Just a brief history. I am in my mid 40s. Was seeing a girl quite a bit younger who liked my wallet. This was OK because I only liked her body! As it ended, she began to talk about my thinning hair and I started obsessing about it. I'd call my condition thinning from crown to forehead. No idea what Norwood number. That relationship ended and I got a bit frantic. I decided my solution was to get my hair cut very short and live with it. It looked so much better that way and next time I saw her she asked if I was wearing a piece! I dismissed her comment and wished her well with her new younger (much poorer) guy. Told her I wasn't interested in a friendship. (That felt good!) I regained my old confidence and life was very good again.
I also decided to try Rogaine for 6 months to see what happened. I researched it quite a bit and ultimately decided on Rogaine Foam 2x a day, Saw Palmetto extract (160 mg) 1x a day, Biotin (5000mg) 1x a day, MV 1 x a day, nizoral shampoo 2x a week. My barber sold me a huge bottle of Nioxin shampoo (system 2) for thinning hair. 30 bucks! I don't know if it does anything for growth but I love the way it leaves my hair and that big bottle will last about two years. Next haircut I bought the conditioner, used it twice, and stopped only because it was too much of a routine for me to deal with. I checked my hair good at monthly intervals and noticed lots of vellous hairs growing at around 2 months in and some fine black hairs starting around month 4. Not a lot but enough, and they were lengthening. I even grew a few hairs where my hairline was 20 years ago, a few of wich I have to shave off every week or so because they looked so weird sitting there all alone. I had one bad shed about two weeks after starting the Rogaine. I don't know if my new hairs were actually new, or just replacing the hairs I lost during that shed. I also ditched my hat. Where my hair was thin, my scalp tanned and it looked much better.
I seemed to be a decent responder so I decided to add Proscar to the mix. Got a scrip from my GP and finally filled it this morning. Bought a pill cutter. We had a long chat, I won't bore you with all the details but he was reluctant to prescribe the 5 mg Proscars but eventually gave in, and I told him my plan was to take 1.25mg every other day based on what I'd read on the internet. He had some concern that I'd be taking 5mg/day. So now I have 30 Proscar which if divided into quarters and taken EOD will last around 8 months. At that time I'll reevaluate. Here are my questions.
Is the EOD Proscar a decent idea? I'd like to see if I have any side effects before I decide if I need 1.25 every day.
Should I continue with Saw Palmetto? I thought about maybe taking it EOD on the days I don't take the Proscar. I'm beginning to think the low amount I'm taking doesn't do anything anyway.
Should I add Beta Sitosterol? I can't seem to find it locally.
Anything else I should try?
My conclusions. I saw a post a while back where some young guy made a comment about an older gent who was worried about his hair. Why worry when you're already old or something like that. I wanted to comment but didn't. It's about women. It's always about women whether you're 18 or 80. I've spoken to a lot of bald men in the past 6 months and all feel bad about their hair loss no matter their age. Some accept it better than others. I've accepted mine but since I have the means to try out a few things I figure what the hell. I have been keeping a speadsheet and figure my cost for a years worth of trying is less than a dollar a day. I also started exercising a lot more. Figured being an in shape balding guy beats being an out of shape balding guy. I feel better physically and mentally because at least I'm trying.
The story has a happy ending. Met an even younger girl who I really fell for. I literally got down on my knees and thanked God for delivering me from that vapid tart who couldn't seem to live with my thinning hair. Alas, that relationship seems to be ending too, but it was wonderful while it lasted and I think this might be the one time in my life where we actually remain friends.
Still reluctant to pop that first pill.
f4f
I also decided to try Rogaine for 6 months to see what happened. I researched it quite a bit and ultimately decided on Rogaine Foam 2x a day, Saw Palmetto extract (160 mg) 1x a day, Biotin (5000mg) 1x a day, MV 1 x a day, nizoral shampoo 2x a week. My barber sold me a huge bottle of Nioxin shampoo (system 2) for thinning hair. 30 bucks! I don't know if it does anything for growth but I love the way it leaves my hair and that big bottle will last about two years. Next haircut I bought the conditioner, used it twice, and stopped only because it was too much of a routine for me to deal with. I checked my hair good at monthly intervals and noticed lots of vellous hairs growing at around 2 months in and some fine black hairs starting around month 4. Not a lot but enough, and they were lengthening. I even grew a few hairs where my hairline was 20 years ago, a few of wich I have to shave off every week or so because they looked so weird sitting there all alone. I had one bad shed about two weeks after starting the Rogaine. I don't know if my new hairs were actually new, or just replacing the hairs I lost during that shed. I also ditched my hat. Where my hair was thin, my scalp tanned and it looked much better.
I seemed to be a decent responder so I decided to add Proscar to the mix. Got a scrip from my GP and finally filled it this morning. Bought a pill cutter. We had a long chat, I won't bore you with all the details but he was reluctant to prescribe the 5 mg Proscars but eventually gave in, and I told him my plan was to take 1.25mg every other day based on what I'd read on the internet. He had some concern that I'd be taking 5mg/day. So now I have 30 Proscar which if divided into quarters and taken EOD will last around 8 months. At that time I'll reevaluate. Here are my questions.
Is the EOD Proscar a decent idea? I'd like to see if I have any side effects before I decide if I need 1.25 every day.
Should I continue with Saw Palmetto? I thought about maybe taking it EOD on the days I don't take the Proscar. I'm beginning to think the low amount I'm taking doesn't do anything anyway.
Should I add Beta Sitosterol? I can't seem to find it locally.
Anything else I should try?
My conclusions. I saw a post a while back where some young guy made a comment about an older gent who was worried about his hair. Why worry when you're already old or something like that. I wanted to comment but didn't. It's about women. It's always about women whether you're 18 or 80. I've spoken to a lot of bald men in the past 6 months and all feel bad about their hair loss no matter their age. Some accept it better than others. I've accepted mine but since I have the means to try out a few things I figure what the hell. I have been keeping a speadsheet and figure my cost for a years worth of trying is less than a dollar a day. I also started exercising a lot more. Figured being an in shape balding guy beats being an out of shape balding guy. I feel better physically and mentally because at least I'm trying.
The story has a happy ending. Met an even younger girl who I really fell for. I literally got down on my knees and thanked God for delivering me from that vapid tart who couldn't seem to live with my thinning hair. Alas, that relationship seems to be ending too, but it was wonderful while it lasted and I think this might be the one time in my life where we actually remain friends.
Still reluctant to pop that first pill.
f4f