Hi everyone...
I was wondering:
Are people with Alopecia considered to be of the compromised immune
system group who should not get the flu shot?
Thanks
T

It is a very personal preference.  I have only ordered wigs online from Paula
Young.  I love the convenience and the price.  I stick to my natural color and
love that I have four different styles to chose from everyday.  My sister is the
complete opposite.  She paid a couple hundred dollars for her first wig and has
only had human hair wigs.  She liked the ability to try them on and style the
human hair with curling irons.  I don't want to be bothered with that.

Hi,
Allow I am not at the point of needing a wig, I've recommended that someone from
this group keep a list of recommendations, with pro's and cons and approximate
prices. Pat, as moderator, could you do this? Sounds like it might helpful. Just
a thought, since it's a common question.

Regards,
Carm

--- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, corinne13106 <no_reply@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi I am reasearching wig companies and styles (vacuum ect.) and was wondering
what your experiences are with wigs, what you like and don't like, and what you
would recommend (style and company).
>
> Thanks!
> Corinne
>

Hi I am reasearching wig companies and styles (vacuum ect.) and was wondering
what your experiences are with wigs, what you like and don't like, and what you
would recommend (style and company).

Thanks!
Corinne

Thanks for your response Carrie. I also have alopecia universalis but have only
been dealing with it for a few months. Started seeing signs in Feb. but didn't
loose sigificant amounts until June. Do you have a favorite wig brand or online
store that you like to buy from? I only have one wig that I bought from a store
in town. They didn't have much else that would have worked for me so I'm looking
to expand my options. I don't have insurance right now so I'm not trying to work
around that.

Thanks again!

Corinne

--- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, Carrie Christian
<carriespice1@...> wrote:
>
>
> I've researched them and they are kind of expensive. You should try to get
them to make a claim for you and see if you can have insurance cover it. I went
through all the hoops and my insurance wouldn't cover it...bummer.
> I now buy mine online. I have some cute ones! I'm not sure if I have pictures
up on the website, but you should look and see. I'm universalis...sucks. But it
is what it is.
> I've had alopecia since my late 20's and I'm now 33. I teach school and have
an active social life.
> I am very bummed out about the alopecia (especially since I have NO hair
whatsoever...well a little armpit hair and a little in my nether regions....)
> but none everywhere else.
>  
> I could go on and on....
>  
> anyway!
> Hope I helped a little :)
>  
> Carrie

Jessica,

I'd never heard of the Peggy Knight Brand of wigs but looked them up when I
ready your reply. Have you researched them enough to find out about what they
cost? I'm not at the point where I want to or can spend a lot of money for a
wig, but I like having a ballpark price in the back of my mind.

Thanks,
Corinne

--- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, Jessica Alvarez
<jalvarez24@...> wrote:
>
> Me too.  I've always had thicker hair than my sis, but with the hair loss,
> her hair is thicker than mine.  when I was little and the alopecia wasn't as
> bad I could barely get a ponytail holder around twice... If we went three
> times we would often break the things.  Now I am looping it around 4X's! not
> fun.  I was looking up  these Peggy Knight "Cool-Solution" hairpieces... It
> makes me sad to think it has come to that, but the whole trying to cover it
> up with cover up sprays is actually starting to itch.... bah!
> grrr you alopecia... grrrrrr
> okay, I'm being silly now.
> Jessica

Jessica, that's funny, because that is exactly what my mother did to my sister
back in Italy when she was born. They thought shaving it would make it thicker.
Today, my sister still has thin hair. I have the thickest and curliest in the
family and I am the only one with alopecia areata. Thankfully, my situation is
not bad enough to shave my head. I had some small spots that are noticeable by
no one. Of course all of this could change in the future.

