I'm distraught and have no idea what to do next.

[MorganDazzle]

Hi geeks.

I havent been around for a while due to various issues but i really need some help.

Iv been suffering a long time now with bald patches in my eyebrows, and thinning hair, and had been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. Well last week i noticed a bald patch about a 5p size about 3ins back from my hair line, then i realised i had another close to it.

Iv now been diagnosed with alopecia aretea (sp) and im so upset and shocked i dont know what to do, iv lost 1/2 a stone, i cant sleep and all i can think is how can i be a good hairdresser or even have people trusting me with their hair when mine is falling out?

Im so scared the day will come when i wake up and its all on my pillow, i just want to hide away, i feel so alone im sorry to rant but i dont know what to do.

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[Buttercup Honey]

Ah honey, I'm sorry you are feeling so awful. I can't advise you but had to reply and send you good wishes and a hug xxx you will get some great advice here I'm sure

 

[Tomme]

First thing is to calm down and breathe! Stress and worry will only help the hair fall out more. So get the kettle on, and have a break!

There's nothing wrong with losing hair in men or women, think how many people who have battled cancer go about with their bald heads as a proud statement that they beat it. Know why dolly Parton wears a wig? Because her hair is really really thin, she says “I hope people see the brain underneath the wig and the heart beneath the ****s,” so she's not ashamed.

There are injections available, corresoid I think they are called.

And for your clients, they will stick by you and probably be more understanding than you think. Try changing your style to cover the area or minimise its looks, if a client starts thinning or getting spots then they will have more trust in u! Xoxo

 

[mm29]

so sorry your feeling the way you are, and cant even begin to understand how its making you feel,

your regular clients will understand if you are happy to discuss whats happening to your hair, and they will not judge you as its out of your control..

is there anyway you can disguise it wearing your hair up using hair accessories, dont know if this will help take care x x

 

[MorganDazzle]

Iv been trying different styles but to be honest at the moment i feel very self concious, like everyone can see whats happening, i know i need to get a grip but i never ever expected this to happen to me. Ifykwim.

Tomme your right i know, my nan quoted dolly parton at me when i told her about it. I guess more than anything else im scared of what the future holds now. At the moment i feel in limbo as my doc wont refer me 'until at least half of my hair has fallen out.' his exact words

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[Wandering Woman]

Hey, I cann't add much to Tomme's very good advice however:
Stress is very bad for you, I think given the distress you are in and your doctors lack of empathy for your situation, have you thought about getting your initial referral privately?

I know not everyone can afford it but (after working for the NHS for many years) I often feel the NHS shuts the door after the horse has bolted! I am no expert but there may be preventitive measures that can be suggested by a specialist.

Finally, remember anything we notice on ourselves (be it a blemish or whatever) is usually not as noticeable to others. I hope this gets sorted for you quickly x

 

[GingerJo]

Hi MorganDazzle, I'm new and hope you don't mind me commenting but my friends daughter who is now 15 was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata 2 years ago.
I really feel for you as I remember how self concious and upset she was. We didn't go down the route of covering it up as she decided it didn't suit her lifestyle to wear a wig or have special hairpieces (she rides horses everyday and wigs and riding hats don't mix!)but she did have it cut into a shorter style which didn't hide it but as she had really long hair it took away the obvious comparison between the bald patches and her long hair.

She also found support through the website Alopecia UK Online :: Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Universalis and Alopecia Totalis they have a forum where you can chat to other sufferers for support and advice.

Her alopecia was thought to have been brought on by stress caused by bullying at school, but thankfully that has been resolved and she now she is starting to find hair growing back.

I hope you find a way of dealing with it that allows you to feel confident still, try not to worry and don't be ashamed. These things happen when our bodies suffer from stress or illness and I know it affects everyone differently but you are still the same person, no one will love you any less or think less of you. x

 

[candis]

Aww honey sounds like you have been through the wars, you really need to try and not stress about your hair as this will make your hair fall out, easier said than done I bet.
Have u considered trying yoga or Pilates Smething that will help to calm u from the inside out and teach u relaxation techniques which will help u unwind and sleep better
I have tried this when I was having post natal depression and a mini breakdown due to everything going wrong at one time, both me and my partner got made redundant just after we had got a mortgage on out house, we had no mortgage protection, no money , reposession letters coming through the door , a new born baby who had milk intolerance and cried all day and all night!! So as u can imagine I was some what stressed.
The doctor suggested yoga or Pilates and I had a DVD at home which I started doing and it really did help me a lot, maybe worth a try Hun ?
Or if your in the position to maybe a nice relaxing holiday in the sun somewhere that always makes me feel better

And I don't think you should question your abilities as a hairdresser because you have lost some of your own hair I think your clients will respect you for carrying on and would be supportive. Working will help keep your mind busy and take the focus of you worrying about losing more

I hope you start to feel more like yourself soon honey and keep strong x

 

[wonderwoman]

My older sister suffers from this, and it was stress related. She had 5p patches that turned into 50p sizes over a period of a couple days. Shes in a very high powered job, also suffering from a thryoid condition. After going back and forth to the doctors, they recommended a tapping device to help stimulate that hair follical, within 3-6months it grew back gradually, looked like sonic spikes. On the plus side it does grow back, everybody at one point in their lifetime will experience alopica at some point. So dont be afraid to do you work and educate others that they too can get it. xoxo

The tapping device is available throught the doctors, but you can also use your fingers to tap against the bald patches various times of the day. hths xoxo

 

[MorganDazzle]

Thankyou so much for all your kind words and advice. Reading the replies has actually made me feel more positive, as well as making me cry a little.

Im back at college tonight (almost complete on level2 now) and am hoping to have a sit down and chat with my tutor too, shes very approachable so im hoping she will be able to help confidence wise.

Gingerjo ill deffo check that support forum out.

Thankyou geeks, you lot are amazeballs xxx

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[lucelasticx]

Have pm'ed you x

 

[snaz]

My sister too had bold patches last year, they started off as small as a 5p and when larger than a 50p. She had steroid cream which worked after a while on the smaller sections.

She stopped dying her hair see if this would help. The larger areas began to get smaller but not much, new patches of hair loss came.

So she ended up having injections and her hair is back to normal.... But the new hair grew back grey, which she was not bothered has it was hair!

Now 1 year in she dyes her hair and it's back to normal. The dr was not sure of cause, but my sister does remember being really Poorly once so this may have been the cause.