Crappy start to the year.

[valis2]

My hair is thinning. I just noticed it. I have PCOS and many women with PCOS develop male pattern baldness. This is rather depressing. I will be able to get health insurance in June, but now I'm worried that if I go to the doctor right away that there will be some sort of stupid pre-existing condition suckage and I won't have anything covered. I have been really miserable about this for the past week, to the point of even crying at my desk because I heard a sad song. Sure, in light of the problems of the world it's nothing, but it's really upsetting me--my hair is one of the few things I like about myself, y'know?

I've complained to the apartment complex three times about the fact that the gutters are not working properly, and that they pour water right in front of my bedroom windows. About two inches from my windows. Last week I decided I would list on eBay some mags I had stacked in front of the windows, only to find that at some point I must have had a leak, because the bottom magazines--and the bookcases next to them--are ruined. The mags had black mold underneath them. I've let them know, and now I'm worried that they'll have to pull up the carpeting and rip out the drywall and--I don't even want to think about this. The bookcases and mags are no loss--I've already hauled the damaged stuff to the dumpster--but having to move everything around if they have to repair things? Fail.

ETA: One of the guys came out and found a hole in my windowsill. Fixed! Easy as pie! Hooray!

My friend's great-uncle got into a horrible, horrible auto accident and died a few days ago (after lingering painfully). The viewing is tomorrow. I'm so sad for his son because of the circumstances--the great-uncle was driving to the hospital to pick him up, and even though you can't really blame yourself for these things (accidents could occur anywhere--and they suspect he had a stroke while driving), I've heard that he's really upset. So very awful.

I'd like 2007 back, please.

Comments

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

That is sad about your friend's uncle.

I have PCOS too and my hair is thinning for sure, that and being fat suck.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm seeing things about D-chiro-inositol that look somewhat promising. There is one company in the US that actually sells it (it's a nutrient, not a drug) called ChiralBalance (http://www.chiralbalance.com/store.html); however, it would cost me $150 for a month's supply. I've made an appointment with the doctor on Monday, and I'll have to see what he makes of all of this. I'm just really overwhelmed at the moment.

I was first diagnosed ages ago, but I had hoped that because I had regular periods it hadn't really progressed too far--but now I see that it has. *sigh*

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

If you try anything that works please let me know. I have to take the pill because I have irregular and very problematic cycles. I also had a pituitary brain tumor that was producing prolactin and making things worse. I have also taken spironolactone but it didn't do much.

As far as hair, one thing that has helped, well two or three. 1, using all natural shampoos and conditioners, no sls, no cones, no crap in them. 2. Oiling my hair weekly with coconut, I oil the length, braid it, sleep like that, and wash out in the morning. 3. Braiding at night. It doesn't keep the hair from thinning out but all of these things take care of the hair that is left, and help to prevent breakage. I figure by doing this all I will at least have some hair, but my part is getting wider. sigh. I have a friend with PCOS that has to wear a wig.

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear that you are going through a tough phase.

*hugs*

I hope at least the issues with the health insurance and the apartment will work out.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Me too! I'm really crossing my fingers.

[mnemosyne-1.livejournal.com]

I work in the health insurance industry - if you have any questions about pre-existing exclusions, or if you want me to look at the language in your upcoming health plan, feel free to email me (mnemosyne_1 at hotmail dot com)...

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, you rock! Will do. Thank you so very much!

[aramintasnape.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Sorry to hear you're having such a crap time. I hope you can get a good treatment for your hair.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Me too! Thanks for the sympathy. *hugs in return*

[mysduende.livejournal.com]

That just sucks. :( Sorry dear. I've often wonder whether I have that syndrome as I have a few other issues that seem to match up to that syndrome. I just know I'm definetly not like my sister who was highly estrogen positive.

There are natural things out there you can take to balance out your hormones such as progesterone cream (you can get at your local health food store) and rub a dime sized drop on yourself daily. Helps to balance both the estrogen and testostrone. Also, eating lots of ground or milled flax seed.

I will say this though about pre-existing conditions, I have hypertension and it has definitely hindered me from getting insurance in a timely fashion - or getting it at a decent monthly rate. Right now I don't have insurance. I got tired of trying to get what I wanted at a rate that I wanted. Basically, I had a good rate with Blue Shield and when I decided to switch plans to an even lower rate, they bumped me out and I could not get back in. My advice to you, be Slytherin about it: sign up for insurance and don't say you have ANY issues as they can be construed as 'pre-existing' just to exclude you - or else, if you're honest, they're liable to let you in the door at their Tier Level 3 or 5 at $400+ per month (no kidding.) If this means you have to somehow look like you have more hair than you do just to get in with an insurnace company - then do it. Once you're inside with a decent rate, then you can pretend to let them 'discover' your condition after you've visited the doctor a couple of times. If they put you on any meds for your condition, it will probably become preexisting in their records. Hopefully, you will never have to switch plans.

