My story at 21 years old, advice greatly appreciated.

[richieb]

Hi Guys,
Been lurking on here for the past 6 months or so..
Basically I’m a 21 year old student over here in the UK, so I’m pretty skint most of the time.
Was unluckily born with a big forehead, and I’ve always had a “high hairline†and a prominent cowlick. Been receding since 17 at a relatively slow rate on my temples, however last 6 months the progression has got aggressively worse, with the added development of a noticeable bald spot on my crown (can be covered).
My old man is now 64 and has a ghastly horseshoe , he started losing his hair about 18. But still had hair on his head until his late 40’s in a similar fashion to fellow member chipper (http://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/interac...-33-years-old-Norwood-4-5-what-are-my-options).
I’m not the healthiest of human beings, I smoke about 5-10 ***s a day (something im looking to stop but it only increased my stress associated especially as im in the final year of university, not much of an excuse I know), I also drink heavily once every week / 2 weeks when going out with my friends.

Added to this my exercise levels are relatively low, however my diet is adequate however could be better.

I know the answer will be to take up the big 3, however the finasteride horror stories have put me off up till now.

Finally, before May I was a big weed smoker for the previous 2 years smoking every day pretty much.


May of this year was a pretty chaotic month for me
· I got a shocking haircut which destroyed my confidence and really opened my eyes to my decreasing amount of hair
· I split up with my long term girlfriend of 4 years
· This led to me not eating properly for 1 or 2 weeks, I lost a lot of weight
· Was still smoking weed but all the factors above led to me having a panic/anxiety attack (which believe me was the scariest thing ive ever experienced
· After this I returned home for the summer and didn’t smoke (don’t want my parents knowing I smoke)
· So I turned to an E-cigarette (the newest trend over here), however I’d use this an awful lot more than I would smoke, puffing on it constantly
· I also started minoxidil and continued it till about 3 weeks ago

Throughout the summer I was pretty depressed which led to me spending days and days moping in bed.
During the time I had a complete loss of desire to masturbate, testicle ace, when I did masturbate I had a “soft erection†most of the time and decreased amount of watery semen that just seemed to `trickle out` (Sorry for the imagery), but if anyone can relate then you’ll know what I mean. (Bare in mind when I was with my EX I was ALWAYS in the mood for sex and even just kissing her would get me aroused with a full erection) All of the above are symptoms of finasteride use, (I’ve also read anecdotal cases of this happening on min, but not sure how true this is.

I believe these issues to be a combination of the factors bullet pointed above, but this makes me even more sceptical about using finasteride.

Earlier I mentioned I’d been on minoxidil for about 6 months but I found it increased my heart rate quite badly, for example I’d be able to feel my heart beating fast in my chest, merely as a result of standing up out of bed quickly. Have since stopped for about 3 weeks and such problems have stopped.

I’m a lot better now with the sexual issues btw and have been weed free for since my panic attack.

One key question if I were to commence taking finasteride, then is it not very hard to identify sexual side effects when not sexually active and only masturbating?
Also, Ive read stories of people experiencing things such as testicle ache, and decreased libido at the beginning of starting finasteride, however they continued and the side effects subsided somewhat. What are peoples thought’s on this issue and how long would people recommend persisting with “milder†sides before discontinuation?

So that’s my story, sorry for the great detail about my personal issues but I believe them to be an important part of my story. Please have a look at my Pics and let me know what you think any advice would be greatly appreciated as male pattern baldness is starting to take over my life and is something of great concern to me.

Regards
RB

 

[blondi]

You still have a good amount of hair, and as you already know everyone is going to suggest the big 3 to help maintain what you have and possibly get regrowth. I had an awful break up that lead me into a deep depression. Getting over that still and I am currently on the big 3 with minimal side effects, Non being sexual. I suggest trying finasteride and if you do feel like it is causing you sides then ditch it. But in a few years you will get to a point of no return and totally regret not at least trying it. Trust me.

 

[richieb]

Thank you so much for your reply, it's nice to know there are people out there who understand and on top of that care about this plight.

