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Denise

Female

Ontario

Canada

Profile Information:

Relationship Status:: Married
About Me:: I have been in the Alopecia world,since April 2009. Trying , some good some hard days, what else can you do? My hair started falling out while I was working one night shift. now it is all gone. Funny, 7 yrs ago I raised $money & cut my long hair to donate to a little girl named Morgan with alopecia, now I have alopecia. ????? sometimes I feel bad, but then I am usually a positive person and like to look at my cup 1/2 full not 1/2 empty. I am married to an amazing man, who loves me for me, I have 3 boys that are great about it. So each day I tell myself it is ok, this is small in the grand scheme of life.
Do you have alopecia?: Alopecia areata
Are you age 18 or older?: Yes - I am 18 or older

Comment Wall:

LeslieAnn Butler

Hello and welcome, Denise!
How are you doing today?
LeslieAnn

Jan 11, 2010
LeslieAnn Butler

Sweet Denise, let me know how you like the book, okay?
Hugs!

Jan 12, 2010
Farial Michaelsen

Hi there Denise. Yes I tried the injections etc when I was 12yrs and I tell you it really was painful. When that never work I just had a feeling inside that this was it for me "the end of the road". It was confirmed later that yr by a doctor that my hair will "never" grow again and his words where so true. Within a week of him confirming that, all my hair had fallen out. So since then I have been wearing wigs and scarves/dooks on my head. I must admit i go through the phases of wanting to having all back, just to experience the wind blowing my hair or my fingers rubbing through it. But I am stong eventhough weak at times.

Jan 13, 2010
Andrea

Denise,

Thanks so much for the add and for your encouraging words. They made my day! Write me anytime you want to chat or vent. I'm a pretty good listener.

Andrea

Jan 16, 2010
charity turner

Thanks denise I will keep that in mind. I recently went to a salon in my area and there making me a custom human hair wig. I never realized what a difference there is from the ones ive been buying. The way I look a it I didnt have a clue what to do when my hair started falling out I never thought it would come to a wig. But Im dealing with it better each day.

Jan 16, 2010
Andrea

I'm pretty new to this aloepecia thing, too. Ive had it for about four years, but the first couple of years I could pretty easily cover my patches. Now I have huge patches and the hair i used to use to cover them has all fallen out. I wear a synthetic wig now, and it has helped my self confidence alot, but it took some getting used to. I'm worried about my first summer with a wig too! I don't want to be hot or get all sweaty and have to take it to get washed all the time. Im just hoping by that time my laser therapy will have made some more progress and I can get by with just hats or a ponytail. Whatever happens, we'll both get through this!

Feb 1, 2010
Diana Hayden

Hi Denise ; Welcome to A/W. Nice having you as a friend.

Feb 1, 2010
Carol

Hi Denise
Happy New Year to you as well! I'm watching the tv in anticipation this morning to see if that little groundhog sees his shadow or not, I could use a shorter winter myself (although I know it does get colder way up North where you are). I'll have to check my friends list to see if there's anyone else from around SSM, unfortunately I can't remember off hand (got over 500 people in there, mostly Canadians). There's a woman in Sudbury but she's the closest I can think of at the moment. I'll let you know if I come across anything though. Take care!! :)

Feb 2, 2010
Heather L

Hello Denise!

Thank you for the friend invite!!! :) I have not been to a national alopecia areata conference yet- do hope to this June. so I do not have much info other than what is given on the NAAF website. www.naaf.org - that has lots of details, pictures and dates/place etc. Thinking about going this summer?

Hope you are having a great day!
Heather

Feb 2, 2010
Pamela Rosse

Hi Denise
I love your attitude regarding your AAT, you go girl, I have AAU, I am at a year now since I lost all my hair. It Sounds like we were/are in the same boat when came to losing our hair, my did the same thing, when it started to shed/fall out it went for broke. I was scared & devastated, I found Leslie Ann Butler's book which lead me to AW, my saving grace.
I wanted to introduce myself as we have friends in common, one is the lovely, sweet Heather & another is the lovely Leslie Ann.
Take care.

Pam

Feb 3, 2010
Cheryl, Co-founder

-2 C or -2 F? LOL! Makes a big difference!

Feb 4, 2010
JeffreySF

Hi Denise,

If you want more info about the NAAF Conf check out www.naaf.org
They have all the details about the conf there.

Your cup will be full if you attend. Trust me.

Hugz,

Jeffrey

Feb 5, 2010
JeffreySF

Hi Denise,

I went to the conf by myself 2 years ago and it was awesome! I hadn't even had alopecia for a year yet. It really put everything together for me. I knew I wasn't alone and since I have made some of the best friends ever!
Don't be nervous you will not be lonely. You will be surrounded by over 600 men, women, children and their friends/families.

I just booked our tickets. I'm so stoked!

Jeffrey

Feb 7, 2010
Roger

Hi =)

I went alone all the way from Sweden 2008 and 2009. I will go alone this summer too.

Roger.

