Approximately 4 years ago I noticed the first stages of thinning, but did nothing but stress about it for about a year.
Year 2. I began a lifestyle change: I quit smoking, starting exercising, eating healthy and began supplementing with Biotin. During this year I bought some silly things like "hair food" castor oil paste and hoped for the best. The thinning progressed.
Year 3. I really dialed in my nutritional plan and began tracking macro and micro nutrients to ensure I was getting all my vitamins and minerals, and began taking Saw Palmetto as well as Biotin, and super supplementing with B complex, B12, vitamin D, Viamin E, and Zinc. I began exercising daily and picked up old sports. I also starting using Rogaine and a Laser comb.The hair falling slightly slowed, the rogaine gave me small fuzzy hairs as that didnt seem to grow, and I had a significant balding spot and my scalp was becoming visible.
Year 4. The year of Finasteride. While mainting year two's regimen I began taking 1mg of Finasteride daily. I noticed a dramatic stoppage with hair fall almost immediately! After about 6 months my hair seemed thicker and fuller although the bald spot did not really recover, nor did the receding line. At that point however, side effects began. My bladder seemed weak, and I had to pee all the time! And when I did I felt "emptied". After a visit to the Doctor, he told me to stop using Saw Palmetto and reduce my dose of Finasteride to 0.5mg. I did. And the urinary issue subsided within about 2 weeks. However, over the course of the next few months my ejaculations changed. It was almost as if the sperm and semen were emitted separately, and the contractions during orgasm became very weak. Another visit to the Doctor. At that point I had been on finasteride for about a year, and it was the best my hair had looked yet, but he took me off the med. I was tested for infertility as well, and had positive results. Phew! But I was now terrified. Over the next month or so, the sexual function seemed to be returning to near normal, which made me forget to watch my hair. Within three months...whoa! Worse it's been yet during the course of this story! Panic time! I researched a Chinese herb called Fo-Ti that has history of many health benefits including hair growth and anti grey, and began taking a 20:1 1/4 tspn dose twice daily.
Current: knowing the Fo-Ti would take take time to work, if it did at all, I truly panicked. I knew I had refills at the pharmacy, and god help me, i went and had it filled without talking to my Doctor. And took 0.5mg of finasteride for two weeks when Bam! Side effects came back. I've cut it to 0.25mg now, it's been a week and it doesnt seem as bad, but it's there and I'm pretty sure I gotta stop. But I am terrified of what's coming.
I feel like I've done all I can do. And this is only place I could imagine that would have experienced people with hair loss that would not only empathize, but maybe have suggestions for me.
Has anyone ever experienced the side effects of finasteride? Did you recover? How?
Is there anything I havent tried, that I should try before I give up?
Thank you listening. Thank you for any feedback.
Year 2. I began a lifestyle change: I quit smoking, starting exercising, eating healthy and began supplementing with Biotin. During this year I bought some silly things like "hair food" castor oil paste and hoped for the best. The thinning progressed.
Year 3. I really dialed in my nutritional plan and began tracking macro and micro nutrients to ensure I was getting all my vitamins and minerals, and began taking Saw Palmetto as well as Biotin, and super supplementing with B complex, B12, vitamin D, Viamin E, and Zinc. I began exercising daily and picked up old sports. I also starting using Rogaine and a Laser comb.The hair falling slightly slowed, the rogaine gave me small fuzzy hairs as that didnt seem to grow, and I had a significant balding spot and my scalp was becoming visible.
Year 4. The year of Finasteride. While mainting year two's regimen I began taking 1mg of Finasteride daily. I noticed a dramatic stoppage with hair fall almost immediately! After about 6 months my hair seemed thicker and fuller although the bald spot did not really recover, nor did the receding line. At that point however, side effects began. My bladder seemed weak, and I had to pee all the time! And when I did I felt "emptied". After a visit to the Doctor, he told me to stop using Saw Palmetto and reduce my dose of Finasteride to 0.5mg. I did. And the urinary issue subsided within about 2 weeks. However, over the course of the next few months my ejaculations changed. It was almost as if the sperm and semen were emitted separately, and the contractions during orgasm became very weak. Another visit to the Doctor. At that point I had been on finasteride for about a year, and it was the best my hair had looked yet, but he took me off the med. I was tested for infertility as well, and had positive results. Phew! But I was now terrified. Over the next month or so, the sexual function seemed to be returning to near normal, which made me forget to watch my hair. Within three months...whoa! Worse it's been yet during the course of this story! Panic time! I researched a Chinese herb called Fo-Ti that has history of many health benefits including hair growth and anti grey, and began taking a 20:1 1/4 tspn dose twice daily.
Current: knowing the Fo-Ti would take take time to work, if it did at all, I truly panicked. I knew I had refills at the pharmacy, and god help me, i went and had it filled without talking to my Doctor. And took 0.5mg of finasteride for two weeks when Bam! Side effects came back. I've cut it to 0.25mg now, it's been a week and it doesnt seem as bad, but it's there and I'm pretty sure I gotta stop. But I am terrified of what's coming.
I feel like I've done all I can do. And this is only place I could imagine that would have experienced people with hair loss that would not only empathize, but maybe have suggestions for me.
Has anyone ever experienced the side effects of finasteride? Did you recover? How?
Is there anything I havent tried, that I should try before I give up?
Thank you listening. Thank you for any feedback.