A Community For Women Dealing With Hair Loss – Help, Hope and Understanding
Just had my 7th PRP treatment with Dr. Joseph Greco in Clearwater, Florida. Despite the fact I never go out without my wig anymore, I am continuing this hair loss treatment and I discuss the reasons for that in this video along with rambling about this and that and this and that.
*Welcome
- New? Start Here
*My
Hair Loss Story - How Did I Get Here?
*Low
Iron Stores: A Risk Factor For Excessive Hair Loss
*Medications
That Can Cause Hair loss
*Endocrinologist
or Dematologist- Which Doctor Should I see For My Hair Loss?
*Does
Nutrition Affect Hair Loss? Is There a Hormonal Connection?
*Is
Shaving The Head Necessary For Bonded Toppers?
*Spironolactone
- Hair Loss Story and Question
*Hair
Loss at 20 Years Old - Sarah's Story
*Synthroid
and Hair Loss - Leah's Story
*A
Bittersweet Light at The End of The Tunnel
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I guess I don’t really understand what PRP treatments are supposed to do, or how they work. I’ll have to Google it.
I’m pretty much off the Aldactone. I was at 100 milligrams, and it did help a bit. But I’m also on a beta blocker and b/p med (due to my high heart rate and blood pressure during panic attacks!) and they (I) was worried about my b/p dropping too low. I am still on the Propecia, though.
At some point I’ll likely ask my doc about quitting the one b/p med to go back on the Sprio. But at this point, my hair is so thin, I’m to where I want to shave it all off and bond or get a wig. But I see the point you’re making about your bio hair.
Obviously, I’d like to keep my bio hair as long as possible. (Wouldn’t we all?) I’m sure you would too. Hope this works out well for you, but just remember, you look AMAZING in your wigs!
Oh, I so understand! A big shed is horrifying even when you’re no longer hoping to gain. It’s the stuff of nightmares. Literally – as a very young, healthy woman, long before I even realized that women can lose our hair, too, I once had a terrible dream about losing most of my hair in the shower drain, and woke up crying inconsolably.
It still feels that way now! And it’s such a struggle, which treatments to keep, which to let go, what to wear on one’s head… and always, always, how to avoid another shed.
I envy the brave few who just shave it and wear a bald head. That is so gutsy! I don’t think I could do it. Or maybe I’m just not there yet.
Thanks for the update, and here’s hoping the PRP does enough to allow you to keep your natural hairline!
How long do you see a difference with the PRP? What is the cost of treatments? Have you lost any of the front of your hairline? I have had about an inch receding along the front of my hairline, one reason I am afraid I will never be able to pull off a wig, you look so natural with your little natural pieces coming out the sides. I continue to take aldactone 100mg and ortho cyclen with no benefit, but I too am afraid that if I go off of them it will get worse. Ahhh!
Hi Y!
Once again, thanks for the update. No one can accuse you of not giving this hair loss battle the old college try. I do hope the PRP treatments help the way you are hoping.
I relate to what you said in your video – the hair loss shed is unbearable anymore, my last TE phase was the reason I shaved my head – I literally could NOT take it anymore! I love it when people tell me not to stress out – gobs of hair fall out everyday and I’m to stay calm? Yeah, nice try…
I also relate to what you say about keeping some of your hair to blend with your wigs. You say it wouldn’t take much to blend – but my front hair line is a Homer Simpson. So shave everywhere else to avoid the shed, but walk around with a perimeter of wispy hair? I thought about that but to see myself like that I think would really kill me. I had to put bangs in my wig so as to not see the crisp hair line of the wig and I don’t really care for them – I like myself without bangs, maybe I will get used to it. I also wonder, since I shaved my head, maybe when I go get my custom cap made there are other options to let me wear no bangs? I was to go almost two weeks ago to look into this but the fellow that helps me broke his leg and had to have surgery the day I was to travel – the nerve of him 😉
I also like taking my wig off at night and giving my scalp a breather. At first I hated looking at myself in the mirror and would just glance by, but now I’m kind of used to it and think it looks better than the dry fluff and scalp everywhere, I actually look healthier. Also, my scalp has really been flaking since the shave. I knew before the shave that alot of crap was kind of building up on my scalp. I really don’t think I was washing my scalp properly or getting all the soap out. I was afraid to wash my hair properly and would only use little water pressure because I did not want the hard pressure to pull more hair out (I know, I know). I think now I am massaging my scalp, brushing my scalp and using essential oils to moisturize my scalp and my scalp is staring to feel a lot better.
