It has taken 32 years to come to the realization this is who I am and will continue to be. I suppose, deep down inside, I wanted to know there was a way to reverse my hair loss.

I started out with AA when I was a young teen. Moved to AT in my later teens. I was very fortunate to meet the love of my life and marry him even with no hair - who would have thought. We live in a society where women are viewed on the surface - "women's beauty is in her hair...." I went on a very strict diet and vitamin regime and it grew back - oh for 3 months. It was just as devastating to lose my hair this time as it was when I was 19 (completely gone in 3 days). I became pregnant, it grew a bit. Once our first born son arrived I lost it all. 2 years later, another son. During that pregnancy, my hair grew back - this time; everything fell out! No eyebrows/eyelashes. AU!!!

I sought out Dominelli Esthetics in Vancouver and had my eyebrows tattooed. It was done by hand - I highly recommend having your first set done by hand. I sought them out 4 years later for a touch up - this was done by machine. I have since gone to Edmonton to have it done again......I am a bit chicken to have my eyelids done.....

I have been wearing a wig since I was 19. My parents found a great beautician in Abbotsford, BC - Maxine's Wigs & Toupees. Maxine has a wide selection of synthetic and natural fiber wigs. What makes Maxine stand out for me is the time she takes in fitting wigs. Once a style has been selected, Maxine fits the wig to your head. If need be, she sizes (measuring the scalp, pinning the wig and making alterations to be a custom fit). She also will cut and style the wig for you. From the time of fitting to wearing is just a couple of days.

I live out of the area, so how do I manage to get my hair? Maxine keeps my scalp measurements on file. As long as I stay to the same wig, I just call and order a new one -she takes major credit cards as well as cash or cheque. She will size and style the hair and ship to me. I wash and take care of my hair but when I feel it is getting dry or frizzy, I ship back and they take care of it and ship back. I have 2 of the same styles in my home. If I wish to change my style, I wait until I am back in the area and make a visit to be fitted with a new style.

I haven't embraced this disability at all. If people ask, I will tell, but I don't go out and broadcast that I am living with Alopecia and I have never gone out without my hair here in my town. I have worn scarves when on vacation and honestly cannot stand the sympathetic look. Perhaps, if I would embrace this, then I could be more bold.

I started doing research to compare Alopecia with my newly diagnosed disability - IBS (Gluten Intolerance-non-celiac). I have all the same symptoms of Celiac but biopsies were negative. We also discovered I was lactose intolerant with fructose malabsorption. In short, I have a hard time digesting Short Chain Carbohydrates. What is the correlation? Well, according to one DR - they are both auto-immune disorders (for a simple explanation - deficits in the T-cells). I have had Immunology blood work done and oddly enough, no one yet can read the markers - they just know one of them is low - waiting to see an Immunologist.

So, why do this research after 32 years? As it was explained to me by one DR. what the medical profession knew then and what they know now is HUGE - so, perhaps there was a chance that I could live the next half of my life with hair....the answer - yes, all providing I was wanting to live with the negative side effects.

There are solutions - however; when any of those remedies cease, so does the hair growth and it all falls out.

I have a husband and family who loves me. Those who are my friends, accept me and others, well, I guess tolerate me :)

I thought perhaps the first step in embracing is being part of a forum....we will see if this changes my view of what this silly disorder is.