I have some successes too. I am 42 and have dealing with idopathic hirsitism for years now. I kept the hair and acne under control with aldactone for many years. My biggest problem is the once a month chin zit that sometimes leaves a scar. The hair is a problem too but a lot of it is under the chin and not visible to the world. I quit smoking 5 years ago and my weight ballooned up about 60 lbs which put me at 200 plus. At that point I had been medication free for about 2 years. The weight gain caused the hormones to go wild and the acne flared . I went on bcp hormones and sugar busters. I lost 40 lbs , returned to regular walking and some pilates and got things under control. I went off the hormones only to discover that I felt pretty darn good with out them. An acne scar during that time forced me to go to a plastic surgeon and im now getting microdermabrasion and i have laser hair removal coming up and a few scar revisions to be done next month. Im back on bcp for now till my surgery is over cause it calms down my skins oversensitivity. Then,Im only going to take tetracycline for the monthly cyst because I never had touble with it. ( Took that before I was diagnosed). Im glad I had the latest problem because otherwise I never would have gone to the plastic surgeon which is going very well for me. I was scared to death to go becasue that meant I had to go and look someone in the eye and admit that I had a scarring problem and hair growing on my face. I had and have been in denial for years. For anyone like me...... I waited to go till i knew that my confidence level would be highest ( it is cycle related...there are times when I feel kinda timid) I walked in there, in a nervous sweat and said look at me and faced it..It was very nerve wracking but now Im just matter of fact about it all. The drs deal with this every day, to them its their work. And the same for the RN who does the microdermabrasion. She is probably the most non judgemental person in my life. I have no self-consciencness with these people. My success is on two levels, 1. I was able to control my acne problem for years with the medication. No regrets there. 2. I overcame fears and went to the plastic surgeon and now Im thrilled and looking forward to the future again. 3. One more I didnt mention....my search for a cure led me on a spiritual path that would not have happend without the problem. It is because of my spiritual enlightenment that I can get thru the emotional upheavals. I read all books I could get my hands on. Also, becasue of that understanding, my husband and i give as much money as possible to charitys involving children. ( we have none but i have a stepdaughter whom i like verymuch.) I can't prove it but i know my health is getting better because of it..atonement I think it's called. Sorry to go on but that is probably the last thing i need to do with this board. Its great to get it out there. |