Progress is relative

I don't want to feel ungrateful for the growth I have. My hair is growing, but only in the parts that aren't balding. So I have the bare spots all over that haven't responded to any treatment. All around them is growing hair. It makes my hair look like weave. A bad one at that. I've been taking viviscal for about 10 days. Of course I haven't noticed any results of any kind yet but I'm in it for the long haul, so,we will see. In my fantasy, viviscal causes hair in the bald spots to sprout and grow. In reality I don't I think it will happen. I'll just keep perfecting this mullet that I'm growing until I can't stand it anymore and start wearing a wig. (shudder at the thought) I keep referring to my mullet so let me describe: my hair is very thin and short in the front. ( cheek lenght) The sides are slightly thicker, string and slightly longer.(collarbone lenght). The back is the thickest and hits at 1" inch above my bra strap. Picture ? So it's all relative. I guess I should just be happy for any progress and just keep it moving.

Decisions

Ive been taking a lot of supplements for a long time. Consistently for about 3 years. This morning I decided to give up on some of them. Nioxin biosik and phytospecific.


Nioxin

This has shown minimal results for me. No real growth increase but the small hairline hairs seem to be the only response. So I have 27 pills left and I'm thinking of stopping immediately. Not waiting any longer. I feel that fed up. Besides they've change the formula and I really do not want to keep taking these.

Biosil

At first I thought I noticed increase shine and thickness. I realize now. Is not having any effect on my hair, skin or nails. A have taken it since August. That's long enough.

Phytospecific

Iv actually gotten the best results from taking this. Again long term about 8 months, only moderate results. I have about 3 months left so I'll see if my opinion changes between now and then.

I've decided to replace these three with viviscal as a last ditch effort. A very expensive one.

I'm very discouraged and broke.

Exhaustion

Ive been thinning for about three years. I've been consistently taking hair growth supplements for most of that time and I am exhausted! My hair looks ok visibly. You cant see the shiny parts unless you look close. I've had some growth but nothing like I would have expected from someone taking as much as I am. I am swallowing serious B, biosil, wheat germ oil, phytospecific, nioxin, fish oil ,biotin and bcp. I'm still balding and my hair grows less than 1/8 a month. 1/8!!!!! I should be getting 1/2 inch at least! Sigh. Discouraged. In 2.5 years I've only gained/retained about 6 inches in the back and 2 in the front. M

My resolve is gone. When I say consistently I mean every day and every night 6-10 pills a day.

I feel like I'm wasting my money, my time. Inevitably I will be bald. These vitamins/supplements seem to just be holding back the loss. Seems that my hair just wants to fall despite what I'm taking. I don't know what to do.

Stress!

I wish to the highest power that I could remove the stress from my life and find comfort and peace. It's been 8 years since I started on the path to the most disappointing and stressful time I've ever known. When I think of this I cannot help but associate my hair loss to this enormous and unrelenting stress in my life. My first pregnancy was not like I thought it would be with glorious hair I growth...nope, my hair fell out to within inches of my scalp. Devastation on top of devastation. I had never felt lower in my life.

As I think about this hair loss fiasco... Stress has been a factor for the the entire time I've struggled. I get so angry with myself that I cannot put into words. The powerless feeling of being trapped and mired in never ending stress. And I have the nerve to wonder why my hair is in such bad shape.

Surviving. Not persevering.
Searching for real answers..

Later

Hair envy sucks

I understand that I'm not 30 anymore and my hair is not on the "upside" of growing healthy but I still have hair envy. I see women with long healthy hair and remember when mine was thick long and healthy. Two kids, enormous stress and hereditary balding have left me with anything but healthy hair.

I m in week 8 of a relaxer stretch. I am hoping for a full one inch of growth before I relax again. Two months... I barely have an inch. Sad, because I am swallowing tons of vitamins and you would think there would be some increase in growth rate but not for me.

So I just watch and try to control the emotions attached to how badly I wish I could reverse my hair loss and see real growth of my hair.

Later~

Home

Home with my mommy this weekend. She is a lovely reformed vanity affected woman. While I was young she was so glamorous and girly and gorgeous. As she has aged she has become the epitome of carefree living. She is retired and happy! She swing dances, drinks margaritas and rides her horse( which she owns, boards and cares for) in an organized club. I admire her to the fullest. I long to have her attitude and confidence and most of all , her happiness. She is losing her hair too. But she seems to care less! It hasn't affected her confidence, her focus, her drive or her sense of self worth. She rarely wears makeup or fools with her hair, but she smiles all of the time and to me she is still gorgeous. She gives me so much hope that one day I too will be free of my vanity and Just be happy with what I see in the mirror everyday.

Good to be home~
Later.

Panic

Ive been happy to see my scalp appear thicker. I've been mortified at how easily my hair had been shedding and breaking. Now I understand the difference. It's still unnerving to see these long strands come out each time I comb or brush. It's worse to see the broken strands too. I've tried everything. I cannot figure out why this is happening but when you have thin hair each strand is prized and precious... At least it is for me.

guess I have to evaluate what I am doing to my scalp and keep doing it. I know there is nothing that can be done to stop shedding. I can only hope the shedding is terminal shedding and not AGA related. I am going to try a few products designed to stem shedding and see what happens.

I have to stop doing what I am doing to my strands..... That's the problem. My strands are dry and tangled and even though I rollerset My hair is still usually dry tangled on the ends, and hardly feel strong or soft no matter what I apply to them.

I'm in a panic. I have to cut off at least 3 inches to stop this. I just can't do it. That's all of the hair I've grown in 2 years( or what I have been able to retain of it).

Before I do, I will continue to throw the sink at the strands. See if I can avoid what seems sadly inevitable.

Later~