Comment by Kimberly Duncan on September 28, 2010 at 12:10am

Hello I am 39 and back in July I went through the same thing. NO family history and it came out of the blue. I Have Alopecia AreataI have blood work and all kind of tests and found no reason for for it. It started out as one spot and couple week later five more showed up. It still has not set in that I have AA, washing my hair casues me to start crying my hair falls out in hand fulls.

Comment by Tallgirl on September 28, 2010 at 8:35am

I first got this at age 10, and my parents dragged me through every hopeful treatment in the '60s...tar shampoo, ultra-violet light treatment, cortisone cream and shots, shots in the scalp, prednisone. They bought me wigs when hairstyles would no longer cover. I know this is hard to take, but if we are born with it (genes cause it...see July 1 research announcements at www.naaf.org), then we have always been "alopecians," and it is just now that the condition is showing itself to us. Read everything on this site and naaf (National Alopecia Areata Foundation) site, find a support group in your area via here (Groups) and NAAF (Support). Come to the conference in L.A. in June. Meet at least one other person with this...that person also needs to met you. Try on wigs at a wig shop, and get referrals for dermatologist who are experts at the alopecia treatments. Please read blogs and discussions on AW, because you will see the whole range of emotions on alopecia. You are not alone, m'dear...we are here. DO NOT QUIT anything. I, too, am the only one in my family, but the connection to diabetics, arthritics and asthmatics in my family tree is typical for some alopecians. The road will take you to many emotions...also, start journaling if you need to acknowledge your feelings for counseling or nursing others in the future.

Comment by charlotte on September 28, 2010 at 11:06am

Hi trish, don't worry, you are not alone... we are here for you! I also experience the same thing, I don't have anyone who have auto-immune disease in my family.I was the only one who is experiencing it now.And I'm still looking for someone in our country who has the same condition as I am.But sad to say I haven't found anyone yet.Good thing we this site, where we can ask for some advice and for us not to feel that we are not alone.By the way I just turned 26 this month and I was diagnosed with alopecia areata when I was 10 yrs. old. It was our christmas party so I decided to dress nicely and ask our babysitter to fix my hair.So she braide my hair with a style of a crown. So when it is all done I when to school and suddenly my classmate notice something was odd. And start teasing me about a patch with a size of a coin at my back and because of that I don't know what to do, so I just stay in a corner quietly.And days had pass it became worse. More and more of my hair fell-out. I was very devastated until I graduated from elementary and I need to go to high school. And I told my mom that I don't want to go to school anymore. So I cry and cry until my auntie came and convince me to pursue my studies. But my decision is final...!!! I DON'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL... But even if I don't want too, my mom still enroll me but to different school. So I still continue my studies and I just wear wig. And I found out that I have a schoolmate who used to be my classmate during my elementary days. And I'm not sure if she is the one who spread about my condition. SO I just pray to God to Please give me more strength to overcome all of it. There are alot of days that someone was playing trick on me.One of my classmate brought a wig with a shorter hair and she told our classmates that she had a hair cut then later on she reveal that it was just a wig. So one of my guy classmate ask to borrow her wig then went on me and asking me if we can exchange wigs. That day I really wanna give up. I just wanna dissappear. But I can't do anything, I just do what I used to do when I'm in that situation... I just sit quietly! And whenever my mom ask me how was school. I always tell her that it was okay. I didn't tell her about me being tease. Because I don't want her to get hurt and to get worry because of me. So it was really painful on my behalf because I just keep it to myself. But I'm still proud of my self because I overcome all of it. Even if it affect my self confidence and self-esteem I can say proudly to anyone that I have achieve something unlike others who don't have AU but didn't achieve anything. And by the way I undergo I think anything that you can think off about medication and years had pass I have some improvements my hair starts to grow again. And it was the happiest time of my life . But I didn't know that it won't last for long. Because after 7 years I think, it starts all over again.From Alopecia Areata now I have Alopecia Universalis. I was really mad and sad. I said oh N0!!! NOT AGAIN PLEAAASSEE! I really pity myself, I cry most of the time because it was more complicated now rather than back then. It is more painful physically, mentally and socially but I just stay strong. And that is my only advice that I can give you. TO BE STRONG!!! I know we can do it... if they can I'm sure we can do it also. Even though I still have doubts with myself, I still continue to live my life for my family. And now because I still want to achieve more. I'm planning to go abroad to work because my work here in our country is just enough(salary). And I want to earn more for myself and for my family but I don't know if I can pass their standard. But I'm hoping and praying for it. I will submit my requirements this coming October 18 and I'm hoping for the best. :)

Comment by Trish on September 28, 2010 at 2:21pm

Hi lois, I have actually take 1 cycle of contraceptive which was yrs ago, but could not continue due to blood clots in my legs..

Comment by charlotte on September 29, 2010 at 5:57am

Hi Trish, I'm so happy that I made you feel better in my own little ways. You know what I was at the office when I was reading your message and it made feel that, I still worth something and my eyes feels a little heavy for remembering those times. But its a good thing that I inspire you. You see if ever I push my self for me not continuing my studies ,I won't be able to communicate with you guys.Because we have different language, in our country we talk in Tagalog language. And, if that's the case I wouldn't be able to inspire you to be STRONG and be BRAVE. And you know what,until now I still have the times that I feel down. But that's life, I know God has better plans not only for me but to all of us. Thats why i want to thank my mom for not giving up on me, that's why I still want to achieve more to make her happy. Because were not rich, were just ordinary family who pays many bills and we only have enough income for that. Even though sometimes its really tiring for me to look at the mirror every morning seeing myself:by fixing my wig and with the temperature we have here.You know its really hot here, we have 32 degrees and sometimes its much hotter. And I have to endure all of it:heat, itchiness,sweat and the feeling that it might fell off because the sweat sometimes make the tape to loose its grip from my head. And I don't have a car wherein I can drove myself into our office.And going to our office, I have to ride four different vehicles. one a jeepney its our national ride here in the Philippines, second is a LRT its a Train and I have to pass 15 station before I get down,then a BUS then if I'm in the mood I need to walk a 5-7 minutes walk and then its our office already and if not I need to ride a motorcycle. i don't wanna be so dramatic but its all true. And I've being working their for 4 years and 1 month now. My boss still consider me even though I'm late,most of the time because of my condition and also because our train mostly got stranded. But he still deduct something from my salary because of me being late.hehehe :) Well that's life... We need to be STRONG and POSITIVE. Always put a SMILE on your face because LIFE is a gift from GOD. I wish I can attend some of the gatherings of our fellow alopecians but too bad I don't know how..:( but still, THANKS for the ALOPECIA WORLD for having someone who I can talk too. Godbless :)

Comment