Panicking over possible MPB

[keepingmyhair]

Went to my GP today, she comforted me with a "we'll get to the bottom of it" and sent me off for a myriad of blood tests. CBC's, CMP, Folate, Iron test, Magnesium, Phosphates, Testosterone, Total (MALES), TSH (Thyroid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy. So that should cover most blood work related to it.

She said it appears to be somewhat thinning up there but also couldn't say for sure if it's MPB or stress related. My father had alopecia areata around my age he told me now, from some major stressor. Didn't know what to say to that, my major stressors never stop, I am a neurotic person. lol.

She gave me some more dermatology references but doesn't know whether or not I'll find one that does miniaturization tests...wish I could find that here in Florida. I went and researched Dr. Baumann and ended up reading lots of horror stories

[Tracy C]

I went and researched Dr. Baumann and ended up reading lots of horror stories

You are going to read a lot of horror stories about any doctor you "research" on the internet. The foundation of internet "research" is almost as solid as quick sand. If I were you, I would go see Dr. Baumann.

[keepingmyhair]

You are going to read a lot of horror stories about any doctor you "research" on the internet. The foundation of internet "research" is almost as solid as quick sand. If I were you, I would go see Dr. Baumann.

I contacted the office on Friday, but they haven't responded to me yet. I have read he charges for a consultation though, and most of the other doctors in that network don't seem to. There's a Dr. Marc Dauer out in L.A. and i'm thinking maybe he'd be good to go see since my mother is out that way now. Good track record Dr. + family visit + the land of shallow and vanity..the city of angels. Might be a good place to get checked out.

[mnx]

Went to my GP today, she comforted me with a "we'll get to the bottom of it" and sent me off for a myriad of blood tests. CBC's, CMP, Folate, Iron test, Magnesium, Phosphates, Testosterone, Total (MALES), TSH (Thyroid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, 25-hydroxy. So that should cover most blood work related to it.

She said it appears to be somewhat thinning up there but also couldn't say for sure if it's MPB or stress related. My father had alopecia areata around my age he told me now, from some major stressor. Didn't know what to say to that, my major stressors never stop, I am a neurotic person. lol.

She gave me some more dermatology references but doesn't know whether or not I'll find one that does miniaturization tests...wish I could find that here in Florida. I went and researched Dr. Baumann and ended up reading lots of horror stories

It's nice that you got a hold of someone who actually is willing to invest themselves. I think I am going to go to a real doctor to clear some things up myself.

I personally can't shake the notion that mine, and quite possibly your hair problems are in fact areata. Mine really just shot up out of nowhere, 99% of my loss and thinning happened in 1 month. The way in which it is lost also looks very much more like some of the areata pictures I've seen as opposed to standard MPB. There is one specific patch with an irregular pattern, and it coincides with extreme stress over a 9 month span including 2 moves.

I briefly took heart that starting propecia would solve my problems, but I really have strong doubts that I have MPB.

[mnx]

By the way, I just read that Areata is more common in people with a family history of it. Seeing as how you have a family history of areata and not the other alopecia, there may be a good chance it is in fact areata.

[keepingmyhair]

By the way, I just read that Areata is more common in people with a family history of it. Seeing as how you have a family history of areata and not the other alopecia, there may be a good chance it is in fact areata.

I wish I knew when mine appeared, but it's so close to the direct top of the crown where this thinning is that it's never been very visible in pictures over the years. I've obviously lost some naturally with age, but I still don't get why I'd be the only one to express the dominant trait of MPB. I'm literally made up of recessive traits. No dimples (wish I had), blue eyes (glad I do have), etc. How dare the universe choose baldness as an outlet in my makeup to express a dominant gene that hasn't appeared in my family!

[mnx]

I wish I knew when mine appeared, but it's so close to the direct top of the crown where this thinning is that it's never been very visible in pictures over the years. I've obviously lost some naturally with age, but I still don't get why I'd be the only one to express the dominant trait of MPB. I'm literally made up of recessive traits. No dimples (wish I had), blue eyes (glad I do have), etc. How dare the universe choose baldness as an outlet in my makeup to express a dominant gene that hasn't appeared in my family!

Wasn't aware MPB was dominant. In theory, doesn't that make it impossible for it to be expressed in you, if it wasn't in previous generations? A recessive trait can hide, but dominant shouldn't, right?

