Re: Does everyone experience hair loss? - To Tera
From: tera (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 19 Jan 2003 20:25:10 -0600 (CST)
Hi!
I know exactly what you mean - YOU need to be your own advocate. Do you
know what I do? It sounds dorky, but write down all of your questions
and bring them to your appointment. I MUST do this or I will no
accomplish what I set out to do. Then, I write her answers down as
she's talking so that I have a record of the appointment. It has really
helped me a lot.
As far as the diuretic effect for Spiro goes - for me, it hasn't gone
away (I've been taking it for over a year). I take both my Metformin
and my Spironolactone before bed because they both make me sleepy and
with Spiro, I have to get up twice a night to use the bathroom. I do
not have to do this during the day however. I'm not sure how anyone
else does with the diuretic effect. But please check with your doctor
and ask these questions. Also, Spiro does not work for everyone and
actually, I'm not sure if it's helping me very much at all. I did take
the herbal supplement Saw Palmetto for a long while and when I stopped
taking it, my hair loss increased so you could give that a try because
it's not supposed to have the side effects that Spiro does and it is not
supposed to interfere with other meds, but tell your doctor you're
taking it. Saw Palmetto is very inexpensive and it's supposed to
interfere with androgens. Although it is not proven as a hair loss
supplement, it is a proven anti-androgen. Also, if you are concerned
about side effects, you can always tell your doctor that you're willing
to try the Spiro but that you'd like to come in every two weeks to get a
blood test to make sure that everything is going okay - that should ease
your worries about all of your levels. Hope this makes sense! :) Take
care and God bless, Tera
At Sun, 19 Jan 2003, Maria wrote:
>
>Thanks so much for your honest response and suggestions. I am in such a
>pickle because I would like to try these medications, but am scared of
>the side effects. My doctor seems to think I would benefit from
>Spironolactone, but being in a chair makes it hard to deal with the
>diuretic effect. I hear the effect only lasts for a couple weeks. Is
>this true for most? My other concern is that I read somewhere on the web
>that if you have low creatinine (sp?) levels that it puts you at higher
>risk for lactic acidosis and wouldn't you know it....I have low
>creatinine levels! My doctor never mentioned this fact but I saw the low
>levels on my lab results. I'm thinking maybe since the diuretic effect
>wears off quickly, the concern for lactic acidosis isn't a big deal? I
>just wish there was one person I could sit down with and have all my
>questions and concerns addressed. You know? When I see my endo, she's
>very sweet but the time goes by quickly and all my questions escape me.
>This whole process is very frustrating, especially with family members
>who think it's no big deal. I almost feel like I need an advocate! :-)
>Anyways, thanks for letting me vent and thanks again for your help.
>
>--
>Maria
>
>At Fri, 17 Jan 2003, tera wrote:
>>
>>Hi!
>>
>>I agree with my sweet buddy Sonnet! :) Not everyone with PCOS will
>>experience head hair loss. Also, keep in mind that PCOS is progressive.
>>So, just because you don't have certain symptoms now doesn't mean that
>>you won't experience them with time. For instance, when I first started
>>displaying PCOS symptoms I was about 17 or 18. At that time I started
>>developing excess facial and body hair, ovarian cysts and some weight
>>gain. At that time I did not have excessive weight gain, infertility
>>(that I knew of), irregular periods, head hair loss, etc. that I am
>>experiencing now. That stuff has developed with time. I am now 28 and
>>my hair loss started only a year ago. The head hair loss with PCOS can
>>result in anything from very slight thinning to male pattern baldness -
>>although, please do not panic - this does not happen to everyone! Not
>>everyone with PCOS gets all of the symptoms - if you spend more than one
>>day on this forum you will soon know that PCOS is not a "one size fits
>>all" syndrome. :) It effects each woman differently as far as which
>>symptoms they have and how their PCOS progresses. As far as treating
>>PCOS related hair loss, you could try Metformin or Glucophage and a low
>>carb diet (to get at the probable source of your PCOS), spironolactone
>>or aldactone (an anti androgen med that may help with loss) and Saw
>>Palmetto (an herbal supplement that could help - that's about the only
>>thing that has helped me so far). I have also heard others try Rogaine
>>for Women. But, check with a PCOS friendly doctor to determine which
>>could be your best course of action if this happens to you. Sorry so
>>long! Hope this helps! God bless, Tera (feel free to e-mail personally -
>>jasonandtera@att.net)
>>
>>At Fri, 17 Jan 2003, Sonnet wrote:
>>>
>>>Not everyone with PCOS develops hair loss, it's one of those charming
>>>symptoms that some people get, and many don't. If you notice your hair
>>>starting to fall out (for me this is most noticeable in the shower, it
>>>comes out as I'm washing it) it's worth checking with your doctor /
>>>endocrinologist. You should check things like thyroid and iron levels
>>>that can also cause hair loss and may be related to PCOS. If you do get
>>>hairloss strictly as a symptom of PCOS, treating the PCOS should help
>>>(via diet, medications, etc.)
>>>
>>>At Fri, 17 Jan 2003, Maria wrote:
>>>>
>>>>Hi, I'm a 24-yr-old with PCOS. I have large amounts of hair on my face
>>>>and chest and I'm trying to figure out the best couse of action, as I am
>>>>also paralyzed and must be careful with certain medications. So far,
>>>>I've just taken care of the hair on my face with laser removal. It has
>>>>recently come to my attention that hair loss may/will also occur.
>>>>
>>>>Does everyone with PCOS experience hair loss?
>>>>
>>>>How old were you when you began to lose hair?
>>>>
>>>>How much hair is typically lost?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks,
>>>>Maria
>>>
>>>--
>>>email always welcome: sonnet_fitz@hotmail.com
>>>
>>--
>>Tera
>>
--
Tera
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