Going to Doctor on Thursday - What should I ask?

[bupolo]

I'm going to the doctor for the first time in like 5 years, partially to get a checkup, and partially to get this whole "losing hair" thing resolved (or at least to seek resolution). My question for the board is: what questions should I ask/what procedures should I have performed?

I know that I will ask to have my Testosterone levels checked (my hair loss has coincided with a new job (high stress levels) but also with me stopping lifting (resulting in a loss of like 15 lbs of muscle, which is a lot for my frame)).

What other things should I have checked? A family member had recommended getting my thyroid gland checked, is that an issue?

Anything else? (Obviously, I'll get a prescription for finasteride).

 

[bupolo]

Any thoughts?

 

[hairwegoagain]

You should certainly mention all of that...be very candid with your Doctor about your physical activity levels, stress, etc., just for purposes of overall health assessment. If your Doctor feels it necessary to test certain things, for whatever reason, he'll suggest it. However, it is very unlikely that there's anything in play re: your hair except good ol' male pattern baldness, i.e. genetics.

 

[bupolo]

Yah, that may be the case, it's just a little shocking cause it's hit me really quickly over the past few months.

There isn't like a DHT blood test is there? Do they do scalp biopsies?

 

[hairwegoagain]

Yah, that may be the case, it's just a little shocking cause it's hit me really quickly over the past few months.

That's the way it happened to me when I started to lose hair. One day I noticed hair raining on my word processor's keyboard. Ha!

There isn't like a DHT blood test is there? Do they do scalp biopsies?

Yes, they can do scalp biopsies...but they're usually not indicated because the cause for hairloss in males is almost always Androgenetic Alopecia and proceeds in generally-identifiable patterns. Your Doctor may find it unwarranted.

I'm not trying to discourage you from getting yourself thoroughly checked out. You should. I just think you should prepare yourself for the possibility that there's not another underlying cause. Some guys grasp at straws in denial that they are balding naturally. The good news is that it sounds like you're not too far down the road of losing your hair. The prognosis for keeping what you have for a while with current treatments is pretty darn good.

 

[Maxpwr]

Just make sure your doctor actually knows what he/she is talking about with regards to hair loss and treatments. As we have established, some doctors have a very limited knowledge about DHT, MBP, finasteride and general scalp conditions...

If your doctor does not know a great deal about hair loss factors or treatments it's likely he/she will tell you it's stress related... or even tell you something totally ridiculous. Don't take it for gospel unless they are clued up on the subject. If you can tell they have no idea about it, either see another doctor, a specialist or a dermatologist.

...anyway, good luck.

 

[bupolo]

Thanks guys! What's actually nice is I'd PREFER that it's just natural hair loss, and NOT stress related, because I'm naturally kind of obsessive, so the thought that me thinking about my hair was making me lose my hair was freaking me out, and just stressing me out even more.

If it's natural and it was going to happen eventually, so be it, there's not much I can do about it other than go to the doctor and get propecia...

 

[hair_tomorrow]

ask him if penis size really matters to women.

 

[hairwegoagain]

If it's natural and it was going to happen eventually, so be it, there's not much I can do about it other than go to the doctor and get propecia...

You have a great attitude. You can only do what you can do if it's the case. Fortunately for you, if you've just started losing your hair, you can likely stop it in its tracks and perhaps get a little back. Response to the treatments varies, but it's pretty safe to say that you'll at least slow it down to a large extent. Good luck to you and keep that attitude.

 

[bupolo]

ask him if penis size really matters to women.

Thankfully, for me, it doesn't!

 

[abcdefg]

Very true. Dont worry about it and dont stress out over it. Hairloss is really not as big a deal as you think bigger things will happen in life. That being said there is something you can do rogain or propecia if it bothers you and you can afford it why not try what you can while you can?

 

[1750]

get the following checked
FSH
LH
Prolactin
Oestradiol
Testosterone S
SHBG
DHEAS
FAI
....and of course....DHT

this will give you your natural hormone level base....
If your hairloss is normal male pattern baldness and you start using finasteride (and for some unlucky reason you get side effects) you can get your bloods done again and will know what the cause is....

 

[bupolo]

Perfect! Thank you!

 

[Guest]

ask him if penis size really matters to women.

Thankfully, for me, it doesn't!

unfortunately for me, looks matter to everyone one!!!!