HELP, My hair is falling out at an alarming rate

[Guest guest]

Are you taking a folic acid supplement with your MTX? If not, you should be.

If you are, you may need to be taking more. Vitamins E and D can help too, but

folic acid is the big one with MTX.

Thyroid problems can also cause hair loss, sometimes severe. I would definitely

talk to your doctor. It's not vain to be concerned about your hair falling out,

it can be a big source of anxiety for people, whether it is drug induced or not.

If it bothers you, it should be dealt with.

I had bad hair loss the first year I took MTX, but upping my folic acid helped.

My hair definitely isn't the same, but it's not patchy like it was. I found a

young hairdresser who is a cancer patient, so she " got " what I was talking

about, and was able to cut my hair to cover the bald patches.

Glad to hear you've had improvement on the medication, though!

Kate P-B, STL MO

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[Guest guest]

Dear and Group.

I need your approval on this one please!

 

About the hair loss. I am so glad some one brought up hair loss. I am not taking

methotrexate any longer, I am allergic to it. My hair has been falling out for

several years now.

 

I went to see my new rheumy for the second time,  and he said My vitamin D was

to low. I had very high thyroid levels. My TNF was sky high, but he said I

didn't have RA. He said that arthritis is regarding the bones. He said I had

rheumatism. I was lost for words.

 

He showed me my x-rays as he talked. He saw osteo on the left side of my knees.

I had scoliosis. My spine goes up to the right. Not straight,  (irreversible)

He said a lot about osteo. And very little about RA. He said I had a lot of

things wrong that can be corrected. Weight loss and so on. Which I have lost

around 50 lbs in the last 6 months. I got 2 shots on the bottom of my back on

each side of my spine and a shot in each of my knees. I did say what about my

hips and shoulders. He said just wait. I guess he wanted to see how those shots

worked. And he gave me a vitamin D shot.

 

I am in constant pain. I have just about given up  on life. What really

wonderful about this rheumy. He asked me what faith or religion I was. I said I

was a born again christian. He said OK. and gave me a little sermon I have heard

many times in church. I told him I haven't been to church or fellowship in 3

years and he asked why not. I told him pain pain pain.

 

He convinced me to go back if only for an hour. I will. He made me feel so good

about me and what I am capable of. To end the visit he asked if we could pray. I

was right on that. By all means let's pray.

 

I have to use a wheel chair if I leave the house. I can walk through the house.

But to go shopping or to the docs I can't walk to far. The shots in my knees and

back has taken away most of the pain . I forget what kind of pain shots he gave

me.

 

My last Rheumy was a quack. She should have seen this all before. Oh let me add

that my new rheumy reads x-rays from all the RA docs in that city.

Let me thank everyone for their input and kindness. I have been a lurker for the

past year and glad to be back. I read so much on how everyone is doing for their

R., It has helped me so much.

 

gentle kind hugs

Clora

PS I am going to look for an hairdresser to cut my hair to look better. I have a

bald spot in the back besides my hair being very thin.

 

 

 

 

 

From: Kate -Behan <microminimalist@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] HELP, My hair is falling out at an alarming rate

Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 10:01 AM

Are you taking a folic acid supplement with your MTX?  If not, you should be. 

If you are, you may need to be taking more.  Vitamins E and D can help too, but

folic acid is the big one with MTX.

Thyroid problems can also cause hair loss, sometimes severe.  I would definitely

talk to your doctor.  It's not vain to be concerned about your hair falling out,

it can be a big source of anxiety for people, whether it is drug induced or

not.  If it bothers you, it should be dealt with.

I had bad hair loss the first year I took MTX, but upping my folic acid helped. 

My hair definitely isn't the same, but it's not patchy like it was.  I found a

young hairdresser who is a cancer patient, so she " got " what I was talking

about, and was able to cut my hair to cover the bald patches.

Glad to hear you've had improvement on the medication, though!

Kate P-B, STL MO

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[Guest guest]

Thanks to all who replied:

My first Rheumy had me on Leucovorin for the hair loss (its in the B Family),

but now yesterday my new Rheumy says she prefers me on Folic Acid for the hair

loss, so your reply confirms that. She cut me down to 4 tabs of MTX every

Friday to see if that makes a diff, she said if I dont flair, I can do a

permanent cut-back (even though a year ago, they steasily increased the mTX

until I got to 8 pills, but maybe because of the ENbrel I dont have to take so

much anymore).

