Women Hair Loss Forums - 3 month mark, as bad as ever--craving some sympathy

FREE!!! Hair Replacement Contest - UK, US, Canada, India
click here

peridot

23.09.2007, 13:40

3 month mark, as bad as ever--craving some sympathy (Rogaine, Minoxidil)
Post reply

I had a few weeks of decreased shed and thought maybe things were turning around, but this week it's falling out by the ton again. I cried this morning for the first time in a while.

I've been very good about application-- twice a day like clockwork (5% foam)-- to no avail thus far. Not only has Rogaine not altered the shed cycle but I don't see any hint of regrowth after 3 months.

I'm not giving up here, I know it can take much longer. But I'm wondering what the next step should be if Rogaine isn't the solution for me--it doesn't automatically work for everyone w/ AGA, right? What's the percentage? Or, if it doesn't work, should I re-consider the possibility that the TE and not the AGA is the dominant problem?

What would you do at this point?

Thanks. 8 months of this nightmare so far...what a depressing year.

peridot is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

V

23.09.2007, 16:45

@ peridot
3 month mark, as bad as ever--craving some sympathy
Post reply

((((PERIDOT))))
You have my empathy for sure. I know exactly how you feel.

I will tell that I saw no reduction in shed until month four and it has just been in the last month that I have seen any measurable decrease or much of the way of regrowth.

Hang in there sweetie. I know it is hard, but it will get better.

True Rogaine doesn't work for everyone, but the foam has an 85% success rate or so I have been told.

as far as your loss being TE. TE usually corrects itself, and has an obvious trigger. If you have had all the necessary tests, and are eating healthy and have your ferritin up, then I wouldn't say it was a TE. You would be having regrowth by now.

Just hang in there and you can send me a message any time.

V is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

Chris

23.09.2007, 17:30

@ V
3 month mark, as bad as ever--craving some sympathy
Post reply

Hi Peridot, I am right there with you. I'm almost at 3 months on Rogaine and although my shed has decreased from over 300 to about 200 now, that's just not enough of a decrease for me and it's driving me crazy to wash my hair, let alone brush it. I just lightly brush my hair and there are easily 50 hairs in my brush. I AM SO SICK OF THIS!!! It has been 2 YEARS of off and, mostly, on shedding. I don't see any new regrowth. I keep thinkg that if the shedding would JUST STOP I could deal with what little hair I have left. But the shedding won't stop. I know it's still early in the process but I am literally drained from this. I went shopping a couple of days ago and there was not one other woman who looked like her hair was thinning like mine. All of them had thick heads of hair and it got me totally depressed. They have no idea how lucky they are.

Chris is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

peridot

24.09.2007, 09:24

@ Chris
3 month mark, as bad as ever--craving some sympathy
Post reply

Thanks to both of you--I feel as though we're in roughly the same place and it helps so much to know you guys are right there with me!

I also encourage all of us, while allowing ourselves some moments of surrender to fury and sorrow, to remember to live as well as possible at most other moments and find as much joy in it as possible....we don't have to be perfect to deserve that. After being so sad yesterday I remembered to buck up and appreciate the love in my life, the people who don't judge me as harshly as I do.

peridot is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

V

24.09.2007, 10:39

@ peridot
3 month mark, as bad as ever--craving some sympathy
Post reply

So true Peridot.

We need to remember that despite all this horrible mess. We don't need beautiful hair to love and be loved and to enjoy life.

V is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

peridot 23.09.2007, 13:40	3 month mark, as bad as ever--craving some sympathy (Rogaine, Minoxidil) Post reply
	I had a few weeks of decreased shed and thought maybe things were turning around, but this week it's falling out by the ton again. I cried this morning for the first time in a while. I've been very good about application-- twice a day like clockwork (5% foam)-- to no avail thus far. Not only has Rogaine not altered the shed cycle but I don't see any hint of regrowth after 3 months. I'm not giving up here, I know it can take much longer. But I'm wondering what the next step should be if Rogaine isn't the solution for me--it doesn't automatically work for everyone w/ AGA, right? What's the percentage? Or, if it doesn't work, should I re-consider the possibility that the TE and not the AGA is the dominant problem? What would you do at this point? Thanks. 8 months of this nightmare so far...what a depressing year. peridot is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
V 23.09.2007, 16:45 @ peridot	3 month mark, as bad as ever--craving some sympathy Post reply
	((((PERIDOT)))) You have my empathy for sure. I know exactly how you feel. I will tell that I saw no reduction in shed until month four and it has just been in the last month that I have seen any measurable decrease or much of the way of regrowth. Hang in there sweetie. I know it is hard, but it will get better. True Rogaine doesn't work for everyone, but the foam has an 85% success rate or so I have been told. as far as your loss being TE. TE usually corrects itself, and has an obvious trigger. If you have had all the necessary tests, and are eating healthy and have your ferritin up, then I wouldn't say it was a TE. You would be having regrowth by now. Just hang in there and you can send me a message any time. V is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
Chris 23.09.2007, 17:30 @ V	3 month mark, as bad as ever--craving some sympathy Post reply
	Hi Peridot, I am right there with you. I'm almost at 3 months on Rogaine and although my shed has decreased from over 300 to about 200 now, that's just not enough of a decrease for me and it's driving me crazy to wash my hair, let alone brush it. I just lightly brush my hair and there are easily 50 hairs in my brush. I AM SO SICK OF THIS!!! It has been 2 YEARS of off and, mostly, on shedding. I don't see any new regrowth. I keep thinkg that if the shedding would JUST STOP I could deal with what little hair I have left. But the shedding won't stop. I know it's still early in the process but I am literally drained from this. I went shopping a couple of days ago and there was not one other woman who looked like her hair was thinning like mine. All of them had thick heads of hair and it got me totally depressed. They have no idea how lucky they are. Chris is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
peridot 24.09.2007, 09:24 @ Chris	3 month mark, as bad as ever--craving some sympathy Post reply
	Thanks to both of you--I feel as though we're in roughly the same place and it helps so much to know you guys are right there with me! I also encourage all of us, while allowing ourselves some moments of surrender to fury and sorrow, to remember to live as well as possible at most other moments and find as much joy in it as possible....we don't have to be perfect to deserve that. After being so sad yesterday I remembered to buck up and appreciate the love in my life, the people who don't judge me as harshly as I do. peridot is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
V 24.09.2007, 10:39 @ peridot	3 month mark, as bad as ever--craving some sympathy Post reply
	So true Peridot. We need to remember that despite all this horrible mess. We don't need beautiful hair to love and be loved and to enjoy life. V is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO