I have lost most of my hair and need some advice-

[FreshTressa]

My hair has been falling out in handfulls for the past 3 months. My hair is VERY thin...my scalp is visible all over. The doctor does not know what has caused it, but thinks it is from stress (I went through an illness) and that it will grow back. But until then...

I can

1) Just leave it and go around like this
2) Wear hats and scarves
3) get a wig
4) get a hairpiece

What would you do??

I'm only 31!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Not sure the answer, Tres, have you seen a dermatologist??

 

[Robinette]

I'm really sorry you're going through this. I'm 31 also. I would wear hats and also have a good wig. I have no idea where to get a wig, one that looks real. Maybe ask a salon in your area.

Hope it grows back soon and nothing serious is going on. Best of luck to you!!

 

[Robinette]

double post

 

[KristaTX]

I'm sorry to hear about your hair . I hope it grows back.

I've thought about what I would do if I ever lost my hair, and I have decided that I will never wear a wig or hairpiece. I just don't like the way they look, and I'm pretty simple when it comes to appearance anyway. When I see females who for whatever reason are missing their hair, I think it looks best when they just have scarves on their heads. Or even bandanas when going casual.

 

[huey duey & luey]

I'm sorry. I would also wear hats and scarves, there are some very cute ones.
Tara

 

[FreshTressa]

Yes, I've seen a dermatologist. They are pretty sure it is Tellogen Effluvium, which lasts 6-8 months.

I feel so helpless about it...there is hair all over my shirts all the time...thin as it is, it keeps falling out.

 

[debster812]

Tressa--I am so sorry you are going through this.

If you have your heart set on a wig, check with the biggest and best cancer hospital in your area. Since many cancer patients lose hair from chemo, they have lots of resources, and ideas

My MIL is recovering (YAY!) from a bout with Breast Cancer, and she received treatment through Dana-Farber here in Boston. They have a Breast Cancer outreach program, and she was fitted with a GORGEOUS wig. Looked so real. Of course once the heat of summer hit, she could not wear it, because it was too hot, so my 60-something mother in law was walking around in doo-rags tied by her granddaughters.

I personally would do a hat or a scarf, but you have to do what you are most comfortable with.

Best of luck to you

Debbie

 

[Pop Daddy]

a freind at work got that, we showed him no mercy in teasing him, but his hair all come back normal

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Tressa,

This was happening to me a few years ago and my doctor thought it was a combination of stress and a lack of Vitamin B.
I would talk to a dermatologist or a nutritionist.

I don't have nearly as much stress in my life now & I have more vitamin B in my diet (for a while I was taking supplements to get enough) and now I don't lose as much.

Also, is your hair very long? Mine is. Almost to my waist. Sometimes, when I don't trim it enough, it falls out more, because it's not really thick and the weight wears down on it.

 

[AnnetteF]

My SIL was losing her hair in clumps a couple of years ago and it was also thought to be from stress. (She was stressed all the time from a bad work situation.) She has since left the job but her hair has all grown back!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I agree with Deb, Tres. If a wig is it for you, check with a good cancer hospital in the area for recommendations. Marie had a wonderful one when she had her chemo 6 years ago, looked EXACTLY natural and like hers. My best. 's

 

[DebbieB]

I agree with the suggestion to find a hair salon that specializes with cancer patients. There is one in my area that a coworker went to and no one ever guessed it was a wig. Another coworker was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer and got her wig there, again no one would guess. They got hand woven wigs, which are very light.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I had the lovely experience this year also of losing my hair - yes, all of it - from chemotherapy (for breast cancer). In some ways it was the hardest part of the whole experience. To make matters worse, I had to put my beautiful German Shepherd to sleep unexpectedly the SAME DAY all my hair came out! I've never cried as hard as I did that night.

I've met many others who chose to either go "au natural" or wear hats and scarves. I personally chose a wig and am really, really glad I did. The main reason is I didn't want people looking at me like I was "sick" or feeling they had free reign to comment on the state of my appearance (which you KNOW some do). I also have young children and did not want to "embarrass" them.

