New to Alopecia World...first blog ever :-)

Hello to everyone out there. I am a very new member of Alopecia world, I can't believe I only just discovered this place! I have had Alopecia since I was three years old, just small patches that would grow back and then fall out somewhere else.
I guess its been getting slowly worse over a few years, but particularly so in the last 9months. I've gone from having some large patches of hair loss, to only having a few patches of hair left. This was winter last year, so I just wore beannies everyday. I had just learned how to crochet a beannie, and was turning them out like hotcakes so that I could have some variety in my headwear lol
But then it started warming up and I knew I would have to do something about it. So I took the plunge and decided to wig it. My little sister is a hairdresser, so the night before our wig shop visit she cut my hair really short. I now have it shaved so its not too hot when I wear the wigs.
I ended up buying three wigs that day, and had a lot of fun with it! I'm a teacher, so i decided from the outset to be very open about my condition. Most of my students knew about the Alopecia anyway, but it was a very daunting experience sharing my journey with 200 students - some who are a little less polite than others. But on the whole they have all been so supportive of me.
That was around September last year. I cant say I'm feeling quite as confident anymore. I wake up in the morning and dread having to wear the wig. I wish I could just rock up to school without it on, but I'm not quite confident enough to do that yet. I think I'm going through a 'low' patch...but thats what made me google alopecia some more and thats what led me here...so maybe this will be the silver lining.
I can see that there are some amazingly supportive people at alopecia world...cant wait to get to know some of you!

Sarah

Views: 18

Comment by Karen Smith on February 9, 2011 at 9:19pm
My son had an amazing french teacher that got cancer while he was in tenth grade. She knew she was going to lose her hair so she brought in the wigs and had the kids vote on them. The basketball team was going to state so before she lost her hair she shaved her head and left an L for "lancer" on the back of her head. She made the kids comfortable. She survived cancer and taught my youngest 10 years later and when she developed alopecia, I was so glad she had this teacher. Alot of your kids will go through hard things in life and you are uniquely qualified to help them. This is your opportunity. I am sorry that you are dealing with this and am not trying to diminish your pain but you can get through this and it will get better. There was a teacher on this site last year that posted a pic of her bald head that she had let all of the kids sign with sharpies at the end of the year. I am not suggesting this, but they will always remember her.
Comment by Sarah Peters on February 9, 2011 at 10:54pm
Thanks Karen. You are so right though, I really am trying to use this as an opportunity to teach my students about differance, acceptance, overcoming challenges. Im so happy for your daughter, that she had someone around who had shared a similar experience. Being a student and having alopecia is not easy.
Thankyou for your words. I do try to see this as an opportunity, and am generally very positive about it all. I try to give the students plenty of opportunities to ask questions about it. I remember when I first wore the wig a bunch of year 8s were talking and pointing when I walked past. One was brave enough to call out 'I like your new hair miss' - so I stopped and said 'yeah, me too, I like this wig'. They all rushed over because I had opened the floor, and then the questions started flying! They were all so interested in it - how does it stay on, why do I wear it, how do you wash it, is it hot, can they feel it etc. I have always found it best to be very open. The most touching thing was that they were worried that I was dying - I was very glad to put those fears to rest for them!
Thanks again - you have inspired me!
Take care,
Sarah
Comment by caroline knight on February 10, 2011 at 9:29am
helo sarah i have only found aw last yr n its an amazing site wiv very special people i can honestly say i cudnt have got thru the last few months wivout it.........i have had alopecia for 20yrs but it was mostly the odd patch that regrew but in the last 6mths i have lost it all including eyebrows n eyelashes!!! every step of the way has been tramatic but i now have a wig wich i love and tatood eyebrows that alopecia cant takle away frm me! haha they are great allways there. AW has helped me get fru and im even starting 2 accept it a bit n get on wiv my life i 2 have found that being open about my alopecia 2 freind has made it easier :@) x

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