21 Years Old: Ruling out Telogen Effluvium

[Mchoudhary]

Use 500 TDs water

[prophetoffollicle]

Background info: A few weeks back, I began feeling paranoid about my hair. Something just didn't feel right. I kept playing around with it (it was pretty long) and couldn't quite put my finger on it. I'd ask people to look, only to get the typical "I don't see a thing" answer (bless them, as I know they don't mean harm, and it is quite a nice thing). This "something's off" feeling became exacerbated by what I noticed to be a wild increase in shedding. My hair was falling out in droves. In one day, I'd brush my hair and would leave behind a sizable clump in the brush. I'd shower right after, only to find a clump either similarly sized or larger in the drain. More hair than ever before would be falling out. (Possibly of note: I didn't always check the hair, but on the occasions I did, a white bulb WAS present at the root end).

I went to my GP, told himabout my hair falling out and that I was concerned about thinning/MPB. He asked me about family History, I told him that My dad has all his hair at 52. MY maternal uncles (dad has no brothers) all have their hair. MY maternal grandfather is 70 and has only mild temporal recession (NW2-3 in my best estimation). My paternal grandfather lost his hair in his 80's. He took a look at my scalp, and diagnosed me with Seborrheic Dermatitis (I was given Ketaconazole 2% shampoo), but said I didn't look like I was balding and said given my family's history, he doubted that I would experience MPB in the way I was describing. I asked for a dermatologist referral, he felt it wasn't necessary, but that I could ask again if this persisted.

About a month later, after going through the typical "my life is over, I'm going bald" stage (I cried, admittedly... lol), I was fed up and decided to buzz my hair (these are the pics I've included). It revealed what looks like seriously sparse hair on the top of my head and also the sides. I revisited the doc, who said verbatim: "I guess I can see why you'd be concerned about thinning..." and then went on to talk to me about propecia, rogaine, etc. I askd for blood tests, he said they werne't necessary as my thyroid and CBC tests had been fine a little while ago (IE: a couple of months ago)*****

This is where my story and my confusion are stemming from. I recently lost 100lbs over the course of one year. Near the end, I was concerned with blasting off any remaining body fat, and so (stupidly) I was eating literally 500-1000 calories a day, for a number of months, the entire summer of 2015 and a few months into fall). This continued up until one day when I felt terribly off. It happened suddenly, but I went through a Three week period of near nightly panic attacks, extreme fear/anxiety, terrible digestion symptoms... I still wasn't eating and in fact ate even less because of the digestive issues. I slept only 4 hours every 2-3 days, and even spent a little bit of time in the ER due to the exhaustion and everything. Eventually my doctor ordered an H.Pylori test (a stomach bacteria that causes a whole slew of things) and I came back positive. I was put on a week's worth of antibiotic (triple therapy they call it, stomch acid reducer and two antibiotics for 7 days). I've since recovered, though my stomach is still recovering, but the anxiety and the bacterial infection are definitely gone.


Here I am, about 2-3ish months after the episode and this is the situation I've found myself in. I know this is a beyond redundant topic to post, but I'm at a loss and wanted to consult people who have through this, either MPB or any other form of hairloss. My doctor won't do bloodtests for hormones/vitamins/nutrient deficiencies, looks at me like I'm making a big deal of this, but is quite ready to prescribe propecia... hmm. When I said no, his reply was to "just not think about it."

I've read a few threads asking this sort of question and I want to stress that I'm not *hoping* that this is Telogen Effluvium *instead of* MPB. I'm well aware it could be the latter, or both even, or that if it is T.E. it could "awaken" a susceptibility to MPB despite my family history -- and I'm, frankly, quite open to either. If I have to shave my head to the bone, I can deal with it and if my hair will grow back in full or even just some, I'd definitely be really thrilled. I'm asking because I feel like I'm being shafted by someone who doesn't have a roundabout understanding of hairloss and I don't know what to do, where to turn. I would love to switch doctors or visit any dermatologist, etc. but up until a bit ago I didn't even have healthcare and even still am at a loss of options financially. Such is life, and worse things have happened to much less deserving people, so believe me, I am beyond grateful for any and all replies, any advice, tips, experiences, etc. All I have are pictures that look like examples of diffuse thinning and telogen effluvium, and my story, so thank you so much in advance for the time and effort!

~All pictures are current, I blacked out either my face or the location/date and time. Image one if just for a general idea of hairline~

How are you doing now OP?

