I am putting the pieces of this together. I have been looking at pictures of myself, and my physical appearance has been declining over the last year (been sick for years, but appearance is just past year).
-hair falling out! Very wispy in texture. I now look pretty ill because of it, about 25% of hair left.
-skin sagging in face, losing youthful texture
-dark rings around eyes, but had that for years
These first two things, I'm thinking, MUST be due to lack of amino acids? I have steadily declined my methyl B12 shots over the past year, due to cost, but I doubt that could be the only factor in the hair loss, because I *think* the hair loss started before I declined frequency of the shots (but not sure). The thing is, I eat a great diet (meats, veggies, fruits, whole grains). I am just now taking seriously the "hair skin nails" supplements, which seem to work because of amino acids like L-cysteine. I am also starting a general amino supplement (from whey and soy, NOW brand), and it seems to help my energy. Also starting Collagen I and III (which seems to be basically an amino supplement), and Hyaluronic Acid with Collagen II.
Two more things....
-acne has been bad over the past year. It is moreso bumps under the skin's surface, not the poppable or red kind.
-chelitis of the lips, which causes them to always be peeling (self-diagnosed online). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelitis. I won't post a pic; it looks gross.
I'm thinking B12 deficiency is the cause of my chelitis. I have been doing my methyl B12 shots less regularly over the past year, and the peeling has been worse.
I don't think solely a reduction of the B12 shots is the cause of my hair loss (started getting wispy texture Oct last year, started falling out slowly about 6-9 months ago), but who knows. I am thinking, because of my saggy skin and hair loss (both drastic), this must be amino related? Or could this ALL be not enough B12?
I am now taking methyl, hydroxy, and dibencozide B12, all sublingually, for past month. Who knows if it will help the hair, skin issues.
I am just wondering if the hair loss, skin texture, acne, etc is primarily a B12 issue, primarily an amino issue, or perhaps adrenal? Which is most likely? I realize they are all connected, but where should I start focusing my efforts? It is getting to the point that I HAVE to do something about the hair loss, or I'll look like a chemo patient by Christmas, which I don't want when seeing family.
I pretty much know I have problems in all those areas (b vitamins, aminos, adrenals), how could a CFS patient not!, but what exactly could this be? What is standing out to you guys? I need the "brain trust" of Phoenix Rising on this one. Just looking at pics of myself over the past year, it's just getting sad, the decline in my appearance, so I NEED to do something NOW or my folks will cry when they see me over the holidays (eek). Also I have the bad "dark eye rings", but had those forever.
I would like to see a regular doctor, because the hair loss warrants it, but I'm not sure if I should see a GI doctor, or if that would be a waste of my time. If I can start some supplements that will help the problem, I'd rather do that, because I think a regular doctor will just do a bunch of tests (like GI scans), and find nothing, except I do have slight anemia that isn't related to iron deficiency. But I'm guessing they will tell me they don't know the problem.
I also have Cortef here, but I'm afraid to take it! Doc prescribed it right before I stopped going last Oct.
-hair falling out! Very wispy in texture. I now look pretty ill because of it, about 25% of hair left.
-skin sagging in face, losing youthful texture
-dark rings around eyes, but had that for years
These first two things, I'm thinking, MUST be due to lack of amino acids? I have steadily declined my methyl B12 shots over the past year, due to cost, but I doubt that could be the only factor in the hair loss, because I *think* the hair loss started before I declined frequency of the shots (but not sure). The thing is, I eat a great diet (meats, veggies, fruits, whole grains). I am just now taking seriously the "hair skin nails" supplements, which seem to work because of amino acids like L-cysteine. I am also starting a general amino supplement (from whey and soy, NOW brand), and it seems to help my energy. Also starting Collagen I and III (which seems to be basically an amino supplement), and Hyaluronic Acid with Collagen II.
Two more things....
-acne has been bad over the past year. It is moreso bumps under the skin's surface, not the poppable or red kind.
-chelitis of the lips, which causes them to always be peeling (self-diagnosed online). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelitis. I won't post a pic; it looks gross.
I'm thinking B12 deficiency is the cause of my chelitis. I have been doing my methyl B12 shots less regularly over the past year, and the peeling has been worse.
I don't think solely a reduction of the B12 shots is the cause of my hair loss (started getting wispy texture Oct last year, started falling out slowly about 6-9 months ago), but who knows. I am thinking, because of my saggy skin and hair loss (both drastic), this must be amino related? Or could this ALL be not enough B12?
I am now taking methyl, hydroxy, and dibencozide B12, all sublingually, for past month. Who knows if it will help the hair, skin issues.
I am just wondering if the hair loss, skin texture, acne, etc is primarily a B12 issue, primarily an amino issue, or perhaps adrenal? Which is most likely? I realize they are all connected, but where should I start focusing my efforts? It is getting to the point that I HAVE to do something about the hair loss, or I'll look like a chemo patient by Christmas, which I don't want when seeing family.
I pretty much know I have problems in all those areas (b vitamins, aminos, adrenals), how could a CFS patient not!, but what exactly could this be? What is standing out to you guys? I need the "brain trust" of Phoenix Rising on this one. Just looking at pics of myself over the past year, it's just getting sad, the decline in my appearance, so I NEED to do something NOW or my folks will cry when they see me over the holidays (eek). Also I have the bad "dark eye rings", but had those forever.
I would like to see a regular doctor, because the hair loss warrants it, but I'm not sure if I should see a GI doctor, or if that would be a waste of my time. If I can start some supplements that will help the problem, I'd rather do that, because I think a regular doctor will just do a bunch of tests (like GI scans), and find nothing, except I do have slight anemia that isn't related to iron deficiency. But I'm guessing they will tell me they don't know the problem.
I also have Cortef here, but I'm afraid to take it! Doc prescribed it right before I stopped going last Oct.