Alopecia World
www.alopeciaworld.com
It's been an interesting week.
Since shaving my head, I have been experimenting with different colored scarves. I also got a small tattoo behind my ear.
Recognize it? It's the blue Alopecia awareness ribbon. :]
The artist is a friend of mine who has Lupus, and she has the lupus awareness ribbon tattooed in the same fashion.
Last Wednesday, I met up with Debbie Fuller while she was in North Carolina and was fitted for a Freedom Wig, in case I decide to buy one later on. It was an interesting experience. I got to see a three dimensional model of my bald self on the computer screen. Hehe. She's very sweet, for those of you that don't know her. This was my first time meeting anyone else with Alopecia, but I met her through this site.
On Friday, I went in for my monthly steroid injections at my dermatologist. [I am considering ending these treatments. More on that later.] I discussed the possibility of starting a support group in North Carolina with my dermatologist. I gave her my phone number and email address, as well as the URL to Alopecia World. She is going to send this info out to her contacts through Duke and UNC. Hopefully, I can get the word out and get something going around here.
I also discussed my family history with her. I have eczema and my mother has Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, so Autoimmune diseases run in my family. So after my treatments, I was sent to the lab downstairs from the office to have a thyroid screen done. I was greeted by an older lady with blonde hair.
I noticed when she leaned in to draw my blood that she didn't have any eyebrows. I didn't think much of it until she bent over to fill out some paperwork and I noticed she was wearing a wig. I was sporting my bald head so I figured she might ask me something, but another nurse walked in and began to help her with the paperwork.
After she told me we were finished and to have a great day, I walked out into the empty lobby and turned around. I beckoned her over to where I was standing and told her I loved her hair. She responded with a giddy, "Thanks! I have Alopecia Universalis. I didn't want to embarrass you by asking." It was a very chance encounter. We must have talked for a very emotional twenty minutes. She found her first bald spot when she was 8 years old and lost all of her body hair by the time she was 20. She's nearly 60 now and the only place she can grow hair is under her arms. Regarding this, she said "What an injustice, your know!"
She asked me if I had a partner, and I was happy to tell her that I have a wonderful boyfriend that has been with me from the start of this. I found my first bald spot about two weeks after we began dating. He kisses my head and tells me that it's sexy. The woman told me through wet eyes that he's a keeper. I'm not sure what she's been through. I'm not sure I want to know... But I wish her the best.
I told her that I'd stop by and see her the next time I'm in.
In a matter of days, I met two people with Universalis. Seeing their strength and confidence has made me say "BRING IT ON!"
I'm ready for whatever comes my way.
Recognize it? It's the blue Alopecia awareness ribbon. :]
The artist is a friend of mine who has Lupus, and she has the lupus awareness ribbon tattooed in the same fashion.
Last Wednesday, I met up with Debbie Fuller while she was in North Carolina and was fitted for a Freedom Wig, in case I decide to buy one later on. It was an interesting experience. I got to see a three dimensional model of my bald self on the computer screen. Hehe. She's very sweet, for those of you that don't know her. This was my first time meeting anyone else with Alopecia, but I met her through this site.
On Friday, I went in for my monthly steroid injections at my dermatologist. [I am considering ending these treatments. More on that later.] I discussed the possibility of starting a support group in North Carolina with my dermatologist. I gave her my phone number and email address, as well as the URL to Alopecia World. She is going to send this info out to her contacts through Duke and UNC. Hopefully, I can get the word out and get something going around here.
I also discussed my family history with her. I have eczema and my mother has Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, so Autoimmune diseases run in my family. So after my treatments, I was sent to the lab downstairs from the office to have a thyroid screen done. I was greeted by an older lady with blonde hair.
I noticed when she leaned in to draw my blood that she didn't have any eyebrows. I didn't think much of it until she bent over to fill out some paperwork and I noticed she was wearing a wig. I was sporting my bald head so I figured she might ask me something, but another nurse walked in and began to help her with the paperwork.
After she told me we were finished and to have a great day, I walked out into the empty lobby and turned around. I beckoned her over to where I was standing and told her I loved her hair. She responded with a giddy, "Thanks! I have Alopecia Universalis. I didn't want to embarrass you by asking." It was a very chance encounter. We must have talked for a very emotional twenty minutes. She found her first bald spot when she was 8 years old and lost all of her body hair by the time she was 20. She's nearly 60 now and the only place she can grow hair is under her arms. Regarding this, she said "What an injustice, your know!"
She asked me if I had a partner, and I was happy to tell her that I have a wonderful boyfriend that has been with me from the start of this. I found my first bald spot about two weeks after we began dating. He kisses my head and tells me that it's sexy. The woman told me through wet eyes that he's a keeper. I'm not sure what she's been through. I'm not sure I want to know... But I wish her the best.
I told her that I'd stop by and see her the next time I'm in.
In a matter of days, I met two people with Universalis. Seeing their strength and confidence has made me say "BRING IT ON!"
I'm ready for whatever comes my way.
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Comment by Brianne on November 10, 2008 at 5:51pm
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I love the tattoo!! And I have a freedom wig and it is amazing! I loved it..the only reason I stopped wearing it is because I just decided to go bald and not wear another wig. I hated wearing wigs...itchy and I felt consumed with looking in the mirror or wondering if anyone notices!
I am glad you got to meet other people with Alopecia! Its always comforting to know that there are other people with it and closer than you would think!
Congrats on the tattoo again! I want one that has to do with my AU and the journey I went through to get to where I am now! Just dont know what I want yet. lol
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Comment by Melody on November 10, 2008 at 8:26pm
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Thanks Brianne.
I go bald most of the time, but I have to shave often. I'm still really patchy but I'm losing it fast.
I haven't lost any body hair or eyebrows/lashes.
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The ONLY thing I miss is my eyelashes. I want the eyeliner tattooed on really bad! I do have some hairs on my body still. Not much but still, it bothers me! I have been completely bald for 4 years, come on now!! They are really just on my underarms so it takes 5 seconds to shave them, but still! lol
The guy who did my tattoo on my back said a tattoo on the head "would light you up like a Christmas tree" lol So I would like to know too if it hurt, if you don't mind! I always wanted one on my head!
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It did not hurt too much.
Tolerable, at best.
If you've had other tattoos, you know what to expect.
I still have hair where it is so it hurt worse going over every hair follicle, but you guys won't have that problem. :]
The vibrations were the worst part, as it was really close to my ear and I could feel it rattling off my skull.
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Comment by Calvin on November 12, 2008 at 2:28am
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Wow that's really a cute tattoo you have there!! Cute!
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Comment by J on November 12, 2008 at 6:20am
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I like your tatto too!
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Comment by Sonia on November 12, 2008 at 4:22pm
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I love the tattoo and your head (but you know that)
and I think that it's very awesome that you're meeting people,
even if it happens by chance-
I still think that it was supposed to happen.
♥
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Thank you all!
And Sonia,
My companion...
What a pleasant surprise!
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Comment by Celeste Edwards on November 13, 2008 at 1:22am
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That TAT ROCKS!! I think I will be adding tattoo #2 two years after the 1st one ... Cause now I know what I want!!! 8-)
Thanks for Sharing!
C
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Comment by Tracy Cheek on February 25, 2009 at 9:21pm
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Hey, It was nice meeting you yesterday. Besides meeting Debie Fuller from Freedom Wigs you are the only other person I have meet w/ Alopecia. You are so brave, and we all have to be to live w/ the disease that we have. No one knows what we go through!!!!
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