Looks like your year is off to a less than stellar start. But it is only the first week. Cheer up - this too will pass. :)

[artystone.livejournal.com]

I second the prog. cream idea. I recommend Progesta-Care. It's amazing how quickly it works. If you want more details (TMI for here) see below.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

PCOS isn't life-threatening, but it really messes with you. It's hard to lose weight, you lose your hair, you grow unnatural hair, it affects your sleep cycles, it affects your moods and your PMS--I'm ready for a change, let me tell you. After having it for fifteen years, I think I need to start taking care of myself.

I'm really worried about the pre-existing condition stupidity. I'm getting married in June and will (I assume) be covered by his health care--I don't think they can exclude me. I've gone without insurance for so long that I'm just completely freaked out about the process--I know little to nothing about it.

I'm really crossing my fingers that the rest of the year will be calmer. Thanks so much for the advice--I appreciate it so very much.

[mysduende.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the marriage! I didn't know about his. Well, being covered under his company insurance will definetly help. I thought you were trying to manage self-employed insurance.

[gmth.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I hope things get better for you real soon.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

*giant hugs* Thank you so, so much for your sympathy, sweetie. I wish better things for you, as well!

[zoepaleologa.livejournal.com]

Jeez. It sounds like you are horrendously stressed out and it's all adding up.

Can I suggest you get some time just to take things easy (and reduce the pressure you seem to be putting yourself under?)?

Have you considered or tried something like a gentle form of yoga? The breathing is awesome and really is a quick fix for stress issues - I used yogic relaxation technique a couple of years ago when I had sleeping difficulties and it worked a treat, and when my stress (old job related) went down, everything else went up almost instantaneously.

And please remember, all crap phases do pass - and we emerge stronger than ever at the other end.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Part of the reason I'm in stressville is because my period was late by two weeks. No, I wasn't stressed about the possibility of being pregnant (PCOS is the leading cause of infertility, after all)--I was PMSing through the entire two weeks, plus the usual one week of PMSing. At this point I feel like I've run the Emotional Rollercoaster Marathon around the world. I've been snappy, angry, headachey, bloaty, hysterical--you name it. For three weeks straight.

I've been really hoping to start a regular exercise regimen--being home for four months has meant Zero Movement, heh. I'll definitely look into different kinds of exercise, thanks for the tip about yoga.

I'm trying to keep this all in perspective--it isn't like I have some sort of terminal disease or fleas or something. But it's hard to remember that when I'm convinced that everyone is staring at my head. :(

[artystone.livejournal.com]

*iz sad*

Chat tonite?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm going out to dinner for my sister's friend's birthday--but when I get back that would be awesome. If I'm not entirely insane by then, lol.

*iz ded from icon*

[artystone.livejournal.com]

Icon is speshully 4 U.

And you're more fun when you're insane.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hahaha!

[iamrighthere.livejournal.com]

I absolutely do not understand why it is legal for insurance companies to refuse covering pre-existing conditions! Why haven't Congress or the state legislatures done away with this practice? It seems terribly unfair and unjust.

Your year isn't starting off very well. I sincerely hope that these problems can be addressed with as little stress as possible. Just the thought of moving furniture and stuff so that the lead can be repaired must tire you out.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Some insurance companies won't cover the first six months of treatment for a pre-existing condition; some won't let you join. I have no idea how this will all work out--I'm waiting to hear some details as we speak.

Fortunately, there's been an update on the leak--the apartment guy just came out and found a hole in the windowsill. Hooray! Fixed!

[mysduende.livejournal.com]

I absolutely do not understand why it is legal for insurance companies to refuse covering pre-existing conditions! Why haven't Congress or the state legislatures done away with this practice? It seems terribly unfair and unjust.

Sicko

[artystone.livejournal.com]

OMG that movie was heartbreaking!

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

*Hugs* I'd feel wretched about all that stuff, too. I have a couple of friends with PCOS. As soon as you've got health insurance, find a good endocrinologist and hie yourself over there. I know there are some online support groups out there (one of my friends actually started one). If you'd like me to find out info on some of them, I'll be glad to call her.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I've seen a couple great forums--I've been very intrigued by a new drug supplement called DCI (D-chiro-inositol) that seems to be very helpful. Unfortunately, it's expensive--it would be $150 for a month's supply for me.

