Fighting Hairloss- MY Diary

[YellowJacket]

Almost a year of this bullshit and Im still here :)

Updates:

Still losing a good bit of hair each day. The crown of my head is still very solid and no notice of hairloss, which leads me to believe my hairline and frontal scalp are the areas of shedding. Still using minoxidil, spiro and Propecia religiously. Using Head & Shoulders twice a week and Progain and my primary shampoos, occassionally Ill use Nioxin, but Im phasing it out (price vs. results).

One thing I have learned and realized is, if you change your hairstyle a bit, there's no notice of hairloss. For example, when I just gel my hair and mess it up, you can vaguly see some hairloss along the hairline, but if I gel it and flip my bangs up, in no way is hairloss noticable. So switching hairstyles is a good idea, plus hey, it was time for a change anyway.

On the downside, Im still not convinced anything Im using is aiding in stopping or even slowing my hairloss and Ive spent well over $900 on all the treatments thus far, which is sort of a let down, but Ive come this far and spent this much money, no intentions of stopping now.

On a more serious note, I read today where the little 7 year old girl with cancer that raised over $700,000 for cancer research died...... kind of makes my hairloss seem pretty comical. Its hard to be depressed over hairloss when you realize 7 year old childre nare laying in the hospital with cancer and dying of cancer.........

[newmass]

I have used propecia for 2 years without a single side effect.
I have regained a good amount of hair. ( I was totally bald on the top.)There is one "good" side effect of propecia. Propecia is the same drug as proscar. This drug fights the effect of DHT on the prostate. The higher your test levels the greater chance you will have prostate problems. Propecis helps to block this and some studies show it may help prevent prostate problems "down the road.

[newmass]

BTW minoxidil will NOT work on the frontal hair loss... only the back.

[LiquidEL]

BTW minoxidil will NOT work on the frontal hair loss... only the back.

Works on the front for me.

I havent posted in awhile here at SM. But I continue to use Propecia, Minoxidil and Nizoral 2%. I use Azaelic Acid and the copper peptides less then I used to, but mainly because it can be so unsightly for work. I have not gotten Spiro yet, but my doctor will give me a script if its needed. Right now it is not needed. Unlike YJ, I have missed doses and applications. Im sure it would be better if I hadnt/didnt, but that just isnt the case for me.

The hair growth that I did get in the first few months has turned from the baby white color to that f my own hair color (front and back). I am not getting as much new growth as I did at the start, but I have assuredly gained hair. Some of it has become thicker, but not as much as I would have liked so far. Maybe had I been a bit more deligent I would have even better results.

But I continue using it with satisfaction. Especially on the small little thinning/balding spot in the middle of my front hairline. The hair has regrown to a point that when my hair is styled it is not nearly (1/4) as noticeable as before. It also has filled in towards the temple area as well. The very temple itself is a battle zone tho.

I did enjoy reading the updates.

Good Luck everyone.

[YellowJacket]

A Year and 2 weeks later...

This past week has been one of the hardest.... getting to be really depressed over this matter now and Im in full worry mode. After being on Propecia & minoxidil for over a year, Im still losing a significant amount of hair each day, with no let down. I plan on discontinuing the use of Spiro, as Ive been on it for well over 4 months and nothing, I can no longer afford it. I will stick with propecia and minoxidil for a little while longer, but my hopes arent high.

Im beginning to entertain the idea of just shaving it and moving on, but seeing ex girlfriends, friends, old friends, etc. has kept me from doing it. Once I shave it, Im going to become a hermit I think and avoid spots where they'll be interactions with the aforementioned people, this is so embarassing......

[sunkiss]

Eh I know its hard, but it really isnt that bad. Your not loseing a foot or an arm. And ya I can say that, I have been hypo since I was 15, and it gets a little lower and perscription gets higher with age. 25 now, and have seen massive loss. I can see my scalp in areas were the hair will never grow back. For the first while, I told everyone I had really thin hair. After looking at my mom, and my grandmother, (both can see the scalp very well through thin thin hair) I just realized that that is life. They are still very much beautiful to me to the point I do not really notice, unless I am feeling sorry for myself and am looking straight at things. I know I am better than my hair, much like they are and people that find me attractive will always find me attractive. So I am going to be bald one day. And really thats ok with me. But I will admit from time to time, I get in my slumps, I just remember that there are worse things that can happen to me.

[njlovehandles]

whats do you cinsider sheading. my hair has been sheading for about 3 years. hair line whent back a little since i was younger but not to bad. when i shower i generally get between 10 - 15 hairs on hands or shoulders. not sure if this is natural sheading or going bald. whatever i like shaving my hair, its easy

[Jarconis]

Instead of shaving it, just start out with the one gaurd buzz, and then slowly go from there, it'll be a more gradual process that wont be so obvious , and everyone will get accustomed to you sporting the no hair look

[Severedties]

I feel you man. I am 18, and it appears that my hairline is getting higher. I have it cut real short anyway, because it bothered me. My grandfather had no hair on the top of his head, so that is what would happen to me eventually, apparently it started early.

Its easier to shave it. Nobody cares anyway. I dont know why you siad you would become a hermit, it is hardly that big of a deal. People cant tell if you are balding or not, your head is shaved. And who the fuck cares if they can, who are they to you? Nobody, and its only fucking hair.

[Face]

People who care so much about other peoples hair have too much free time on their hands anyway..... If they criticise your hair, its probably more a reflection on the emptiness of their lives rather than your hair loss.

[Johnny Cage]

YJ - I met you a long time ago. Listen, just relax - a hair transplant is the way to go, stop blowing money on this average preventative stuff if you can't afford it. I'm only 22, so 3 years from now I'll probably get one.
It will be your hair forever, and not suspectable to MPB (androgens).

Think of Arnold, his hair got thin during his BB days. Now he has a near perfect hairline. It will take some $$$ saving, but its cheaper in the long run.

Transplanted hair wont ever fall out - just get a good doctor (search the net).
In this case you can have your cake (your hair) and eat it too (androgens).

[YellowJacket]

14+ months

Thanks all for the comments/advice. I have, at this point, ruled out any transplants. Ive visited facilities, met with doctors, got a price quote and after all the research, Im not interested in a transplant....

As for an update, its been about 14.5 months since treatments began, no signs of hairloss slowing and no signs of any re-growth. I dont know if Im being ignorant and nieve, but I continue to buy a myriad of hairloss products. Still use my minoxidil and propecia regularly. I now I have to do the "move a little hair here, move a little there" technique to prevent anyone from noticing my hairloss. Im really getting pretty desparate now....

[Johnny Cage]

YJ - you aren't interested because of the price of a transplant?
in the end, you may save money -
if you wanted to go the FUE route and there's no donor scar.

[hcristie]

anyone using the laser comb or shen men for hair loss?

Hi, is anyone using the shen men supplements for hair loss or the laser comb?

Also revivogen topical solution, any results?

I am currently on minoxidil 5% and 5mg of proscar (I take the whole thing) and my hair is still shedding like crazy, I mean hundreds every day.

Has anyone tried adding retin A to their minoxidil or making their own copper solutions?

thanks!

[YellowJacket]

Today, Nov. 27, 04 I have discontinued all hairloss products. I can no longer afford to waste the money on them. Its been well over a year and Ive seen absolutely no results, so there's no point in continuing treatments. Thank you all for the support.