My hair began to fall out dramatically at the end of 2011, I was diagnosed with alopecia, a condition where the immune system attacks healthy hair folicles. By early 2012 I began to wear head scarves to cover up the baldness. It was distressing and I lost a lot of confidence. With the help of my family and a few very kind friends I started to go out again and get back to normal and gradually after many steroid injections in my scalp my hair grew back.
I had my wonderful new hair for three whole months before I started to notice the tell tale signs again, hair on the pillow, in the bath etc. This time the consultant at the hospital suggested a wig. I could not imagine myself in a wig and kept the prescription in a drawer for a good couple of months. I felt I might end up looking like I had a small furry animal on my head (Yes, I realise now that I let my imagination run away with me!).
The day after Boxing Day, during Twixtmas, as my husband likes to call it, I had a now or never moment. Off we went as a family to the wig shop, now I don't know if you've ever been in a wig shop but it is a daunting experience lots of blankly faced mannequins sporting hideous hair do's. I was anxious and felt exposed and .... burst into tears as soon as we stepped foot in the door. Good start. The lovely assistant took us upstairs and gave us 'a couple of miutes'. Rhubarb made herself busy talking to herself in the mirror, my husband looked more than a little uncomfortable, I cried. Rhubarb began stamping her biscuit into the carpet, My husband pointed out some 'nice' specimens, I cried a bit more. The assistant, brought us a catalogue, Rhubarb danced, My husband pointed out his favourite, I .... smiled! I kid you not, some of the wigs in that catalogue were hilarious and imagining them on my head was even funnier. BUT, some of the wigs looked like hair that I might have. Having had most hair styles and colours in my 34 years I was drawn to a wig which looked like a style one of my friends calls my 'Cornwall Hair'. I viewed it in lots of shade variations, tried it on and had it cut exactly how I wanted it and I actually love it!
And whilst I still giggle at the thought of wigs (think Brucie), nobody stares in the street, asks awkward questions or points and laughs and it has cut my getting ready time in half! Result x
">Alopecia UKis a registered charity that supports people living with alopecia areata, totalis and universalis by providing information, support and advice. It also works to raise public awareness and understanding of alopecia areata throughout the UK and supports and funds research.">
Lovely photo Nic! Loving your blog chickwich x
ReplyDeleteThanks Enid! Keep following :-)
ReplyDeletehi nic,yes I can call you nic,because that is what you are known as to us.well done for going through with the wig process.i am so proud of you,i have seen you go through the ups the downs but one thing always amazes me. you always have a smile on your face, seems like rhubarb is following your lead.you brighten up my day, both of you.my moto keep smiling it confuses people.keep it up love always the happyhouse youngsters.xxx
ReplyDeleteComplementary as ever Mother :-)
DeleteHi Nicola, I didn't realise what you had been going through, you must have had some difficult times. I can relate to the wig situation as I was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 which resulted in me having chemotherapy in 2009. I tried so hard to keep my hair having the option of cold cap treatment but unfortunately it didn't work for me and after my third session I lost my hair. I remember it being quite an emotional, scary and upsetting time! Like you I had an excellent support network of friends and family. My experience at the wig shop was a little different to yours as I went at the beginning of my treatment when I still had a head full of hair, it was really more of an insurance policy ( just I case I lost my hair,) not that I thought it would happen as I had opted for the cold cap and was very confident it would work. So I ended up using my prescription and also bought a second wig too! ( just in case!) through the colder weather I tended to wear lots of hats but at home just went with a naked head! I knitted and crocheted lots of little hats. As the weather warmed up I tended to go with a naked head or wore something called a buff. I wore one of my wigs twice but felt more comfortable without. I think I managed without quite well but I think the reason it may have been easier was because I knew it was only temporary! Unlike your condition which is longer term and I would imagine much more of an emotional drain. Isn't it great to have such wonderful , positive people around though? I started a blog too once I started my treatments and I found that so helpful to know that friends were supporting me through my blog. I wish you all the very best in the future and may 2013 bring you hope and happiness. By the way your little daughter is so beautiful, she must take after her mum x x
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to write Mandy, it's lovely to hear from you! I remember reading your blog, I'm really glad to hear that you're through it now, have you got the all clear? I'm coping pretty well and at the moment I do prefer to wear the rather wig than not, it may just be the novelty of having hair though! Having a happy little girl to look after helps! Hope to hear from you again, love xxx
DeleteI am in very similar position, even have little girl and gold fishes and supportive husband ;). Had the same feelings and thoughts. And just came home with my first wig. :) And it relly helped reading your experience. Was rying all way through reading it, relly felt your feelings. :)
ReplyDeleteBurst in tears when entered wig shop. But I was really surprised when my little daughter started smile when i tried my first wig, so it lift my mood so much xxx
Our little ones really don't care what we look like do they! That's what keeps me going half the time :-) Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment, it's comforting to hear from someone else in my situation. How's it going with the wig? Do you like wearing it? xxx
DeleteIt is bit okward at times, especially to get all those compliments that my hair looks good. Within last month have lost my eyebrows, so started to draw them as well and all together gives massive makeover in my look. It is hard to get used to having so loads of hairs, still have some bit of my originals, and i start to like having it on. How you are getting with your wig? How do you react when someone says something about your hair? Sometimes i wanna jst say its a wig, and because i dont feel so strong to say everyone jet that, so i feel dishonest like i have jst lied. xxx
DeleteI've started to embrace the comments I get now Sabine! To begin with I kept saying "It's a wig" when anyone complimented me, because, like you I felt a fraud by not being honest! Now I just say "Thank you", friends and family know I wear a wig, I just don't feel the need to tell everyone I meet now. I've started to feel a lot more confident wearing it now and I think most people forget I have it on. So sorry to hear about your eyebrows, at least drawn on brows are big in fashion at the moment! Is this the first time you've lost your hair Sabine or, like me, has it happened before? xxx
DeleteHi, while ago replied, but probably by accident didnt press publish (oh, clamzy me).
DeleteMy first time was around 12 years ago when I started to notice bold patch as big as one pound coin. And there allways since then was one patch somewhere on my head at the beginning. then 5 years ago ive lost half of head but after 8 month it grew back, and i kept one or two bald patches which where changing their location. And so when i was pregnant had all my hairs, all bold patches grew, and then after couple month started my bold patches appear again but more and more and bigger and bigger so that I decided to have a wig.now even my eyelashes start to disappear :(
With my wig I go through fazes. some days I love it, and some days I jst hate it.