make-mia-better

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Hair loss recovery update

In June 2022 my hair started to fall out.

Since then, I have:

Used topical 7% minoxidil with estrogen for over a year (had to stop 2 months ago due to really itchy scalp)

Red light therapy with Capillus cap every night recommended by my dermatologist

Taken 4 Nutrafol capsules every day

I have definitely seen an increase in baby hairs and filling back in of my scalp. The area that is still struggling is the back of my head.

My dermatologist does not have a formulation of minoxidil without propylene glycol (an ingredient that helps the minoxidil spread on your scalp, and the thing that makes your scalp itch).

Since I stopped the topical minoxidil, my hair has been shedding again. This time it is a lot less shedding, and it should hopefully stop again in another month (the internet tells me it takes 2-3 months for your scalp to shed all the growth that was due to minoxidil use).

While I wait for my oral minoxidil prescription, I am adding:

Densifying Remedy every time I wash my hair

Vegamour Gro Serum every night

I am hoping these more natural remedies will help while not causing the horrible scalp issues I had with topical minoxidil.

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Goals

In order of importance, and also the order in which I will be able to achieve them:

Be able to play actively with my kid for more than 20 mins at a time.

Be able to ride my bike-to-nowhere for 1 hour at a time.

Be able to lift heavy things in a gym.

Be able to return to training jiu jitsu.

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Hair loss from steroid use for fatigue

About 3 months ago, my hair started falling out. It started slowly, and I initially thought it was because I ran out of biotin.

Then handfuls started coming out each time I washed, and now I cannot run my hands through it without ending up with a fistful of hair.

From what I can tell, this was caused by the hydrocortisone I was prescribed by my alternative medicine doc, and is a likely side-effect of any long-term steroid usage.

Corticosteroids, of which hydrocortisone is one, increase the amount of DHT in your system. The DHT causes inflammation of your hair follicles, and damages them, making it more likely the hair will fall out. The internet jury seems out on how quickly, if at all, your hair grows back after ceasing steroid use.

In addition, long-term steroid usage is also known to weaken your immune system, and bones 😬. None of this was explained to me when I was prescribed the hydrocortisone, and I feel like an idiot for not asking.

I tapered down, and then stopped using steroids altogether. I have also started aggressively supplementing for hair growth, and am working with a hairdresser I trust.

Here's hoping this particular side effect is reversible.

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The care roster: Doctors, therapists, and more

There's several doctors who are playing an active role in my care, but I suspect I am going to need a roster shake-up to make it through the next phase of recovery.

The MD

The MD started treating me for Long Covid sometime in 2020.

The MD has kept up on the current research, prescribed me medicine, and referred me out to specialists when need be.

Unfortunately, they are not great at listening, and often assume I have symptoms I don't (they kept saying I had unbearable chest pain, when I have had mild discomfort for most of my case). They are also very keen to prescribe the latest treatments in Long Covid recovery, and not great at explaining why, and what outcome they are hoping for. They're also relatively unavailable.

The Alternative Medicine Doc

They were the first and only doc to ever suggest testing my adrenal function, which proved to be a game-changer for me.

I went through 5 weeks of week-daily hyperbaric sessions with them to try to heal my lungs. It helped hugely with the brainfog, and temporarily helped my energy levels, but my chest symptoms never went away.

They're not a fan of conventional medicines and vaccines, often jump to conclusions ("oh! You definitely don't have adhd" despite only talking with me for 3 mins), and are very expensive.

The Therapist

The best use of money in my healthcare journey so far. They act as a sounding board for the grief and confusion I feel and help me process what is going on, and what needs to happen next.

I am not sure I could have made it this far without them.

The Specialists & Testers

Throughout this process, I have seen:

Pulmonary specialist (loves their motorcycle, is thinking of buying a new one)

Several CT scanning technicians (my fave was the one who kept calling me "darlin'" and caught me when I sat up too quickly)

Echocardiogram folks (probably the least talkative of the radiologists so far)

Several X-ray technicians (super efficient, super busy)

The Pinch-Hitting MDs

When my MD is out, or I cannot see them (which is not an insignificant amount), I see the first MD I can on the One Medical app.

They usually over-promise and under-deliver. The last one I had was horrified that my chart was not up-to-date and promised to get back to me within a day. I never heard from them again.

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Cortisol & DHEA Levels

Cortisol

In October 2021, this is what my cortisol levels looked like. I was barely able to stay awake past lunch time, and parenting was pretty darn hard.

After a year or so of taking hydrocortisone, my cortisol levels are now "high".

I am unsure whether my levels will go back to normal, now that I have stopped taking cortisol artificially.

DHEA

In September 2021, my DHEA-sulfate result was 164.0 ug/dL.

Now, in September 2022, my DHEA-sulfate result is 86.6 ug/dL.

I am not a doctor, but that seems like not a great sign.