Sad, Balding Newbie Looking for some understanding and friendship...

PoetryGirl · 10-10-2006, 07:14 AM

Hi,

I've been lurking around on these boards for a while... and I have to say that I really appreciate the warmth and wisdom from everyone here.

But I guess I needed a crisis point to get me to join- sadly.

I was chatting with a really nice boy and there was a lot of chemistry (and believe me, that doesn't happen often...) when I guess I stepped directly under the light and he told me : "Hey, Are You Bald?" - and that was next to a bunch of other guys who laughed.

Well, I am not bald, but I am getting there!!! I'm 28 and have been loosing hair since 16 so you do the math... I've been really depressed ever since that incident (not that I haven't been depressed before).

To make matters worse, as it is I have had difficult relations with men- I was raped when I was 15 and needless to say I Had a rough time afterwards. I have done a lot of work on myself and now am at the stage where I know that there are good guys out there, and that I am worthy of being loved, etc.....but this hair thing is crippling me! I remember when I was younger I felt ridiculous looking and unfeminine because of what had happened to me. I missed out on the whole thing of being young because of that. Now I worry that I will miss out on it because I feel so terrible about my hair! I see NOONE my age with my hair loss and feel very stigmatized.

As for diagnosis and medication-
For the last year and a half I've been taking 100mg Spiro, Yasmine and Minoxidil every night (almost). All this seems to stop some of my hair loss, but not all- I still loose a ton of hair.
I have what are considered "normal" levels of glucose. But I do have a HUGE stomach. In fact I am rather slim apart from my stomach and peopel always think Im pregnant...

Any advice? All my doctors refuse to give me metformin...because they say my levels are normal. But I feel I need to tackle the root cause of my hairloss!

Please tell me there's hope, I cry myself to sleep thinking Ill end up 40 years old completely bald and lonely.

A sad girl

Eva37 · 10-10-2006, 02:08 PM

welcome to sc. I get asked all the time when im due a baby. Only this morning i got congratulated!!!! grr...... you are not alone
eva

MiracleMom · 10-10-2006, 02:39 PM

Hello and Welcome to SC!
I too have hair loss and I truly feel your pain.
I am waiting to get back on Metformin which helped my hair before.
There are treatments that have worked for many women here but I am just starting to try some of them myself so I can't tell you how they are working yet.
There is a forum here for hair problems{Hair in the Wrong Places/Hair Loss} and it contains success stories and treatments and the like...check it out.
Good Luck to you!

thisfreakingsucks · 10-10-2006, 03:52 PM

Im loosing my hair at an alarming rate as well
i use Nutri-ox shampoo and conditioner
and i take fish oil and biotin
this seems to be helping my hair grow faster
its not as thick as it was but its definately there....
as for the dude thing
you will find someone that understands what you are going through
i did! he said he would go wig shopping with me if need be lol
((HUGS))
if you have any questions or problems go into the chat!! there are ALOT of ladies in there to help and im usually in there a few times a day too!!

Scatterbunny · 10-10-2006, 09:36 PM

OH boy, I can totally relate. When I was younger I was teased mercilessly because I had a mustache (and also that I had glasses and braces, but of course being teased because of seemingly masculine traits is much, much worse than being teased for things like glasses and braces). My testosterone-induced symptoms have only gotten worse over time, and now I'm 27 and balding, with masculine facial hair on my lip, chin, neck, shoulders and stomach.

Of all the symptoms of PCOS, the hair loss has to be the worst-feeling, in my opinion. I just read a great book called The Hormonally Vulnerable Woman by Dr. Geoffrey Redmond and it talks about not only PCOS but a variety of other hormonal issues women may have. He says that even though blood test levels come back normal, if the symptoms still persist it does not mean it isn't a problem, but it means the woman is hormonally vulnerable; that is, she has normal levels but her body does not react normally to those normal levels. He says some women have hair follicles that are extremely vulnerable to testosterone, so that even normal levels will affect those follicles in a negative way. He says that a dose of 200 mg. of spiro is not out of the ordinary, so I'd look into that. Met is a must, in my opinion. My insulin level was only 12, within the normal range, but Dr. Redmond (and everything else on PCOS that I've read) says that levels above 8-10 are enough to be considered insulin resistant, and to require medication like Metformin.

