People who decided to give in to baldness... how do you feel now?

[Cr779]

I made a post similar to this already, but how are you so certain that finasteride caused your testosterone levels to drop?

In fact, the opposite is supposed to happen. In short - Finasteride inhibits an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT thus increasing the amount of testosterone circulating in your blood.

What is known to reduce serum testosterone, however, is high levels of stress and anxiety- coincidently, both are known to decrease libido as well.

Propecia didn't cause my testosterone to drop while i was taking the drug, it may have even increased it a bit like you said, only while quitting did it cause problems. The theory that gets the most support behind why that happens is that once you stop inhibiting DHT and it all rushes back to your system some guy's endocrine systems can't handle it and go a little nuts.

The reason I know it was fin that did this is I had blood levels taken before starting fin, you know just to make sure everything was in working order before getting on a hormone affecting drug. Not a good idea to start if you already have really low T or DHT. Everything was normal, though my DHT was almost as high as the accepted level for normal gets, which is why I''m going bald no doubt. And at this point I was under a shit load of stress, I had just noticed I was going bald I was losing my damn mind over it.

Now fast forward to when I decided to quit fin almost a year later, I'm healthier that i was before since i had been eating really well, running and working out. Stressed, yes of course, but not stressed enough to make my body drop it's T levels by over 50%, cause slight loss of sensation in my genitals, prostate and testicle ache and complete lack of morning wood or any other kind of erection. Quitting fin is the only thing that could have caused this. Sure it might not be 100% undeniable evidence but yeah no duh I wasn't being monitored in a lab or anything but seriously when the two options are I somehow stressed myself into this happening even though my stress levels weren't much different than before or the effects of quitting finasteride did to me what many many other people have reported it doing to them. I just got lucky and recovered fine.

[Notcoolanymore]

This thread got derailed with all of the fin talk, but to respond to the original topic of this thread, like UK I feel like shit. I started balding in my early 20's and pretty much gave in to baldness believing the treatments we had were garbage, and having doctors tell me there wasn't anything I could do to stop it. I feel like crap about many things: the condition of my hair, how long I waited to start treatment, etc.

[Dav7]

This thread got derailed with all of the fin talk, but to respond to the original topic of this thread, like UK I feel like shit. I started balding in my early 20's and pretty much gave in to baldness believing the treatments we had were garbage, and having doctors tell me there wasn't anything I could do to stop it. I feel like crap about many things: the condition of my hair, how long I waited to start treatment, etc.

Sorry to hear that Notcoolanymore. What age are you and whereabouts are you on the Norwood scale by the way?

[Notcoolanymore]

Sorry to hear that Notcoolanymore. What age are you and whereabouts are you on the Norwood scale by the way?

I am 37, I just posted some updated pics, if you want to check those out in my intro thread. When I first started treatment, I would say I was running top speed toward being a NW6. But I was probably a VERY diffuse NW3 with severe crown loss. Maybe you can check my pics and tell me what I am?

[Dav7]

I am 37, I just posted some updated pics, if you want to check those out in my intro thread. When I first started treatment, I would say I was running top speed toward being a NW6. But I was probably a VERY diffuse NW3 with severe crown loss. Maybe you can check my pics and tell me what I am?

Very interesting post Notcoolanymore............I've actually been considered a NW3v by a top global HT surgeon, somewhat similar to yourself, and I'm 27, though with probably further loss. I reckon that the Big 3 (which I've just started) could reverse me to a NW3 by filling in some of the crown and (hopefully) most of the forelock, if I do things properly, and when I have a HT on top of that - then voila, at least I'll be a NW2 (if for real, or merely in appearance, but who cares)

Have you ever had a transplant btw? I think I am similar to you, though much a bit more recession and a good bit younger. My current plan is given that I've 7000 grafts about, is to just throw 4,000 FUE grafts at the problem to bring me down a NW2 - and I've had this confirmed that this is possible, and to preserve the rest for donor regeneration, pilofocus, histogen, aderns .....and god knows what else in future.

Then again, at this stage it feels like I'll be a NW1 by summer at rate I'm responding to the big 3 after a mere month lol . Ah wishful thinking.

However, while I realise that the Holy grail of baldness treatment is to get even a NW7 down to a NW1.............I think us NW3/ NW3v/ NW4 types who can still get down to a full appearance NW2 should stick together and see where we get.

Keep up the treatments and best of luck with your future HT/ Future treatment plans.............first we'll get to NW2, then NW1 in 5 years "after a cure is found"

[Notcoolanymore]

No I didn't have a HT. Not really considering it right now. Maybe I will in the future. If I the big 3 can just continue to work and thicken up the hair I have now I will be satisfied, not happy, but satisfied. Maybe I will raise my standard as far as my hair goes. Have had crappy hair for so long I think I am just used to it.

You are still young, so there is hope that you can respond well to treatments if your hair hasn't been gone too long. Hopefully you will have continued success on treatments and you can recover most of your hair. Hang in there and don't quit.