Feb 8, 2010
Julia McDowell

Hi Denise,

I think your hair looks great! What kind of wig is it?
I don't think I'll get to go to the Conference.....
:(

Feb 10, 2010
Brittany

Hey Denise,

You're Welcome, :)
Thanks for looking
Have a great day :)

xoxo
brittany <3

Feb 11, 2010
Mary

Welcome to Alopecia World!

Feb 11, 2010
Annette Thompson

Hi Denice, You didn't mention if you were still thinking of going to the conference by yourself. Even though I am so newl I think I might go.
ps My wig is monofilament too--what brands are yours? i am looking for a new style. i have likde the style I wear, but am not sure what happens next. ( I was so worried about getting this sytle okay and coming to terms with everythng .....) Anentte

Feb 11, 2010
cherie

Thanks Denise!!! I am wearing a full lace wig with human hair. Do you wear any hair?

Feb 17, 2010
Annette Thompson

Hi Denise,
I am living in a city about 20 minutes north of Seattle. I see you mentioned 'shift' work. Are you working at a hospital? I do that kind of work. And yes to your next question too, I am bald. This week I tried out a new wig--different from the last one. It was a good step for me. Are you still thinking of going to the conference? I have been looking into airfares....

Feb 17, 2010
Ann Seatio

Hi Annette,
I'm very very new to the site. and very scared about losing my hair. Just starting.
I have been to OBGYN, and have been told it is due to MEMO. pause, but HUM
I don't think anyone would lose this much.... I have had some truma, in my life
and maybe it , is from stress so far I have loss it under my hair on the top of
my head. I have order a wig from Paula Young. and not sure I can wear it.
How do you get the nerve to wear a wig ........ I 'm wondering how do you find
someone closer to where you live with this conditions. thanks..... so sad.........

Feb 18, 2010
Annette Thompson

HI Denise,
What an interesting job you have! You seem like a very upbeat person--a big plus when dealing with alopecia!
I work at a hospital here in Seattle-- I am a microbiologist , but most of my friends think I have too much personality to be a lab rat. I do a lot of volunteer work with kids on the side. I too am trying to get the time ok'd for June, but am also thinking about being a counselor at Alopeciapalooza in August. I will keep you know as I figure it out. And it will depend on what time I can get off at work. Take care. Talk to you soon.

Feb 23, 2010
Pat

Love your wig Denise, where did you get it from?

Feb 23, 2010
Matt

Hey Denise,

Sorry to be so slow to respond. There is a bunch of information about the conference at www.naaf.org
You have to go if it is at all possible for you. It's a great time. Take Care, Matt

Feb 24, 2010
Ann Seatio

Good Morning.
Thank you for lovely words of advise. I can use each word you all have said. I know I'm losing my more each day, I have received a wig from Paula Young but it is way to much hair for me. So I don't know yet, what I'm going to do,,, I really don't know who I would take it too, or maybe I will just order something else with less hair. Thanks. I know some days are worst then other right now. I hope it get easier. I think it might after I come to terms with all of this and my family too, and everyone else I know...

Feb 24, 2010
Ann Seatio

Hi Good Morning Denise,
Yes, that is a good idea, about the salon's I will try that, I actually order one from Paula
Young, and might send it back too much hair. I'm so glad to have found this site, it is
nice to see how each person does with the condition. and how they go about wig wearing
and buying.. No one has any idea when it first starts on what to do. So a big thank you
for everyone out there. Thanks for any advise you have or what you have found that makes it a bit easier for you. Hope Spring gets here soon,, We have about foot and half of snow today from last night...

Feb 26, 2010
Annette Thompson

HI Denise--how have you been? Any news on if you are going to go to the conference?
I haven't been on in awhile and just wanted to shoot you a hello!

Mar 26, 2010
Pat

Hi Denise, thanks for the post. To answer your question, yes I lost all my brows and eyelashes for years, now have some regrowth...not much on my brows but enough to put mascara on my lashes although I normally forget. I have my brows and eyeliner tatooed and it was the best thing I did when I became AU. I hated losing them more than my hair!

Apr 27, 2011
Baldilocks

Hi there! That is awesome that you're so close! Do you have any support groups there?

Sep 3, 2012
Mary

Thanks for your lovely comment, Denise.

Sep 11, 2012
Mary

Thank you. I had permanent makeup (tattooes)done in April-May 2008. I wasn't completely happy with the way the operator did them. The eyebrows weren't the shape I wanted, and she used black for the eyeliner (instead of black/brown) as I had wanted, and she made the eyeliner way too thick for my taste. And, since it was black, it's now turning blue-ish. BUT, it's better than having to draw it all on every morning, and then having it come off quickly.

I went to a more skilled lady in Spring 2012 here in San Diego. She corrected some of the problems with the eyebrows in terms of their shape and color. She told me she can lessen the color of the liner, but I haven't had that done yet.

I apply brown brow powder over the brow tattooes to darken the color. It just takes me a few seconds.

It's very important to choose your artist well. Ask to see photos of other work, and maybe even meet with some former clients.

Sep 11, 2012