alli
15.08.2007, 10:59 |
Any success stories (Rogaine, Minoxidil) |
I'm thinking of trying it as a last resort, but all I can think of are the horror stories I've read. Any good success stories out there? Also, which is better - the foam or the regular stuff?
alli is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
Rae
15.08.2007, 12:58
@ alli
|
Any success stories |
I thought I was having a success story a few months back..but now feel like I'm back to the beginning again. I shouldn't say total beginning. My ponytail is thicker than it used to be. I am just going through a bit of a mini-shed at the moment and I think it's all hormonal. I'm in peri and my hormones are all over the place and it's affecting my hair in a negative way. Just trying to figure out how to treat it. When my iron levels increased my shed stopped. So, that is good news. Now I think it's hormones that are causing my current hair woes. I think my scalp is just sensitive. I think there are many success stories..a few have been posted on here. Shannon is a success story..look her up on a search and you can read about her. I do think that once people do have good luck they just move on and move away from this forum. I think I'm going to forever be in touch with this forum..the women on here have helped me so much!!!!
By the way..I have NOT used Rogaine but I know a lot of people have and have benefited from it. Rogaine may still be in my future if things don't turn around for me soon.
Rae is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
julie1977
15.08.2007, 13:29
@ Rae
|
Any success stories |
I too thought I was having some success, do a search and you will find my recent-ish post. However, since then my hair seems to be going downhill again and i'm shedding. This shed could be due to factors other than the minoxidil though. I do think I have less vellous hairs than I did a year ago though so praps it is really helping.
» I thought I was having a success story a few months back..but now feel like
» I'm back to the beginning again. I shouldn't say total beginning. My
» ponytail is thicker than it used to be. I am just going through a bit of a
» mini-shed at the moment and I think it's all hormonal. I'm in peri and my
» hormones are all over the place and it's affecting my hair in a negative
» way. Just trying to figure out how to treat it. When my iron levels
» increased my shed stopped. So, that is good news. Now I think it's
» hormones that are causing my current hair woes. I think my scalp is just
» sensitive. I think there are many success stories..a few have been posted
» on here. Shannon is a success story..look her up on a search and you can
» read about her. I do think that once people do have good luck they just
» move on and move away from this forum. I think I'm going to forever be in
» touch with this forum..the women on here have helped me so much!!!!
»
» By the way..I have NOT used Rogaine but I know a lot of people have and
» have benefited from it. Rogaine may still be in my future if things don't
» turn around for me soon.
julie1977 is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
V
15.08.2007, 18:22
@ julie1977
|
Yes, there are many.... |
There are many out there...here are a few from this site, but there are more on others. and also think about all the women who use rogaine successfully who never have to come to a hair loss forum.
Hope this cheers you up---you just have to stick with it for atleast a year.
Early signs of success
From: Jo
Date: 10 Jan 2006
Time: 06:31:37
Comments
Just wanted to share my progress with Rogaine. It has been about 6 weeks and apart from the increased hair loss in the first few weeks it hasn't been too bad. What I am most pleased about is all the regrowth around the temple area and front of my head. There used to be a distinct line between my bangs and the rest of my hair - that is now less obvious and there are lots of new hairs about 1/2 cm to 1cm long. I was diagnosed with AGA about 9 weeks ago and am so glad I started on Rogaine when I did. I think I had been in denial about my hair loss for about a year. I wish I had dealt with it earlier because my stress level and self-esteem would have been a lot better.
Best of luck to you all.
Jo
MINOXIDIL
One year on 2%
From: Bee
Date: 27 Jan 2006
Time: 11:07:47
Comments
Hi Ladies, Well, since I am now at a year, I thought I would give a quick update. (I wrote my whole story back in November, and that post has more details of my struggle and journey)
Anyway, it has been 1 year using 2% and my hair is doing great. Back in Nov. I was still shedding too much, but now it is completely normal. This is the first time in over 3 years that I don't have to clean my tile bathroom floor everyday, clean out the drain and my brush everyday. I NEVER thought it would happen and it feels so good. My hair is a lot longer than a year ago, and I love this too. An added bonus is that my eyelashes are super long too. I did have extra facial hair that I needed to wax, but that seems to have stopped, because I haven't waxed for months now. (I looked at my forearms last week and YIKES - my baby fine light hairs are now much longer and darker.) Good thing it is winter! Once short sleeved weather comes back I'll have to wax this, or? Any ideas?