Carm

--- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, Jessica Alvarez
<jalvarez24@...> wrote:
>
> My sister had thinning hair when she was a baby... not alopecia. My parents
> just left it alone because babies sometimes had that.  While my grandma was
> babysitting she took things into her own hands and shaved it all off without
> my parents permission.  Of course my parents were angry, but my grandma just
> said "watch what happens."  Soon enough, her hair grew back evenly and
> thicker than before.  Try that before you try any treatments because if it
> is alopecia then its a whole different story and you might try different
> things until something works.
>
> Jessica
>
> On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 6:50 PM, Carm <carmbos@...> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Have been using the shots for 14 years as well? Is yours hideable? I am not
> > surprised that it stopped when you got pregnant. Your body works to protect
> > the fetus naturally, so immune system shifts to other concerns. I have been
> > doing shots monthly for the last 2 years and they do work for me. Currently,
> > you would not know I had AA, and that's the way it's been for the last 2.5
> > years. I sure hope it stays that way too.
> >
> > Carm
> >
> >
> > --- In
alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com<alopeciaareatasupportgroup%40yahoogro\
ups.com>,
> > "tdruxman" <tdruxman@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Carm,
> > > I've had AA spots on and off now for approx 14 yrs. Cortizone shots have
> > been my only method of treatment. Sometimes my hair grows back within a few
> > months and sometimes I have to have the shots for an entire year. I got
> > pregnant and had no spots at all -- go figure! I'm currently dealing with a
> > few spots and going for my monthly shots ... It's just how my life is.
> > > T
> > >
> > > --- In
alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com<alopeciaareatasupportgroup%40yahoogro\
ups.com>,
> > "Carm" <carmbos@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Just wondering among those with patchy hair loss- alopecia areata, how
> > long you have been dealing with this? I am on year 2.5, and my doctor tells
> > me I am the longest dealing patient he's had with AA doing shots. Please
> > tell me your experiences if you will.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Carm
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>

Oh, did they not take a skin biopsy? He took a piece of my scalp and then
stitched it up. They did say to me that I might have typical androgenic female
hair loss too. All normal for a 40 year old I suppose.

--- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, s sacks <ssacks007@...>
wrote:
>
> hi Carm -
>  
> I think that there is guess work involved with much of this within the
medical community. Much they don't know. Yes this is a tough one. MPB is male
pattern baldness. Miniturization has to do with the hair follicals becoming
smaller eventually they can die off.
> The biopsies are just samples of hair
>  
> Thanks
>  
> Steven
>
> --- On Thu, 11/12/09, Carm <carmbos@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: Carm <carmbos@...>
> Subject: [Alopecia Areata Support Group] Re: Non-cicatricial non inflammatory
alopecia
> To: alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 8:00 AM
>
>
>  
>
>
>
> Interesting. What does MPB stand for? Mine showed just telogen effluvium, but
I think he took them from bad spots. He should have taken them from the top of
my head and not the back. I definitely have AA and TE. The specialist in Boston
just looked at my bald spots and knew from the way I had the typical exclamation
point hairs around my bald spot. I wonder how much they really know about all of
this. I do believe that if you had follicles that could not grow hair back, they
should really be able to tell that.
>
> I'm sorry you have to go through this Steven.
>
> --- In alopeciaareatasuppo rtgroup@yahoogro ups.com, s sacks <ssacks007@ ..>
wrote:
> >
> > Hi Carm -
> >  
> > One said AA, another said slight inflamation with Telogen Efflivium and the
third said MPB.
> > all of them said that the hair follicals were miniturizing. The strange part
about this is that the biopsies were not definative. There seemed to be some
guess work in the pathology reports.
> >
> > --- On Wed, 11/11/09, Carm <carmbos@ > wrote:
> >
> >
> > From: Carm <carmbos@ >
> > Subject: [Alopecia Areata Support Group] Re: Non-cicatricial non
inflammatory alopecia
> > To: alopeciaareatasuppo rtgroup@yahoogro ups.com
> > Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 8:46 PM
> >
> >
> >  
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Steven,
> > It means you do not have scarring alopecia or permanent hair loss. It's
good. What did the other 3 biopsies say? AA can turn into total non-permanent
hair loss.
> >
> > Carm
> > --- In alopeciaareatasuppo rtgroup@yahoogro ups.com, "ssacks007" <ssacks007@
..> wrote:
> > >
> > > Does anyone know what Non-cicatricial Non inflammatory Alopecia is?
> > > My skin biopsies came up with this? actually three out of the six biopsies
did. One biopsy said I had alopecia areata which I now seem to question even
though I am losing all of my hair like universalis
> > >
> > > thanks
> > >
> > > steven
> > >
> >
>

Thanks again. Mine is regrowing within months. I do remember your thoughts about
gluten, and I do feel like their is some weird connection to immune
system/allergies/stress. I cut down on bread/gluten for a week for diet reasons,
and I felt like I had more energy and better digestion. I don't think I could
ever completely do without though. Interestingly, I am lactose intolerant and
have chronic sinus problems too. Maybe these overwork my body in addition to the
autoimmune thyroid.

--- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "dgny_hk" <tribedgny@...>
wrote:
>
> Hey Carm. The spots were probably about 3 years, but always progressive with
no re-growth. I think I stopped having to shave entirely (anywhere!) in 3 1/2
years. But after it peaked, I stayed in stasis for about 5 months and then
started gradually growing a light covering of body hair. I now have hair on
almost all of my body and an extremely light covering of down on my head
(nothing I could grow out to llok like hair).
>
> Btw I'm reasonably convinced that my alopecia is directly related to
carbohydrates and/or gluten and a lack of water consumption. All of my re-growth
of body hair has been over the past year that I have consumed extremely little
amounts of gluten.
>
> DG
>
> --- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "Carm" <carmbos@> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks DG. How long did this cycle go on for you? I just feel like the long
I have AA, the worse the prognosis for AT. The specialist never said this to me,
it's jsut the way I think. She said tha AA could last for years, go into
remission, come back and what not and that my case was "mild".
> >
> > --- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "dgny_hk" <tribedgny@>
wrote:
> > >
> > > hey Carm,
> > >
> > > Everything you've posted here indicates to me that you can cope with
anything - small loss or big loss! I actually think losing hair in spots can be
harder than just losing it all - when you lose it all, you are forced to face it
and find your way through it and you get to stop worrying about what it will be
like if it gets worse!
> > >
> > > I remember when I had just one bald spot on the back of my head. I
thought, I can handle this just as long as I don't lose any in front.
> > >
> > > Then I got a spot right in the front and I thought, that's ok, I'll just
comb it this way and use a barrette and I'll be ok as long as it doesn't get
bigger.
> > >
> > > Then it got bigger and my part widened to an inch so I shaved off all my
hair and wore scarves and hats and I said, I'll be ok just as long as I don't
lose my eyebrows.
> > >
> > > Then I lost my eyebrows and all the rest of the hair on my body.
> > >
> > > I was ok.
> > >
> > > So I packed away the scarves, figured out how to draw on eyebrows and I
got on with my life. I only wish I hadn't wasted the first three years worrying
and keeping my life in a weird state of stasis.
> > >
> > > DG
> > >
> > > --- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "Carm" <carmbos@>
wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Thanks to all that responded to my question, and I'm still interested in
hearing from others who got AA as an adult. Some of you have been dealing with
this forever, and I admire your strength. This disease is miserable, and I wish
there was a cure. There is so much that is unknown, that it shocks me.
> > > >
> > > > I went to my dermatologist today for my monthly shots, and this month
the shedding is increased, as is my itch, which is not surprising to me, given
that I am under extreme stress at work. I would love to quit, but that's not an
option in this economy.
> > > >
> > > > Ironically, after our discussion on nail pitting, I noticed two of my
nails had some subtle pits. I have never had pitting during the last 2 years of
AA. I did however, have nail pitting all throughout my teenage years, and my
twenties- since I can remember really. Thought nothing of it, as it eventually
went away when I started taking thyroid meds. I have also never had a bald spot
until I was 37.
> > > >
> > > > My derm wanted to look it up tonight and call me back, which he just
did. He told me that pitting and alopecia go hand in hand sometimes, and I knew
that. He also said that sometimes people have pitting without the hair loss, and
that the disease attacks the nails only, and perhaps mine shifted to the hair. I
don't buy this. Obviously, I was destined to get this disease, and am shocked it
didn't happen earlier given my nail pitting incidents. He said it means nothing
with respect to the severity of the disease either. Do you guys believe this?
> > > >
> > > > What is interesting is that my friend who has psoriasis, has the same
exact type of pitting- very subtle, not severe. I don't have psoriasis anywhere
on my body.
> > > >
> > > > Everytime I think I can quit the steriods, because the loss is stopping,
a spot will rear it's ugly head. It's like I jink myself when I say all is good.
The depression cycle comes and goes, and I wish I had some stability with the
hair thing. People now look at me, 'like what's your problem? You haven't lost
you hair yet, why are you worried'? They just don't get the feeling of knowing
that at any time, things can change. I can deal with this small loss for the
rest of my life, as long as I knew it would just stay this way.
> > > >
> > > > Wishful thinking perhaps, but I remain hopeful.
> > > > Thanks again,
> > > > Carm
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