 

[M.G]

Stay away from the forums and read the countless studies on finasteride - the odds of you getting any sides are slim and highly unlikely. There's millions of men around the world on finasteride and you can atleast try it and see how you react too it

 

[Janko]

Hey man,
don´t be scared of big 3 because of some crazy stories. Give it a try. However, si is good to know the sides, so you can lower the finasteride dosage or to stop taking it. You can say to yourself, that at least you tried to fight it. You can try to look at my story. I know I wrote I am ending with the treatment. Yeah, I am still badly ill, but you know what? I decided to fight everything and don´t give up. I will post 3 month update, which I hope will give you encouragement to use the treatment, because it works! Be happy, that you are healthy.
Your problem with minoxidil: Try use only about 0,5ml instead of 1ml or try 2% minoxidil.
You can take this treatment as a challenge to change your lifestyle and maybe next year this time you will be surprised how you changed Start going to the gym with your friend, start running and start slowly changing your bad habits.
Enjoy your life and wish you have head again head full of hair.

 

[tommyt123]

hey man i'd recommend first and foremost is start running with music or just do exercise that you enjoy, it's amazing how much better you feel over the long run, trust me just constant sustainable exercise has done wonders for my motivation and general metabolic health. The first rule of getting an erection is that you have to decrease sympathetic outflow to your junk (fight and flight, stress outflow) and if you're under legitimate stress there is no wonder that erections are harder to achieve most of what happens during an erection is due to the brain and not hormones as most people without scientific knowledge think. You're a 21 year old man it is highly unlikely this is a physical problem. i would recommend trying to get in a better frame of mind maybe even see a psychologist and then start finasteride mental health should be your first port of call

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also dude you still have a good amount of hair and you're hairline is pretty good, if you get on finasteride you should see good thickening at the front and top which i think would do wonders for you

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and about your question regarding side effects and sticking with the medication i would consult your doctor firstly but i would defiantly get of it if you were experiencing substantial sides that's why i would recommend getting in good mental and physical health before you start so you can eliminate the other variables that could be leading to sexual problems.

 

[Feelsbadman]

my hair is so similar to yours, let me know what you decide to do op

 

[Waterloosunset]

People have already said this, but seriously the chances of you having lasting side effects are very low. Some men can lose their hair without a problem, others take it hard. Luckily we live in a time where you don't have to accept baldness, well unless your already completely bald.

 

[biddybomb]

Hey man sorry to hear that, I went through something similar a while ago, was a very stressful period. I had always smoked weed but during this turmoil each time Id get high Id constantly worry about things, and I should of taken that as a sign because a few times after getting high I experienced my first ever panic attack exactly like you, it was definitely the scariest thing I have ever experienced too so I feel you. Wanted to reiterate that point because now I can never get high without having another panic attack so all you out there, listen to ur body, once u open that door of anxiety you can't close it.

Also have to second what tommyt123 says, daily cardio will make you feel better all round.

 

[garyhary]

We all go trough hard times and there is nobody who has some insurance for them.

I recently came back from a situation like this when my baby daughter died and I got fired from my job. Things were tough and I had no desire for anything because almost everything I was living for was gone.

Making the connection to sex life: I had no desire at all and probably did not do it for at least 6 months (incl. masturbation). I believe some low libido is pretty normal when you are getting grieving or is a sort of depression. Perhaps all this has nothing to do with your treatment.

Believe me, the hard times will be over because you can not escape life forever... After all my struggles I feel that I have become a better person with a deeper and more real perspective on life and with deeper feelings as well.

 

[richieb]

Thank you to everyone who has commented on this, helped me gain some perspective and a gain some motivation to get into a good state and hopefully begin finasteride in the new year. Also @Janko i hope you recover from your illness soon brother..

 

[Baldinggenius]

advice

My advice buzz cut ur hair and start using good hair oils and thicken up the existing hairline.

 

[mpower]

My hairloss is pretty similar, although my hair is black and I have more contrasting thinning on top of my head. I've always kept my hair the same length as yours is now. Depressions suck... tell me about it. I've been trying to convince myself to get a close cut for the last 3 weeks and I just can't It's ridiculous...

I am also thinking of getting on finasteride. My father has the BPH and it started in his early 60s... so he's been taking finasteride for a while.
I am wondering if this means I will have to eventually take finasteride anyways... I know it's too early to think about...
I am 33 now but yeah, this male pattern baldness stuff is messing up with my mind too. I will probably see a derm in a couple of months when I get back stateside.

minoxidil was helping me for my hairline but it doesn't seem to do anything now besides shedding and shedding and more shedding.
I also got the heart racing sides but nothing too crazy.