So I found ANOTHER bald patch.

[Wonderstuff]

I could cry. I don't want to go bald. The irony is I'm the hairiest person, but am only losing hair from my head!

Has anyone had steriod injections? They don't sound fun, but am considering.

I could cry but that won't help will it?

[Wonderstuff]

bump

[IpeeFreely]

You need a referral to a trichologist

See your GP, get referred

bless you

[Wonderstuff]

Saw GP when got first patch. He had no clue but printed off some stuff. I will return to him later in the week. Doesn't seem to be much to be done though.

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

Your GP is not a specialist, wonderstuff, get a referral mate and don't be fobbed off

Good luck

[Wuxiapian]

Mr GP referred me to both an endocrinologist and a dermatologist and still no reason for my hair be falling out.

Wonderstuff, I'm battling with excess hair everywhere else, too!

So depressing.

[Wonderstuff]

Wuxiapian glad to know it isn't just me. Going to see the GP tomorrow but everything I have read online seems to say that it is very mysterious. Not holding much hope for any magic cures.

[Wonderstuff]

I think I'm fine, my 20mo dd has only just started sleeping through, my theory based on no scientific knowledge at all, is that I my body is more rested than it has been in about 2 years and doesn't know what to do?

I'm just really pissed off about it tbh. AND my hairdresser has just given up work to have a baby.

[MrsDinky]

Hi,
Was it you that posted about this a couple of months ago? I started getting the same thing about the beginning of April. My GP wouldn't refer me at first, but I went back after 2nd patch appeared and she agreed to refer me privately. I hope you have had some luck with your next GP visit. I saw a lovely consultant who agreed to transfer me to the NHS for follow ups. I have about 10 patches now, the areas are too large (in total) for steroid injections so am using a steroid gel instead. I have to spend about 10 minutes every morning pinning hair strategically over the patches. My hair looks a mess as I haven't had it cut for 3 months and there are random bits pinned in place but am still managing to cover it. Lots is still coming out, it make me feel miserable and I really feel for you. Anyway, the consultant told me I qualified for wigs on the NHS, I have been to the wig place and tried one on, I must admit it looked fab but I really don't want to take that step yet, especially in this heat. But the lady did sell me some briliiant stuff called Couvre, it is a bit like shoe polish for your head, you buy one that matches your hair colour and you rub it on the bare patches and it goes a long way towards disguising it, I still pin hair over the patches, but not in so many places, and it is comforting knowing that if the hairclips slip a bit there won't be a flash of white scalp (I have very dark hair). The place I got it from was www.trelogganwigs.co.uk/index.html, their shop is in Portsmouth. I feel more accepting now, at first I cried my eyes out at least once a week but have felt better for the last few weeks (still hate it, but not so absoultely miserable now). Keep posting, I would like to hear how you get on.

[Boogellyboo]

Hi, Ive had alopecia since I was 4. Im 29 now, unfortunately for me I have a severe case (no hair on my head and very little body hair) but i am considered at the extremes of alopecia. If there's any questions I can help with please feel free to ask, a really useful website too is www.alopeciaonline.org.uk

Your dr should refer you to the derm so they can assess if they think it is alopecia, sometimes appointments can take a long time to come through though.

[Wonderstuff]

yes it was me who posted, I went to the doctor and he ordered a thyroid test, I went for that then didn't go back. Hoped it would all go away, but obv. it didn't! I found the second patch and I also got my second period in two weeks on Sat, which really worried me. I have an appointment booked today so hopefully they will tell me that I have low thyroid function which will explain both the hair loss and extra period, give me some pills and all will be right?

Although I think that it is in fact hair thinning rather that bald patches which are associated with low thyroid, and I am well overdue a smear, so I will get one of them booked too... I really am quite scared about this extra period, all things running through my head.

MrsDinky and Boogellyboo thank you for sharing your stories

I'm seeing the doc at noon, so will update this afternoon. DD has chucked coco pops over herself so best go..

