22 Year Old, Growing Apathetic, Finally Decided To Reach Out For Help. Please Take The Time To Read

[KDawg]

Hi. Currently balding, receding hairline and overall thinning. Please share any advice you feel is relevant to me.

Ill try to make this easy to read. My goal is full recovery.

SYMPTOMS:
-dry skin and scalp
-low-mild dandruff
-energy is adequate to low, not as energetic i was in the past
-mood - generally moody, irritable, dull, unenthusiastic. not always however, when socialising can be very sociable and enjoys a good laugh
-hair loss receding hairline and overall thinning - hair is brittle and has decreased in circumference. balding for a year and a bit now.

OUTSTANDING LABS
Vit D: cant find it, but i dont remember it being low. definitely average.
Ferritin : 323 ug/L (range:30-250) ug/L
Iron: 22 umol/L (range:10-30) umol/L
Transferrin: 2.19 g/L (range:2.10 - 3.80) g/L
calcium: 2.46 mmol/L (range: 2.15 -2.55) mmol/L
TSH: 1.27
Prolactin: 7.4730 ug/L (within range apparently)
HDL - 57.92 mg/dl
LDL - 166.02 mg/dl
Liver enzymes were elevated really high at one point, but dropped to normal levels


DIET:
-eggs daily, salted
-chilli with every savoury meal
-meats : lamb, pork, beef, chicken, prawns
-still eat rice
-orange juice daily, not a high amount though
-milk and coffee daily, since peating (switch from full cream to organic lite milk every now and then)
-oysters
-liver every 2 weeks or so, palm size amount (my hand is tiny, im 5'3 and asian)
-fruits: orange juice and dates. sometimes bananas
-butter or coconut oil
-mainly pan fried food
-coriander for iron chelation
-sometimes beef bone broth
-green tea
-sugar in coffee, 3 coffees daily
-sometimes haagen daazs
-sometimes redbull
-pho (vietnamese bone broth noodle soup)

SUPPLEMENTS:
-magnesium and zinc liquid droppers
-LLysine
-eggshell calcium pills 1000mg
-vitamin D liquid apply to wrists
- vitamin K
-vitamin E oil
-vitamin A
-cyproheptadine occasionally
-aspirin occasionally
-bcomplex occasionally


LIFESTYLE:
-mon-fri im pretty inactive, dont work out at all
-I work then go home and either spend all night on the computer, or go out to socialise
-weekends are pretty active
-i sing and jam every now and then with a guitarist , we're trying to start a band
-not very stressed. outlook is very chilled and generally positive towards life
-not much anxiety


EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES:
-stomache upset often, nowadays less and less
-coffee and milk were initially not well tolerated, now it is though.
-sleeping pattern is irregular, i try to sleep before 12pm. but for the past 22 years of my life it ranged from 10pm-6am and dont remember keeping a good sleep routine.
-my scalp initially was very tight and calcified, I started scalp massages about 2 months after i started balding and generated ALOT of dandruff and sebum. Dandruff is MUCH less now but still there, and theres barely any sebum, scalp is a lot healthier feeling (not as tight and rigid)
-will occasionally do headstands
-I have an OMG helmet I try to use every second day
-i dont get VERY hungry..
-i dont use shampoos, i use baking soda mixed with water. makes my hair look thick
-recently broke up some flings i had with girls, so no sex but masturbating pretty regularly. trying to attempt no fap
-i massage my scalp regularly, its tight and theres usually dandruff
-I was always a bad sleeper, but have been catching up with the help of peating
-given up alcohol for a long time now
-will have chicken more regularly than the standard peatarian would recommend, no skin
-have been trying to reduce beef intake due to high ferritin
-im in front of a computer A LOT for work, and I trade cryptos so im on it a lot at home. Will also occasionally play videos games, and I notice i get VERY angry at bad players on my team.
-family is disconnected and can be inflammatory, and friends are also quite inflammatory sometimes.
-dont go to uni so im not actually that stressed

AND... IF YOURE REALLY BORED... heres a bit about me

diverting all my energy to resolving my hairloss has really taken top priority in my life. I base all my decisions on whether not it will affect my hair. I was 21 when i started balding, initially shocked, then denial, then dismay, then intense research. Use to live a typical 20 year old's lifestyle >clubbing >drinking > smoking > chasing girls > latenights > experiment with drugs (just weed and MDMA).

