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Showing posts with label going bald. Show all posts
Showing posts with label going bald. Show all posts

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Time Heals All Wounds... Or So "They" Say

            I’m always shocked when a doctor actually helps me solve a health issue. I’m certainly not an optimist when it comes to health. I think the healthcare industry is out for my money… meaning they’ll mask some symptoms here and there, but they’ll make sure I have to come back for more “treatment.” How can I blame them? They would be out of business if they cured everyone. I’m beyond amazed that my dermatologist was able to get my hair to regrow in the area I suffered hair loss. The last time I saw the area, it was a smooth, fist size bald spot. I haven’t mustered up the courage to look at it since then. It sounds weird, but I can’t feel the difference of whether my hair is re-growing or not when I use my prescribed shampoo.  Since I have my sister, Kelly, put the topical steroid ointment on “the spot” I haven’t had to look at it. Kelly’s reaction to how fast the new hair seems to be growing makes me feel good. It’s the complete opposite reaction everyone had when I showed them the bald spot when I first lost the hair.
                I was hysterical when I first lost the patch of hair. I hated that I was that emotionally attached to my hair. My hair isn’t even that great. I didn’t believe it would grow back. I cried for hours a day mourning the loss of… hair. My friends and family saw me break down. Do you know the phrase that says, “Time heals all wounds?”   I feel like this is a life lesson I refuse to learn. The days, weeks and months when stomach pain deteriorated me, I thought I would forever be enslaved to the torment my body was putting me through. Even now, during this time of wicked exhaustion, I feel like I will never be refueled with life again. Like the issue with my hair these things will pass with time. Now, the hair loss is no big deal. It’s just difficult to see that while I’m in the middle of it. I think the phrase would be better if it said, “Wounds that don’t heal with time will be healed by death.” By adding the element of death to the phrase I think it encompasses those “wounds” which run out of time. This is totally the pessimist in me talking, or maybe it’s the fact that I’m impatient. Part of me doesn’t expect to be healed from anything until I die. No wonder sometimes I think, I can’t wait to die. Though I write those last few lines with some sarcasm, I know I need to work on strengthening my faith. Today I will celebrate the good news by taking a nap!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

A Girl's Worst Nightmare

          Over the weekend, a girl’s worst nightmare happened to me. In the shower Sunday night, I felt flakey skin on my scalp while I was washing my hair. When I got out of the shower, I pulled on the flakey part of my scalp off and to my surprise a HUGE clump of hair came with it. It didn’t hurt and it didn’t itch. In an instant I had bald spot the size of my fist on the left side of my head. I’ve been through a lot health wise, so I didn’t freak out. I just went to bed because I had a big interview the next day and I wanted my rest.

          Monday morning, I took a look at my scalp in the mirror. I’ve already got my share of gray hair. What I found was a scary sized bald spot to go with it. I’m 26 years old.  In my grandma’s words, “You’re too young to have bald spots.” I went to the doctor today and he said the condition is known as Alopecia Areata. It’s a hair loss condition characterized by the rapid onset of hair loss in a sharply defined area. The cause is uncertain, but it’s an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the hair follicles. I don’t have any answers right now. I have to make an appointment with a dermatologist to get treatment. The dermatologist will likely take a biopsy of my scalp to confirm the condition. Treatment will likely require steroid injections in the affected area of my scalp (OUCH) to help promote growth. What I’ve read so far is that treatment outcomes are unpredictable as far as growth is concerned.
          Right now, I’m kind of in shock. I’m not in love with my hair, but I sure don’t want to go bald. I’ll be looking into buying a wig so that I won’t have to worry about covering the bald spot with what hair I have left. I’m emotional, I’m freaked out and I’m annoyed with my body. I’ll blog more about it once I get in to see a dermatologist.