Deidre
  • 49, Female
  • South Carolina
  • United States
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Deidre

Profile Information

Relationship Status:
Married
About Me:
Before I get to "About Me", I want to express what a great site this is. From the moment I was diagnosed with AA in January of 2008, I have been on a knowledge, support, and answer quest! I've been to other support groups online, however, I had a hard time relating to others partly due to lack of placing a story with a face...and without fail, it would leave me in tears. This site is wonderful and proof, in itself, that there is absolutely nothing typical about this condition. Great place. Thank you.

Ok about me. I'm 33, married, with 2 children. I'm not working at the moment because I was fortunate enough to be able to take some time off to be with my youngest son. In my 'past life' :) I worked in sales for a steel building manufacturing company and a training coordinator for an insurance software company. I plan to return soon, but to something very different. The idea of sitting in the ole cubicle farm has since lost its appeal! I love painting, photography, cooking, gardening, white water rafting, doing ANYTHING in the mountains and spending time with the people in my life that aren't emotional vampires! I was diagnosed with AA in January of 2008. I first noticed a small patch on the crown of my head at the part line. Being the google info junkie I am, I immediately jumped into figuring out what was going on and how to FIX IT! I basically diagnosed myself before my first derm appt. When it was confirmed, I didn't know what to think esp after reading that there's no cure. Seeing the pictures online horrified me and that's when the crying spells began. They seemed to worsen when I would find myself online reading more and more of the same information. SO..my treatment was to get the cortisone injections, cross my fingers and try to believe I was going to be lucky, this would be a one time thing and I was going to basically cure myself....mind over body right?! As long as my hair was in a ponytail, it seemed to help. However, since January, one patched turned into 3 and 3 into 7 and 7 into giant patches that just grew together. I also have disperse AA, so now there is no definition to the patches, just a bunch of missing hair. I've thrown out the fact that this isn't a mild case and I'm now learning the art of embracing baldness, wigs, patchy baldness, and perpetual and endless 'bad hair days' :). I'm sure it'll get easier. I've already accepted that this will be a part of me for the rest of my life. And the lessons that I've learned and strength that I've gained has been immeasurable.Its been life changing to say the least. Its just up to me to make it a positive change. I know I can...time heals and teaches. The support of my friends and family has been wonderful. I'm sure I would be in a much different place if it weren't for them.
Do you have alopecia?
Alopecia areata
Are you age 18 or older?
Yes - I am 18 or older

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Deidre's Blog

Hopeful update...new growth!

Posted on August 30, 2008 at 6:46pm 3 Comments

Well i hope I'm not speaking too soon, but I wanted to give an update to all my friends and new-comers that may be cruising through Alopecia World in search of some positive results, news, episodes... I started losing my hair in January 2008. By May most of it had fallen out (about 95%), however before I lost it all (as you can see from my pics) I had some regrowth. I "tip-toed" around my new hair paying very little attention to it. I didn't want to get too attached to it or scream to everyone… Continue

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At 5:13pm on July 28, 2010, Devin said…
Happy Birthday Deidre!
At 8:46pm on June 14, 2009, Paula said…
Deidre! You are my alopecian twin! Your hair looks amazing!! I posted a couple as well so you can see where I am. I am so, so happy for you. Reading your message really calmed my nerves, especially to hear that you had a lot of itching during regrowth too. That's been worrying me quite a bit lately. Have you (or did you) notice any of your newer hair growth falling out? I have a few and my derm said she thinks it indicates that it's probably mildly active. Also, I think I have beau lines (didn't know that was what it was called) vs. pitting. Just on two fingers, one very slight line (really not visible to the naked eye but I can feel the ridge). So glad to hear you had that, too. Like I said, you are my twin! Btw, I'm originally from eastern NC, so not too far from you. :)

I only got one round of injections on my initial patch and no indentations. Although the bald patch is the first place I noticed regrowth, it is taking the longest to fill in completely. I don't recall any respiratory problems, but I did have headaches continuously for about a month. Those finally went away, thank goodness!

Thanks so much for responding to me. I am so happy to have met you. Wishing you continued success!
At 7:08pm on June 13, 2009, Paula said…
Hi Deidre - How are things going for you? Is the new growth hanging in there? Like you, I have grown new hair all over and I've been able to go hat free for the last three weeks. It's very odd to have hair again. I find myself worrying about whether it's still falling out (only a few hairs every day). The last couple of days my scalp has been itchy and I don't know if it's due to the growth or if it means it's going to fall out again! Have you gotten to point where you don't think about it very often? I hope you are doing well!
At 4:59pm on June 1, 2009, Jennifer and Alieena said…
Hi. Oh I am SO happy to have found someone else from SC. My little girl is 5 and has AA. She was diagnosed in March of 08 and it has been a tough year. Hair falls out over night, then some will regrow, then more falls out. But she is brave. As for the injections yeah we tired that and she said she didnt want to do it anymore. She screamed the whole time and all I could do is jus sit there and cry. I hope that the injections or anything else you are using works for you. I spend gobs of money on things at Sallys for "very thinnin hair" its a far fetched hope but I will spend whatever just to try for her.
At 2:11pm on April 2, 2009, Paula said…
deidre, thank you for your sweet message. i am so glad my post was encouraging for you. i am happy to send you the pdf's of some of the research articles if you'd like. after reading your blog, i feel like i am going through many of the things you were probably a year ago now. i can't commit to wearing the wig every day yet, and i am getting tired of the treatments (i.e. steroid shampoos, acupuncture, rogaine, vitamins, etc). i'm ready to give it all up. which doesn't make sense, because i am seeing growth so that should motivate me to continue, right? i really think that whatever is happening because it wants to happen, not because of any of the stuff i am doing. so part of me just wants to let go and let whatever is going to happen, happen. even though my crying ratio is way down, it's still just emotionally draining. anyway, i am really encourage by your story and i am so glad that we "met." please keep in touch. paula
At 2:28pm on April 1, 2009, Paula said…
hi deirdre - your pictures look very similar to what i am experiencing. that's great about the regrowth! how are things going for you now?
At 2:33pm on November 24, 2008, JeffreySF said…
Hi Deidre,

What a wonderful page you have.
I hope you are having a great day today.

Jeff
At 5:49pm on September 18, 2008, Terri said…
Deidre (from your buddy in S.C.)
That is awesome news! I am soooooooooo happy for you. Your new hair is beautiful and the color is awesome. Sometime it comes back gray/white and coarse, but yours is just beautiful. Keep me posted.
Terri
At 7:05pm on September 4, 2008, Jessica said…
your regrowth looks great ! I too lost about 50% or more of my hair before I shaved my head and have had total regrowth aside from a little spot here and there but they haved stayed small and get injections every so often do you still get them?

well wish you luck

jessica
At 6:06pm on August 25, 2008, Terri said…
Hey Deidre:
I was so glad to get a response from some one else in S.C. ! Yes, we are close! I really appreciate everything that you wrote. It is hard on me to see my child go through this. I would trade places with her in a skinny minute. She is for the first time experiencing some depression. She has been so upbeat and positive, but things change. Middle school can be tough. You have boys and hormones etc... How are old are your kids? How are you doing? You look great. Iooked at your pictures. You have a very nice looking family. Let's keep in touch.
Terri
 
 
 

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