It was 2001. I was a freshman in college and starting to see my hair thin out. I was depressed and anxious over it and after a year of feeling sick and worried I started on Propecia. I read a lot about it on forums and felt good about my decision. In about a year, it had done wonders. By senior year my hair was thicker than ever, I could grow it any way I wanted and I felt great.
During this time I also had a girlfriend and a steady libido. I quit the drug around 2005, thinking it was time to give it a break.
Now it's 2012. My hair line has receded at the temples and is thinning at the crown. It never bothered me the same way though because I felt I could always turn back to Propecia for help. Now that the scalp is showing up more and more I thought it was time to get back on the drug... then I checked the forums again. Yikes! I was scared. I had heard about some side effects and knew there was some risk, but suddenly there were risks I never heard about. There seems to be more horror stories than success stories - or even neutral stories.
I got a prescription and I started taking one pill every two days. I've been on it for two weeks. But I am compelled to read about all the possible complications. It's really hard to tear your self away and if you are prone to even the slightest bit of obsessive thinking or anxiety, these posts are a wormhole you have trouble crawling out from. Now every twinge, every sensation in my groin I worry is the start of a side. I felt a sharp pain in my prostate and was convinced I needed to quit ASAP. But then I remembered that for years I took this with no problem. Maybe it's in my head? Or maybe I am older and could respond completely differently to the drug? Maybe both?
I'm at that cross road where I need to figure out if I stay on the drug or bail now. So far the only sides I have felt have been that twinge in the prostate one evening and an occasional feeling of fullness in the prostate (usually after sex, go figure). Neither of which are new, I'm sure I have felt them at other times in my life while not on Procpecia, but still...
Anyway, I thought I would share. Not sure if anyone else has taken the drug at two different points in their lives - if so I'd love to know what the results were. And to all of you who answer these posts and offer information, thanks. I know there are countless out there like me who read but never say a peep. We all benefit from those of you who share what you know.
During this time I also had a girlfriend and a steady libido. I quit the drug around 2005, thinking it was time to give it a break.
Now it's 2012. My hair line has receded at the temples and is thinning at the crown. It never bothered me the same way though because I felt I could always turn back to Propecia for help. Now that the scalp is showing up more and more I thought it was time to get back on the drug... then I checked the forums again. Yikes! I was scared. I had heard about some side effects and knew there was some risk, but suddenly there were risks I never heard about. There seems to be more horror stories than success stories - or even neutral stories.
I got a prescription and I started taking one pill every two days. I've been on it for two weeks. But I am compelled to read about all the possible complications. It's really hard to tear your self away and if you are prone to even the slightest bit of obsessive thinking or anxiety, these posts are a wormhole you have trouble crawling out from. Now every twinge, every sensation in my groin I worry is the start of a side. I felt a sharp pain in my prostate and was convinced I needed to quit ASAP. But then I remembered that for years I took this with no problem. Maybe it's in my head? Or maybe I am older and could respond completely differently to the drug? Maybe both?
I'm at that cross road where I need to figure out if I stay on the drug or bail now. So far the only sides I have felt have been that twinge in the prostate one evening and an occasional feeling of fullness in the prostate (usually after sex, go figure). Neither of which are new, I'm sure I have felt them at other times in my life while not on Procpecia, but still...
Anyway, I thought I would share. Not sure if anyone else has taken the drug at two different points in their lives - if so I'd love to know what the results were. And to all of you who answer these posts and offer information, thanks. I know there are countless out there like me who read but never say a peep. We all benefit from those of you who share what you know.
