New Here, Young, Want to get started on Treatment

[hhj1247]

Hey, I'm a 21 year old male and I have probably been losing my hair since I've been 17. I want to finally do something about it. Lately I've become a slave to the hat. I think my hair loss could be worse then others I see at my age, but I am way to self consious about it. I've tried rogaine before, but I have found that it gives me excellerated hair loss. I know it is supposed to fall out before it starts to grow in better, but I end up chickening out on it after 2 months the two stints I did with it.

Today I went to my regular doctor and got a prescription for propecia. Should I get the pills immediately and start taking them or should I see a dermatologist or something before hand? Should I start using special shampoo? Should I really couple this with rogaine?

Another quetion I have is what can I expect out of propecia? I've heard of a decrease in sexual charisma, but how long should I take it before I expect it to work or not work? How often? etc.. Anyway, thanks for the help.

 

[Jake_89]

Poster above me summed it all up nicely

I was actually in your position until today Saw a Doctor - Doctor offered to sign a prescription for Propecia I asked to see a Derm... 5 minutes later and 125$ later I am walking out with a prescription without ANY INSIGHT into my hairloss

He even went to say taht EVERYONE has male pattern baldness to a certain extend and that Minoxidil is USELESS!

He did say I am thinning slightly and gave me option to treat it or wait to see if it gets worse to figure out how bad the hairloss is... option one please.

Get on Propecia dont worry about the Derm. You will know more then your average derm by simply reading a sh*t load from here.

Good lucK!

 

[hhj1247]

Thanks a ton for the help. I still haven't started yet. Wow, $125 bills, lol I guess anything is worth it. I'm afraid to couple propecia with rogaine because I have had bad shedding experiences with rogaine. I guess I was using extra strength or something bad maybe. If I was to, as you suggested, use the lowest dose how would I cut the propecia? Or did you mean minimize the dose of rogaine?

I'd be able to stomach this if I could see results in 2 months or even 6. Thanks for deferring me away from the derm. I'll just use the search and post questions on the board if I have problems. I'm basically looking to getting started and hoping that I don't get to lose out on my 20's.

 

[hhj1247]

Alright, I'm just about to go to the pharm to pick up the propecia. I know I should add in Rogaine and special shampoo, but I think I'll wait until later and maybe just pick up the head and shoulders that some of you suggested. I want to avoid the sheds as much as possible. It was a reason I wasn't able to keep up with Rogaine, and I know i'm going to at least give the propecia a year, and I guess I could expect big sheds at month 3 and month 6 from what I'm reading around here. I'll try to post pics.

Anyone have any advice before I get started? I normally wash my hair maybe only 3 or 4 times a week, since I heard that it's bad for your hair to wash it daily (don't know if that's true or not). Should I start washing it daily, especially if I decide to add in rogaine and/or special shampoo? Should I wash my hair daily if I get the head and shoulders?

Also, how much can I expect to lose during these sheds? Would it be enough to consider shaving my head when (or if) it happens? Does shaving your head hurt your hair rehab? How good are the results usually just using propecia/finasteride?

Thanks. This is very hard for me. I pushed this off too long now though, and now really is the time to start. I just hope I can feel comfortable walking around without a hat again. Pray for me! lol

 

[hhj1247]

On day 2 now. I haven't really felt any diference besides what I believe is my mind playing tricks on me, which is good. After I first took the pill, I thought I felt a strange sensation in my balls, but I'm not sure it was anthing and I think it wore off. If might have just been my mind. I also had a dizzy spell yesterday, but idk if that was relevant either. But, I was able to get an erection a couple times yesterday unk:

Unfortunately, I'm also getting a minor cold, which brings me to anther question. Can I take any other medicines with propecia? Like can I take asprin still, and day quill? I also need to get dental work done (wisdom teeth pulled). Would I be able to do that while on propecia? Thanks.

 

[hhj1247]

Yeah, I'm definitely feeling some testicular discomfort. I'm kinda freaking out right now. If I am feeling it this early, should I quit? Is it going to get worse or better? Do I just have to adjust?

 

[SE-freak]

I've tried rogaine before, but I have found that it gives me excellerated hair loss. I know it is supposed to fall out before it starts to grow in better, but I end up chickening out on it after 2 months the two stints I did with it.

How ironic, best responders usually freak out after the initial shed (which they have cause they respond great of course). It's weird, how the start of new growth is often interpreted as loss. I totally understand how someone would not want to engage in a lifetime routine of topicals (gulping pills is easier) but seeing people drop a treatment due to "accelerated hairloss" is puzzling.


Regarding testicular discomfort:
Do something for me, imagine a huge hand squeezing your balls bit by bit. When I do that I am almost in pain. Even my sack shrinks. Not saying that it is not a finasteride side, just pointing out the possibility of projecting a known finasteride side-effect to reality. In both cases chances are it will go away after week #1.

 

[hhj1247]

I've tried rogaine before, but I have found that it gives me excellerated hair loss. I know it is supposed to fall out before it starts to grow in better, but I end up chickening out on it after 2 months the two stints I did with it.

How ironic, best responders usually freak out after the initial shed (which they have cause they respond great of course). It's weird, how the start of new growth is often interpreted as loss. I totally understand how someone would not want to engage in a lifetime routine of topicals (gulping pills is easier) but seeing people drop a treatment due to "accelerated hairloss" is puzzling.


Regarding testicular discomfort:
Do something for me, imagine a huge hand squeezing your balls bit by bit. When I do that I am almost in pain. Even my sack shrinks. Not saying that it is not a finasteride side, just pointing out the possibility of projecting a known finasteride side-effect to reality. In both cases chances are it will go away after week #1.

Cool, thanks a lot. Sorry I know I must look like a total noob here worrying about a little ball ache. I saw your success thread, and it was actually one of my inspirations to try to do something about my hair again. Eventually maybe I'll add in Rogaine again, but I want to ease into things rather then go for a "kitchen sink" method.

The testicular discomfort is real. It usually feels bad for about 2 hours after I first take the pill, and persists minorly in spurts throughout the day. I was wondering if this is common among users and if it goes away after a while.

 

[SE-freak]

hhj1247:

I want to be crystal clear about this: one is not a noob for worrying too much, or being sceptical. I did not imply that your ache was imaginary either. Just pointed out a possibility.
I find the simplistic "one is a pussy for being sceptical about drugs, or for not riding out/accepting a side-effect" model idiotic at the least.

Please do not take my comment as a mockery of your hesitation or sceptiscism.