I also understand wanting to get off medication – I tossed mine all out when I shaved. I decided to give my body a “cleanse” – back to basics.
My preshave routine in FUTILITY makes me sick when I remember all the time wasted, false hope and focus on hair. I cannot express how cutting all that stress out has made me feel better – it didn’t grow me some nice head of hair but the old me is starting to come back and I thought she was gone forever.
This is such a journey. I would love to know how you make out with weaning yourself of the meds and what options you may discover in the wig department if you do decide to shave and not bond. I’m not saying never but I think wigs are more in my future than bonding.
Thank for taking the time to talk to us and share – you are the GREATEST.
Big hugs,
Lina xxoo
Thanks for the update! It is refreshing to hear that even after such a short time, you have learned to accept and love supplemental hair. I am relieved to know that you can now wrap your mind around wearing it “forever” and possibly even shaving your head.
I know once I take the plunge, I won’t look back. Now . . . to take the plunge . . .
You are as always so inspirational, brave and beautiful!!!!
Thank you for all the comments!
@Angie –
Here are my previous posts about PRP:
https://www.womenshairlossproject.com/womens-hair-loss/prp-therapy-experience-joseph-greco/
https://www.womenshairlossproject.com/hair-loss-success/prp-therapy-revisted-3-mo-update/
https://www.womenshairlossproject.com/womens-hair-loss/my-second-prp-hair-loss-treatment-dr-joseph-greco/
Personally, I regret getting on the Aldactone and the Ortho TriCyclen. I regret the pills because the birth control pills was what started my hair loss in the first place (Loestrin FE) I had sworn I’d never go back on it, but in desperation to try and fix my hair loss situation I did, I didn’t realized that years later as my hair loss progressed I would then feel trapped on the pill. I know the shedding that happened the first time, how could I endure that after 13 years of losing my hair. So that’s the dilemma of all this. And as far as the aldactone, I’ve never felt good about taking a blood pressure pill when I didn’t even have high blood pressure. I’ve wondered what that has done to my body, so I’m at the point where I want out.
I’ll accept that my hair revert to where it would be had I never treated it at all, but what I don’t want, is to “SEE’ the actual shedding. So that’s where the whole head shaving thing comes into play for me.
@Helen – Yes indeed, big shedding is the stuff of nightmares, it’s brought me to my knees (literally) and into crying spells so strong i couldn’t breathe, it’s pinned me to the couch for days at a time and made be avoid even washing my hair many times.
I’m not sure I’d be part of the brave ones that go outside sporting the shaved look, I admire them greatly too. I have no problem being at home that way in front of my fiancé, but I wouldn’t be headed to the grocery store like that. I am a hair wearer, this works for me and is how I like seeing myself.
I didn’t even touch on this in the video but yes, I had explained to Dr. Greco that I do wear wigs now ALL the time and the most important part for me to keep is my hairline. He concentrated the PRP at my hairline and in the middle of my head where my hair loss is the most apparent. So I got it in the spots that matter most to me today.
@Joy – For me, to keep the shedding at a lower rate I’d ideally do this every 4 months, that isn’t really realistic for most, and I went a little over 6 months between this treatment and my last. I think twice a year works out fine for most people’s needs. The cost for the concentrated Cytokine Rich Plasma With Protein Matrix (which is what I had) is $1,400 and they offer a $200 fly in discount. So if you are flying in from out of town it’s $1200.
My hairline is receded too, I call it a chewed up thin sparse receded hairline, that along with the top behind the hairline and my temples are by bar the worst spots on my head. I don’t think my hairline has receded a full inch, so without seeing your hair I would be able to hazard a guess if it would work to blend the wig line. If you have any thin spareness at the hairline even though the hairline is recessed, then I’d probably say yes, it would still work. It really doesn’t take much to break up the wig line and make it look more natural.
@Lina – Oh my gosh, I certainly did give my hair every opportunity to stick around, but still it betrays me, so no more sunlight for my follicles, they are now being punished into the darkness of my lovely wig locks.
