Panicking over possible MPB

[keepingmyhair]

... and you're only 28? Are you sure you need those??

Anyways, I'm pretty sure you have MPB altough you should actually go to a hair transplant office and get a miniaturization study.... your hometown dermatologists won't know shit

boy were you right about that one... I just got back from the dermatology NP. She was absolutely clueless.. at one point she got her iphone out in front of me to check if propecia has drug interactions. REALLY??!? I would never, EVER do that in front of a patient, much less one that already told me they have a history of being scared of drugs! When she found the random name that came up she checked with ME to see if I'd heard of that drug it interacts with because she never had heard of it.

She didn't really answer if there was hairloss at all. She just said if there is and it's genetic there's no miracle cure. Try propecia and rogaine. She said the amount of stress i've been through the last 4 years could be to blame but truly she had no F***** clue. She saw my scalp seemed inflamed a bit and wrote a prescription out for something she didn't explain and laughed and said it was probably its own problem unrelated to my hairloss. I asked, "well, what could be causing the inflammation?" ::silence:: "some people it just happens, it's common" I gave up at this point. The highlight of the appointment was getting the small wart on my toe sprayed.

Ok, so I leave there and call this Dr. Pizarro's office because I had a feeling it was going to go down that way. The receptionist at this hair transplant dr's office within 5 minutes was more knowledgeable and capable than the NP was. She attempted to comfort me, she asked me to send over all my pictures and looked at them while I was still on the phone, she ensured me that Dr. Pizarro has done nothing but hair for 21 years, it's her sole focus. I'm going to go in for free consult tomorrow at 2 p.m.

The receptionist (Joann) said from my pictures I need to take a deep breath, I probably have some thinning from MPB (I still don't know how this is happening to me) and that propecia will probably be the solution. She said I really shouldn't be afraid of the finasteride, as even if I'm in the rare group (I always am) that gets side effects, the half life is apparently 6 hours and it would be out of my system quickly.

TLDR; terrible dermatology NP experience, getting opinion of an MD focused on hair tomorrow, and then also probably getting a second opinion from one of the doctors you guys have listed to me.

I'm about to rant, please don't read if you don't want to hear whining, but I have to write to get it out. I think I'm in shock or denial.

Still upset that I am most likely male pattern balding?? WHY?!! every father, mother, cousin, uncle, aunt, grandparent and great ______ above got to not express their gene but I do? Thanks universe/god/biology! Make me ugly, ruin my life. I thought I'd had my fair share given all the meds i'm already on for the many other health problems I have (GAD, gastritis, IBS, Esophagitis, hiatal hernia, depression, hemmorhoids and more..all before age 30!) but I guess my external beauty must be taken too. I was hoping to find a partner by my early 30's, but my now sub zero self-esteem should prevent that from happening. Guess I have to lower my standards and won't be able to date people that i'm extremely attracted to. All those super hot people have nice hair, and most likely expect the same in return. /end rant

I mean no disrespect to everyone else going through this, and are probably worse off or more worse off than I am.. I know I sound like a total brat. I've had lots of health issues already, but they're always internal and don't affect my ability to make myself feel and be as attractive as possible the way your hair does.

[mnx]

Well, since you are the same age, have a seemingly similar hair situation, and the same level of anxiety about it all as me, I feel compelled to reply.

I think about the only thing you can do for your anxiety is to do everything possible to deal with the situation, and then do your best to take it out of your mind(easier said than done).

Also, I think you might be able to warm up to the idea of Propecia.

Anyways, best luck.

[keepingmyhair]

Well, since you are the same age, have a seemingly similar hair situation, and the same level of anxiety about it all as me, I feel compelled to reply.

I think about the only thing you can do for your anxiety is to do everything possible to deal with the situation, and then do your best to take it out of your mind(easier said than done).

Also, I think you might be able to warm up to the idea of Propecia.

Anyways, best luck.

MNX, your story was what I first found while searching online, and then I joined the forum to be able to private message you but then forgot to do it, so it is nice to see that you instead found me. Let us help one another if possible.

[mnx]

Sure. I find it helpful to come on here when I can't get it off my mind, I'm sure you will find it that way too.

[Maradona]

Maradona, I went and watched the replicel stuff..do you think this stuff will really happen ASAP? I'm schooled in psychology so I'm very much used to the concept of constant "advances" but never any "cures" just "remission" of a permanent problem. I hope that stuff is really all going to happen. We need to cure things, instead of always medicating with damaging side effects.

I'm trying to stay positive. I know we're all supposed to be kum-ba-ya about inner self love is what matters, but who are we kidding? Still, to get the first, second and 3rd dates...my hair has always been a highlight feature of me being cute/adorable/attractive/sexy or whatever adjectives i've been described as in my 28 years on this earth.

It won't happen ASAP bro. i suggest IF YOU HAVE MPB, you calm down, it's not the end of the world, things will change of course.

It's gonna be tough but it's not a life sentence, if that doesn't comfort you, we have many companies close to a cure/better treatment.all of us valued our hair as much as you did otherwise we wouldn't be here.

You might not have MPB and from what it looks like, it's really really slow so you will benefit from future treatments. Hang in there bro.

[keepingmyhair]

Went to Dr. Pizarro today, very nice people there. Spent a little over an hour talking and discussing hair. She said my front hair line is naturally lower from my genetics and I probably won't ever need to worry about receding much further there.

Unfortunately, she also said that I'm a norwood 3 vertex pattern...
I had a little crying session then as she went over rogaine and propecia. She does not feel my problem is of enough issue to warrant adding another drug to medications I already take for my health issues. She said rogaine once a day...for the rest of my life and everything will be fine. Should I be happy I guess?

