My Doctors Aren’t Eager to Diagnose My Female Hair Loss

(female)
Hi Doctor,
I am a 21 year old college student who lives in San Diego. Over the last couple of months I’ve noticed a excessive amount of my hair falling out (especially in the shower). I have always had beyond a full head of hair but lately, it just feels thinner and I have hair all over my carpet to prove it. My friends always make fun of me because i’m constantly shedding everywhere but lately its beyond too much. I have done some research and almost want to diagnose myself with iron deficiency anemia.

Recently, I am constantly tired, dizzy, have headaches, have shortness of breath (lately), don’t eat very much meat, don’t take vitamins, and last time I went to the doctor, they told me that my heart rate was way too high. Not to mention, live a stressful life, go out drinking way too often with friends and smoke cigarettes. I just made myself sound so TERRIBLE but i’m beginning to worry and no one at Kaiser seems to be losing sleep over what could possibly be wrong with me.

What do you think doctor?

Most doctors are trained to treat medical issues and bill the insurance company to make their living. It seems that hair loss is generally not a priority from a purely medical perspective. My cynicism aside, there really is no definitive cure for hair loss in women, but you need a diagnosis by a doctor who has experience in this field. In addition, there are many causes of hair loss in women and you need to understand where you stand with these causes. There is only one FDA approved hair loss medication for women… Rogaine (minoxidil).

Things that come to my mind as I read your post as possible contributing sources of hair loss:

1. You go “out drinking way too often”
2. You “smoke cigarettes”
3. You don’t eat well
4. You have too much stress
5. You say your heart rate is too high? Why?
6. You think you have iron deficiency anemia? Why?
7. You are constantly tired, dizzy, have headaches? Why?

Aside from hair loss issues, you do not sound too healthy. You need to go back to your doctors at Kaiser and get to the bottom of this!