Clinicallyhairpressed's story - (PICS!)

[clinicallyhairpressed]

Hi guys. Been surfing these forums for a while but had some trouble getting my email accepted so had to get a new one.

So here's how it is:

I'm 18 years old and over the last 2 months or so i've been losing hair, and I'm sh*t scared! I've finally decided to address it so went to the Doctor and he referred me for some blood work (at this point, after reading tons on this forum, i think i'd actually rather it be a thyroid or kidney problem!)

I go for the blood to be taken on wednesday so should have the results two weeks after that, so the Doctor will go through them with me.

If its not kindey or thyroid disfunction then I can safely assume its androgenic so I'll get him to give me a prescription of Finasteride and start straight away! (I'm already on Nizoral).

I thought this may happen one day (my dad is pretty much bald) but at such a young age is a big shock. Not only that, but to get it after 5 years (and still counting) of combating acne this is pretty sh*t - i've not yet had a period of my life where i feel physically confident in myself, apart from childhood.

Any advice you can offer me is greatly appreciated. Do you think its wise to go on finasteride straight away at my age? I just want to keep as much as i can!

Thanks.

Nine.

 

[clinicallyhairpressed]

Also, do you think waiting a couple of weeks while my blood work gets done will make a difference? I'm eager to start on finasteride right away!

 

[Follically Challenged]

It probably won't make much of a difference but I would start right away. Go to a walk-in clinic and get a prescription from them. You could start today!

 

[clinicallyhairpressed]

yeah, but i have to see if something else is wrong first - i think were i to be taking finasteride when i may have another hormonal problem could be foolish, especially without consulting the GP that referred me fot the blood tests. But I understand - I'll get on it as soon as i know!

 

[clinicallyhairpressed]

Right guys, taken some pics. Its now saturday, should be starting finasteride next friday.

I know the pics don't really show the damage, but they were taken on a camera phone...

The crown is obvious, but the anterior mid-scalp, front of head and down the middle of the head is not so obvious, and its hard to tell unless its under bright light.

Since I've only been losing for a couple of months do you think its unrealistic to hope to regain all the hair i have lost? After all not much miniturisation can have occurred in that time can it? Hmmm, I hate this waiting for my results to come in - I just want to start on finasteride now.

 

[bubka]

you could not have started at a better time, though you will likely at least stop your regression, i think the crown is fine, those close flash pictures don't do justice

 

[Guest]

crown looks about same as mine. not too far gone. and i hate to tell you this but you've most likely been losing for more than two months. you can't tell you're losing your hair till it's already miniaturized 50% or so. since your crown is moderately visible then unless you balded really really fast, it's been more than two months. don't feel bad, i didn't notice mine till this point either.

 

[Ray777]

It doesn't look bad at all and I think there is a great possibility you will get it all back just be positive :lol:

 

[clinicallyhairpressed]

How far along were you when you started bubka? Did you get this far before you started popping finasteride? Hmmm, All i know is i'd be glad of your hair in 6 years time and wanted to know if your loss was at a similar rate of loss.

Thankfully I'm still a Norwood 0 pretty much, I haven't got any recession yet *touch wood* I'm thinning down the centre part and a little at the crown.

It's now Sunday - I'm counting down the days until my docs appointment on friday! I can't wait to walk away with my finasteride, I'll be taking it right outside the pharmacy!

Also - I took some pics of me with my hair wet and as I would normally (though not so much now) style it with wax. You can really see the damage from these - and Jayman you are right - my hair has become miniturised and thin, the guy who cuts my hair always used to have to razor it thinner because it was monster thick - not so much anymore.
Wet:



With wax:

 

[bubka]

honestly, much like that last picture is what i had... decent 1.5 temple recession too... i had more of a two thinner miniaturized spots by each side of center, instead of one center one, though still thin throughout on the crown

 

[Skaff]

We're like identical twins! Same colour,texture and crown...If someone said that was my head I'd believe them. I'm only on minoxidil but keen to get on finasteride asap (and ditch the minoxidil). Goodluck bro!

 

[clinicallyhairpressed]

AAAAAAARRRRGHGHGHGH!

i DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED, but over the last day or so like half of my hair seems to have fallen out - at the front, on the top, everywhere - there is hair everywhere! how can this be normal?! Two days ago I was beginning to wonder if hairloss was all in my head, but now i know its true - I can see scalp through the top even when its dry! It just happened!

Is this normal! Can this be pattern loss! I have 3 whole days to wait until my appointment where i'll get my propecia!

Thats it, I'm ordering it online right now - it could come in 2 then I'm on it a day sooner. Why does sh*t like this always happen to me?!

 

[Guest]

it typically takes a week to get it from one of the reputable online pharmacies. just wait for your appt.

 

[clinicallyhairpressed]

OK guys, I've calmed down slightly now.