She is going to put me on Folic Acid also next time I see her.

Everyday is an adventure with RA, isnt it?

Thanks to everyone.

OKD

[Guest guest]

My doctor put me on folic acid daily except for the day I take Methotrexate.

Kitt

>

> Thanks to all who replied:

>

> My first Rheumy had me on Leucovorin for the hair loss (its in the B Family),

but now yesterday my new Rheumy says she prefers me on Folic Acid for the hair

loss, so your reply confirms that. She cut me down to 4 tabs of MTX every

Friday to see if that makes a diff, she said if I dont flair, I can do a

permanent cut-back (even though a year ago, they steasily increased the mTX

until I got to 8 pills, but maybe because of the ENbrel I dont have to take so

much anymore).

>

> She is going to put me on Folic Acid also next time I see her.

>

> Everyday is an adventure with RA, isnt it?

>

> Thanks to everyone.

>

> OKD

>

[Guest guest]

Jody,

Some rheumatologists and researchers believe that folic acid can

interfere with the efficacy of MTX. Others believe that the benefits

of folic acid outweigh the risks of reducing MTX efficacy. There is no

set standard about how much folic acid to take and when, but most

rheumatologists in the US suggest 1 mg a day, every day.

You should ask your rheumatologist about how much more you can take.

Many people do take more than 1 mg a day.

Not an MD

On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 10:31 AM, Jody G. <jodygrno@...> wrote:

> Kate, how much folic acid do you take to help prevent hair loss?  I am on four

methotrexate pills a week and have thinning hair.  I am on 1 mg of folic acid

daily.  Can you take too much folic acid?  Thank you.

>

> Jody

> Schaumburg, IL

[Guest guest]

I take approx. 2 mg of folic acid a day - do check with your doctor, but I'm

fairly sure that your body just excretes whatever you can't use.

Hope things are better soon!

Kate P-B in STL

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[Guest guest]

, thank your for clearing that up for me.

________________________________

From: <Rheumatoid.Arthritis.Support@...>

Sent: Sat, June 19, 2010 8:32:39 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] HELP, My hair is falling out at an alarming rate

 

Jody,

Some rheumatologists and researchers believe that folic acid can

interfere with the efficacy of MTX. Others believe that the benefits

of folic acid outweigh the risks of reducing MTX efficacy. There is no

set standard about how much folic acid to take and when, but most

rheumatologists in the US suggest 1 mg a day, every day.

You should ask your rheumatologist about how much more you can take.

Many people do take more than 1 mg a day.

Not an MD

On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 10:31 AM, Jody G. <jodygrno@...> wrote:

> Kate, how much folic acid do you take to help prevent hair loss?  I am on

four methotrexate pills a week and have thinning hair.  I am on 1 mg of folic

acid daily.  Can you take too much folic acid?  Thank you.

>

> Jody

> Schaumburg, IL

[Guest guest]

Kate, thanks for your response.

Jody

Schaumburg, IL

________________________________

From: Kate -Behan <microminimalist@...>

Sent: Sat, June 19, 2010 8:51:03 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] HELP, My hair is falling out at an alarming rate

 

I take approx. 2 mg of folic acid a day - do check with your doctor, but I'm

fairly sure that your body just excretes whatever you can't use.

Hope things are better soon!

Kate P-B in STL

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

[Guest guest]

When I was on methotrexate I was taking 8 pills a week. When I complained about

the horrible side effects my rheumy upped my 1mg folic acid a day to 3.

Folic acid is something you get from food... I'd think if you had too much your

body would dispose of it.

Candace

Sent from my iPhone

O

On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 10:31 AM, Jody G. <jodygrno@...> wrote:

> Kate, how much folic acid do you take to help prevent hair loss? I am on four

methotrexate pills a week and have thinning hair. I am on 1 mg of folic acid

daily. Can you take too much folic acid? Thank you.

>

> Jody

> Schaumburg, IL