PERSONAL STORY: From ‘hairwire' to hair glory -- a lupus story

1998 was not a good year for me. I had many bad hair days then. In fact, it was a bad hair year.

My hair was dry and brittle and clumps would fall out. My hair was out-of-control and “haywire” — hairwire, a term I coined.

I thought it was just the heat, the rays of the summer sun felt like tiny flames burning through my skin. It turns out it was not the weather. It was lupus.

In a month, my weight dropped from 108 to 88 and I stopped weighing myself at that point. My BP dropped to 50/30.

Then I had a major stroke and at first, I couldn’t move even my fingers. My first thought was “how will I go to Mass” as Riz and I were daily Massgoers.

The stroke happened on a Monday and by Sunday I was in church again, with Riz and my Mom helping me walk.

Despite being able to walk again, I still thought I could die anytime so I gave away half of my clothes and almost all of my shoes as I thought nobody would want to receive them from a dead person.

I told Riz I am sorry I don’t think I can make it to our fourth wedding anniversary but he said, no, I will get well and that we will even celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary with a renewal of vows in church.

We did have our 25th wedding anniversary in a beautiful church — the Santuario de San Antonio in Forbes Park, Makati City. 

And now we are about to celebrate our 32nd anniversary. Miracles do happen with God’s grace and I am grateful...

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

In 1998, when the doctor said I had lupus, I tried to research as much as I could about it.

I learned that two things trigger lupus attacks: sun exposure and stress.

The sun problem was pretty easy to solve with dark curtains and a black umbrella — according to the New York Post, a black umbrella can block as much as 90 percent of UV rays.

The other lupus trigger — stress, was a little more difficult to resolve. At that time, I was the editor-in-chief of three publications. I transferred to a different company, still EIC, but overseeing only one magazine.

Small lifestyle changes made a big difference.

I absolutely hate taking medicines, except for vitamins, so I opted instead to be healthy by:

(1) eating healthier (fish, fruits, and vegetables);

(2) exercising daily (light stretching every now and then throughout the day);

(3) praying (I used to spend an hour or so daily with my husband Riz in the Adoration Chapel; now, the Adoration Chapel nearest to us is being renovated and I pray at home about two hours a day), and

(4) painting (I chose a hobby that I enjoy and hired an art teacher to give me lessons on watercolor painting).

HAIR GLORY

Apparently, these choices have a positive effect — even on my hair! I was surprised to be complimented on my hair by some people, and two even pressed me to share my “secret” to shiny, almost black hair (never ever dyed…).

No secret but for the “nice” hair, credit should go to:

(1) God, above all. By His mercy, I continue to be healed;

(2) my husband Riz and my three mothers who always pray for me: the Blessed Mother Mary, my Mom Erlinda, and my mother-in-law Mommy Ninit; I also imagine our late father praying for us everyday from heaven.

(3) Kerastase— I thought I was being conned when my hair stylist first suggested that I use this super expensive line of hair care products from France: P4,500 for shampoo and conditioner; P3,500 for hair oil, and P3,300 for hair mask… they do work and last a long time, meaning it turns out reasonably priced in the end.

(4) Senior hair stylist Miss Belle Garrido and the staff at Bench Fix Salon in Serendra-BGC. I have been going to this salon for about nine years now. I initially distrusted Miss Belle for suggesting Kerastase and organic hair treatments.

Do I really need something organic for my hair? I do not even eat “organic” for my stomach… but the “organic hair treatments” do seem to be working.

Most of all, the special reason that I like the staff at that particular Bench Fix Salon branch: They are kind and gentle to our Mom, who is now wheelchair-bound. My Mom won’t go to any other salon and I understand her 100 percent.

Somehow, my hair reflects my lupus journey — my hair is healthier, I am healthier, life goes on. Thanks be to God.

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Lupus is a serious disease. If you suspect you have lupus, please see a doctor.

READ: Philippine Senate approves bill on lupus prevention