I've ordered the stuff because i figured i'm better off buying finpecia at half the price anyway. The order said it should take no longer than 7 days, but typically only 1-3 days to get here, in which case i will already have the meds to take as soon as I've talked to my doctor, and a lot cheaper.

I don't know whats happening up there, but the next few days are going to be tough before my appointment. Its good to know that even though i may be the only person i know or know of going through this, everyone here knows what I'm going through and can sympathise.

It's ridiculous i know but at this point I'm actually hoping hypothyroidism comes up in my blood work! Because even though I'd be on meds for the rest of my life at least my hair would grow back when i did!

Hmmm. I don't know how I'm going to cope at college. I have tons of work to do at home but I can't think about anything else. I just feel so alone. My dad (whom I have inherited this from) didn't experience this till he was in his thirties so I don't know why it should hit me at 18.

I guess this is just another thing I'll have to live with. I just wish that I could have experienced just one year, or I'd even settle for one month of my life, that I never had to worry about the state of my skin, or my hair. One month where i could feel confident in myself.

I'm just hoping finasteride can help me, and save me from misery.

 

[Skaff]

You've gotta be patient... a few days or a week isn't gonna make any difference. You've caught it early and given yourself the best chance to keep your hair.
If it's really messing with your head you could take a year off to go travelling or whatever but you'll be fine.

 

[clinicallyhairpressed]

Oh dear,

Now I'm back to wondering if I even have thinning again...
This is stupid - totally messing with my head, maybe its all psychological, maybe its not...

Anyway, went to the Doctor, she didn't even know what finasteride was! I had to explain it all to her! Anyway, I've got a script for propecia (she said she didn't think I had any hairloss, but just to take the script anyway).

Thing is, she didn't even realise it was a private prescription (as in, I'd have to pay for it) until i stupidly told her! Just think, I could have had an indefinite permanent repeat prescription for free propecia!

Anyway, I've not picked it up yet (its just the price of the stuff thats holding me back till i get paid) but I'll probably go pick it up next time I have a panic attack! I'm beginning to wonder if I've got BDD...

Though I've already ordered some generic stuff (finpecia) online. I wish I hadn't ordered it now, as my mum will freak if she finds it in the post and thinks I'm taking prescription drugs of my own accord, lol. The fact that you have to sign for them makes it even worse! But then again, mums can't possibly understand the psychological implications of this sort of thing in todays society - just because my dad wasn't bothered and there wasn't any treatment around doesn't mean that I should follow suit!

Sorry, just venting. Also, I for one believe that it is stereotypical to say that hairloss causes more psychological harm to women than men, just because its more common in men. It's exactly the same thing! Just like its the same thing for a man or a woman have a scar, or be severely obese, etc, etc . Plus women have many more options available. For many people, hair styles are a part of your identity, they can say whether you are a metalhead, a rasta or punk; they can show your self expression or personality - in women and men.

I know hair isn't all important, and it doesn't change who you are - but it can change who people think you are, and its sad that we live in a world that is like that. I for one will never judge anyone again for what they look like - especially anyone, who, unlike me, (in the future) has the balls to shave their head.

 

[clinicallyhairpressed]

Well, I have my Propecia.

However, I'm still paranoid in thinking that I may not actually have any pattern loss.

I don't seem to be losing hair anymore, and haven't been for a couple of weeks now, and my hair is certainly not getting any worse - even when I'm looking for an excuse to take my finasteride!

So, I think I'm going to wait a bit, then if i start losing again, or if i notice something, then I can start taking it right away - hmmm, is it possible I may be recovering from Telogen Effluvium?

I'm just conscious of the fact that once I start, I'll be on it for the rest of my life - and £38 a month is an expensive affair!

I think I may do some more pics and compare them to the ones before that i took a few weeks ago. If they are any worse then I'll start popping the pills, if its not I'll leave it for now.

 

[clinicallyhairpressed]

Right, I've now been on finasteride for 3 months. Tbh, I would estimate that my situation is the same, although I got a confidence boost the other day when, after having my hair a bit long a frizzy for a while to hide any problem areas, I had a haircut. I have it about 1/3 of an inch long, and to my suprise, after she'd done, she asked me if it was thinned out enough for me!

Well, if not improvement I've definitely maintained - next time I have a hair cut I'm going to have it all shaved to the same length, rather than cut, so if my hair is cut without thinning it out it will show me just how thick (or otherwise) it is.

One problem however, is that I'm slowly running out of finasteride and in 10 days when I'm out I don't know whether I'll be able to afford another months supply! Therefore I have made a pledge to beg, borrow or steal during that time - there must be some place I can just turn up and work! lol - I'm setting up an ebay account today so I can sell some of my old junk to fund my finasteride!

 

[roki]

if for a period of time you want be able to afford it start taking 0.5 mg
its not as good but its good enough