I never thoought I would get to this point. ( I was diagnosed by 3 doctors as TE, and one quack in Chicago as TE,AGA, and diffuse AA.) I don't put too much stock in the dx anyway, because I think doctors don't know much. Bottom line, if you try treating with iron, protein, etc. and it does not improve in 6-9 months, it probably needs some help to start cycling normal again. Don't wait much longer than this!
I was distressed and depressed for years about this. We rarely get the message that it really can improve. If I had known this, I would have gladly sucked it up, and thought to myself, well, it's only temporary. Not knowing this, and imagining daily how it would keep getting progressively worse, I was almost suicidal. Just writing that is so shocking, because unless you have been there, you can't imagine anyone being that bad over their hair. Even now, when I am in "recovery?" and I read some women's posts whining and carrying on, I think - Snap out of it, it is only hair! Then I remember how terrible I felt.
Anyway - please remember if you try rogaine, to give it a FULL YEAR. Back at my 9 month mark, I really didn't see much of a difference. I also use head and shoulders for dry, sensitive scalp everyday. I think this helps keep my scalp healthy so the rogaine won't dry it out. You really need to keep your scalp healthy for healthy hair to grow from it.
Be well ladies - Bee
Minoxidil - Update
From: Babs
Date: 18 Feb 2006
Time: 23:51:01
Comments
Hi there, I have been on Minoxidil now for 19 weeks. Things are going better than I ever expected. My hair isn't back to my "normal" hair but I definately have a normal looking head of hair. I am also on Spiro (100 mg), iron when I remember to take it, also I started using Segals Solutions Shampoo, Conditioner, Scalp Treatment and Supplements. These were recommended to me a doctor that is a hair specialist.
I am pretty sure it is the Minoxidil that is helping the most but I do think that the Segals Solutions is great stuff too. I am not stopping using anything. The Segals Solutions is a nice gentle shampoo. I always use a few drops of Emu oil with the shampoo and it gives my hair some volume I believe.
The best part is I don't shed anymore. For me that was the worst. My hair continued to shed and get thinner. Now, I shed very little - like maybe 20 per day - I don't count but it is very low.
I just had my hair colored and cut and I have actually received compliments on my hair. 5 months and my hair has greatly improved. I know it is hard in the beginning. I had a little bit of increased hair shedding but kept my hair back and had lots of shedding anyways. My hair just seemed to stop shedding about a month ago and hasn't come back. I know that I will probably get another mini-shed at 6 months because that is what I have heard. I will definately keep everyone posted to see if this happens.(hopefully not)
5 mo. update on 5% - so far so good!
From: maggie
Date: 09 Jun 2006
Time: 22:37:51
Comments
This is my first posting but I wanted to share my good news so far with all of you who have been so kind in sharing all of your stories. I started shedding a year and a half ago after finishing 5 months of accutane. The derm. was convinced it was a temporary side effect of the accutane and a biopsy confirmed it was tellogen effluvian (a temporary reversible condition). I was told to wait it out for 6 to 9 months but the shedding continued and was getting worse. Another biopsy was done and this time the results came back AGA (which definately runs in my family). My derm. immediately put me on 5% rogaine at nighttime. Weeks 2 thru 14 were an absolute nightmare. My shedding was 20 times the amount I had pre-rogaine. It was uncontrollable and beyond devestating (as I'm sure many of you have experienced). I examined my scalp daily and saw absolutely no regrowth. Weeks 15 and 16 became drastically better as my shed slowed down tremendously. I saw my derm. at week 17 and upon examining my scalp she saw regrowth all over my head (front and back). I am at the 5 month mark and the shedding is as normal as ever (prior to 1 1/2 years ago). Rogaine has completely stopped my shedding and regrowth is happening all over. The quality and texture of my hair is better than ever. The thickness is far from where it was before all of this began, but I can not complain. I am sharing this with all of you not to make any one feel worse about their situation but to give hope that Rogaine does work for some. For those of you going thru the dread shed, hang in there. I wanted to quit everyday but I'm so glad that I didn't.
