OK I have finally accepted...advice please..

[ckmerc]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]Well...I made it to 40 with minimal loss of hair. However my wife noticed this past weekend that she could see my crown in the sun when I bent over to fix the grill. I have (for last 10 years kept my hair short and just spiked it a bit with gel. So I really did not notice my hair thinning as it was kind of jus generally short (yes I realize now denial)

now that I am growing my hair out..certain part is not cooperating at crown of my head. Hence more noticeable. Went to dermatologist and she confirmed. Actually I may have been loosing for a while and did not notice it until changed hairstyle. Picked up fintasteride and started my quarter pill intake last night.

then, I read the horror stories on side effects. (Sticky at top of this forum helped). Still a bit concerned though.

how soon after taking might I notice if I am experiencing side effects? Sexual or depression?

thanks in advance...as I said it has been a rough week.


[/FONT]

 

[Quantum Cat]

if you've made it to 40 with a full head of hair and a wife who loves you regardless of what you look like, then count yourself supremely lucky

Finasteride is your best bet for preventing male pattern baldness and works for most men.

 

[ckmerc]

if you've made it to 40 with a full head of hair and a wife who loves you regardless of what you look like, then count yourself supremely lucky

Finasteride is your best bet for preventing male pattern baldness and works for most men.

thanks for the reply...really appreciate the support. Seems so trivial that hair thinning and loss should bother me as it does. Just did not see it coming.

from most people's experience on this site....have many here experienced much in the way of sexual dysfunction?

Many thanks again for your response....any other advice?
p

 

[marcster]

Good luck with the treatments! Do note that only about 1% of men get any side effects...that's what all of the studies show, but you'll have to decide what information you are going to believe, scientific studies or internet posters. Been on finasteride here for three years, no sides here. Just had sex in fact!

 

[talmoode]

As far as I know, most people don't get sides...for me, it comes and goes, nothing too serious though. Good luck!

 

[ckmerc]

As far as I know, most people don't get sides...for me, it comes and goes, nothing too serious though. Good luck!

Thanks...wonder if I need to also be doing rogain as well....or just start with finasteride...and wait and see.
one other simple question...how long after I start using finasteride will I notice any potential side effects? Example if I use finasteride for 6 months and no sides...am I clear?

 

[talmoode]

Thanks...wonder if I need to also be doing rogain as well....or just start with finasteride...and wait and see.
one other simple question...how long after I start using finasteride will I notice any potential side effects? Example if I use finasteride for 6 months and no sides...am I clear?

I started both Propecia and Minoxidil at the same time to get maximum results and I am in two minds now. Pros: you wouldn't need to deal with two initial sheddings you might experience (finasteride shedding and minoxidil shedding) as you will get one big horrible shedding instead (or not). Cons: you wouldn't know which one helps the most.

Regarding sides, I am not sure about others but I first noticed them after almost 1 year of the treatment.

Good luck!

 

[ckmerc]

I started both Propecia and Minoxidil at the same time to get maximum results and I am in two minds now. Pros: you wouldn't need to deal with two initial sheddings you might experience (finasteride shedding and minoxidil shedding) as you will get one big horrible shedding instead (or not). Cons: you wouldn't know which one helps the most.

Regarding sides, I am not sure about others but I first noticed them after almost 1 year of the treatment.

Good luck!

thanks...how bad is the shedding? Does everyone experience this?

 

[talmoode]

thanks...how bad is the shedding? Does everyone experience this?

not everyone is experiencing sides or shed when on medication. I am one of those unlucky ones (my initial shed was horrible. I lost 500+ hairs a day and it lasted about 3 to 4 months. I had three big sheds like that and am still shedding after 18 months of treatment ). There are some good stories in the success story section of this forum so please go and read some of them. They are very uplifting and encouraging!

 

[ckmerc]

not everyone is experiencing sides or shed when on medication. I am one of those unlucky ones (my initial shed was horrible. I lost 500+ hairs a day and it lasted about 3 to 4 months. I had three big sheds like that and am still shedding after 18 months of treatment ). There are some good stories in the success story section of this forum so please go and read some of them. They are very uplifting and encouraging!

Still shedding? So during the shedding period did you grow back any hair? Or did u just shed and then none grows back until all shedding is final?

 

[Primo]

Still shedding? So during the shedding period did you grow back any hair? Or did u just shed and then none grows back until all shedding is final?

Shedding is linked to the periodic hair cycle, the idea being that it falls out every few months to be replaced by thicker stronger hair a few months down the line. It's a sign that the treatments finasteride and minoxidil are working, the best advice I can give you is not to be all OCD about your shedding and how your hair looks, somedays it will look absolutely dreadful and seem as if nothing is growing back, then a few months later it will look better than ever and this cycle will repeat itself, again and again and again, so relax and just get used to it....

Put it this way, it's much better having periodic sheds than having the hair slowly, slowly shedding and minituarising to be replaced by nothing but a slick bald patch in the long term, this is what will happen if you don't start finasteride.

 

[Helel]

I don't mean to sound like a jerk but we have kids here who started losing their hair at 16. Some people just have it so easy.

 

[anonymous]

You're 40? Try minoxidil, don't risk finasteride (I'm on finasteride, so not a finasteride hater) and start saving money for a possible hair transplant.

- - - Updated - - -

You're 40? Try minoxidil, don't risk finasteride (I'm on finasteride, so not a finasteride hater) and start saving money for a possible hair transplant.

 

[ckmerc]

You're 40? Try minoxidil, don't risk finasteride (I'm on finasteride, so not a finasteride hater) and start saving money for a possible hair transplant.

- - - Updated - - -

You're 40? Try minoxidil, don't risk finasteride (I'm on finasteride, so not a finasteride hater) and start saving money for a possible hair transplant.

What do you mean "risk finasteride"? Why would I not want to use finasteride? Vs minoxidil first?

- - - Updated - - -

I don't mean to sound like a jerk but we have kids here who started losing their hair at 16. Some people just have it so easy.

Understand...I am grateful to have had hair as long as I have...thinning patches at 40 towards my crown is not all that bad...just did not see it coming is all. Trying to learn what to expect with shedding.

 

[All_The_Above]

not everyone is experiencing sides or shed when on medication. I am one of those unlucky ones (my initial shed was horrible. I lost 500+ hairs a day and it lasted about 3 to 4 months. I had three big sheds like that and am still shedding after 18 months of treatment ). There are some good stories in the success story section of this forum so please go and read some of them. They are very uplifting and encouraging!

In other words, you are continuing to bald. I have noticed a pattern on these forums. If you gaining hair, success. If you are maintaining hair, success. If you are continuing to go bald, also success (it's a shed). Has anyone actually gone bald on these forums?