Hair loss support thread

[Marasme]

I did find an old 2012 thread and thought I'd post something new here.

After a shitty year or so at home and at work, I noticed that my scalp was showing more than usual along my parting. Further investigation using the selfie camera on my phone revealed an awful little bald patch at the top of my head, as if the parting was widening at this place.

Absolutely terrifying :( and not helping the fact that I suffer from some pretty bad health anxiety.

I now feel sucked by the entire "remedy" industry despite the strong belief that they are just snake oil peddlers.

Looking for anyone, from the old thread or not, to join in sharing positive stories...

sorry to hear Ilovecherries - have you just started on the minoxidil? I am crossing fingers that you ll see a positive difference soon.
I feel your pain re your drain - had something pretty equivalent going on this morning - I thought I was going to throw up when I saw the quantity of hair clogging the pipe.

sulee is this the thinning that came on quickly for you, or the effect of the minoxidil (sorry, I m not sure I read your post right)

I went to get my bloods done this morning - the nurse was great - hardly felt the needle - but the receptionist told me to wait for at least a week for results :(. In the meantime, I got an appointment with a dermatologist at the local nuffield for next week. Not sure what to expect, TBH. Have also been watching my diet - and forcing some calories down - however, I am still "short" of the target, and feeling like gagging every hour of the day...

Only 5 days. Wasted four months on snake oil basically. GP said though that only about 25% of people get regrowth, and even with them, the hair quality might not be great. He says what it's better at is stopping further loss, but I'm nearly at the stage of that not being enough. Regret not starting minoxidil 6 months ago.

Marasme it was the thinning which came on quickly. The Minoxidyl took a few weeks to take effect. I noticed less hair in my brush and the thin areas have thickened up with some new growth.

Ilovecherries has it made your hair fall out more that’s what I heard

I wouldn't say so, Billie, but I don't know if I'd see that within a few days? Plus to be honest, not sure how much worse it could get!

I had a night of sleeplessness after taking an top down picture of my scalp I think I need to pretend its okay as I becoming very self conscious

let just say that ignorance is bliss- if i take selfies of my head i get panic attacks and sleepless nights.

currently contemplating very short haircuts to minimise the apparence of the thin bits - but scared that once done ot looks axtually worst....

Well, this is mine. There is a complete bald patch under that cows lick at the front.

Hi,
I had bad hair loss at Uni (stress). I had a bald patch by 20 :(

Aged 30 I saw a trichologist who said it was hormonal imbalance and that pregnancy would make the bald patch regrow.

It seems he was right. My hair grew back during pregnancy and I kept it! It still isn't thick on toput it's ok.

I've had 15 years "off" but am noticing a few hairs at the minute. The trichologist also warned that post menopause it's not likely to be looking good.....

I'm tempted by really short as well, to minimise the crossover affect, but scared it will be even worse.

Apparently "dr Christian" from the telly had a hair transplant. I wonder how much that cost.

Ilovecherries I am like you 😩

This is a month ago, so you can see the rate of loss.

The change in the hair cycle and falling out of the hair is known scientifically as Telogen Effluvium, a condition found mostly among those who have under gone some physical change such as a trauma, a diet (crash diets specifically) or are at the moment undergoing some form of psychological malaise.

Ilovecherries

Telogen Effluvium

So that's what it's called!

that has happened fast ilovecherries - has your GP not pushed investigations?

Telogen effluvium (TE) is meant to stop after a few months - but can also become chronic

all in all - this is shit and not feeling much of support so far from GP. I ll wait for the dermato appointment and blood results but seriously considering minoxidil...

ringle - definitely not going through another pregnancy!!

glad it worked for you!

GP did lots of tests, he did take it seriously. Everything was normal. He also offered a dermo referral, but said given my rate of loss (I showed him the photo from a month ago, and another from two months ago), that I shouldn't delay starting the minoxidil, because its greatest success was in arresting loss, rather than promoting regrowth.

A year ago I had thick, healthy hair, but it's probably been thinning since Xmas, looking at photos.

Are any of you on the mini pill called cerelle? My hair fell out on that specific pill. After I was moved back onto cerezette, my hair started to grow back.

I only wanted to post this incase anyone is suffering from hair loss and was on this pill.

Do you take minoxidil orally or rub on your head?
My GP hasn’t taken my hair loss seriously just tells me everything is fine but I’ve noticed my iron is low.

I have a treated under active thyroid.

Think I’ll have to go privately somewhere

I know it's the hated Mail but article on hair loss here www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-5109365/hair-loss-price-women-paying-doing-much.html

Ilovecherries- I was on the between boot camp thread with you and remembered your issue and had spotted you on here as I read the thread. Interesting about carbs.

cider i spotted the mail article yesterday (which is a blatant admission that I do read the mail at times )

ilove your weight loss was really impressive, did you do low carb?

otherwise re the pill... i m not on it so could not blame this!

Do you think the problem with GPs is that it would take quite a lot of time for them to investigate it properly? and they don't have time and have to allocate the time to more life threatening conditions?

songbird I rub it on - 5% foam. I don't think you can get it on NHS prescription, GP said he could give me a private one, without charge, but thought I was probably cheaper to buy it at the chemist and get my loyalty points :). It was £45 for four months (£35 for one month) at boots. You need to buy at pharmacy counter, not off the shelf - the 2% strength is on the shelf. Marasme, I did do (still am) low carb. Lost about 50 this year, maybe another 20 to go - so not underweight and I didn't crash diet, and probably better nourished than I've been for years. Looking at photos, I'm pretty sure this started before weight loss. To be fair to my gp, he was very sympathetic and did seem to take it seriously. He did loads of tests, and also nudged my dose of thyroxine up slightly - he said I was within the normal range (and I certainly feel ok thyroid-wise), but he said he'd like to try a little higher and see if that helped. But basically, looking at it, he thinks it's FPB. Cider! ~ waves :)