Hair loss and fibromyalgia

It's been awhile since I have posted, and my goodness it's been busy here. My oldest just started middle school and my middle child was transferred to a different school because of zoning. Because of where we live, our street always seems to be where the cut off is so my kids get shuffled around every 1-3 years. It can be frustrating. Luckily my kids adapt well.

On top of all that we are trying to introduce our 2 yr old little man to potty training. We are literally taking baby steps. He has tried about 10 times to go, and has gone once!!! Slow but steady, that's ok with me. It's about all I can handle right now.

As far as the FM goes, I am up to 20mg a day of nortriptyline. It helps a lot usually but there are days when I have breakthrough pain, irritable bowel symptoms, fatigue, and heavy limbs. Today I am struggling with  a bit of all three but I am keeping positive because I have so much to be thankful for.

Some of the side effects of the medicine are possible hair loss and depression. (Yay ME!!!)  I definitely am having both but I am reluctant to switch meds again since nortriptyline seems to keep most of the pain at bay. I can handle the fatigue by taking naps and letting my family know I am having a rough day, so I would much rather have fatigue than pain- that may or may not respond to NSAIDS.

The hair loss is kind of bothering me but it's not so bad that I have huge bald spots. It started a little over 2 weeks ago. I googled "hair loss+ stress" and found that hair tends to fall out from stress about 3-4 months AFTER a stressful event. I was diagnosed with FM about 4 months from when my hair started falling out noticeably.

I decided to get my long hair bobbed (which resulted in a choppy hair cut I had to try to fix myself LOL!!! And now have to get refixed *SIGH),  alleviating stress my pony tails probably have caused on my scalp, but I am also going to make an appointment with my doc to make sure it's not a thyroid issue. I only have my left thyroid after having the right side removed over 8 yrs ago for a large benign mass. I will probably need to really start looking into vitamins as well since deficiencies can also contribute to hair loss.

I have had some weird changes in relationships lately, so I hope I wont be having more fallout in 4 months. YIKES. Overall though I have a family that loves and understands me, supports me on the bad days to the best of their abilities, and I have comic relief in everyday life from some new friends who enjoy Breaking Bad as much as I do... meaning we are all completely OBSSESSED. Comic relief from my family is a given ;)

It feels as though I have weights on my arms and hands as I type this but I'm staying positive by focusing on the positive. I'm also jumping back in to jewelry making and nurturing my little business as I have been too tired to deal with it in the last 2 months.

 Found this today, so appropriate! Love!!!

So much to look forward to and to be hopeful for. *Yawn* I need a nap.

Keep your head up folks!!!

Much love,

Mary