Am I a Norwood 2 or 3? (or 2A or 3A?)

[Tracy C]

You should be fine. Just stick with the treatments and give it reasonable time - at least a full 12 months.

[25 going on 65]

Originally Posted by Kirby_

Also, I've noticed that while my thin patch directly on top (midscalp?) is thinning, everything 'south' of the swirl, is nearly solid. Could that be an indicator of anything, or just my 'pattern'?

It's just your pattern most likely. There is a pretty huge variation in MPB patterns, especially for diffuse thinners like ourselves.

[mpb47]

Originally Posted by Kirby_

Also, I've noticed that while my thin patch directly on top (midscalp?) is thinning, everything 'south' of the swirl, is nearly solid. Could that be an indicator of anything, or just my 'pattern'?

Just keep an eye on it as you get older. My relatives never went south there until they were all around 50 or so.

[Kirby_]

^ TBH, I can see two scenarios emerging. Either my hair won't be viable this time next year, despite or because of Propecia and the heavy diffuse loss. Or I won't have to worry in the long term about MPB, because much better treatment options will be available, easily by the time I'm 40... It's either/or, as I see it.

[Kirby_]

Added photo from last August to prove that my hair was relatively thick then. Is far worse now.

[Kirby_]

I'm convinced that either fin is destroying my hair, or I have something as well as MPB that is exacerbating my hair loss, possibly in conjunction with fin.

[Tracy C]

It is much too soon for you to know that.

[Kirby_]

I'm not convinced that Propecia/fin does anything but speed up balding. There must be a reason why it Propecia is not commonly known about in the UK. I went from SLIGHTLY thinning in a diffuse pattern to HEAVILY, VISIBLY balding.

[Maradona]

Originally Posted by Kirby_

I'm not convinced that Propecia/fin does anything but speed up balding. There must be a reason why it Propecia is not commonly known about in the UK. I went from SLIGHTLY thinning in a diffuse pattern to HEAVILY, VISIBLY balding.

My question why the **** would even get on propecia being in your 30s with slow balding and a norwood 2?

I lost a lot of hair on propecia and quit months later.

But know this if you quit now, you will not get your hair back.
But if you keep at it, you might regrow what you lost but at the risk of sides.

[25 going on 65]

Originally Posted by Kirby_

I'm not convinced that Propecia/fin does anything but speed up balding. There must be a reason why it Propecia is not commonly known about in the UK. I went from SLIGHTLY thinning in a diffuse pattern to HEAVILY, VISIBLY balding.

Propecia isn't commonly known about anywhere, because most men don't treat their hair loss. But for a majority of males it will strengthen and maintain hair for years.
You'll want to be on it at least twelve full months before deciding whether it works for you. Some men need longer than that. If you do end up quitting, I would definitely taper off instead of dropping it all at once.
I'm sorry for your stress, but know that quite a few men quit finasteride prematurely and thus give up hair they could have saved. Quitting before a year has passed means you never should have taken the drug in the first place (unless you're quitting due to side effects).
For what it's worth, I have gone through sheds that made me worry fin wasn't working or was making things worse. But in the long term the result has been more and better hair.
Another thing to consider: stress can cause massive shedding.

Have you spoken to a doctor about this to see if there are other causes?