Seeing Results at last
to suzy (Rogaine, Minoxidil)
posted by cheryl , 11.05.2007, 18:57
Hey V, i used rogaine for 8 years (im 38 now) and i had EXCELLENT results!!! really, i didn't even know how great my results were until i stopped using when i wanted to get pregnant. i stopped before i even got pregnant & lost about 50% of my hair. That was 5 months ago. now i'm still trying to get pregant but i went back on the rogaine 4 months ago and have a lot of regrowth (after a terrible shed). no i know better & won't stop until i am confirmed pregnant. it really works great. i'm using 5% now. good luck, Cheryl
i posted a rogaine question to Broken wings over on HA, and got these two responses. I though they were very encouraging and wanted to share.
I just wanted to tell ya'll a little about my rogaine experiance. I used to use it once in awhile. Well about 5 months ago I started using it faithfully. The thinning that took place after a few weeks was awful. I was really scared. Well 5 months later I think I am back to what I was before and am actually able to wear my hair in a ponytail again. Previously my hair was too thin and my ponytail was just pitiful. Now don't get me wrong, I still have thin hair, but I think it is really starting to fill out. At least I don't obcess about it anymore. I really don't loose too much hair either. I do have a problem with peach fuzz on my face, but I just use the cream to take care of that. By the way I use the foam. Hope this is helpful to some of you.
http://www.hairsite.com/female-hair-loss/forum_entry.php?id=5310&page=1&category=24&order=time
http://www.hairsite.com/female-hair-loss/forum_entry.php?id=250&page=2&category=24&order=time
http://www.hairsite.com/female-hair-loss/forum_entry.php?id=83&page=3&category=24&order=time
V is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
V
16.08.2007, 11:03
@ V
|
Yes, there are many.... |
Also notice many of these women don't post anymore. Once they find something that works, they move on with their lives.
and you have to think about all the women who have been successful withtheir treatment and who never even posted here at all.
Just something to remember...those of us on the boards, are either still looking for answers to our loss, in the phase of finding the right treatment, or haven't been on TX long enough to judge results, etc.
So just because you don't see loads of success stories doesn't mean they don't exist. I think most people who have had success are off living their lives and not on their computers!
V is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
lynn
16.08.2007, 11:36
@ V
|
Yes, there are many.... |
Many women move on to other sites to explore other options-toppers, wigs
lynn is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
V
16.08.2007, 12:12
@ lynn
|
Yes, there are many.... |
» Many women move on to other sites to explore other options-toppers, wigs
true, but many women also have luck maintaining and regrowing there own hair. I think that is what the poster was referring to.
V is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
alli
16.08.2007, 12:32
@ V
|
Yes, there are many.... |
» » Many women move on to other sites to explore other options-toppers,
» wigs
»
» true, but many women also have luck maintaining and regrowing there own
» hair. I think that is what the poster was referring to.
V - thanks so much. I feel better already!!
alli is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
V
16.08.2007, 13:24
@ alli
|
Yes, there are many.... |
Good, you just hang in there. i am right there at the beginning of treatment too, so I know ow scared you are.
I have tons of success stories I have found saved on my computer, and I swear I read them almost everyday. It does help.
Just remember, you have to give it time, and it works on a different timetable for everyone!!
V is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
Atlanta Girl
16.08.2007, 21:26
@ alli
|
Any success stories |
I was completely scared to try Rogaine. But in the end, after 2 years of virtually nonstop shedding that started 6 years ago from hormone havoc, I decided I had nothing to lose. Previously I had taken care of my hypothyroid, hypoadrenia, gut issues, ferritin levels, estrogen, etc..... on and on, and nothing stopped the shedding. My CTE was VERY high numbers too. But the real bummer was the miniaturization. I had lots of regrowth but most of it was short cycling hair.
