Panicking over possible MPB

[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.