Hair Loss

[sharonnorfolk]

Hi all, I am wondering if my hair will grow back as the dose of pred. reduces. If it carries on like it is I will be bald by Christmas! EEK!

I have GCA and was started on 60 in Feb and I am now down to 16.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Never fear, it will return!

But in the meanwhile make your hairdresser your best friend! They can work wonders with the right cut.

[GOOD_GRIEF]

Are you taking your Vitamin D daily? That's going to help - a lot...

[SheffieldJane]

Mine is, but curly. My hairdresser can make it look good. Me, not so much. 😐

[Reeceregan]

Diagnosed PMR/GCA June 2017, started on 50mg, now at 3.5mg. Didn’t start to lose it until mid-Feb this year... and I was down to about 10mg at the time. Couldn’t understand why it waited till then to fall out, but fall out it sure did! Even my poor hairdresser could only resurrect what was left with a short cut and extensions to “fill in the gaps and make it look thicker”, not longer. Mind you I had the thickest healthiest long blonde hair prior. Devastated me. I haven’t had short hair since Twiggy and her pixie cut was the rage when I was about 12! It’s only just growing back but still looks atrocious and needs extensions. And it’s nothing like it was, it’s now fuzzy and curly. In hindsight maybe I should have gone for a wig, it may have been cheaper than having 10-12 extensions in every 6 weeks or so. The plus side is I have hair - albeit short and fuzzy - but it’s coming back; I don’t have cancer, and I wake up every morning above the ground with my darling hubby beside me. Gotta be grateful for that! 👌

[Daisychain12 in reply to Reeceregan]

Great brave attitude darling. I bought a wig but can't wear the bugger due to the heavy sweats!!! Lol xxxxx

[FRnina]

Yes, it will grow back! Maybe not the same type and texture though. Mine went from a previous thick heavy head of hair to a fine but full head of hair which I have now cut at shoulder length. Patience is key.

[Sandy1947]

So sorry about your hair loss. How ‘bout a wig?

My hair has changed since Pred. It gets frizzy in humid weather and it’s a little curly in the back underneath top layer. I flat iron which helps. Looking forward to fall weather. Down to 4 mg. I also wonder if the old texture will return.

[yogabonnie in reply to Sandy1947]

down to 4. that was a fast couple mg! feeling okay?

[Sandy1947 in reply to yogabonnie]

Feeling OK...lots of exercise, dating, trips. Taking son, daughter in law and grandchildren for family vacation to Woodloch Resort in the Poconos this weekend. It’s all about kid and family activities. I got an Ironman costume for the Halloween parade! Going to Dallas to visit newly weds in November. Need to rest in the late afternoon every day.

How are you feeling? How much Pred are you on?

[yogabonnie in reply to Sandy1947]

I was just at 7 when I had last setback with fall and pain in breastbone..so back to 8. Think I'll stay at 8 until pain is gone then pop back down to 7 and keep on dead slow nearly stop. I need to stop falling over when I play! But I am okay and off to Sweden again in 10 days. !! And all sounds wonderful with you. Love the Iron man costume you must post photo of that! haha

[Sandy1947 in reply to yogabonnie]

So sorry about your spill! Have a wonderful time in Sweden. Post pics...love seeing the family vacation!

[jinasc]

Consider asking for Folic Acid..............

Quite a few people are offered Methotextrate as a steroid sparing agent. Metho was developed originally for cancer patients and if you are ever prescribed it, Folic Acid is also prescribed.

If you put Folic Acid in your search engine, you can read up on it all.

However, one caution, as always whenever you are prescribed a new drug or want to buy OTC or Homeopathy, then check with your Pharmacist for compatibility. Pharmacists know more about drugs than any other medic.

[sharonnorfolk in reply to jinasc]

Thanks for that.

[piglette in reply to sharonnorfolk]

If you take folic acid you should leave a couple of hours between taking that and the vit D with calcium.

[jinasc in reply to piglette]

Thank for that, I forgot to mention it.

So on that day, pred for breakfast, calcium for lunch and Folic for Tea

..........and you then need to buy a dosset box with the morn, noon,evening and night.

[piglette in reply to jinasc]

That sounds a good diet!

[jinasc in reply to piglette]

😋