I asked "what if it doesn't work?" and she said "that's not going to be a problem, you need to stay off the internet as you will only get inundated with information and fear." Well, here I am on the internet. What do you think? Sound advice from her? She didn't do any actual tests or anything, why does no one need to do tests? Dont they care how or why you might be balding or is male pattern so obvious that they just don't even bother taking blood work, doing hair density tests etc?

Before I try this rogaine for the rest of my life bit, I'm going to get one more opinion from one of the doctors recommended here. I will have to drive and get a hotel for that one as I live nowhere near where those doctors are. Is there really no genetic test that I can physically look at results and confirm my reason for thinning hair loss?

[Tracy C]

What do you think?

So far she has impressed me. It sounds like she is ethical.

[Winston]

Sounds like good advice. The internet is full of nuts. This forum is great and probably has the most balanced group of people, but it's still not always the best place for very impressionable people. You have to be able to read through the mess to use the internet well.

[keepingmyhair]

So far she has impressed me. It sounds like she is ethical.

Hi Tracy,

she did indeed seem ethical. She was very straight forward about things as well, which I don't always like but usually need. I think what has me somewhat anxious about this is the differences in people's opinions. For example, you and a couple others have said that Rogaine alone will probably not solve the problem , I need propecia. Then the MD says to just use Rogaine and that she doesn't believe I need to take a pill, and the rogaine will solve it all. I guess what i'm saying is, I tend to take stock in other people's experiences sometimes just as much as the MD. You never really know who is right, even though they are physicians. Should I trust that if she says I don't need propecia, I don't need it?

[mnx]

I don't think it's necessarily bad to get a second opinion. Not that I have specific doubts of her diagnosis or ability, but it doesn't hurt.

I have to say, as someone awaiting my own first consultation, I also was expecting a miniaturization test. As for her not recommending Propecia, also something that contradicts my expectations. Again, just my expectations, not any kind of doubt I have on her.

I am going to throw some presumptive guesses out, so take these with a grain of salt. It is possible that she feels your hair loss is slow enough in progression and late enough in onset, combined with a holding hair line, that Minox really will be all you need. Perhaps that should be taken as good news.

Honestly, if I am advised that all I need is Minox, I will be pretty happy about that I suppose.

As for "do they not care" in response to no testing, I don't think that is the issue. I think there are a number of environmental and lifestyle factors that put our genetically susceptible follicles under undue stress, but this aspect really isn't well understood enough for a doctor advising on your best options to go in to. Perhaps just one of those things we'll all have to wait out as science improves, and hope there are answers coming soon.

[keepingmyhair]

yeah mnx it surprised me too about the propecia. I am wondering if it's because of how I present (as an anxious neurotic mess like the world is ending) during the consultation. She knew from my history and discussing my other medications with me that i'm pretty much terrified of my medical ****tail already. Maybe she ethically felt, like Tracy was saying, that adding in another drug wouldn't help out my anxiety (but perhaps she knew inside that I would be best taking it medically speaking). I'm trying not to simmer much on that one.

Do let me know how your consultation goes as well. I decided I'm going to get my follow up opinion with Dr. Baumann. He seems pretty epic in the hair field from what I've read about him.

Also, Dr. Pizarro who I saw today didn't have any idea why my scalp was itching that's the only thing that slightly worried me about her. Why are hair stylists and the dermatology NP seeing inflammation but the nice hair dr. told me there was no inflammation and the itching was probably my anxiety or dry skin. hmm. She also said I need to check my blood pressure because I take Inderal (beta blocker med) and since it lowers blood pressure and Rogaine lowers blood pressure I could faint. That was also not nice to hear. Still, if Rogaine can fix it all and I suffer no weird problems from using it, I can accept that.

[southeast_eu]

man it may be MPB nothing y can do about that just go on with your life and accept the fact that you are not gonna be young forever ..
i am 29 i did lost most of my hair ( i really mean that 80%) in just 3 years ( since i start working in uk 2009 a doctor told me it could happen so quick coz i did change the clime, food, water , job, friends and ex girlfrinds lol)
i start to shave my head last year in sept 3 times per week or more i am pale skin and sometimes ppl around me call me skinhead or mr clean strange for me is that i didnt hear a girl since then omg y look so unacceptable , ugly or so i am sure many wont find me a nice guy but even when i had hair many of them find me not so masculine ( i was skinny , blonde hair lol ) now i been to gym changed the clothes , car ,job , worked on my new PERSONALITY etc all improved my life and womens find this so atractive in a man...
y may lose more hair in 2 , 10 years my advice for y dont go down with the ht route , propecia or wigs never help ..
.. keep your confidence up ...

[mnx]

Yeah, as for the omission of Propecia, it's better not to over think that. It reminds me though, if your second consultation also advises against Propecia, you might want to try some natural DHT blockers. Their effectiveness is disputable, but if you aren't going to be on fina, it seems like it might be a good idea.

Even then. it might be best to consult a doctor about contraindications regarding herbs as well.

At any rate, good luck with the specialist. I'll post my experience when I get back from my visit with one.

[Tracy C]

Then the MD says to just use Rogaine and that she doesn't believe I need to take a pill...

You said yourself that she was reluctant to add yet another medication because you are already taking so many. I think you might be reading into her advice too much and forgetting important details that led her to her decision not to write the script.

[25 going on 65]

Ok - I am going to point something out that I don't think anyone else has, and it may not be what you want to hear.
Without a proven DHT suppressant (which in your case would typically be finasteride), you cannot stop your hair loss from progressing. Rogaine may give you a cosmetic improvement over the next couple years, but it won't stop DHT from minimizing your follicles and eventually reversing the results of the minoxidil (aka Rogaine).
If she said you can maintain your hair using minoxidil alone, that is simply not true.

I don't mean to worry you in any way, or push you into taking another pill if you don't want to, but you have a right to this information.