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Comment by Jennifer B on June 3, 2009 at 7:24pm

I'm sorry to say I that I have not had much success with the shots. Somedays I had less fall out than others. There was no pattern to it in relation to the medicine. I chose to stop the injections. The last time I went to the MD he wanted me to go on oral steroids.....for me, that is were I draw the line. Sometimes I wish this alopecia would just make up its mind!! haha

Comment by JenNy on June 3, 2009 at 3:06am

hey eva,
thanks for your kind words.. ya know i started using the OTC rogaine for women before getting diagnosed and the derm said that it was good i was taking a proactive approach. It's not that costly for the monthly but it does stimulte growth in the follicles (more slowly on the direct active sites) but i'm also getting the cortisone injections and it does promote rapid growth but doesn't help with the progression cycle of the active site. so I have hairs growing out of the site but the hair that's there is still falling out so it's bitter sweet if ya know what i mean. Also each set of injections is about $50 per visit every 4-6 weeks.. so with the combo it could work a lil well for you.. but some do get divets in their heads where the skin is injected.. sucks.. happened to me..
i'm with you that it's just hair... but it's OUR hair that we've been use to most our lives.. not to say it's easier for those who've had AA for a longer period of time or as a child.. but just wanting or trying to preserve whats left... is that too much to ask?
In some cases it is.. and we have to let go.. or let it go. with all the research that i've done on this disease.. it's easy to say the only thing we really know is the uncertainty of the unknown.. which is scary.. so best wishes going forward.

Comment by James on June 2, 2009 at 10:16pm

I know it is hard sometimes but try not to get too overwhelmed about it all. Find a quiet spot, take a few deep breaths to regroup, and remember you are not alone with this. Life is strange and we are only here once. If this is how we are dealt the hand of life then so be it! It is up to us to find acceptance with ourselves and you will do just that. It may take some time but we all reach that point eventually and once that is accomplished life is so much better. Good luck with the injections.

Comment by Jennifer and Alieena on June 2, 2009 at 9:16am

The first time we went to the derm, he said that the shots were a must. So I put my 4 yr old (at the time) through 35 injections. It was the worst thing ever. She screamed and I just held her and cried. We have not done anymore injections since then. I have left things pretty much up to her and she doesnt want any more injections. What I have started doing is any thing that comes out food wise thats for your immune system like the vitamins, or yogurt I buy have have her take/eat. and Sallys has a sections for thinning hair. We use the shampoo and conditioner and a spray for extremely thinning hair. Dont know if its helping or not but its worth a try.

Comment by eva on June 2, 2009 at 12:19am

yea, i'm pretty much over the whole onion theory... I'm also trying this Rosemary/Tea Tree Oil Conditioner... not much going on with that though either... it's almost seemed to have gotten worse since I started trying all this crazy stuff. the last couple months, my alopecia has just seemed to take a turn for the shitty... we shall see...

Comment by JeffreySF on June 1, 2009 at 11:57pm

I did try the onion treatment too....Nothing....

Comment by eva on June 1, 2009 at 11:54pm

Wow, thank you all for the amazing advise and words... I'm definitely skeptical about going back to the shots - I've heard some gnarly things about them... But shit, at this rate I'm kind of willing to try anything. I was even rubbing onion juice on my head every night for like a month - yea, got over that one... It's just a roller coaster because most days I'm like - fuck it, whatever it's just hair, I'm just going to appreciate the hair I still have, etc, etc. But then there's those goddamn days where I'm like - I REALLY don't want to lose any more of my hair, this sucks, I'm feeling really sorry for myself, etc. etc....

Sooo, needless to say I'm going back to the derm and see what he has to say... MEH!

Comment by James on June 1, 2009 at 11:40pm

What the hell give them another shot.....no pun intended :) Alopecia is different for everyone and things that work for some do squat for others. So why not try them again. Too bad you weren't in Canada where our health care system picks up the tab for the injections. as for Jodi's Kenalog in the ass, that may be a little on the extreme side (without being judgemental). Steroids are not good for you and they are difficult for our bodies to absorb and process. Jodi however loves yoga so I assume she is in excellent shape and her body may be able to process the dosage just fine....others' may not.
Go get 'em
James

Comment by Heather L on June 1, 2009 at 9:00pm

for the past 5 years I've used both steroid topical treatments (foam/ ointment) and also injections. I do believe steroids have helped me-- it keeps the spots from getting bigger & hair re-grows faster. However I have not noticed much difference between the shots or foam (Olux). So I decided about 6 months ago to stop the injections but do still use the foam each night. Unfortunately they do nothing to prevent new spots from appearing!

Good luck!!

Comment by Rachel Taylor on June 1, 2009 at 7:19pm

I got them done about 2 or 3 weeks ago and hair is growing in some of my spots and getting rough and fuzzy so they have helped me! I think I'm going back this month to get more done. :)

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