When I started Rogaine 4 months ago I was shedding 250 plus on wash days and over 145 on nonwash. This is not counting all the very small baby hairs that were falling. My dred shed lasted less than 3 weeks after being on rogaine for 3 weeks. So far, since beginning it, I have lost less hair then when I started except for the 3 weeks of dred. At four months I am now almost normal in shed, have lots of new hairs coming in and can feel a thicker amount of hair at my scalp and in my ponytail. I've used a super small jaw clip ponytail holder as my hair has thinned out and I can see that I have almost grown out of it.
The foam is easy to use for me and I use it twice a day. I figure from what I read that I have not seen my last shedding event while on Rogaine, but I do think that I've taken care of stabilizing my hormones and dealing with all the surrounding issues that can cause hair loss. I bet I even fixed stuff that wasn't broken. I've spent thousands of dollars to find out what was going on with my hair over the last 6 years. NOTHING I ate or fixed ever made a dent in the CTE. From the first few days on the foam I noticed the shed lowering. I almost thought I might escape the dred! But it was a short dred I imagine because I had so little left to shed.....
Anyway, wanted to share on the success thread. I've not gotten to the point where I am totally relieved as this shed thing puts us on edge. BUT I am grateful that something works! The other thing a few of us in growhair hair discovered is that using Selsun with selenium and Salon Selsun with zinc have reduced our sheds noticably.
Atlanta Girl 
Atlanta Girl is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
V
17.08.2007, 09:31
@ Atlanta Girl
|
Any success stories |
(((Atlanta Girl)))))
I am sooo happy for you! Thank you so much for letting us share your experieince...it gives me lots of hope!
V is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
Chris
17.08.2007, 13:22
@ V
|
to Atlanta |
Hi Atlanta, In you post you said that after 4 months you noticed a thicker ponytail. Is that really true? That makes me very hopeful. However, I've been on Rogaine for 6 weeks now. I'm over the dread shed but still shedding (around 275 after washing) but I'm not seeing any new hairs at my scalp caused by Rogaine. I do have tons of new hairs all over my head in "tufts" of hair, sticking out all over. These hairs vary from 2-4 inches long. What I'm curious about is if I've been on Rogaine for 6 weeks, I don't see any stubble on my scalp yet, and hair grows approximately 1/2 cm per month, I don't see me having a thicker ponytail in 2 1/2 more months. Please tell me I'll be like you and notice thicker hair in 5 months!!!
Chris is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
V
17.08.2007, 17:18
@ Chris
|
to Atlanta |
JHMO, but MOST people don't see regrowth until much later . so hang in there sweetie, just because you don't see it yet doesn't mean it isn't coming. look at Suzy's posts. She said she had wonderful results with it but didn't see a darn thing until 9MONTHS...and then BAM..all kinds of growth.
V is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
Atlanta Girl
17.08.2007, 19:59
@ Chris
|
to Atlanta- reply to Chris |
Chris!!!!! I can't tell you the same will happen for you but I would love to! For me I kept growing hair as I was in CTE. My hair loss was not AGA that I know of. In a way it was early on when my E was dirt low and T was slightly higher. Taking E fixed the male pattern thing I saw happening. I had super low androgens after going on E. Thought this was good thanks to Redmond. That might have been part of the problem.... I now take 1 mg of T. For some low T can cause hair loss.
At any rate, I grew hair all along it just kept getting smaller and smaller in diameter, weaker, and had a shorter growing cycle. I watched my hair age fast I suppose.
What I imagine has happened is that the rogaine is retaining some of that growth and thickening it up which is making my ponytail thicker. If it wasn't for that small jaw clip measurement I probably wouldn't believe it myself. My hair has only gotten thinner all along despite the growth I've had.