Any info you have would be totally appreciated. I'm still trying to figure out which way to move on this. :) *hugs*

[cordelia_v]

I didn't see this discussed on the Wiki article you linked to, but I know a couple of women with poly-cysctic ovaries who were helped by taking birth control pills. It made their cycles more regular and resolved a lot of the symptoms. One even became pregnant later on, after years of trying in vain. Not that you're trying to become pregnant, but that speaks to how much it helped resolve the underlying problems in her case.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of interesting new developments--the DCI supplement looks really, really promising.

I did take birth control to combat it. That was ages ago. I'm thinking that metformin might be helpful, or the aforementioned DCI.

I have regular periods--at least I have that going for me! Most women with this affliction have only a few a year.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_vocalion_/]

I've got thinning hair too, and it really depresses me. I just figured it was hereditary or something to do with peri-menopause, but now I think I'd better get tested for PCOS, as I have some of the symptoms. Thanks for posting the link, and I hope the rest of the year will be much better for you. And much happiness when you tie the knot in June! :-)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I've always felt sad for women losing their hair--and now that it's happening to me, I'm really wincing. I have a friend who wears a wig full-time because she's lost most of her hair.

It really seems to have struck a tender spot. I have very very fine hair, too, so it's even more obvious that it's thinning.

And definitely get tested--there are lots of great sites out there with support and information about the syndrome. It affects 10% of women!

*hugs* Thanks, sweetie!

[cordelia_v]

Oh, honey, that sucks. You have gorgeous hair, I agree. I don't know if it's a consolation to say this (hope so), but your hair is so thick and abundant that I doubt that mild hair loss would be noticable to anyone but yourself. I hope that it proves very mild!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks. The unfortunate thing is that my hair is very fine, so the loss is already noticeable. :( I don't think that random strangers can tell, but people who know me have noticed. I'm just hoping that I can get to the doctor ASAP and have it covered. *crosses fingers*

[cordelia_v]

Well, hair can be both fine (in terms of diameter per strand) but also quite thick (in terms of number of hairs per square inch). My daughter's is like that, and my recollection of your hair is that it seemed pretty thick (in terms of amount per square inch) as well. Which is good news, if you're losing it.

I hope you find a good solution too, sugar. It would depress anyone!

[privatemaladict.livejournal.com]

That really sucks. Honestly, the American health system is brutal! It's so unfair that you can't get this problem treated without paying ridiculous amounts of money - or waiting ages for health insurance to kick in, and then worrying about whether they'll cover it. Health care should not be so inaccessible.

*hugs*

Hope it all goes well with the insurance.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks, sweetie! I'm just totally torn about how to fix this--my vanity is saying, "Get to the doctors NOW!" while my wallet is saying, "Hold on and get insurance first!"

[aliciamasters.livejournal.com]

What a bad start to the year. :( I also have very thin hair, so I can understand the anxiety involved.

*hugs*

It sounds like you've got a good handle on the options you have. Hopefully, your first choice will work the way you want it to. In the meantime, remember that we all love you for what's inside, not outside, and you're a mighty fine lookin' woman anyway. Plus, you have an amazing spirit of adventure, fabulous sense of humor, and a kind heart. You wouldn't trade anything great like that for some hair, now, wouldja?

*hugs again*

Oh, and congrats on the wedding! He's a lucky guy... and I think anyone who can sit in the room with three HP fans chatting right after book 7 without rolling his eyes once MUST be a keeper!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

What a bad start to the year. :( I also have very thin hair, so I can understand the anxiety involved.

A friend of mine had a bald patch on her scalp about a year ago, and she agonized over it--she was pretty upset, and rightfully so. It's so awful, and it's scary, too!

remember that we all love you for what's inside, not outside, and you're a mighty fine lookin' woman anyway. Plus, you have an amazing spirit of adventure, fabulous sense of humor, and a kind heart. You wouldn't trade anything great like that for some hair, now, wouldja?

Aw, I'm blushing! You're so sweet--what a wonderful thing to say, I'm so touched. Thank you!!

Oh, and congrats on the wedding! He's a lucky guy... and I think anyone who can sit in the room with three HP fans chatting right after book 7 without rolling his eyes once MUST be a keeper!

hahahah!! Yeah, he's really one in a million--he even reads my slash pr0n! Can you imagine?!