Coping with hair loss

Starburst

It's coming out in clumps and making me really sad. I've never had hair loss like this before. I have wild, uncontrollable wavy hair and I'm the furthest thing from obsessive about it but I would like a full head of it.

I don't know why I'm writing this, maybe just for some reassurance that it's ok to feel sad about it. An ultrasound scan and some bloods showed an inflammed, underactive thyroid and I'm being referred to a specialist, so there's a good chance it's related to that, but still I just feel like I've had enough.

Sorry for the early morning moan. :roll: I'm off to university, so I'm sure I'll get distracted and return home in a better mood!

Thank you for reading if you've got this far.

dreamdaisy

Mine's thinning too, maybe due to age, maybe due to meth but it's now reached the point where you can see my scalp all over the place - it was never thick to start with either! It's not coming out in clumps however, just shedding gently like hairy rain.

For you this could be due to the thyroid trouble, it could be due to the meth or it could be both: it's a recognised side-effect of meth, usually our doses are very small compared to those having it for other reasons but we all react differently. I've been on the injected stuff for nearly four years so no wonder mine's thinning. For you, however, this is yet another thing you don't need so of course it's fine to feel upset by it. And you are also of an age where this stuff matters. How much folic acid are you taking? All I can think to say is to brush and comb gently, don't wash it too roughly, don't tie it back too tightly and I hope that an answer can be found for you. ((((())))) DD

trepolpen

hi Starburst , question are you on methotrexate & if so how much folic acid , mine was thinning until they up the folic acid to 5mg six days a week & gone back to normal , been on Mtx for 15 years & now on 25mg/week but contact your rummy nurse before doing anything

Numptydumpty

Hi, I'm so sorry to hear this.
Increasing the folic acid may help. Could you speak to your Rheumy nurse or doctor?
A friend of mine had this problem, though she didn't have arthritis and wasn't on any meds. Her doctor gave her something caffeine based to apply to her hair. It worked for her, but like I say I don't know what caused her hair loss in the first place.
I do hope you find a solution. (((())))
Numpty

villier

You have been given some good advice there re: folic acid, once you get the thryroid sorted out as well maybe that will also help, I have androgenetic alopecia so nothing is going to help mine but I have found ways of disguising the baldness by dressing my hair certain ways, sending you some ((((())))) you have enough to contend with at your age.............tc..............Marie xx

Starburst

Hello all, thank you for the support. As always, I can count on you lovely lot!

I'm on 20mg MTX and been on it for almost 3 years. I take the max amount of folic acid. It seems to have got worse since I added Lef. to the mix but it's helping my RA, so I wouldn't want to change that.

I've been looking up some hair vits this evening and will talk to my hairdresser to see if she can recommend anything.

Thanks again. x