To those who have consulted a doctor for their hairloss...

How did your doctor came up with the diagnosis? I`ll be consulting with my dermatologist in four days and I would like to be able to cover all bases, so to speak. ;)
Can you guys, PLEASE, narrate in detail your consultations -- specifically, the examinations and tests your doctors made you go through?!? :D

I didn't see a dermatologist, I saw a shrink ;-) Seriously. I take lithium, which is can hamper your thyroid. After feeling lousy (I had all the symptoms of hypothyroidism too....hair falling out, sensitivity to cold weather that normall would not bother me, sluggishness), I started reading about hypothyroidism on the web.

I read that some patients are disturbed when their levels are even borderline low, a level that traditionally would not be treated with meds...and the article recommended that you insist on going over the specific results with your doctor.


My levels came back borderline low, which my shrink said could likely have been from the lithium. After consulting with an endocrinologist, she agreed to start me on thyroid meds. After about a month on thyroid meds I was feeling way way way better overall. My hair loss had stopped...but the weak lifeless mane was still there. I supplemented my thyroid meds with Viviscal and had my "regular" hair back in about 4 months.

I don't like to tell other people what to do with their body...but it may be advisable to have your primary care/internist doctor run some basic blood screens to make sure you don't have any medical reasons for your hair to be problematic.

Hi,
I've seen a derm, GP, endocrinologist & GYN...for my hair loss...they all did blood tests. Of course nothing was off by too much. My testosterone was a little on the high side.

I've been unofficially dx'd with PCOS, my daughter has it, my mom and my 15 y/o neice has just been dx'd with it too My daughters endo said it's heriditary, we (mom & I) most likely have it too.

I've tried rogaine, it helped a little-but expensive. I spoke w/ my gyn about prescribing Spironolactone, that seems to help a bit.

I also take Antidepressants and those are notorius for hair loss.

I have come to terms with my thin hair (kind've), I use an alopecia masking lotion, it colors the scalp and helps hair look thicker. I use Nioxin too, that seems to help too-not as must hair loss after use. I don't know...

I just keep my eyes open looking at new products...but not buying into every hair loss miracle thats advertised.

Good Luck.

Hi bluebee,

Reading your post was like reding my own bio. I too have PCOS along with being insulin resistance.

Did your endo put you in glucaphage? This has helped me tremediously. My hair is a little thicker but better yet the all the other places that were having to be waxed has slowed down. My testosterone also was high which causes the hair loss on the head and excess elswhere.

I have found that regular excercise has helped me alot also.

Hang in there my PCOS sister!!!

Hi Lisa,

I went w/my daughter to her endo, he was the one who who told me I probably had it too, but I wasn't the patient, so he couldn't treat me...I then mentioned it to my gyn's nurse...and because fertility is not what needs to be addressed (tubal, no more kids) she said "SO, what do you want to do about it?" Well, I want to talk about spironolactone for my hair loss....(grrrrr!) The doc was very understanding about it.

But anyway...no I'm not on glucophage, my daughter is on ortho tri cyclen...I think it's helping but I think the glucophage would help her more.

According to my GP, I am a diabetic waiting to happen because of my triglycerides(hereditary again) so I could probably ask about it.

In Nov. I went on a different antidepressant, hair loss for women is depressing in itself and add the other factors and it makes it worse-it did give me a little more energy & motivation, my daughter and I have joined Curves, we keep each other motivated to keep going and I believe it helps everything else as well.

What products have you found helpful besides the glucophage?

Hi,

One thing that has really helped is the Insulin resistant Diet. It is a book you can find on amazon.com. It makes me feel alot better.

I too, can no longer have children either,or as my son says "My mom can't have anymore babies because she had her basket takin out"

I had to have this surgery because of the side effects of PCOS. But I did not know I had it untill after the surgery

But now I feel great!!

OK, You Guy's ; I apoligize for being so ignorant, but what is PCOS?

Hi Sophie,

It's short for Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome.

Severity of symptoms aren't the same for everyone. But some of them are thinning hair, thick waist, too much hair on other parts of the body...moustache etc. Acne, lack of periods, heavy painful periods because of cysts, insulin resistance.
Dark areas on skin like embedded dirt, around neck or waist. Difficulty conceiving...my kids are 10 yrs apart. Difficullty losing weight.

I hope I explained it OK...You can do a search for PCOS and it will tell you lots more. Lots of women have it, many probably don't know it (I didn't til a few years ago)

WOW blue bee,

That was a super explaination for it! You really summed it up really well.

Thanks Lisa

Wow guy's, I feel so ignorant...I see and touch Women every day...this sounds like something I should read up on. I'll do some research. Thanks for sharing...