Hey Carm. The spots were probably about 3 years, but always progressive with no
re-growth. I think I stopped having to shave entirely (anywhere!) in 3 1/2
years. But after it peaked, I stayed in stasis for about 5 months and then
started gradually growing a light covering of body hair. I now have hair on
almost all of my body and an extremely light covering of down on my head
(nothing I could grow out to llok like hair).

Btw I'm reasonably convinced that my alopecia is directly related to
carbohydrates and/or gluten and a lack of water consumption. All of my re-growth
of body hair has been over the past year that I have consumed extremely little
amounts of gluten.

DG

--- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "Carm" <carmbos@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks DG. How long did this cycle go on for you? I just feel like the long I
have AA, the worse the prognosis for AT. The specialist never said this to me,
it's jsut the way I think. She said tha AA could last for years, go into
remission, come back and what not and that my case was "mild".
>
> --- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "dgny_hk" <tribedgny@>
wrote:
> >
> > hey Carm,
> >
> > Everything you've posted here indicates to me that you can cope with
anything - small loss or big loss! I actually think losing hair in spots can be
harder than just losing it all - when you lose it all, you are forced to face it
and find your way through it and you get to stop worrying about what it will be
like if it gets worse!
> >
> > I remember when I had just one bald spot on the back of my head. I thought,
I can handle this just as long as I don't lose any in front.
> >
> > Then I got a spot right in the front and I thought, that's ok, I'll just
comb it this way and use a barrette and I'll be ok as long as it doesn't get
bigger.
> >
> > Then it got bigger and my part widened to an inch so I shaved off all my
hair and wore scarves and hats and I said, I'll be ok just as long as I don't
lose my eyebrows.
> >
> > Then I lost my eyebrows and all the rest of the hair on my body.
> >
> > I was ok.
> >
> > So I packed away the scarves, figured out how to draw on eyebrows and I got
on with my life. I only wish I hadn't wasted the first three years worrying and
keeping my life in a weird state of stasis.
> >
> > DG
> >
> > --- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "Carm" <carmbos@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Thanks to all that responded to my question, and I'm still interested in
hearing from others who got AA as an adult. Some of you have been dealing with
this forever, and I admire your strength. This disease is miserable, and I wish
there was a cure. There is so much that is unknown, that it shocks me.
> > >
> > > I went to my dermatologist today for my monthly shots, and this month the
shedding is increased, as is my itch, which is not surprising to me, given that
I am under extreme stress at work. I would love to quit, but that's not an
option in this economy.
> > >
> > > Ironically, after our discussion on nail pitting, I noticed two of my
nails had some subtle pits. I have never had pitting during the last 2 years of
AA. I did however, have nail pitting all throughout my teenage years, and my
twenties- since I can remember really. Thought nothing of it, as it eventually
went away when I started taking thyroid meds. I have also never had a bald spot
until I was 37.
> > >
> > > My derm wanted to look it up tonight and call me back, which he just did.
He told me that pitting and alopecia go hand in hand sometimes, and I knew that.
He also said that sometimes people have pitting without the hair loss, and that
the disease attacks the nails only, and perhaps mine shifted to the hair. I
don't buy this. Obviously, I was destined to get this disease, and am shocked it
didn't happen earlier given my nail pitting incidents. He said it means nothing
with respect to the severity of the disease either. Do you guys believe this?
> > >
> > > What is interesting is that my friend who has psoriasis, has the same
exact type of pitting- very subtle, not severe. I don't have psoriasis anywhere
on my body.
> > >
> > > Everytime I think I can quit the steriods, because the loss is stopping, a
spot will rear it's ugly head. It's like I jink myself when I say all is good.
The depression cycle comes and goes, and I wish I had some stability with the
hair thing. People now look at me, 'like what's your problem? You haven't lost
you hair yet, why are you worried'? They just don't get the feeling of knowing
that at any time, things can change. I can deal with this small loss for the
rest of my life, as long as I knew it would just stay this way.
> > >
> > > Wishful thinking perhaps, but I remain hopeful.
> > > Thanks again,
> > > Carm
> > >
> >
>

Interesting. What does MPB stand for? Mine showed just telogen effluvium, but I
think he took them from bad spots. He should have taken them from the top of my
head and not the back. I definitely have AA and TE. The specialist in Boston
just looked at my bald spots and knew from the way I had the typical exclamation
point hairs around my bald spot. I wonder how much they really know about all of
this. I do believe that if you had follicles that could not grow hair back, they
should really be able to tell that.

I'm sorry you have to go through this Steven.

--- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, s sacks <ssacks007@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Carm -
>  
> One said AA, another said slight inflamation with Telogen Efflivium and the
third said MPB.
> all of them said that the hair follicals were miniturizing. The strange part
about this is that the biopsies were not definative. There seemed to be some
guess work in the pathology reports.
>
> --- On Wed, 11/11/09, Carm <carmbos@...> wrote:
>
>
> From: Carm <carmbos@...>
> Subject: [Alopecia Areata Support Group] Re: Non-cicatricial non inflammatory
alopecia
> To: alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 8:46 PM
>
>
>  
>
>
>
> Hi Steven,
> It means you do not have scarring alopecia or permanent hair loss. It's good.
What did the other 3 biopsies say? AA can turn into total non-permanent hair
loss.
>
> Carm
> --- In alopeciaareatasuppo rtgroup@yahoogro ups.com, "ssacks007" <ssacks007@
..> wrote:
> >
> > Does anyone know what Non-cicatricial Non inflammatory Alopecia is?
> > My skin biopsies came up with this? actually three out of the six biopsies
did. One biopsy said I had alopecia areata which I now seem to question even
though I am losing all of my hair like universalis
> >
> > thanks
> >
> > steven
> >
>

Hi Steven,
It means you do not have scarring alopecia or permanent hair loss. It's good.
What did the other 3 biopsies say? AA can turn into total non-permanent hair
loss.

Carm
--- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "ssacks007" <ssacks007@...>
wrote:
>
> Does anyone know what Non-cicatricial Non inflammatory Alopecia is?
> My skin biopsies came up with this? actually three out of the six biopsies
did. One biopsy said I had alopecia areata which I now seem to question even
though I am losing all of my hair like universalis
>
> thanks
>
> steven
>

Does anyone know what Non-cicatricial Non inflammatory Alopecia is?
My skin biopsies came up with this? actually three out of the six biopsies did.
One biopsy said I had alopecia areata which I now seem to question even though I
am losing all of my hair like universalis

thanks

steven

Thanks DG. How long did this cycle go on for you? I just feel like the long I
have AA, the worse the prognosis for AT. The specialist never said this to me,
it's jsut the way I think. She said tha AA could last for years, go into
remission, come back and what not and that my case was "mild".

--- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "dgny_hk" <tribedgny@...>
wrote:
>
> hey Carm,
>
> Everything you've posted here indicates to me that you can cope with anything
- small loss or big loss! I actually think losing hair in spots can be harder
than just losing it all - when you lose it all, you are forced to face it and
find your way through it and you get to stop worrying about what it will be like
if it gets worse!
>
> I remember when I had just one bald spot on the back of my head. I thought, I
can handle this just as long as I don't lose any in front.
>
> Then I got a spot right in the front and I thought, that's ok, I'll just comb
it this way and use a barrette and I'll be ok as long as it doesn't get bigger.
>
> Then it got bigger and my part widened to an inch so I shaved off all my hair
and wore scarves and hats and I said, I'll be ok just as long as I don't lose my
eyebrows.
>
> Then I lost my eyebrows and all the rest of the hair on my body.
>
> I was ok.
>
> So I packed away the scarves, figured out how to draw on eyebrows and I got on
with my life. I only wish I hadn't wasted the first three years worrying and
keeping my life in a weird state of stasis.
>
> DG
>
> --- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "Carm" <carmbos@> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks to all that responded to my question, and I'm still interested in
hearing from others who got AA as an adult. Some of you have been dealing with
this forever, and I admire your strength. This disease is miserable, and I wish
there was a cure. There is so much that is unknown, that it shocks me.
> >
> > I went to my dermatologist today for my monthly shots, and this month the
shedding is increased, as is my itch, which is not surprising to me, given that
I am under extreme stress at work. I would love to quit, but that's not an
option in this economy.
> >
> > Ironically, after our discussion on nail pitting, I noticed two of my nails
had some subtle pits. I have never had pitting during the last 2 years of AA. I
did however, have nail pitting all throughout my teenage years, and my twenties-
since I can remember really. Thought nothing of it, as it eventually went away
when I started taking thyroid meds. I have also never had a bald spot until I
was 37.
> >
> > My derm wanted to look it up tonight and call me back, which he just did. He
told me that pitting and alopecia go hand in hand sometimes, and I knew that. He
also said that sometimes people have pitting without the hair loss, and that the
disease attacks the nails only, and perhaps mine shifted to the hair. I don't
buy this. Obviously, I was destined to get this disease, and am shocked it
didn't happen earlier given my nail pitting incidents. He said it means nothing
with respect to the severity of the disease either. Do you guys believe this?
> >
> > What is interesting is that my friend who has psoriasis, has the same exact
type of pitting- very subtle, not severe. I don't have psoriasis anywhere on my
body.
> >
> > Everytime I think I can quit the steriods, because the loss is stopping, a
spot will rear it's ugly head. It's like I jink myself when I say all is good.
The depression cycle comes and goes, and I wish I had some stability with the
hair thing. People now look at me, 'like what's your problem? You haven't lost
you hair yet, why are you worried'? They just don't get the feeling of knowing
that at any time, things can change. I can deal with this small loss for the
rest of my life, as long as I knew it would just stay this way.
> >
> > Wishful thinking perhaps, but I remain hopeful.
> > Thanks again,
> > Carm
> >
>

hey Carm,

Everything you've posted here indicates to me that you can cope with anything -
small loss or big loss! I actually think losing hair in spots can be harder than
just losing it all - when you lose it all, you are forced to face it and find
your way through it and you get to stop worrying about what it will be like if
it gets worse!

I remember when I had just one bald spot on the back of my head. I thought, I
can handle this just as long as I don't lose any in front.

Then I got a spot right in the front and I thought, that's ok, I'll just comb it
this way and use a barrette and I'll be ok as long as it doesn't get bigger.

Then it got bigger and my part widened to an inch so I shaved off all my hair
and wore scarves and hats and I said, I'll be ok just as long as I don't lose my
eyebrows.

Then I lost my eyebrows and all the rest of the hair on my body.

I was ok.

So I packed away the scarves, figured out how to draw on eyebrows and I got on
with my life. I only wish I hadn't wasted the first three years worrying and
keeping my life in a weird state of stasis.

