Alopecia, my dear friend...

Alopecia, my dear friend, 

this blog article is mostly for you and my dear readers. 

I haven't written any updates about you, my friend Alopecia, since I was diagnosed in March, and I must say that it is good to be focused on other layers of my life as well and move forward.

My friend Alopecia, you are still with me, and that's alright.

Now let's get some updates. By the doctor's conclusion, you came into my life because of an iron deficiency in my body, and that is no longer the situation. Yay! Isn't that wonderful news?! You are smiling (I know you are... ) Thank you for that.

As I said, you are still here, but my iron improved very well and I might continue to take one more dose of 2 months of iron tablets in order to reach a point in my organism that will make my hair grow again.  Sometimes I look in the mirror and it seems like I'm losing more hair, other times it looks like it's growing, and it's tough to keep up with that, you know?! One thing I noticed lately is that if the hair is growing, it is white. So cute!

In between all that, I want to share something deeper with you about this trip. I consider it a trip to a beautiful destination where I am becoming a better person, at least to myself.

Since I've been diagnosed with alopecia, different thoughts, situations, and feelings have come into my life.

Let me share one of my interesting examples: 

Walking in the streets is not the same anymore, as I see the look other people give me, either with regret or care. My emotions can go up and down very quickly or even slowly; I start to realise that people are kinder to me because of the way that I look, and at the same time, I decided to become kinder as well, to people and to myself. There's magic in these simple moments.

It makes me go further with a better me, and I had to get this amazing friend (alopecia) to recognise that there is still more of me that can be better.

It leaves me thinking of people who are going through this Alopecia journey like me but also other illnesses and/or diseases that has them losing their hair or cutting it. More importantly, I am left wondering about how they feel and live their lives. I'm travelling on a journey that I did not plan and I would like to know more about other people that are going through the same/similar experience or have been in this kind of situation before. 

Let me share a video that I made recently, where I'm shaving my hair alone! Yes, alone, because when I had my funky hairstyle I couldn't make it. (Here's another great achievement due to my friend Alopecia!) 

Nowadays, every single Friday, I shave my head to decrease the appearance of hair emptiness at the front that I have. I actually started to think that the fact that my iron levels are good now and I'm still taking tablets to increase the empty areas to grow, my other areas with hair are growing like mad lol. It seems to me that it is growing faster ehehehhe... 

Follow me on my Instagram and see my videos and pictures from actual moments every week. 

Life is always full of surprises. Make sure that you are enjoying the ride.

 

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix  and Founder of Beautifly Digital

https://msha.ke/yolabastos/

Women Flix, Supporting Women all the way to Success! 

Women Flix Limited, is a company limited by guarantee, was incorporated in England and Wales (company no. 13047578 ).

It's not Cancer, OK?!

It all started in January 2022 when I started noticing my hair falling out for no apparent reason. I wasn't anxious; I was quite happy, but I started to worry... My hair started falling out and leaving behind several layers of skin.

But, my God, now what?

Due to a haircut, I got in 2015, I don't have much hair. And will it land right here in front? This is pretty weird...

And that's how I started my research: I went to several doctor's appointments, using shampoos and lotions, but no one could tell me for sure what it was or why it was happening until one of the doctors said, "Let's do a blood test."

We were able to confirm this by blood tests, so that was the case.

I had a blood test about four weeks ago and only got the results a few days ago. So that I could find out what was happening to me.

I found out I had two new friends, Alopecia and Psoriasis.

What exactly is alopecia?

It can be caused by inheritance, hormonal changes, medical issues, or just ageing. Men are more likely than women to lose hair on their heads.

Alopecia can be transient or permanent and can affect just the scalp or the entire body.

Why is this happening to me?

Some of the research I've done and the doctors' conclusions ended up concluding that the cause is most likely because I've always lost a lot of blood during my period.

When I lose a lot of blood, I lose a lot of iron, but my body can no longer create it like it did when I was in my early twenties, and that's how alopecia developed.

I now have a very low level of iron in my body, which requires a daily intake of substantial amounts of iron, not forgetting that my diet must also be adjusted to meet the demand for iron.

I've eaten a lot of great foods that I didn't pay much attention to before, like cereal, dried fruit, vegetables, beans, and so on.

Will it, however, last indefinitely?

Great question, but irrelevant because everyone who knows me well knows my next haircut would be a shave and keep, LOL.

What exactly is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a non-contagious, autoimmune, inflammatory skin condition. For whatever reason, the body's defence mechanism starts attacking the skin cells, resulting in damage.

So, at the same time that the alopecia set in, this acquaintance of mine practically begged me for a relationship. Coincidence?

But one thing is for sure: based on my research and what the doctors have told me, it may disappear sooner.

I switched to the third drug, which seems to be working better.

Now...

You won't ask why I'm balding or wearing wigs.

Do you understand now, or do you want to know more?

I don't like to repeat the same thing over and over again.

And I have to stay focused on my goal while also taking care of myself, my family, my co-workers and my beautiful clients. Simple.

By the way, you're welcome to watch my video of me cutting my hair... I believe I'm still missing a few pieces ahahahahahah...

Anyway,

Mama Yola is going to have to cut her hair to her scalp so no one will believe she had brain surgery, cancer or something even worse.

Let's be friends for life, this alopecia and me!

I can finally touch the light I glimpsed at the end of a long, dark tunnel for the first time.

Thank God for strength, persistence and health experts.

Gratitude to my family and dear friends who have supported me throughout my journey.

I love you all always. 

London, 26th May 2022

Written by Yola Bastos Co-Founder of Women Flix 

yolabastos@womenflix.org 

https://linkr.bio/lm3yq 

Women Flix, Supporting Women all the way to Success! 

Women Flix Limited, a company limited by guarantee, was incorporated in England and Wales (company no. 13047578 ).