I have had PMR for 3yrs now. I was started on 40mg.Not sure why, and am now down to 8.5. Havent been well enough for a holiday in all that time; but I'm off to Cape cod for a few days. (I live in the UK) Hope the returning jet lag doesn't get me! Anyway, in trying to make myself glamerous (or should I say 'cool' I have had to notice how little hair I have left. It's always been fine, but there was plenty of it. Now I see no sign of regrowth and realise that it had been a gradual loss over 3 years, that I am only now noticing.(or facing uo to) The face has shrunk, I've lost a stone and now this!
Any ideas out there, before I have to grab a wig (which would make my head sweat!)
I can sympathize with you. I have the same problem. But I also have a good hairdresser and we have worked out a length and style that seems to somewhat volumize (in my humble opinion) my thin hair. If you are going to the Cape (which Bostonians like myself call Cape Cod), a wig is not a good idea! It is summer and you need to dress light and feel light. And on the odd day Cape Cod winds can be very powerful, which could be disastrous for an inexperienced wig user. One good way of getting around the hair thing is to wear a hat. I suggest you buy yourself a nice sun hat, maybe when you get to the Cape. You will need one anyway on sunny days. Also, the jet lag traveling from UK to east coast USA should not be too bad. I hope you can forget your hair and enjoy your well-deserved holiday.
I am recently diagnosed and I loved my brothers quick response when telling him that hair might likely fall of my head and grow on my chin - with a grin and a fast answer he said get a trendy hat and shave daily - problem solved. (so simple for men). Maybe its time to become an eccentric dresser. Homeopath told me to drink Nettle tea for hair regrowth
I've been on pred for over three years, too. Am now on 6mgs and my hair is thickening up again, so perhaps as we reduce it rights itself. One lives in hope!
Hi Penelope ,how about having you hair cut short and sassy ,I had mine cut because of my hair going thin ...and you know what I love it. So easy to manage .and like others have said it will grow back thicker ,I even have to have mine thinned out now .so go away on your holibobs and have a great time ,and try your up most for forget about our dreaded BLOODY PMR xxx
Penelope, I saw quite a bit of my hair disappear down the plughole during my steroid days (like you starting at 40mg). I already had very fine, straight fair hair, and feared losing too much of it and becoming bald. I avoided all harsh shampoos, sticking mostly to organic products, and kept it in a short bob throughout. It definitely improved as I lowered the steroid dose and post-steroids it is back to its normal. The shampoo that I'm finding is also excellent for giving it some extra volume these days is Timotei Pure which contains green tea but no silicones, parabens or colourants. Perhaps worth giving it a try.
I wouldn't entertain a wig - that certainly wouldn't help any hair regrowth, but perhaps a nice straw hat for the holiday. You're approaching a steroid dose now that is equivalent to the amount of natural steroid (cortisol) that our bodies make when well (pre-PMR/steroids), but which has been suppressed by the artifical steroids. Once your adrenals get up to speed in producing their own cortisol again, any hormone disruption will start to return to normal as well, which hopefully will have a knock-on effect on your hair growth.
Don't forget to pack plenty of extra Pred, both in your suitcase and your handbag, although I hope you won't need it. Have a lovely holiday.
Thank you for your sympathy. Was only joking about the wig!. I have a hat and will use it during the day, its the evenings when I have hat flattened sweaty hair, which even a shower wont fluff up! Not that it's that important in the scheme of things!
yep, lost tons of hair and my hair texture changed. totaly weird. I'm hoping that I can regain some hair growth as I taper down to a normal under 10 mg dose (I'm at 25mg right now-started at 60mg then went to 80mg). I read somewhere that rogaine while taking steroids works to at least keep hair, but I don't know. I was thinking of gettting some as I'd like to keep what little I have left. Not only did my hair fall out but it's very, very slow to grow. *sigh*
Yes - mine went most peculiar when on Medrol, still on a different sort of pred and it is back to normal - shiny and thick. At first I had curls but they seem to have calmed down which is a bit of a relief.
LOL