Im 22 and am now here writing this. I've literally put a hold on all my life goals to resolve this issue. I dont go out late anymore to try and get adequate sleep. I try to go out less with my friends because they are generally unhelpful in my health journey (eat a bad restaurants, constantly smoke, can be annoying )

I do sing and am in the works in starting a band with a talented guitarist, so i do have a creative output.

Any input much appreciated, and if you read up until here, youre awesome! Thanks :)

 

[mmb82]

If I were you, I would find a naturopathic doctor to work with if you want to fully commit to getting better with a plan in mind. Without getting more tests and having someone knowledgeable to interpret the results, you could be spinning your wheels or making things worse. Test, don't guess.

If you ignore the above and want to work on things based on the input of the forum, it seems like you might have a bit of iron overload based on your serum ferritin being so high. I notice you also mention using coriander for iron chelation. Additional strategies for dealing with iron overload would be to avoid high heme iron foods (beef, liver, oysters), the use of vitamin D, and iron-enriched foods (rice could be a culprit on your foods list). Increase your intake of vitamin C, vitamin E, Oligomeric Proanthocyanadins (OPCs), and things like coffee and tea. If you can donate blood, that can also help with iron overload.

I would also stop taking eggshell calcium and vitamin D and focus on getting more magnesium (I prefer topically). If you consume dairy, eggshell calcium, and vitamin D, you are likely not getting enough magnesium to counter all that calcium in your system. Topical magnesium is easier than oral in my opinion and oral magnesium can cause diarrhea.

From what I remember, dandruff can be helped with vitamin A and zinc. If you remove beef and oysters from your diet, you may want to take an oral zinc supplement (NOW Foods Zinc Glycinate, for example). Vitamin A and vitamin D work antagonistically, so removing vitamin D will help make the vitamin A you are taking be more effective. You did not list doses for any of the fat soluble vitamins and whether you are taking A, K, and E topically or orally.

B vitamins are more likely to be helpful than not, but I would remove the aspirin unless you are finding it to be highly beneficial. I never noticed any benefits from daily aspirin, but you could be very different from me in that regard.

Again, I would work with a doctor, but those are some things to try if you don't have the money or choose not to work with someone.

 

[KDawg]

If I were you, I would find a naturopathic doctor to work with if you want to fully commit to getting better with a plan in mind. Without getting more tests and having someone knowledgeable to interpret the results, you could be spinning your wheels or making things worse. Test, don't guess.

If you ignore the above and want to work on things based on the input of the forum, it seems like you might have a bit of iron overload based on your serum ferritin being so high. I notice you also mention using coriander for iron chelation. Additional strategies for dealing with iron overload would be to avoid high heme iron foods (beef, liver, oysters), the use of vitamin D, and iron-enriched foods (rice could be a culprit on your foods list). Increase your intake of vitamin C, vitamin E, Oligomeric Proanthocyanadins (OPCs), and things like coffee and tea. If you can donate blood, that can also help with iron overload.

I would also stop taking eggshell calcium and vitamin D and focus on getting more magnesium (I prefer topically). If you consume dairy, eggshell calcium, and vitamin D, you are likely not getting enough magnesium to counter all that calcium in your system. Topical magnesium is easier than oral in my opinion and oral magnesium can cause diarrhea.

From what I remember, dandruff can be helped with vitamin A and zinc. If you remove beef and oysters from your diet, you may want to take an oral zinc supplement (NOW Foods Zinc Glycinate, for example). Vitamin A and vitamin D work antagonistically, so removing vitamin D will help make the vitamin A you are taking be more effective. You did not list doses for any of the fat soluble vitamins and whether you are taking A, K, and E topically or orally.

B vitamins are more likely to be helpful than not, but I would remove the aspirin unless you are finding it to be highly beneficial. I never noticed any benefits from daily aspirin, but you could be very different from me in that regard.

Again, I would work with a doctor, but those are some things to try if you don't have the money or choose not to work with someone.

thanks for replying. I think youre right, Ill start to see one soon. I do donate blood, and Oligomeric Proanthocyanadins (OPCs) sounds interesting. will look into it. is it suppose to chelate iron?

 

[Luckytype]

Sorry to hear about all this man. I think all of us reach an apathetic point to some degree. To be honest I was nearly at mine and feeling annoyedly hopeless until I got my prolactin levels back after many docs and 2 years of time and theor refusal to check it. I gave up a lot of my enjoyment for regaining my hair. Especially when i realized hair is an indicator of health.

How emotionally disconnected are you from crypto? Especially today 1/2/18. I imagine a lot of people are stressed on the dip :)

Any chance you could get a 24hr cortisol test done? Do you have resources for regular tests?