[Wonderstuff]

GP at lunch time, I have normal thyroid, I'm not amemic, but wants me to have another blood test to get iron count. Then am to go back and get referral to dermatologist.

I'm disappointed that it isn't low thyroid, that would have neatly explained hair loss and extra period and would have a simple solution. Nevermind, bloods on Friday, follow up a week after that, watch this space..

[lucykate]

a friend of mine had two bald spots on her head appear out of the blue about 2 years ago, both were about the size of a 50p piece. it did grow back, and other than the two patches, she didn't loose any more.

[Wuxiapian]

Wonderstuff, I understand - I was so disappinted when my thyroid/iron/full blood tests came back as completely normal. At least it would have explained the hair loss.

I really am at a loss as to what to do.

Hair's thinning all over at an increasingly rapid rate and has receeded at the front at least about a centimeter.

It seems that there's no rhyme or reason to it.

[MrsDinky]

I was clutching at the thyroid straw as well, but was told the same thing, that that would cause general thinning. It's so frustrating not knowing what causes it really. I am pretty certain it was stress in my case, the main cause of the stress is now over, but that doesn't mean it has stopped, I am just so sick of picking hairs off my shoulders, my bed, the floor, the shower, the children, they're everywhere. It is nice to be able to come on here and feel that other people understand, although I have told a few friends and family about it, they don't really understand how distressing it is.

[Wuxiapian]

I don't talk about it with anyone, MrsDinky.

I feel talking about it will somehow make an even bigger issue of it - even though my hairloss is pretty damned obvious.

It is very distressing. I'm trying to get on with things and not let it bother me too much or I'd never leave the house - there have been a few of those days.

How long've you suffered with this?

[Wonderstuff]

I am trying to tell people and not keep it a secret, why should I be embarressed? I'm pissed off, but not embarressed. I'm hoping by being up front it will be easier to deal with if it gets worse. I'm a school teacher and I'm not telling the kids but it will be interesting to see how they react if it becomes obvious.

[MrsDinky]

My hairdresser discovered mine on first April (ha ha great joke not). Think it was probably a few weeks in by then as I had been noticing quite a lot of hair in the shower tray. So maybe since about the end of Feb (that was when I had the extreme stress incident).

I told my hubby straight away, my parents about a week later, as I knew my mum had had it in the past. Turns out my dad had too. Theirs both came back. I have told 10 or so friends, including my immediate colleagues but try not to talk about it too much in case they get fed up with me moaning. I am trying to just carry on as normal, but dread going out on wet/windy days in case I get exposed.

Wuxiapian - I've just been to another website which deals with hair loss and seen some thickening spray that they show being used on thinning hair, maybe in combination with a hairband for your hairline it could help? www.lucindaellery-hairloss.co.uk/products/productbig.php?prid=8

Out of interest Wonderstuff, how old are the kids you teach?

[delllie]

Another 'sufferer' here, I have many 'bald' patches although I do have a 'diagnoses' for mine. Comes and go's and currently going through a really bad flare at the moment. Can identify with everything that is being said here and am currently strategicly hairgripping my hair to cover the patches

Mrs Dinky, I do use a thickening spray, actually get it quite cheaply on ebay, it is pretty good stuff, have to be really close to realise that you are wearing it

[MrsDinky]

Hi Delllie, what is the stuff you use called?

[delllie]

"Look at this link"

I regularly buy this off there, I can high recommend it, only drawback is that is gets on your fingers if you scratch your head but is a small price to pay

[Wonderstuff]

MrsDinky I teach 11-16 year olds, they can be fantastic, occaisionally they are horrid!

It is interesting that your parents both had alopecia, I had read it often runs in families, I think my mum had a patch after a really stressful event, but she hasn't mentioned it and I don't want to bring up said event..

[Simples]

article in times about this this week

[MrsDinky]

Wonderstuff - reason I asked is that I am being made redundant this year and thinking of teacher training, but am nervous enough about facing a class of teenagers without having crap hair! We had a teacher at school who wore a wig due to total hair loss, I don't remember anyone being nasty but it was certainly a talking point.