I went to my Dermatologist yesterday and he re[affirmed that any redness of my scalp and/or hair loss (which he agrees is happening) is a result of my "clawing" during the night.
He is convinced that this is a neurological situation.
He did however, order blood work to test for the conditions you mentioned:
temporal arteritis or vasculitis.
He think's it's unlikely - and was very surprised that the neurologist(s) haven't had this blood work done.
I told him about using Lidicaine 4% on the back of my neck, he questions this because he feels that something topical kike this wold not find it's way down to a brain stem issue (trigeminal nerve).
I have started to take a magneium supplement and will ask my migraine/neurologist for a shot of magnesium (a practice she advocates for migraine relief)
I'm also taking a supplement called "Complete Omega 3.6.9."
In addition, I have started again using "Integrative Therapeutics Petadolex," which contains "extract of butterbur (Petasites hybridus)"
I have no idea if any of these things work, I have over the past 5 years since the onset of these "attacks" used butterbur and Omega 3,6,9, and periodically gone off them as well thinking that they really have no effect.
Last night I used a cold pack on my neck as I went to sleep, and opened a window to cool off the room a bit (I live in an apartment building that is radiator heated and at times gets dry and way to hot.
I'm trying -
On another but related note, the hair loss may be related to a surgery i had this summer (in July). I had scheduled surgery for spinal stenosis and had to get a "cardio clearance" before hand. My cardiologist found 99% blockage in a carotid artery,
I was told that my back might hurt, but this condition could kill me.
My dermatologist thinks that a condition known as telegin efflivium.
I do see the migraine doctor, and my neurologist next week and I think that an MRI might be in order?
And thank you for all of your help, it feels much better to be discussing this and potentially doing something about it.....