Your food intake looks pretty darn solid. Dates and pho are lifesavers of mine.

I agree with offloading some of that ferritin if you can and agree with the magnesium. Some people like epsom salt baths for transdermal as well.

I would also strongly encourage some walking. Lowish intensity, so walking paces or a slow easy hike. It will help with cellular respiration and will gradually bring up your mitochondrial ability to produce energy on a cellular level. Youll get more out of your food and it should help sleep even if only a little. This exercise turn will assist your cholesterol levels too. If youre up for it some light, short weight training may make you feel decent too.

 

[KDawg]

Sorry to hear about all this man. I think all of us reach an apathetic point to some degree. To be honest I was nearly at mine and feeling annoyedly hopeless until I got my prolactin levels back after many docs and 2 years of time and theor refusal to check it. I gave up a lot of my enjoyment for regaining my hair. Especially when i realized hair is an indicator of health.

How emotionally disconnected are you from crypto? Especially today 1/2/18. I imagine a lot of people are stressed on the dip :)

Any chance you could get a 24hr cortisol test done? Do you have resources for regular tests?

Your food intake looks pretty darn solid. Dates and pho are lifesavers of mine.

I agree with offloading some of that ferritin if you can and agree with the magnesium. Some people like epsom salt baths for transdermal as well.

I would also strongly encourage some walking. Lowish intensity, so walking paces or a slow easy hike. It will help with cellular respiration and will gradually bring up your mitochondrial ability to produce energy on a cellular level. Youll get more out of your food and it should help sleep even if only a little. This exercise turn will assist your cholesterol levels too. If youre up for it some light, short weight training may make you feel decent too.

thanks for the reply. haha yeah i know the feeling, hairloss is unfair. did you end up resolving your hairloss now that you know about your prolactin?
crypto bounced back so im happy, not that emotionally invested so it doesnt bother me. ill get back to you with cortisol. I can do magnesium, may try high dosing. sorry whats transdermal? Yes weight trainign will begin soon

 

[Luckytype]

Transdermal - through skin. These are usually in the form of oils or like salt baths for magnesium.

Take it easy and slow on the weight training, let your body adapt slowly. Dont be like me

I just got my results last week so im insanely excited to feel better. I was a bit stubborn and really wrote off some of the supplements and things mentioned here like cypro and lisuride. Realizing after a solid year of peating that im only getting slowly worse im going to pull the trigger and hopefully break the cycle. So depending on what you learn and form opinions on for your route back to hair and health dont count anything out right away

 

[mmb82]

thanks for replying. I think youre right, Ill start to see one soon. I do donate blood, and Oligomeric Proanthocyanadins (OPCs) sounds interesting. will look into it. is it suppose to chelate iron?

Yes, OPCs chelate free iron molecules, preventing iron-potentiated lipid peroxidation. They also supposedly can increase the effectiveness of vitamin E and C, both of which are important in iron metabolism. OPCs are in any red/purple grape-based foods, acai berry products, plums, prunes, raisins, and dark chocolate. Also, some herbs and spices that can help with iron are cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, and turmeric.

 

[theLaw]

Height
weight
age
total calories (carb/fat/protein)

 

[LUH 3417]

Hi. Currently balding, receding hairline and overall thinning. Please share any advice you feel is relevant to me.

Ill try to make this easy to read. My goal is full recovery.

SYMPTOMS:
-dry skin and scalp
-low-mild dandruff
-energy is adequate to low, not as energetic i was in the past
-mood - generally moody, irritable, dull, unenthusiastic. not always however, when socialising can be very sociable and enjoys a good laugh
-hair loss receding hairline and overall thinning - hair is brittle and has decreased in circumference. balding for a year and a bit now.

OUTSTANDING LABS
Vit D: cant find it, but i dont remember it being low. definitely average.
Ferritin : 323 ug/L (range:30-250) ug/L
Iron: 22 umol/L (range:10-30) umol/L
Transferrin: 2.19 g/L (range:2.10 - 3.80) g/L
calcium: 2.46 mmol/L (range: 2.15 -2.55) mmol/L
TSH: 1.27
Prolactin: 7.4730 ug/L (within range apparently)
HDL - 57.92 mg/dl
LDL - 166.02 mg/dl
Liver enzymes were elevated really high at one point, but dropped to normal levels