If there is a reason, it would have to be stress. I suppose if you stress a system enough, even if it is not prone to, it will start to break down.

[keepingmyhair]

Wasn't aware MPB was dominant. In theory, doesn't that make it impossible for it to be expressed in you, if it wasn't in previous generations? A recessive trait can hide, but dominant shouldn't, right?

If there is a reason, it would have to be stress. I suppose if you stress a system enough, even if it is not prone to, it will start to break down.

well.. that's what nervous breakdowns do after all. My whole body pretty much shut down in 2008..you'd think i would have been bald back then though..not now.

[mnx]

well.. that's what nervous breakdowns do after all. My whole body pretty much shut down in 2008..you'd think i would have been bald back then though..not now.

True, I wouldn't be surprised if the weight you put on recently had an effect as well. Could be a hormone change on top of constant stress.

Who the **** knows with this stuff, I think there's so many complicating factors, and I don't even trust the supposed experts that much.

[keepingmyhair]

Got my bloodwork back from my primary, all was well except for... Vitamin D. I have a score of 12, lowest limit before there's a vitamin crisis is 30-100.

Anything below 12.5 is considered "Severe vitamin D deficiency" and I did of course look up and see if there's any correlation to hair loss and I'm finding lots of stuff. Anyone have input on that? I'm being given a prescription of mega dose vitamin D to take for 3 months before I end up with rickets, osteoporosis, and apparently no hair? I ignored this last year when my vitamin D score was a 15 and they said I needed to fix it but I didn't want to take the mega dose vitamin...stupid me, I guess.

In summary, I've been severely vitamin D deficient for at least a year..perhaps my hair has been thinning over this time ever so gently and then ramped up a couple weeks ago when lots started coming out?

[NotBelievingIt]

Vitamin D does in fact aide in hair strength and growth. Your hair grows faster in the summer months, ever notice this?

Being sooo low I'd actually get something like a 10,000IU pill and start taking that at the recommended dosage with a follow up VitD screen in a few months. Is that what they gave you?

I personally take a 1000 IU VitD every day. Most people don't get enough anyway, depends entirely upon how much sun they get every day. People in the northern states don't get enough in general.

Ignore the FDA 400 IU on a pill. Thats low and outdated. When its revised they will probably say the RDA is closer to 1000.

[mnx]

From what I've been reading, vitamin D is very important to hair follicles and a deficiency can cause hair loss.

Hopefully correcting that will take care of everything.

[keepingmyhair]

Update

Alright,

so here's me August 8th, 2012. I'll also repost the picture I first posted back in late February.

I am still not being treated with anything and I have gotten diagnoses from nothing to MPB to "it's the drug prilosec you began taking in January, 2012".

My stylist cut my hair today and said in the 12 weeks she has known me my hair is thinning much faster than it should be for someone who has MPB. She showed me what hair came out during washing my hair in the sink, and she showed me how my temples do not change in anyway. They have remained the same since the age of 19.

I tried getting off the prilosec once, but the acid rebound effect was so strong I got scared and got back on the next day. At this rate, genetically speaking I have no idea how it could be MPB unless it's a really freaky dramatic theatrical version where I'm just going to be bald by December or something... It thins in that crown spot and down my center part and then makes the rest of my head "finer" and more "sparse" throughout my head. My front hairline remains untouched however.

Thoughts? Should I just rip myself off the Prilosec and deal with the withdrawal and see if my hair comes back? I still really really don't want to be on propecia and rogaine, i'll then be on 5 medications at age 28. It's not cool.

Late February


Today (August 8th)

[keepingmyhair]

Also I forgot to add that, my vitamin D levels still remain below the normal range.. my body for whatever reason (dunno if it's just me or the drugs) won't stabilize my vitamin D. I've read acid inhibitors like prilosec stop not just stomach acid but all the acid like folic acid needed in the head etc. I haven't had that tested, i'm just aware of what all the other people in prilosec forums say about how they've lost their hair because of the drug and that everyone should get off it asap. sigh.

[keepingmyhair]

Also , I wanted to share my cowlick from when I was 23, which was 5 years ago. That was always there. Whatever has happened, you can see it grew from my pre-existing cowlick which I've always had.