Okay - after a lot of research, I'm pretty convinced I am suffering from Telogen Effluvium.
Here's a couple articles for those interested:
http://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/telogen-effluvium/
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/effluviums#1
Some reasons I think this applies to me:
- I see no male pattern baldness at all. No receding hair line. No extra thinning at the crown only. It's all over the scalp.
- The onset was sudden. Almost overnight I started noticing a bunch of hairs in the sink ever day - very consistent and once again - all over.
- I've changed a lot in my protocol - basically going from Test & AI only to Test, AI, HCG, DHEA, Preg and boosting all to top of range or slightly over. So PERHAPS this "shock" to my system trigged T.E.
- Finally - I've read about others jumping into steroids or comprehensive TRT that think they triggered this as well.
From what I've read - it can either be 'self-correcting' in the case of some acute trauma - things settle down after a few months. OR it can be resolved by "fixing" the root cause (like thyroid problems, etc).
I have scheduled a consult with Dr. Saya - but unfortunately it's 3 weeks from now. UGH. I'm trying not to panic in the meantime.
I don't know if I should...
- See a dermatologist to verify that it is in fact T.E. (apparently they can tell by looking at the hairs under a microscope)
- Or assume it is based on all the evidence I have.
And if we assume it is (or find out that it is) - I don't know if I should...
- Stay the course with current treatment and hope my body gets used to my new hormone levels and the hair fixes itself
- Or if I should reduce levels a bit
- Or if I should stop taking certain things and hope that helps things to settle down (since this didn't happen in the last 2 years of TRT)
Right or wrong - I did stop my DHEA/Preg because I've read that guys seemed to have experienced hairloss and increased shedding with it. But I don't want to make any other knee-jerk adjustments before talking to Dr. Saya. I'm just panicking a little bit because I will NOT look good bald. 