too have worried about my daughter's reaction to me losing my hair. Let us know how the shots are working for you. I got one round of shots but i refused further treatment because I felt like a starting losing more hair after the shots, and I have a dent in my forehead. I'm probably the worst patient because I am scared of medications...anyhow, welcome to the group!

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