I had a lovely wig and though I hated the "idea" of wearing it, I got more compliments on it from people than I ever did on my own hair! I even fooled hairdressers! I would never had thought I would have admitted this, but I kind of actually got to like the look of it! But most importantly I was able to go on with my life without anyone really paying much attention to me, I just blended in with everyone else (unlike now where my hair is growing back and I am getting some strange looks).

I went to our big cancer hospital's wig store but did not have a good experience there and absolutely hated the wig they ordered for me - it kept popping off my head! I found my way down to a salon that specializes in hair loss issues which I found through friends with Alopecia and hairdressers in the area. The owner was extremely informative, empathetic and supportive. The wig I liked the best was right in the display case -very sporty and fun. He actually made me wear it out of the salon that day so I would get used to it. My daughter couldn't stop staring at me and asked me if it was my real hair! They loved it (in fact my son loved running around in my wig at radiation and cracking up all the therapists there - thank God for people with a sense of humor!).

My advice is to try the wig. Insurance may even cover it for you because it is considered a "hair prosthesis", check with your doctor. If you get a really good wig nobody will even know - I swear!! (I wish I had a dollar for every time someone told me they loved my "hair" or asked me where I got it styled, etc... Even some of my medical providers weren't sure so it CAN be a good one). You can either get one which looks like the "real you" or get a "fun" one (I had both but ended up wearing only the fun wig, people I knew who didn't know of my illness assumed I'd just gotten a new style and color). Make sure whatever you get is easy to get on/off, looks good with little fuss, but most importantly is COMFORTABLE!

Best of luck, PM me if I can be of any help.

P.S. To celebrate the end of my treatment last month my family got me a German Shepherd puppy named Liesl who I am having a great time with and who I hope to get certified as a Therapy Dog so I can take her into oncology wards (I am a nurse and will start in my own hospital in Boston). We started Puppy Kindergarten last night!

 

[JerseyJanice]

Pea-n-me, your story is inspiring! Here's a wish and a prayer that you are cured completely and permanently. And good luck with your puppy! Nothing in the world is cuter than a puppy.

Tressa, I would guess that your doctors are in the best position to know what's wrong with your hair, but I do want to say that I lost a great deal of hair once myself.

I was in my late 20's and gaining weight for the first time in my life. I went on a crash diet to correct it and wound up losing more hair than weight.

Turned out the hair loss was due to insufficient protein in my diet.

Wishing you luck that you get to the bottom of it and get your hair back soon. Oh, and to answer your original question, I'd cover it up. Either with a wig or scarves/hats.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Originally posted by Pea-n-Me

Inspiring story Pea-n-me! Thank you for sharing and good luck with the new pup!!

 

[Serena]

No advice, but I hope you find something soon that makes you feel good.

 

[C.Ann]

Personally, I would get it all shaved off.. Then I would make sure that I wore nice make-up every day to accentuate my eyes, really nice pierced earrings and a large assortment of the very pretty baseball cap type hats that they have now..

I'll be praying the situation resolves itself quickly for you!

Hugs,
C.Ann

 

[ilovepcot]

FreshTressa, just sent you a P.M. that I hope is helpful.

 

[SC Minnie]

Shave the rest of it. My mother has had alopecia for about 6 years and this is what happened to her. It was brought on by stress, she had been taking care of her father with alzheimers for over a year until he passed away. This was only 2 years after taking care of her mother for 6 months while she was dying from a brain tumor which came only 6 months after my Dad's father passed away and she had taken care of him for 2 years. All this while working a full time job and dealing with my Dad's antics.

Anyway, her hair started falling out by the clumps and after about 3 wks there was only patches left. A friend of hers helped her cut it all off. She started wearing a wig or hats. ALL of her hair fell out, eyebrows, arms, legs, etc.

There are many degrees of alopecia. Some with this do regrow their hair while others do not-- my Mom's has not. Some only lose small patches while others lose everything. It took her a long time to come to terms with what was happening but she finally did. There is also a yearly meeting of people with alopecia and sh went to a couple of those in the beginnining. Ask your doctor of this may be alopecia.