Yes fingers crossed the PRP keeps this shedding at bay while I get off my meds, I’d be happier than a pig in you know what, if that happens. I wouldn’t shave just the top and leave the perimeter of hair unless I was bonding a topper. If I’m still going to be wearing a wig, it will be a full shave because, no, I don’t want to see myself like that morning and night with a shave top and wisps around the edge, for bonding I’d be fine with it. Bangs are a wig’s best friend, but I don’t think I have a face for bangs, they’ve never looked good on me, so if there is a gal looking to wear wigs that has a shaped face that can hold a Zooey Deschanel bang, holy crapatoli, you’ve hit the wig lottery. I would shave my head today if I could pull that off. I think I need to try on a precut wig with a bang like that already in place and see if it will work AT ALL. I am certainly not going to cut my wigs like that only to find out, yep I was right, don’t have a face for it LOL
I can definitely see how your shaved head would even look healthier than the thinning hair. I’m embarrassed of my hair, I’d be less embarrassed of a shaved head, and as we’ve come to learn in some cases shaving the hair sometimes gives the illusion of having more hair in the form of stubble. Showers must be super fast for you now!
I’m right behind you Lina, with my medication bottles dangling over the trash can… almost… almost… I hope I can wean of the meds without a massive shed, if it happens, it happens and I will deal with it in the form of clippers one way or the other.
@A- Yes hair wearing is me now, this I know FOR SURE. If there was ever any doubt all that was blown to pieces the day before yesterday when I left the hotel room without my wig. Never again. I’d been willing to bet that once you find your hair wearing solution you’ll feel a weight lifted off your shoulders and you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. It’s a process, I’m not saying it’s easy peasy and that a wig or a bonded topper is going to be the same as your own hair in the way you remember it to be, but it can be pretty darn great and life changing. When we are mentally able to accept it, it works beautifully I think.
@Jan Scott – Thank you
XOXO
Thanks for posting videos and your thoughts on things. I just started wearing full wigs over the summer (day after my birthday)…Happy 40?!
I have been dealing with this for 7-8 years and tried Spiro and birth control pills. They did not seem to work for me that was the first thing I tried. I did stop taking both and honestly did not notice a shed from stopping. I have been using Rogaine most of this time though also. For me Rogaine worked really well in the beginning but it’s effect has worn off and although I still use it it may be regrowing hair but it still sheds way too much and has on and off during the time i have been on it. The last year and a half has been awful and I finally knew it was time to do something because you can’t cry all the time and expect that to help. I went to a local wig shop and got a custom wig made. I have not received it yet but have been wearing a stock wig for the last 3 months or so. I am not crazy about the one I have I’ve got but hoping that when the custom ones come in they will be better. Just wanted to let you know watching your videos has helped me tremendously because I don’t feel like I am the only one struggling with this and learning how to wash/condition the wigs was very informative. I too think about shaving, bonding or for now just wearing the wig and see how things happen. Love your sunglasses and your hair!! Best wishes for whatever comes your way and may you take strength in knowing you are helping women that are confronting the same issues as you everyday.
Oh and a question. If your wig isn’t lacefront what type is it? I have ordered two lacefronts but would like to order one like yours as well. I have spent lots on the lacefronts and would order a stock one from the lady I go to as she would cut it in and would want to order one for me from her supplier.
Thank you so much for the update and videos. You have made such a difference on my outlook in life with this hair curse. I am now not afraid to wear hair. By the way I felt much better off the Aldactone.
Just wondering if you’ve heard of or know anyone who has tried the Lucinda Ellery intralace system? I think it is in the LA area? Thanks!
Thanks soooo much for posting this. I weened off of Aldactone a year ago, but am still stuck on Yasmin (bcp) for the same reason. Every time I try to get off of it, my hair shedding triple and I become paralyzed with fear. I cry and cry and cry…
Anyway, I’ve been considering ACell + PRP treatments offered in NYC. It’s ridiculously expensive and I’m unclear whether it will work on someone like me. I’ve had issues with hormones and hypothyroidism, so… we shall see. I will keep you posted.
Thanks again for sharing. You look awesomely fabulous and are a brave woman.
How do I get to talk with Dr.PRP treatment