DG

--- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "Carm" <carmbos@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks to all that responded to my question, and I'm still interested in
hearing from others who got AA as an adult. Some of you have been dealing with
this forever, and I admire your strength. This disease is miserable, and I wish
there was a cure. There is so much that is unknown, that it shocks me.
>
> I went to my dermatologist today for my monthly shots, and this month the
shedding is increased, as is my itch, which is not surprising to me, given that
I am under extreme stress at work. I would love to quit, but that's not an
option in this economy.
>
> Ironically, after our discussion on nail pitting, I noticed two of my nails
had some subtle pits. I have never had pitting during the last 2 years of AA. I
did however, have nail pitting all throughout my teenage years, and my twenties-
since I can remember really. Thought nothing of it, as it eventually went away
when I started taking thyroid meds. I have also never had a bald spot until I
was 37.
>
> My derm wanted to look it up tonight and call me back, which he just did. He
told me that pitting and alopecia go hand in hand sometimes, and I knew that. He
also said that sometimes people have pitting without the hair loss, and that the
disease attacks the nails only, and perhaps mine shifted to the hair. I don't
buy this. Obviously, I was destined to get this disease, and am shocked it
didn't happen earlier given my nail pitting incidents. He said it means nothing
with respect to the severity of the disease either. Do you guys believe this?
>
> What is interesting is that my friend who has psoriasis, has the same exact
type of pitting- very subtle, not severe. I don't have psoriasis anywhere on my
body.
>
> Everytime I think I can quit the steriods, because the loss is stopping, a
spot will rear it's ugly head. It's like I jink myself when I say all is good.
The depression cycle comes and goes, and I wish I had some stability with the
hair thing. People now look at me, 'like what's your problem? You haven't lost
you hair yet, why are you worried'? They just don't get the feeling of knowing
that at any time, things can change. I can deal with this small loss for the
rest of my life, as long as I knew it would just stay this way.
>
> Wishful thinking perhaps, but I remain hopeful.
> Thanks again,
> Carm
>

Thanks to all that responded to my question, and I'm still interested in hearing
from others who got AA as an adult. Some of you have been dealing with this
forever, and I admire your strength. This disease is miserable, and I wish there
was a cure. There is so much that is unknown, that it shocks me.

I went to my dermatologist today for my monthly shots, and this month the
shedding is increased, as is my itch, which is not surprising to me, given that
I am under extreme stress at work. I would love to quit, but that's not an
option in this economy.

Ironically, after our discussion on nail pitting, I noticed two of my nails had
some subtle pits. I have never had pitting during the last 2 years of AA. I did
however, have nail pitting all throughout my teenage years, and my twenties-
since I can remember really. Thought nothing of it, as it eventually went away
when I started taking thyroid meds. I have also never had a bald spot until I
was 37.

My derm wanted to look it up tonight and call me back, which he just did. He
told me that pitting and alopecia go hand in hand sometimes, and I knew that. He
also said that sometimes people have pitting without the hair loss, and that the
disease attacks the nails only, and perhaps mine shifted to the hair. I don't
buy this. Obviously, I was destined to get this disease, and am shocked it
didn't happen earlier given my nail pitting incidents. He said it means nothing
with respect to the severity of the disease either. Do you guys believe this?

What is interesting is that my friend who has psoriasis, has the same exact type
of pitting- very subtle, not severe. I don't have psoriasis anywhere on my body.

Everytime I think I can quit the steriods, because the loss is stopping, a spot
will rear it's ugly head. It's like I jink myself when I say all is good. The
depression cycle comes and goes, and I wish I had some stability with the hair
thing. People now look at me, 'like what's your problem? You haven't lost you
hair yet, why are you worried'? They just don't get the feeling of knowing that
at any time, things can change. I can deal with this small loss for the rest of
my life, as long as I knew it would just stay this way.

Wishful thinking perhaps, but I remain hopeful.
Thanks again,
Carm

Have been using the shots for 14 years as well? Is yours hideable? I am not
surprised that it stopped when you got pregnant. Your body works to protect the
fetus naturally, so immune system shifts to other concerns. I have been doing
shots monthly for the last 2 years and they do work for me. Currently, you would
not know I had AA, and that's the way it's been for the last 2.5 years. I sure
hope it stays that way too.

Carm

--- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "tdruxman" <tdruxman@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi Carm,
> I've had AA spots on and off now for approx 14 yrs. Cortizone shots have been
my only method of treatment. Sometimes my hair grows back within a few months
and sometimes I have to have the shots for an entire year. I got pregnant and
had no spots at all -- go figure! I'm currently dealing with a few spots and
going for my monthly shots ... It's just how my life is.
> T
>
> --- In alopeciaareatasupportgroup@yahoogroups.com, "Carm" <carmbos@> wrote:
> >
> > Just wondering among those with patchy hair loss- alopecia areata, how long
you have been dealing with this? I am on year 2.5, and my doctor tells me I am
the longest dealing patient he's had with AA doing shots. Please tell me your
experiences if you will.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Carm
> >
>