[Dav7]

No I didn't have a HT. Not really considering it right now. Maybe I will in the future. If I the big 3 can just continue to work and thicken up the hair I have now I will be satisfied, not happy, but satisfied. Maybe I will raise my standard as far as my hair goes. Have had crappy hair for so long I think I am just used to it.

You are still young, so there is hope that you can respond well to treatments if your hair hasn't been gone too long. Hopefully you will have continued success on treatments and you can recover most of your hair. Hang in there and don't quit.

If I've been thinning for say 4 years and am starting the Big 3 now, how much hair do you reckon might be possible to regrow?

[Notcoolanymore]

If I've been thinning for say 4 years and am starting the Big 3 now, how much hair do you reckon might be possible to regrow?

Maybe somebody will correct me if I am wrong, but I have heard you can recover hair that has been lost for about 3 years. I would imagine this can vary from person to person along with other factors. In my unprofessional opinion, I would say if you are a good responder to treatment, you should be able to recover a good amount of your hair.

[kayzee]

Wow, this escalated quickly!

Something I meant to say in my original post... since getting depressed about my baldness, I found out I have a degenerative eye condition called keratoconus where my vision has been decreasing quite rapidly over the past 12 months. I've gone from needing glasses, to them becoming useless to custom made soft lenses and will soon probably need hard lenses to see properly. I may need an operation to stabilize my cornea in a few months time (there is no cure) it's had a massive effect on my driving, reading and even watching TV.

All this has completely put baldness to the back of my mind as I've started to see how much, in the big scheme of things, it really doesn't matter as much.

Don't get me wrong, I still get down about it, but I think this is why I've pretty much come to 'accept' it.

[35YrsAfter]

Wow, this escalated quickly!

Something I meant to say in my original post... since getting depressed about my baldness, I found out I have a degenerative eye condition called keratoconus where my vision has been decreasing quite rapidly over the past 12 months. I've gone from needing glasses, to them becoming useless to custom made soft lenses and will soon probably need hard lenses to see properly. I may need an operation to stabilize my cornea in a few months time (there is no cure) it's had a massive effect on my driving, reading and even watching TV.

All this has completely put baldness to the back of my mind as I've started to see how much, in the big scheme of things, it really doesn't matter as much.

Don't get me wrong, I still get down about it, but I think this is why I've pretty much come to 'accept' it.

There are several treatments available for keratoconus. A new treatment called Corneal crosslinking shows some promise. In 2008, University of Siena researchers in Italy reported positive outcomes in all 44 eyes that were followed for three years after treatment with epithelium-off CXL.

I'm sure you already know about all this. Not sure at this phase if insurance covers this treatment. Is there anyone else in your family with keratoconus? Research indicates that the cause is likely related to the cornea's susceptibility to free radicals. Not sure if a dietary supplement could help in any way at all. I wish you the best.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
forhair.com
Cole Hair Transplant
1070 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck

[Notcoolanymore]

Damn kayzee,

Sorry to hear about your eye condition. Although this hair loss stuff has me frustrated, I try to keep everything in perspective, because as we can see things can get plenty worse.

[kayzee]

Thank you.

35YrsAfter: I'm well aware of CXL, I've had my first CT scan, and will have another in 6 months time. If it has decreased enough, I'll be eligible for it... whether I can get it on the NHS or not is another matter. Some people have managed to, whereas others have had to pay up to £6,000 I don't know if anyone else in my family has had it. My grandma suffers from a very bad astigmatism, but I'm guessing if anyone more previous than that had it they wouldn't have even know what it was!

My whole face is screwed lol... that's the hair and eyes, then I also have a broken nose from getting attacked in 2009 which also knocked my tooth out and left me with a 'dead' one (it's almost black) and I get rashes all over my nose, cheeks, chin and neck unless I use steroid cream twice a day! Give me a break ffs oh and I have to get my ears syringed every 6 months or so. Anything else!? Don't think there's anything left now.

[35YrsAfter]

then I also have a broken nose from getting attacked in 2009 which also knocked my tooth out and left me with a 'dead' one (it's almost black) and I get rashes all over my nose, cheeks, chin and neck unless I use steroid cream twice a day!

I have had a few root canal surgeries. One crown lasted for over 20 years. The most recent root canal got reinfected and I had to take some moderately powerful antibiotics. Tooth pain can be excruciatingly painful. The pain shot up into my sinus area. The xray according to the doctor indicated a possible fracture in the tooth and they recommended I have the tooth pulled after the course of antibiotics. One thing I noticed for some time after taking the antibiotics is that my skin cleared up in the area of my nose and face. I decided to regularly use a strong antibiotic mouth wash and I now floss every night without fail. It's been 9 months and the tooth hasn't given me any trouble at all and my face no longer has areas of redness. I don't plan on having the tooth pulled. A bad tooth can poison the entire body and even cause heart disease. Something to think about.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
forhair.com
Cole Hair Transplant
1070 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
The contents of my posts are my opinions and not medical advice
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck