wakked

I have been visiting this site for a year or two but I've only posted a few times. It's very helpful to know that I am not alone. I've been dealing with hair loss for a few years...mostly thinning on the crown and vertex. I have had every blood test that is recommended, LH,FSH, testosterone free/total, ferriten, DHEAS, SED rate, prolactin. Turns out my total testosterone was very high (95) and my ferritin low (24). About a year and a half ago gyno. started me on Orthocyclen and 200 mgs. spiro. to lower the testosterone. After 15 months, my hair loss decreased dramatically and my part started to fill in., along with my testosterone decreasing to 19. I was no longer stressed about people seeing my thin scalp and I felt better than I had felt in many years. About 2 months ago, my gyno said she wanted me to come off the spiro since in her words "it is not good to stay on it long term." She wouldn't budge and was only willing to prescribe me 50 mgs! During the 2 months on half the dosage (100 mgs) my hair loss increased so much that it was worse than before I had started the BCP/spiro combo. Oh yeah, she also never checked my potassium in the past year. It was supposed to be done every 3-4 months. To make a long story short, I just went to a derm. last week (the soonest I could get an appt was with a resident). He did a scalp biopsy, (the only doctor to do this!) and I am now waiting for the results. I am so incredibly frustrated with the whole situation since I know that I would not be in the current situation if my gyno. had done her job by monitoring my potassium and taking my hair loss seriously. She even had the nerve to say "I don't deal with hair loss!" Ok I accept that but I would think that she could look at the whole picture with my other symptoms and refer me to another MD. It seems like she just wants to cover her butt just in case my potassium came back too high. Needless to say, I will never go back to her and gave her a very bad review on the survey I received. So now I am just waiting to see what this new derm. comes up with. I am doing everything that I should be doing and it's my doctor that has let me down! It sounds like I am not the only one. Sorry this is so long but I just need to vent!

bellagurl77

Hi there,

I definitely can relate and am sorry you are going through this. It is never easy and everyday can seem like a struggle. I;ve had my own fair share of horrible experiences with doctors, hence why I have gone the naturopath route more so in the last few years. Whenever there is a shift in hormones in can cause some hair shedding..
I have been losing my hair more so since coming off the bcp....its been 11 months and its still falling out..just not as much..
I ve also been religiously taking an iron supplment as mine was only 14..its now gone up to 48 and i am hopeful i will reach over 70 (which is apparently the level needed for regrowth)
i would recommend seeing someone about taking some iron..as 24 is 'within range' but still low...pcos'ers are at more risk for iron deficiency too..
in regard to the testosterone levels, there is something called saw palmetto..im taking a supplement that has this, along with some other anti androgens that isnt traditional medicine..
i hope this helps...try to stay positive (believe me i know how hard that is)..but i have slowly realized that my negative attitude and stress about it only makes it worse...really try hard!

good luck!