Comment by Melissa Harris on January 22, 2009 at 2:46am

I would suggest that you see a dermatologist to try to get a diagnosis first. Good ones are hard to find so you might have to go to more than one at first. I had a few weird blood tests myself and I can tell you that a positive ANA screening I believe means that you are positive for an autoimmune disease but it could be a false positive too. You might want to get this test twice to make sure. If you iron levels are high then you need to try to figure out why and try to get those levels regulated. If you think you have a thyroid condition, you need to go to a endocrin. doctor and get tested for that too. I know it's hard, but just take a deep breath and follow the steps until you get some good doctors around you that will give you some answers so you can take the steps to get better. The worst thing that I did was panic and worry so much. I think that made my hair fall out worse to tell you the truth! Keep eating well, sleep, take vitamins, and try to exercise if you can though this too. I think it really helps your stress levels and has a synergistic effect. Hope you find your answers soon!

Comment by tat on January 22, 2009 at 12:20pm

get blood tests!!! ...

Comment by Ali T on January 22, 2009 at 3:38pm

Hi! I had to respond to you as I feel just the same - I cant tell where you are from but I am in England and there is nothing to help here - my doctors are all sympathetic but they dont acknowledge the hair loss at all -except to say the dreaded auto immune disorder andwords like medical mystery - will know how to treat it in 50 years time etc etc. I have never been offered or even told that I could have a blood test that would confirm or give any diagnosis. My iron levels have gone up and down (when they would do blood tests - they dont bother anymore and I just cant keep asking) together with other things - I am apparently on the "high side of normal" for underactive thyroid and also now on HRT - which they feel is "early" for me to need but again - its not easy to get to any constructive help through my surgery. I would love to hear back from you and find out more about it all..

Comment by GINA on January 22, 2009 at 7:23pm

Good morning and thankyou for your suggestions, I have had multiple blood tests and keep getting bounced between specialists. This has been going on for two years and I am over it. Melissa thanks and I think an endcrin doctor maybe the go, Ive stopped seeing doctors because they all have a different idea which mostly is no idea! I live in Australia and we have a severe shortage of doctors of all sorts so the waiting lists can be up to a year. I thought that with so many people having "alopecia", (which as far as i can figure means your hair falls out for no apparent reason!), that there must be a common factor, I mean if you look at all the very very sick people in the world and they still have have their hair! Yeah that sounds shallow I know...... but its true. There must be a reason for it, peoples hair doesnt just fall out! There MUST be something going on with your body to cause it, thats why I was wondering if the majority of people who visit this site have had unusual blood tests or are already taking thyroxine or are menopausal or ANYTHING! Like I keep saying there must be a reason!! I do not want to spend thousands on doctors if other people have allready been thrugh the same process and achieved nothing. Thats why i asked.

Hi Ali, one thing I have gleaned from one doctor is that high or low thyroid function can cause hair loss..... So ok I said, fix it! I have been taking throxine for 5 years about, one doctor said take more the other said take less and my levels were normal and then they were high and then low etc etc etc...I have stopped taking it and they have normalised but with out having a blood test every month there is no other way to keep a check on it. There is also a "normal" range but what is normal for most may not be normal for you. You mention HRT... are you menopausal? (Hope thats not to personal) Thyroid function is related to the pituritry gland (cant spell that!) and it controls all other hormones and the like...Deep Sigh! So maybe thats the underlying cause -Have you seen an endocrinologist? Im going to try get an appoint that this will be the last one! Ali if you could be bothered, keep asking for your blood tests its there job!!!! Im at work so best do some. Have a good day all and if anyone has had an answer instead of a vauge "Oh it will probably grow back" from any specalist I would love to hear so I can stop wasting my time asking the wrong docs.

Stress Less Gina

Comment by GINA on January 22, 2009 at 7:25pm

Sorry had no idea i wrote so much! Whoops!

Comment