I do think that we all have to try and get at the root of our hair loss or shedding. When I say that I have spent the last 3 or more years imbedded in hair loss and health study to get at this thing I really do mean this. I've been disgustingly absorbed in it. And I have gone to great lengths to study, see doctors (mainly a waste), join pertinent health boards, email people, etc., etc., etc. And what a shock to find that my hair only got worse!!! I tried Propecia, BCP, Spiro, hormones (E does grow my hair), special shampoos, topical oils, vitamins, prednisone, and all the other health stuff I still do. Totally off the charts obsessive.
When I first went to a derm 5 years ago to discover what all the shedding was about he pushed Rogaine my way and said this was all he could offer along with tripling my B vits. Rolled my eyes with the rogaine suggestion. Lets just say I threw away 3 samples of the stuff from 3 different derms.
At the time I had no idea how rogaine worked and I didn't have CTE. With one hormone assault after the next including the BCP dred, surgeries and deficiencies with adrenals and thyroid, there was NO end to the reasons for shedding. But 2 solid years of unbearably high numbers was crazy. I felt great, never better. Hair looked like a sick persons.
You can push me over with a stick that Rogaine is doing the trick. I don't know your story Chris, but I do know that you have to get at the bottom of this thing AS you use Rogaine. I do think Rogaine will protect the follicles as you work through whatever it is causing the loss.
Good luck girl! Head up.
xoag
Atlanta Girl is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
Chris
17.08.2007, 20:33
@ Atlanta Girl
|
to Atlanta |
My original diagnosis for my hl was low ferritin. I started to recoverafter upping my level, and the shedding stopped. A few months later, massive shedding started up again. More bloodwork, all normal. Derm doesn't know why I'm shedding so he said to start Rogaine. I am trying to figure it out. You mentioned "E". What is that? I've seen an endo twice now (every 6 months) to stay on top of the possibility of me developing Hashimotos. Otherwise, endo says everything looks good. I know that hl happens for some kind of health reason, not stress. I'm not taking any medication and haven't for over a year. No bcp, no Accutane, no anti-depressants, nothing. So, I'm using Rogaine to be the band aid but know that I need to get to the bottom of this.
Chris is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
V
18.08.2007, 08:55
@ Chris
|
to Atlanta |
E=estrogen
V is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
rachel
25.08.2007, 10:49
@ V
|
to Atlanta Girl |
» E=estrogen
Atlanta Girl,
I'm assuming your the same Atlanta Girl from a couple of years ago. What happened I thought you where in recovery when you started taking estrogen. Did you see Vliet? Please write back and let me know what happened. This is a real bummer.
rachel is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
Atlanta Girl
08.09.2007, 05:52
@ rachel
|
to Atlanta Girl |
rachel... yes, same-o atlanta girl from 2 yeara ago. here is what happened with me, briefly. i did grow hair back from the e. it filled in the male pattern thinning areas. i disovered i needed e when i was on the pill for that one year. when i went off and onto bhrt i had horrid dread shedding. just awful. i tried to cycle progesterone for the year following going off the pill but this was a total disaster! everytime i used p my already high dred went even higher. for a year i tired to work in p to balance out my high e. didn't work. toxic symptoms from p. at the same time last year i dealt with my hypothyroid, low ferritin and weak adrenals. and there were other things i took care of too. after a year of utter frustration with trying to protect my uterus with p i gave up and had a uterus only hysto. this was earlier this year.
a word on p. for me p caused a ton of hair loss. i think the fact that i tried to cycle it caused huge hormone fluctuations that only made the shedding worse.
after the hysto i then suffered from post surgery shedding. in the end, with all the shedding from hormone ups and downs, i had to admit that i had cte. here i had fixed all my health issues and still had shedding.
and this is where the rogaine stopped it. now i am on only e, some t, hc for adrenals and armour thyroid. it works great for me and my hair is finally responding as it should. cte is a beast and it can happen as you are working on balancing hormones! for me steady levels of hormones, day in and day out, is best for my hair and health.
-ag
»
»
» I'm assuming your the same Atlanta Girl from a couple of years ago. What
» happened I thought you where in recovery when you started taking estrogen.
» Did you see Vliet? Please write back and let me know what happened. This
» is a real bummer.
Atlanta Girl is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO |
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