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Amy

Female

Eastpointe, MI

United States

Profile Information:

Relationship Status:: Married
About Me:: I am 27, married, RN in the Emergency Room, and have 2 beautiful boxer dogs (Holly and Tyson) that I love maybe a little too much!

I found the first spot on the right side of my head when I was dying my roots, that was June of 2008. It was only the size of a quarter. After I completely freaked out, I made an appt with a dermatologist, who diagnosed me with alopecia areata and assured me that it was stress related. I had just finished 6 years of college, was about to sit for my state nursing boards, and my wedding was a few months away. He gave me some steroid shots and some cream to put on it twice a day. I got a full work-up from my doctor to rule out any medical conditions- that came back clear. I was still pretty worked up about it...was i going to lose all my hair? I cried a LOT, and it was difficult because no one I knew had even heard of this, except my grandmother, because it happened to her years ago when her mother was dying.

That spot progressively got bigger, to about the size of half dollar in about 2 months, despite the shots every 3 weeks and the gobs of cream (see my pictures). It was a few weeks before my wedding, and I was getting used to it, and my hairstylist for the wedding did an awesome job covering it up. You couldnt see it on an average day, but if my hair was going to be pulled back it was obvious. She made it totally covered for the big day..thank god!

So after that, I saw some white hairs, then all of a sudden it sprouted- and I mean sprouted! Just when I got excited about that, I was out to dinner with my girlfriends in October, I found another spot. This one is right in the middle of my head, but towards my neck, so it is completely hidden. More shots. More cream. More crying. By December, it was twice as big. My husband is extremely supportive...after all...he is the cream applier!

Today, the first spot has about 5 inches of hair. The other one has stopped growing (I hope), and I only got the shots once in that spot because I got busy...I was switching jobs and insurance and so on. There are a few white hairs there, and few regular hairs, but it's a slow-go.

I have a new derm, and it's growing back well with steroid injections and Lidex cream.

My attitude now is hopeful but cautious. Sometimes it bothers me and sometimes I don't care. I don't have any other hair loss (ie- I still have eyebrows, eyelashes, leg hair, etc). I don't know if it will keep happening, or happen again in 10 years, or if eventually I will lose it all. I have no idea. That is the most frustrating thing, and at times it really upsets me. But I am most thankful that my 2 spots happened in places that could be hidden!!! And I am happy I found this website so I could share stories/success/ups and downs with people who are going through what I have.
Do you have alopecia?: Alopecia areata
Are you age 18 or older?: Yes - I am 18 or older

Comment Wall:

Roger

Welcome.

Roger.

Jan 29, 2009
LeslieAnn Butler

Hello and welcome, Amy!
I know how hard it can be. I now have universalis, and have had alopecia for about 30 years. After I became the spokesperson for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, a lot of women were needing my help and support, so I wrote a book called, "If Your Hair Falls Out, Keep Dancing!" It might help you understand more about the condition, and it's a fun read. You can find out more on my page -- and let me know if there's anything else I can do!
LeslieAnn

Jan 29, 2009
Cherylnz

Hi Amy,
Welcome to Alopecia World

Jan 30, 2009
Mukti

Hi Amy,
Welcome to a fellow Michgander! Where is Eastpointe? I'm south of Lansing.

Jan 30, 2009
Aspen

hi so i heard that u r new to the site. i have been a member of this site for about 2 mounths. how old are you? do you were a wig? how long have you had alopecia?
peace =] aspen

Feb 2, 2009
tat

hello new friend :D

Feb 8, 2009
Jennifer B

Good for you!! how do you like it? I'm sure you are very busy!!

Feb 10, 2009
JeffreySF

Hi Amy,

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
I also have this white fuzz and such. Be strong!!!
btw I am a Respiratory Therapist,,,take a deep breath and ahhhhhh

Hugz,

Jeff

Feb 16, 2009
Sharan

Hi Amy
Holly and Tyson look fab. My dogs keep me sane. 5 year old puppies :)

Feb 16, 2009
Natalie

Hi Amy, thank you for inviting me to read your story, seems very similar to mine. You're further in then me, and you've given me a little bit of hope! Thank you so much for that, it means so much! I'm currently using a steroid gel, hopefully it will make a difference, I cant help thinking there is more to come though! xxxxx

Feb 18, 2009
Jessica

Hi Amy,

Well welcome to the wold of Alopecia it gets better I promise. This is my second time , my hair falling out that is and I am in a much better place.
I have just accepted that my body will do what it wants and I have so much in my life to be happy for that i wont let this bother me or run my life again.
I would love to chat with you so drop me a message sometime.

great to meet you
love to pups so cute.

jessica

Feb 19, 2009
Aspen

hi amy i have alopecia aretra and tust me your hair is beautiful compared to mine i lost all of my hair in the back,sides and near the the crown of my head i will hopfully soon but those pics on there so u can see them. your wedding pics are beautiful if you dont mind me saying when you told your husband that you had alopecia did he like freak out or did he just stay with you through the good and the bad times ?

Feb 21, 2009
Becca Dey

Hey amy! was just reading your profile and your story is very similar to mine! How is your hair doing at the moment? Did you find steroids worked for you? I had to stop the steroids because they made my scalp sting and itch! So im sticking more to herbal remedies at the moment, with not much luck to be honest! Your hair looks great in all your pics! And your dogs are extremely cute! hehe.

Hope your good.
Becca.

Mar 4, 2009
Aspen

sorrr i have not talked in a while i have been grounded from the comp so i here your husband is very supported and i hope he is suppotive well i have to go talk to you later bye
aspen=]

Mar 31, 2009
Bel

Hi Amy, just read your profile, sounds rather similar to mine. Im still hoping that my patch will grow back. I only noticed it feb this year, sooooo time will tell.
How is your re-growth going. I too started putting the steriod creams on, but made my hair look worse than it already did, lol, so stopped. All Im doing at the moment is taking iron tablets and B12, feel like I should be doing more, but dont really know what.
So heres hoping that our patches will grow back.
take care,
bel :)

May 18, 2009
Lacey

Hey Amy, my name is lacey.
I am in the exact same position as you, Last June my hair dresser noticed my first spot i completely freaked out then it continued to get worse gradually through out the summer it got to about 3 spots 2 in my bangs that wasnt fun and one at the side. My confidence was completely destroyed. However when i got my new boyfriend everything seemed to be looking up my spots began to grow back and everything its been 8 months now and all my spots have regrown but just yesterday i noticed a new one or what looks to me like one it still has hair but it looks like the beginning. Im upset scared worried its just so difficult how unpredictable this condition can be:( But all we can do i suppose is HAVE HOPE thats what i have learned.
talk to you soon
Lacey.

May 19, 2009
Misty Boggs

My spots look alot like yours do in your pics! I have three spots though! But I am trying the shots and cream and they are getting bigger! If ya ever want to talk...I'm always here! How is your spots doing?

Jun 26, 2009
Misty Boggs

Well..I'm very glad that all of your spots grew back! I am wondering if mine is because of stress...but I don't have a whole lot of stress...Just normal everyday things like working...kids fighting..but nothing bad! I can't really think of anything dramatic that has happened so I really dont know! I noticed that you said something in one of your earlier blogs about itching...When your hair was growing back in did it itch? Because mine is itching really bad and I have been wondering if maybe it was the clobetasol cream or hair growing back or falling out or maybe even the shots? I'm confused..lol..anyways thanks for the comment- it made me feel better and it gave me a little bit of hope!

Jun 27, 2009