Hi everyone, I was at the hairdressers today and she asked me had I noticed my hair thinning. I hadn't noticed because I have very fine hair anyway but she did remark on it. Would this be the pred? Also these hot flushes, I am well past the menopause and even in this cold weather I rarely put the heating on it's as if I have my own built in thermostat which seems to on max most of the time. My heating bill will be a lot cheaper if this keeps up.
Hi pat, caught me just before bed! Like you I have very fine hair that unfortunately is also very thin, had it all my life, mores the pity. No I haven't noticed my hair thinning and neither has my hairdresser, so can't help you with that one.
like you I'm past the menopause, luckily I don't have hot flushes, but I have noticed I don't need as much heat as I used to, and this year have been wearing fewer jumpers, also I'm about the only one in church at Sunday am service that's not wearing a coat and when we all wish each other peace, everyone remarks on how lovely and warm my hands are, unheard of! Christina
Thank you so much Christina, I must look up side effects of pred again lol. I would have thermals on under my clothes this time of year and at -4 the other night I was ready for sleeping on top of my bedclothes. Yes heating bill will defo be cheaper. Truth be told I would rather have my health.
I am told that Prednisone can thin the skin and hair. Biotin is a supplement that helps. I am told there are no side effects.
I'm a bit thin on top and getting thinner every time I look. Being a bloke this seems to be expected. We call it premature Kojakulation.
Boy1 are my arms hairy. Gorrilas would be envious. Trouble is..... it's a bit late in life to go around bare arms showing. I'm trying to find a transfere system...from arms to head. Any ideas?
Thank you Paula I really appreciate everyone on this site. Don't know where I would be without you all.
Pat...i have very thick full hair and have noticed it thinning..now it just seems average..i know what u r saying about the hot flashes...im having them too..a lot! What i noticed is that my hair was thinning and i was having hot flashes before prendisone..i just assumed it was polymyalgia..i was diagnosed only 3 weeks ago and have had hot flashes for months...at the same time i was told of poly i was told i was boarderline hypothiroidism so now im being treated for that too..still havimg hot flashes.somehow i skipped them during meno but now at 63 i have them..ive also noticed i get chilled to the bone almost daily .then i warm up and im good til the next day or so? have u experienced any chills? this disease and treatment is so new to me im sjust trying to figure
Hi Pat. It is listed as a side effect, but I think you'll find it resolves itself in time. I found Methotrexate led to severe hair loss, but after a few months it started growing back with a vengeance underneath, and soon evened itself out. My hair was very fine, limp and dead straight. Now it's a lot drier, easier to style, has loads of volume and a tendency to curl in damp weather! The only 'hairy' problem I seem to have with Pred is on my face. I'm a bit paranoid about it actually, and keep the tweezers handy in case it starts turning into a full beard! Angela
Now sure if we didn't laugh, we would cry for sure lol. Yes guys can get away with the Kojak look but I really don't think I would get away with it. Having said that I used to have a number 3 done on my hair but that was when I was young and bold and healthy, not that long ago mind you. When I had all the hair I had the Sinead O'Connor look, now I don't have that look but am looking for more hair. Sods law isn't it just. Thanks Steve
My hair is just awful and seems to be getting worse. It used to be fine and shiny, now it is frizzy and lifeless and very thin. I was even contemplating a wig. I also get hot sweats, it is not so bad now it is cold, but very unpleasant in the summer.
Well I never had thick hair, the only one in my family who didn't. Just my hairdresser noticing it although it has got thinner with age. Like yourself I am a newbie here, I was only diagnosed 12th November although I had been ill since June, but putting everything down to ME which I have had for 14 years. Also I had GCA but put it down to neuralgia and refused to go to A&E even though my gp wanted me to but I was too ill to sit for 4 or 5 hours and this was before my diagnosis. Thanks it is reassuring that I am not the only one that has these hot flushes.
Thank you Angela, it is reassuring, I think PMR or Pred is affecting my spelling, I used to be so good but lately I cannot get it together even my grammar. I don't have hair on my face (well not yet) sure wouldn't it be great if it just transferred from face to head. I just have to accept this situation and be more grateful and live in hope. There are worse problems in life. Again thank you.
Thanks for you input, I do hope you get something sorted out about your hair. My hairdresser also noticed how big my face has got although I know that already lol. Hot sweats phew my son has even remarked on it, he sees my face going red lolol. I seem to be having quite a few people remarking, but they mean it in a nice way.
Hi Paula, I forget to say I take Visical for my hair, one tablet in the morning and one at night. They are quite expensive but I will definately keep on taking them. Its just early days with pred 20mg since 12th November and am for Endocrinology on the 8th January. I am sure things will work out eventually. Thanks again
Here's a thought:
Since our faces are getting rounder, maybe our heads are getting bigger, also. So, it is not the hair thinning, but rather the heads are stretching the skin and it only appears that the hair is thinning....
Hi pat ,yes I also have huge hot flushes ,when my hubby is freezing and puts the heating on I moan that it's not cold ,also my cheeks get that red when I am having a hot flush and I can feel them burning hot ,it takes a good 30 mins for the to go away!,it's not the menopause because I went through that about 7 yrs ago .the joys of PMR hey xx
Great reply Paula!!!
The hot flushes can be the PMR - or rather the underlying autoimmune disorder - even without the pred where it is said to be a side effect. I rarely needed the heating on and my husband was always cold so I was wearing summer clothes in the winter! I've got right down to 4mg and still get the occasional wave of warmth although since I have been taking beta-blockers most of the built-in central heating is obeying the thermostat! Even to the extent of needing a pullover rather than just a shirt over my t-shirt.
I've been on 3 different sorts of pred: enteric coated prednisolone in the UK, Medrol (methyl prednisolone) here and now Lodotra (prednisone). I had no real problems with the enteric coated except that weight I had put on with PMR due to immobility redistributed to face and middle and I lost some hair but it was very thick anyway . With Medrol my hair went mad - dry and frizzy, it fell out and what was left barely grew at all. I also grew a fairly impressive dark beard - and I have been white since I was 40! It started as peach fluff and got steadily stronger and darker. Since I was put on Lodotra the beard has gone and my hair has all grown back, smooth shiny like it was before and curly! That is taking some getting used to - it had been straight for the 7 years of PMR having been curly before. Within a few months of starting the Lodotra the new hair was growing back in, like a baby's hair but under the longer hair at first!
After menapause, I get hot flashes when I eat sugary foods. Do a test as to get a somewhat answer to this hot flash mystery.....Try an experiment....eat one or two cookies and if you get a hot flash then the hot flashes are easily controlled.
How very strange we human beings are! Since the beginning of PMR I am always COLD - I even have to wear bed-socks!!
Also strange - I never had hot flushes!