Comment by Jodi on June 1, 2009 at 7:10pm

i started with 'spot shots' (shots into the balding area) on my first dr. visit in march. unfortunately I developed 3 more spots in the next 30 days (i have dr. apts every 30 days for this). The doc said we needed to up the ante so we decided to go with a steriod injection in my posterior (intramuscular injection of Kenalog). i haven't had any spot expansion nor gotten any new spots since we switched to the Kenalog injections in my arse. i've had two. no regrowth in the spots but i'm not complaining. i have not had any other noticeable side effects i.e. weight gain, mood changes, development of testicals. although i have been watching more basketball and drinking beer so...

Comment by JeffreySF on June 1, 2009 at 7:18pm

Haha Jodi good one!!

But really....I never had any sucess with the shots. I know some people do. The thing is once you stop the steroids the effects of the drug stops ie: alopecia returns

Ask your Derm about this tomorrow.

Jeffrey

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. :)

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 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 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 JeffreySF on June 1, 2009 at 11:57pm

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

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 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 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

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page