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Original poster

Worried about my sister's hairloss.

20 replies

MegaLegs · 22/10/2006 21:48

My sister was here today and was really distraught as she has discovered quite a large bald patch on the back of her head. She has long dark hair and it can only be seen when she lifts her hair up.
She doesn't have children but I told her MN was great for support and advice and I'd see if anyone could offer any answers here.
She's 36 and has recently had other symptoms linked to PCO, a recent blood test didn't confirm anything though.

OP posts:
onlyjoking9329 · 22/10/2006 21:51

i have this at the moment and have had it before some years ago, it did grow back but took about a year, the doctor was not very helpful and said i might be low on iron.

Beauregard · 22/10/2006 21:53

Is she stressed about anything ? knowingly or not?
my dp's brother has alopecia which was bought on by stress/depression.

Original poster
MegaLegs · 22/10/2006 21:54

Did yours appear quite suddenly onlyjoking? My sister had her haircut last week with her regular hairdresser and he didn't mention it. She's noticed her head being itchy and lots of loose hairs, it didn't come out in clumps but the bald patch is quite large and totally smooth.

OP posts:
Original poster
MegaLegs · 22/10/2006 21:56

She is stressed pfnm. She's pushed hard at work and she's currnetly trying to buy a house.

OP posts:
Beauregard · 22/10/2006 21:59

No wonder she is stressed , i would get her to go to her gp for a proper diagnosis as the worry of losing her hair could make it worse.
Hope she is ok

onlyjoking9329 · 22/10/2006 22:02

i went to have my hair cut at begining of the school hols when the hairdresser noticed it, it was about the size of a 50p peice then its now about five inches long and two inches wide, it is fluffy in places now, apparently i need less stress

Original poster
MegaLegs · 22/10/2006 22:03

She's hoping to get an appointment with her gp tomorrow, hopefully she'll be referred to a trichologist.
We're all really upset for her. At the moment you can't see it at all but obviously she's worried that she may lose all of her hair.

OP posts:
onlyjoking9329 · 22/10/2006 22:05

my doc wouldn't refer just says i need less stress. as i have three kids with autism i don't see me getting any less stress anytime soon

Original poster
MegaLegs · 22/10/2006 22:07

Did your GP not offer any blood tests to check your iron levels oj? Your GP sounds like my sister's. She's been several times over the last few months with bloating, abdominal pain and other symptoms associated with conditions like PCO and IBS. She's not a hypochondriac but she had to push to get a blood test.

OP posts:
Beauregard · 22/10/2006 22:07

let us know how she gets on

Original poster
MegaLegs · 22/10/2006 22:08

Sorry x posted with you there ojThree with autism must be beyond stressful! Has your GP suggested just how you are going achieve less stress?

OP posts:
Original poster
MegaLegs · 22/10/2006 22:09

I will PFNM -she may be 36 but she's still my little sis and I hate to see her upset.

OP posts:
onlyjoking9329 · 22/10/2006 22:21

i had blood test for iron but it came back as ok, i have a few other medical problems IBS serious allergies, back problems slipped disc now removed, and asthma, not easy for me to have less stress really

Original poster
MegaLegs · 23/10/2006 10:58

Sorry to hear that oj. Hope things get better for you. Sorry sounds a bit inadequate but I'm useless at saying the right thing. It sounds like you are having to cope with a great deal.

OP posts:
howlidaymum · 23/10/2006 11:01

My son suffers with this on and off, generally in winter too (think he's deciduous) Gp useless Hosp useless too! The only thing that has ever worked is a visit to a homeopath, after treatment from her it started growing back almost instantly. We now use remedies to prevent it happening.

Original poster
MegaLegs · 23/10/2006 11:07

Any ideas what causes it hmum?

OP posts:
howlidaymum · 23/10/2006 11:37

With ds it always follows a pattern. He gets stressed, short tempered, run down and then if he catches a bug and has a temperature his hair starts falling out within a week

The homeopath treats holistically believing that these symptoms are all a sign of his body not coping.

Fingers crossed though we've been ok the past 2 years, had minor loss last winter but not noticable. He is terrified of it happening now he is in secondary school.

Original poster
MegaLegs · 23/10/2006 16:22

fingers crossed here for your ds here too.
My sis has phoned to say she saw a new GP. She measured the bald patch so it can be monitored and she's going in for a blood test on Thursday for aneamia, thyroid function and diabetes. GP said the most likely cause is stress and that she could already see some regrowth on the bald patch.

OP posts:
Beauregard · 23/10/2006 20:28

Your sisters new gp sounds quite on the ball,i hope that she can get some sort of diagnosis and treatment,it sounds positive that there was some regrowth.

howlidaymum · 24/10/2006 11:41

Still worth trying a homeopath! She has nothing to lose. My dh has had all those tests, only thing that showed was slighht anaemia.

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