[Jump1]

Saw endo. He said thyroid not the cause. Testing vitamin d. Said to take iodine. Waiting on vitamin d results. Says i have multiple stress factors for hair loss caused by stress. Didnt say anythig about hairs getting thinner. Going to teat thyroid in 6 weeks. Expects antibodies will be lower 12 weeks after h pylori eradication

[Jump1]

Got retested for h pylori. I am clear of the infection. Still feel some.pain if dont eat and stressed or annoyed. Hair bad as ever. Nose hair going now. All my hair is fine now. I dont have anymore o my ol thick hair.
Have appointment with endo this afternoon. Will see what he says i hope he better than the drs and derms i have seen so far. None of them have been any good

[Jump1]

Yeah on selenium too. I never touched a pill before this started not even a pain killer. I dont know why i am bothering though. Nothing is working.

[GroughBack]

Hope things get better for you, keep your head up!! are you supplementing a good selenium with the Iodine?

[Jump1]

I dont know. I feel shattered by this. In uk if tsh not above 5 they dont think there is problem even with raised antibodies. I am lost. I wish every day that this ends. So distressing the only peace i have is when i am asleep. I have nothing left to try. 2 years fighting this and loosing and tryin to self diagnose because of care less drs. My life is over. It ended 2 years ago. I have just been existing since. Not been out for night out n 2 years. I work come home and go to work again. I am starting to find that really hard to even do.

[GroughBack]

Sorry man,

What is your next step? With your thyroid out of whack this limits what you can take. Maybe look into supporting your thyroid function with foods.
It's surprising to me that a Dr. wouldn't consider thyroid function as a possible cause. Most think thyroid function is essential to hair loss, and growth?? You probably don't want the thyroid meds anyway, he's doing you a favor.

[Jump1]

Yes. But to be honest i reckon my thyroid is causing this. Drs refuse to giv me.any.meds. tsh was 3.4 last time i tested it privately and peroxidase antibodies were 43. Yet endocrinologost and dr believe those results wouldnt be why my hair is thinning everywhere on my body. Groughback everyday is such a struggle. 20 hairs came out of my eyebrows yesterday.

[GroughBack]

Finasteride can't touch this combination!

[GroughBack]

Good News!

And you're still taking probiotics, fish oil and kelp? Try the rest of the supplements if you want, I can't believe how much they are helping me.
I was on my way to bald 7 months ago, now I have a full head of hair and can feel comfortable on a windy day.

1. Saw Palmetto beta-sitosterol, pumpkin seed oil complex, the one I use is Hairomega 3 in 1, if you don't use this, find one with the same vitamin profile. In addition to this I take 1 Triquetra Health saw palmetto, with pumkin seed oil. Simply because its the only saw palmetto I've seen that is patented and has 3rd party lab tests.
2. L-carnitine tartrate (carnipure patented form) 1,000 mg now foods is the cheapest I found
3. Taurine 4,000 mg (now foods 1,000 mg 4 a day)
4. kelp Iodine 325 mcg (any)
5. Fish oil 2,4000 mg (make sure it's not synthetic)

With the L-caritine and Taurine you will be blocking both TGFB-1 and TGFB-2 proteins (these are hair cell killers). The Saw palmetto and beta-sitosterol will block the conversion of testosterone to DHT, and lastly the kelp and fish oil will help to keep your thyroid function optimal.

If you have time, shower cap your head with Hairmetto overnight (think its important). Before I started doing these things, I was on my way to bald, now I can go out on a windy day and still have a full head of hair, and it keeps coming in.

hope this helps.

[Jump1]

Blood tests for b12 and protein show i am normal. No vitamin def because iif h pylori.

[GroughBack]

Try and keep your spirits up, depression won't help with the hair loss. Get the rest you'll see a difference in 3 months.
taurine comes in 1,000 mg so you'll have to take 4.

now foods uses a patented form of l carnitine called carnipure, this is what I take.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17927577/

http://www.hairloss-research.org/UpdateTaurineandWorms3-13.html

[Jump1]

Thanks, 2 of those supplements i am already taking. Iodine and fish oils. I have been taking probiotics 2 weeks. Am currently on antibiotics to treat the h pylori.

Bowel movements have improved. Pain isn't as bad as it was. Once the treatment is over i aim to start helping to raise my stomach acid. Did a b12 test today to check if deficient in this. I am burpin after eating pretty much straight away or within 5 mins.

I would take all the stomach pain in the world if i could have my hair back. I didnt think anything could break me, this has def broken me. I am not the same person anymore.

[GroughBack]

Hey Jump, if I were you, after a month of probiotics. I would start these supplements, I am using the now and helping immensely!

https://www.baldtruthtalk.com/threads/27595-My-finasteride-experience-and-questions?highlight=l-carnatine

Hairomega seems to be a decent 3 in 1 saw palmetto complex, and supplement the rest separately.