Good luck to you, and I hope you find the support you're looking for here. Take heart in knowing there are so many other women out there who can relate. I know it doesn't feel like it most of the time, but it's true. PCOS affects as many as 10 percent of women.

MommyJenny74 · 10-10-2006, 11:43 PM

:Hugs cyster:

I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through. You are not alone, we are here for you anytime!

I have to put in another vote for met. It can help even when your blood tests are OK. It didn't really help regrow any hair for me but I did notice that I wasn't having nearly so much hair fall out while I was on met. I know it may be difficult but can you get a second opinion? There are docs that will give you met even with good labs. I'm thankful mine did.

I have the PCOS belly too. That was so awful when I was ttc, to look pregnant when I wasn't, but wanted to be. :Hugs:

We're here to help hun.
Hugs
Jenny

breoliver · 10-11-2006, 02:30 AM

Friend!!!!!! The whole Met thing... maybe you should find another doc? Mine put me on it even though my levels were normal (Unfortunatly I am allergic to it which is really rare).

You will find a man who will love you no matter what. With the hair thing, I just started loosing mine, I thought it was related to my hypothyroidism, but my doc said probally not. Only I'm not on meds for it. It is something I need to look into though.

Please send me an e-mail if you need anything!!! You are NOT alone!

PoetryGirl · 10-11-2006, 06:30 AM

Hi Girls!
Thanks for all the kind words... when I posted it I was feeling absolutely at the pits... but hopefully I'm more energized now.
I cannot get Met now because I don't have health insurance! I'm looking for a job- which is partly why I have WAY TOO MUCH TIME to stare at my receding hairline. But I'll be taking cinnamon.
And as for "normal" glucose levels- yeah, I actually worked for two years as a research assistant in medical research and I know just how vague the idea of "normal" is...but we all know how stupid doctors can be.
But I definitely WILL pursue Met- when I get health insurance! Wish me luck in my job search...
It seems that in PCOS the only way to fight it is to attack on all fronts at all times... it is expensive, though, and time-consuming. And doctors - those I meet- are skeptical.
And Scatterbunny- it must have been terrible to be teased for 'looking like a man'. Like I'm sure many other PCOSs I developed my breasts way early... and people were cruel. I can't imagine what excess hair would have been like. But you seem in a good place now!
Thanks

MommyJenny74 · 10-11-2006, 07:59 AM

There's a few of us that began cinnamon recently, feel free to join in if you want:

Cinnamon?

I wish you all the best on your job search. I hope you'll be able to get your met before long and that it will help you lots.

Hugs cyster
Jenny

Pocogirl2006 · 10-11-2006, 08:48 AM

Welcome i am Martina from British Columbia Canada i was DX with PCOS August 23 2006

LeshaLyn · 10-11-2006, 01:03 PM

Shave your head and get a wig. When my hair starts to thin more that's what I've decided to do. I usually pull my hair up by the ears and put it half way up (hairbow at the top of my head) so the hair covers my balding spot. ... lol funny, huh? I didn't realize I had that bald spot until my ex boss ran up behind me and started laughing at me. I was sooooo embarrased.

Not that I can suggest it but you could do an internet search on buying metformin from other countries. Cheaper and no prescription.

Scatterbunny · 10-11-2006, 07:40 PM

Don't let no insurance stop you! I don't have insurance, either. I found that if you make less than 200% of the federal poverty level you can get Met through RXAssist for only $20 for a 3 month supply. That is really cheap! All you need is a doc's prescription and to send in the paperwork to RXAssist. They will cover spironolactone, too. That's the testosterone blocker that's usually most recommended for PCOS, and for hair loss.

Good luck! I know how discouraging it is to have no health insurance. I haven't had any for five years now.

LookingForHope16 · 10-11-2006, 11:06 PM

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through!!

But please know that we are here for you!!

So with that being said, WELCOME TO SC!!

I do hope that you enjoy the time and friendship here!
We are all very open and welcoming and never be afraid to ask a question!!

WELCOME TO SC!
Erika Leigh
Teen Mod