more on hair loss
I went to see the dermatologist again, and after hearing about my menstrual irregularity on the Spironolactone, she recommended that I go off it and see a gynecologist about menstrual irregularity and what I can do about it. Hmm, seems like something she SHOULD'VE done on the first meeting, seeing as I've had irregular and missing periods since I went off the pill. I guess just now she actually looked at my records?
So now she's jumped on the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome wagon, saying that I should see an ob/gyn and get an ultrasound to check on my ovaries.
Funny thing is --and I'm guessing she doesn't know this-- is that Spironolactone is also used for treatment of PCOS. And seeing as how it is an anti-androgen and androgens, like other hormones, are involved in the menstruation process, it doesn't strike me as odd at all that my period got jump-started as soon as a week after taking the pills. Funny how she didn't connect my 45-day menstrual cycles to hormonal irregularity/imbalance BEFORE. Also, she pushed the birth control thing again. Ugh.
Yes, I know that Sprironolactone also tinkers with my hormones but I'm a lot more willing to take that because I've heard (read) many good things about it with respect to female hair loss. And it makes so much sense to me because I've always had a problem with hirsuteness- I chalked it up to my ethnicity, but recently have come to find that it is connected with a higher than what is normal (to one's particular body) levels of androgens. But the scalp follicles and hair follicles everywhere else respond differently to this androgen abundance; the scalp follicles become resistant over time, resulting in hair loss and hair thinning, while the other follicles are extra sensitive and grow thicker and darker body hair. Spiro is also prescribed to treat hirsuteness. So when I started taking it, I figured that I'd be killing two birds with one stone.
I'm willing to bet that I don't have PCOS, just because what I've seen thus far is that the doctors I'm dealing with are largely incompetent in dealing with female hair loss. I know the medical field sees it as frivolous and superficial, and I'm sure they never devoted much time to studying it because most medical professionals are willing to blow it off as "stress" or maybe even poor nutrition. The only FDA-approved (excuse me while I giggle at the legitimacy of the FDA) treatment for female hair loss is Rogaine, which I've never really read good reviews about. Even the lab results are disheartening. Something like 19% see moderate hair regrowth while more (40%) see "minimal results". And the hair that results is fine and doesn't grow any more than 1 inch before it sheds. Rogaine is a perpetual money drain, because it's supposed to be a continuous treatment, not a cure.
I feel like I'm being given the run-around with perhaps well-meaning but generally clueless doctors. They'll probably never figure out EXACTLY what I have because female hair loss is not necessarily something that has been extensively studied and would rather waste my time and money with throwing different medications and suspected illnesses at me. I'll probably end up taking Spiro again once another doctor green-lights it, though I'm still unsure about going back on the pill. Mark's mom gave me a book titled The Good News About Women's Hormones by Dr. Geoffrey Redmond. It makes sense and looks like a promising resource. I leafed through the alopecia (fancy word for hair loss) chapters last night and what a surprise, Spironolactone came up as an effective treatment!
My appointment with the gynecologist is on the 27th. I hope it's more than "you should go on the pill because your period is irregular" or I will be really angry.
I can't wait to get a job/health insurance.
So now she's jumped on the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome wagon, saying that I should see an ob/gyn and get an ultrasound to check on my ovaries.
Funny thing is --and I'm guessing she doesn't know this-- is that Spironolactone is also used for treatment of PCOS. And seeing as how it is an anti-androgen and androgens, like other hormones, are involved in the menstruation process, it doesn't strike me as odd at all that my period got jump-started as soon as a week after taking the pills. Funny how she didn't connect my 45-day menstrual cycles to hormonal irregularity/imbalance BEFORE. Also, she pushed the birth control thing again. Ugh.
Yes, I know that Sprironolactone also tinkers with my hormones but I'm a lot more willing to take that because I've heard (read) many good things about it with respect to female hair loss. And it makes so much sense to me because I've always had a problem with hirsuteness- I chalked it up to my ethnicity, but recently have come to find that it is connected with a higher than what is normal (to one's particular body) levels of androgens. But the scalp follicles and hair follicles everywhere else respond differently to this androgen abundance; the scalp follicles become resistant over time, resulting in hair loss and hair thinning, while the other follicles are extra sensitive and grow thicker and darker body hair. Spiro is also prescribed to treat hirsuteness. So when I started taking it, I figured that I'd be killing two birds with one stone.
I'm willing to bet that I don't have PCOS, just because what I've seen thus far is that the doctors I'm dealing with are largely incompetent in dealing with female hair loss. I know the medical field sees it as frivolous and superficial, and I'm sure they never devoted much time to studying it because most medical professionals are willing to blow it off as "stress" or maybe even poor nutrition. The only FDA-approved (excuse me while I giggle at the legitimacy of the FDA) treatment for female hair loss is Rogaine, which I've never really read good reviews about. Even the lab results are disheartening. Something like 19% see moderate hair regrowth while more (40%) see "minimal results". And the hair that results is fine and doesn't grow any more than 1 inch before it sheds. Rogaine is a perpetual money drain, because it's supposed to be a continuous treatment, not a cure.
I feel like I'm being given the run-around with perhaps well-meaning but generally clueless doctors. They'll probably never figure out EXACTLY what I have because female hair loss is not necessarily something that has been extensively studied and would rather waste my time and money with throwing different medications and suspected illnesses at me. I'll probably end up taking Spiro again once another doctor green-lights it, though I'm still unsure about going back on the pill. Mark's mom gave me a book titled The Good News About Women's Hormones by Dr. Geoffrey Redmond. It makes sense and looks like a promising resource. I leafed through the alopecia (fancy word for hair loss) chapters last night and what a surprise, Spironolactone came up as an effective treatment!
My appointment with the gynecologist is on the 27th. I hope it's more than "you should go on the pill because your period is irregular" or I will be really angry.
I can't wait to get a job/health insurance.