u/Illustrious-Town-631

Hey guys!

Started Finasteride 8 months ago for AGA (Sep 2025). Didn’t start Minoxidil.

Problem is… I’m STILL shedding a lot. Some days it’s fine, other days the shower drain looks insane. If I run my hand through my hair, I’ll usually pull out 5–10 hairs every time.

And honestly my density still sucks. Scalp is visible, part looks wide, and sometimes it genuinely feels like I have LESS hair than before treatment.

That’s what’s confusing me. I can’t tell if Fin is working slowly or if I’m still actively losing ground.

Did anyone here still have heavy shedding 8 months into Finasteride but eventually recover density later?

Would appreciate hearing other experiences because this is stressing me out.

So, here’s the deal. Back in the summer of 2023, I got my visa and headed to the States with a friend for the Work and Travel program.

But first, a little backstory: I was a student in Astana, and I started having these massive panic attacks. Living with them was a nightmare. I’ve never been a super social person—I’m down for new experiences, but meeting people isn’t really my thing. When the attacks first hit in uni, I actually thought I had asthma because I couldn't catch my breath. Then I realized what was actually happening. The attacks became a regular thing, and I spiraled into this constant fear of death. It consumed me. I had no idea how to fix it or how to go back to being "normal." I tried seeing a therapist, but she didn’t help at all—I literally bailed in the middle of the second session.

Eventually, people close to me told me I just had to accept that death is the logical end for everyone. I fought that idea for a long time, but once I finally accepted it, I leaned into it way too hard. I lost all meaning in life. I didn't care about tomorrow anymore. Everything felt gray, I stopped dreaming, and I lost all my goals. It was like someone had dropped a concrete slab right in front of my eyes.

My friend suggested the trip to the States. I kept saying no, hoping my parents would shut the idea down, too. But surprisingly, they were all for it. Next thing I know, we’re in New York. We’re at the Empire State Building, and I’m just... blank. I couldn't see past my own nose.

Then, one day at work—I was at Starbucks—I saw this girl. Her hair was up in a bun held together by a pencil, and she was frantically scribbling notes on a piece of paper. She looked up and caught my eye, and man, it felt like my soul just snapped back into my body. That concrete wall crumbled instantly. I could finally breathe again.

We met that same day and started seeing each other every single day. We had our "Wednesday dates." Things were going great, and she knew I was into her. She’d get jealous whenever other girls came up to me. She’d always just grab me and hold me close. When I finally confessed my feelings, we talked about what would happen when the program ended and we had to go home. She just said, "Let it be..." and we ended up having three unforgettable months together.

One day, I told her that my favorite characters were Sherlock Holmes and Loki. Sherlock only ever fell for Irene Adler because she was the only one smarter than him. Loki only fell for Sylvie because she was the best version of himself. I told her I was the third one. She looked at me and said, "So, does that make me your Irene Adler?" Seriously guys, imagine my reaction. It was the perfect answer.

Toward the end, I told her I loved her and wanted to keep this going. She told me her brother had advised her that she needed to "find herself" first. She didn't want me traveling to see her, spending all that money and time, especially since she wasn't sure if she could give me back the same kind of love I was giving her. I told her, "Trust me, I can handle anything. I’ll get a job after uni and make it work." She said she believed in me.

Finally, I asked her for a straight "yes" or "no." I told her if she didn't like me or if we just weren't a match, to just say no please don’t leave my heart without answer. She told me she couldn't say no because her heart wouldn't let her. She cried, kissed me, and left. I felt like absolute trash. Four days later, I went to the airport to see her off. She ran to me, and we spun around hugging just like in a movie. On my way back, I spent the whole time coding a website for her and sent her the link.

It’s been three years since then. I spent the first year updating that site religiously, every Wednesday. By the end, it had 58 pages, 19,000 words, 156 photos, and 10 videos. She checked that site every four days. I never understood why she kept checking it if she had a boyfriend or if she didn't love me. At this period of time I never stalked her, I never texted her like please give me the answer. We did chat once in a while but yeah it wasn’t something about us you know that I’m saying.

The first year was pure agony. It hurt so much that the person who literally brought me back to life was no longer a part of it. For the last two years, I tried to let go and focus on myself. I haven't talked to any other girls. I stopped "suffering," I got the job I told her I’d get, and I did everything I promised. But she’s not here. I realized I was lying to myself about being over her—I still feel the exact same way every time I see her photo.

She is in her country. I’m in mine too. I miss her voice, I miss her smile. Her graduation is coming up soon. I want to be there so badly. I could make it happen easily... I just don't know if there's still a place for me in her life.

I kept this as brief as possible, but if I actually wrote down everything that happened, you could literally make a whole movie out of it. 😃