DU, tell me my hair is pretty!

[BluePatriot]

It's falling out b/c of a thyroid problem. I am 23 btw.

My mother just accused my hairpiece of looking like a "tired small pet" and implied that I am wearing it too often.

Wow, thanks so much for uplifting the spirits of a young woman struggling with hair loss due to a common-yet-misdiagnosed medical disorder. Thanks for propping up my confidence about my rapidly changing bodily appearance. Your infectious kindness and charm has turned me into the person I am today.

She also accused me of over-exaggerating my symptoms prior to my diagnosis. Wanted to lump me into the mental health category. Typical.

Anyway, my hairpiece is pretty so nyaaa. Maybe I could get a few more for variety, though.

[BarenakedLady]

1. Wow, I'm sorry

That must be difficult. :hug:

Sometimes those closest to us, hurt us the most. I'm sorry your mom isn't being more supportive.

I'm sure your hair is very pretty. :hug:

[SPKrazy]

2. Sorry Blue Patriot

can they treat your thyroid and stop the hair loss?

hair pieces can be very natural and nice looking

sounds like your mother has her own issues that aren't about you

I bet your hair looks just fine!

:hug:

[Kali]

3. shave, get some REALLY obnoxious tattoos and see what she thinks of that!

Hope you take that as the sarcastic humor I intended it, don't know you so I realize that might not be helpful. I suspect most women are as emotionally invested in hair as they are breasts. When my mother went through chemo, the hair loss was harder for her than any of it. On the other hand I have heard other women proclaim shaving it all off to be incredibly liberating.

I am sure your hair piece is lovely, maybe it is her sad way of encouraging you to liven it up with a ribbon or color?

[auntAgonist]

4. BluePatriot

I lost a LOT of my hair due to protein issues after bariatric surgery in 2005. I fully understand how you are feeling. People can be such idiots at times!
find a hairdresser who can work with you until you can get medication working in your favour. (hopefully meds will help)
A good hairdresser, one that's experienced in medical hair loss should be able to style your hair in such a way that you'll just love it.

best wishes to you ..

:)

:hug:
aA

[miss_american_pie]

5. Your hair is beautiful

:hug:

[ThomCat]

6. The world becomes much more pleasant

when parents aren't involved. x(

Now that you're diagnosed I hope you have a good doctor who's taking it seriously. That's the most important thing.

If you say the hairpiece is pretty then it's awesome. I love it. :hug:

[soleft]

7. Hello Gorgeous!

I think it's one of the hardest things of all when we need support from people closest to us and because of their limitations they're unable to give it.

But you got us!

And you're very courageous to be reaching out. And that's beautiful!

[justfred]

8. YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL

....and the REALLY good news is that she Sinead O'Connor look is coming back!!!

[Avalux]

9. Focus on yourself; forget about what mom says.

Yes, your hair is pretty and if you're happy with your hairpiece, that's all that matters. More importantly, you now have a diagnosis for your health problems and since hypothyroidism is treatable, you can get back to being a beautiful young woman with a bright future.

Sometimes parents suck. I am sorry your mother isn't supportive; it's her problem, not yours. All the best to you BluePatriot. :hug:

[BluePatriot]

10. Thanks everybody!

You guys are great. I have a followup in a month but the hair loss has not ceased yet even though my thyroid levels are reverting back to normal. It was a case of thyroiditis (hyperthyroid, and then low radiation uptake) I do not know if I have the chronic kind yet (Hashimoto's) but as I tested weakly positive for the anti-TPO antibody it is possible I have had some chronic problems with my thyroid. My internist is a nice guy and we are waiting to see if everything stabilizes out before any thyroid meds. They did give me some beta blockers for the anxiety/heart palpitations but I went with some herbal remedies instead which are working nicely.

I should probably start taking zinc and selenium again for the hair. The zinc makes me a bit sick when I take it w/o food though.

Mom is not so bad (I love her help taking on the insurance companies!) but she really has a personal-responsibility mindset and cannot acknowledge that a small gland can affect one's health and behavior. Or that drugs can cause side effects. A real mind over matter lady...She is one to think she has control over everything in her life, and is uncomfortable with the idea that your body can pull the rug out from under your mind if you are really sick. But I know that is not my fault.

[Fleshdancer]

11. wow. is she always like this?

My grandmother would say hurtful things to my mother. I hated her for it. I use to say that for her, every silver lining had a dark ugly grey cloud. :(

As for you sweetheart, you're dealing with something that can't be easy and doing it with someone toxic in your life who, for some stupid reason, wants to bring you down. I think you're amazing. As for your mom, she's probably jealous that you can take your hits with such grace. My theory about my grandmother was that she despised my mom for not sharing her weaknesses. Some people are just weird that way I guess.

Wear your hairpiece with pride, get a few more for variety and tell your mom that if she has nothing nice to say, then shut up.

[RetroLounge]

12. You hair is gorgeous

and you are perfect just the way you are.

:hug:

RL

[reyd reid reed]

13. You have lovely hair...

and anyone who says otherwise is just jealous.

So there. Nyah.

And give 'em one of these, too...just for good measure:



And this is for you:

[elfrangel]

14. You look Marvelous!!!!

Hope that things start to turn around for you soon.


BTW, for Mom you might mention to her that the Thyroid contributes to just about EVERYTHING that happens in the body. A google search should reveal some sites that might help her get a grasp of the situation, if she's willing to learn. If all else fails, ask your doctor for some information, he should have some.

[BluePatriot]

16. I have done that, actually.

I have pointed her to a few sites, notably when I chose not to take the beta blockers after the thyroiditis diagnosis and had to give her a speech after she flipped out about my not taking the meds the doc prescribed. "Look, this beta blocker stuff is not thyroid medication, this is for symptom management. I tend to get side effects from medication and would prefer another choice to manage symptoms. If the doctor chooses to place me on thyroid hormone, I would be compliant with that, and probably discontinue herbal remedies if we feel they interact in some way." Argh.

This whole saga started with my behavior and symptoms being alarming enough to my bosses to call me aside and suggest I seek medical treatment...specifically mental health treatment. In retrospect that's not their fault but the psych. doc should have screened my symptoms for a thyroid problem as mandated by the DSM-IV. Did they? Nope. So not only was I suffering from thyroid effects, but also side effects from a mood stabilizer they placed me on (Lamictal) which really puzzled everyone as it supposedly has low or no side effects. When I listed out my effects I was basically treated like a hypochondriac and it was suggested I was in denial about my "mental health issues." The doctors had everyone convinced it was all in my head except for my husband and father. When they just wanted to put me on more mood drugs even after I told them I had abnormal thyroid results I "took a walk" and tapered off the Lamictal. They wanted me to do it cold turkey but I insisted for a sample to follow the dosing schedule in reverse and come off it gradually. I feel so much better. It was pretty tough convincing everyone I was physically ill. From the reading I have done, sadly, it can be a typical experience with thyroid issues as they can present as multiple, vague health complaints. My husband was great though. And I am sure I can educate my mom, it is just a bit frustrating because of her attitude.

[flamingyouth]

17. I'm so sorry this has been an ongoing problem with her.

I'm glad you have your husband and father to support you, though. That is so important. :hug:

[elfrangel]

20. So sorry that you are having to deal with this.

The plus side to this whole situation is that your dad and hubby believed you and are trying to help. Also, from what I can gather from your other posts, you have a doctor now who LISTENS to you and is trying to help. Major kudos to him/her.

Keep us posted. I know things will get better.

[flamingyouth]

15. Geez!

I'm so sorry to read this. I don't need to see a picture of you; I know your hair is beautiful. Sometimes people say hurtful things out of frustration and don't really mean them (I'm not trying to defend what she said). My own mother has said some pretty weird and mean things to me over the years too in fits of anger.

Hold your pretty head up and put on a big smile. Hang in there. :hug:

[Left Is Write]

18. You're beautiful and so is your hair.

I completely sympathize with you - my husband had some significant hair loss at age 25 due to a thyroid problem. The good news is that when he got treated, his hair thickened up again and much of it grew back in.

Best of luck to you!

:hug:

[BluePatriot]

19. While I hope it grows back soon

I'm not looking forward to a layer of shorter-length fuzz all over my head, lol. Guess I will be busting out the hairspray!

[eyepaddle]

21. Your hair is wonderful

Say the same about mine, if you please. :)

(Hurry while you still have the chance!) ;)

[BluePatriot]

23. Your hair is wonderful

There :)

[eyepaddle]

24. Thanks!

I know in my case it is a lot more mundane, but that first in the mirror wher ther was just no more denying it was more than a little distressing.

Best of luck to you, YOU are beautiful. :)

[buddhamama]

22. You're gorgeous

and so is your hair.

I am sorry for what you are going through.

I good friend of mine has recently been diagnosed with thyroid cancer so I know a bit of what you're experiencing.

Take Care of you,
and never forget,
You're still here and in the end it is all that matters. :hug: :hug: :hug:

[Sugar Smack]

25. BluePatriot, your hair is so pretty! I also know how you feel.

Four years ago, I was under some major stress and also not getting enough protein in my diet. It's certainly not nearly what you are experiencing, but my hair started thinning for a while there. There were a few people who were SO FREAKING RUDE about it. They'd just come out and SAY "Oooh, your HAIR is so THIN!!" And I was already feeling sensitive about it. I wanted to smack the bastards, who didn't know what it was like to come out of the shower, not blowdry, and then brush my hair oh-so-tentatively. I remember what it was like to run my hands thru my hair and find more strands in my hands than before.

You are beautiful. And we are here. :hug:

[BluePatriot]

27. Thanks.

Maybe I will try the protein thing too...I do tend to eat a diet heavier in carbs and veggies. Showering has become interesting *ack get this hair off my hands bleh* Could be worse but I am just like "ok...you can stop now...come on...labs are going back to normal...you too, darn hair..."

[applegrove]

26. Yes..get a variety of hair pieces for fun. Turn a lemon into lemonaide. And

try and tell your mom how it hurts you when she criticizes.