new thread
So today, I went to work waring the usual tail and in the afternoon, one of the lady web techs braided my hair. Later when I reached around to fell it, I noticed it felt much thinner then it did the last few times I had it braided. I know I am going bald and well into the state of going bald. But it is discouraging when your braid or tail feel like they are getting thinner over the course of a year. I just hope I don't end up with an opossum's tail at the end result, and wind up chopping it off in disgust because there is nothing left to enjoy.
Sure, I could try all those remedies and meds that are supposed to stop baldness. However, I am not optimistic about doing that. Plus I am on other meds for other issues and I don't like the idea of messing with testosterone and really throwing something off kilter. I'd rather just let nature take it's course.
But yes, it is discouraging.
No plans to cut it short for now. :-)
Hi Mike,
Of course, I am genuinely sorry to hear this, and fully understand how devastating it must be to lose your hair at such a young age. I know how important your hair is to you.
I know this was mentioned before, (In fact I think I mentioned it in a reply to one of your earlier posts), but the side effects that you are concerned with with both the FDA approved propecia, and the more effective, but still not approved Avodart, are not a sure thing, and are actually noted in a lower percentage of the population who uses them. Quite often, even when the side effects are present, they disappear with continued use. But that has to be a decision for you, and you alone, and you have to decide if your hair is important enough. But these drugs can be very effective to stop, or reverse the effects of MPB, and they are most effective for the young.
Also, some thinning on top is not a death sentence anyway. PatS has quite a bit of thinning on top, but he just posted an awesome update, with hair well past his waist, and still a decent thickness ponytail. So don't give up just yet!
Take care,
David
Rethink the low-dose DHT inhibitors.
As DavidN said, Pat S just posted a great update. One never knows what will happen. Just keep growing.
Ed
hi, well I'm going through the same thing, and it is a bummer to think of the head of hair that wasn't but I manage most of the time to take delight in what I have. I'll probably never have really long hair but at least I got something so I'm more fortunate than some guys, just damn near bald on top.
I'm also taking biotin and propecia and I can report at this point after 6 months or so that I have not noticed any side effects and it does seem to be helping. One unexpected thing I have seen is a change in pigment and, as I told Bill a week or so ago, I associate that with thicker hair. I think I read somewhere that white hair is thinner than black hair although it may just be wishful thinking. Anyway, it ain't hurting so what the heck. BTW, there's always hair transplants too. The beauty of them is no side effects possible and they're pretty much permanent -- no taking anything indefinitely. the downside is you have to make a career move into crime to pay for it. Start saving now.
Mike, my tail has never been bigger around than my little finger, not in the ten years that I've had long hair. Yet, I have enough hair that people think I'm a hippie. [grin] Hair compresses a lot, and that means the converse is also true - it spreads out a lot. Balding also progresses in spurts, and "spurts" means there are stalling phases in between the spurting phases. Your hair could be on a balding binge for awhile and then it could stop it cold. Thinning may never progress beyond what you see today! No one knows. Hey, don't try to second guess the future, just enjoy the present!
(I would enjoy the present a lot more if my partner would turn off American Idol. Man those guys can't sing!)
Bill