DIET:
-eggs daily, salted
-chilli with every savoury meal
-meats : lamb, pork, beef, chicken, prawns
-still eat rice
-orange juice daily, not a high amount though
-milk and coffee daily, since peating (switch from full cream to organic lite milk every now and then)
-oysters
-liver every 2 weeks or so, palm size amount (my hand is tiny, im 5'3 and asian)
-fruits: orange juice and dates. sometimes bananas
-butter or coconut oil
-mainly pan fried food
-coriander for iron chelation
-sometimes beef bone broth
-green tea
-sugar in coffee, 3 coffees daily
-sometimes haagen daazs
-sometimes redbull
-pho (vietnamese bone broth noodle soup)

SUPPLEMENTS:
-magnesium and zinc liquid droppers
-LLysine
-eggshell calcium pills 1000mg
-vitamin D liquid apply to wrists
- vitamin K
-vitamin E oil
-vitamin A
-cyproheptadine occasionally
-aspirin occasionally
-bcomplex occasionally


LIFESTYLE:
-mon-fri im pretty inactive, dont work out at all
-I work then go home and either spend all night on the computer, or go out to socialise
-weekends are pretty active
-i sing and jam every now and then with a guitarist , we're trying to start a band
-not very stressed. outlook is very chilled and generally positive towards life
-not much anxiety


EXTRANEOUS VARIABLES:
-stomache upset often, nowadays less and less
-coffee and milk were initially not well tolerated, now it is though.
-sleeping pattern is irregular, i try to sleep before 12pm. but for the past 22 years of my life it ranged from 10pm-6am and dont remember keeping a good sleep routine.
-my scalp initially was very tight and calcified, I started scalp massages about 2 months after i started balding and generated ALOT of dandruff and sebum. Dandruff is MUCH less now but still there, and theres barely any sebum, scalp is a lot healthier feeling (not as tight and rigid)
-will occasionally do headstands
-I have an OMG helmet I try to use every second day
-i dont get VERY hungry..
-i dont use shampoos, i use baking soda mixed with water. makes my hair look thick
-recently broke up some flings i had with girls, so no sex but masturbating pretty regularly. trying to attempt no fap
-i massage my scalp regularly, its tight and theres usually dandruff
-I was always a bad sleeper, but have been catching up with the help of peating
-given up alcohol for a long time now
-will have chicken more regularly than the standard peatarian would recommend, no skin
-have been trying to reduce beef intake due to high ferritin
-im in front of a computer A LOT for work, and I trade cryptos so im on it a lot at home. Will also occasionally play videos games, and I notice i get VERY angry at bad players on my team.
-family is disconnected and can be inflammatory, and friends are also quite inflammatory sometimes.
-dont go to uni so im not actually that stressed

AND... IF YOURE REALLY BORED... heres a bit about me

diverting all my energy to resolving my hairloss has really taken top priority in my life. I base all my decisions on whether not it will affect my hair. I was 21 when i started balding, initially shocked, then denial, then dismay, then intense research. Use to live a typical 20 year old's lifestyle >clubbing >drinking > smoking > chasing girls > latenights > experiment with drugs (just weed and MDMA).

Im 22 and am now here writing this. I've literally put a hold on all my life goals to resolve this issue. I dont go out late anymore to try and get adequate sleep. I try to go out less with my friends because they are generally unhelpful in my health journey (eat a bad restaurants, constantly smoke, can be annoying )

I do sing and am in the works in starting a band with a talented guitarist, so i do have a creative output.

Any input much appreciated, and if you read up until here, youre awesome! Thanks :)

Do you live in a household where there is a lot of stress and tension? Are you trying to impersonate or identify with the role of someone who is much older than you?

 

[johnwester130]

gelatin

 

[KDawg]

gelatin

hey man i do use gelatin, great lakes, how many spoonfuls do you recommend in an avg day?

 

[KDawg]

Do you live in a household where there is a lot of stress and tension? Are you trying to impersonate or identify with the role of someone who is much older than you?

there can be, but not much. I dont talk to my sister or mother much because generally the conversations are negative

 

[KDawg]

Height
weight
age
total calories (carb/fat/protein)

5'3 , 63kgs (130 pounds) and 22 years old

honestly man. I havent tracked in a long time, but generally 3 cups of coffee, 1 or so cup of orange juice, 2 eggs , cup of rice, 1 cup of milk, about palm size of protein each day. Throw in the occasional fruit

 

[KDawg]

If anyone could help with a dry, dandruffy and deadish scalp, thatd be great. I think overall i have some pretty pale dry skin, and my scalp is very much thick, calcified and dead feeling.

 

[LUH 3417]

If anyone could help with a dry, dandruffy and deadish scalp, thatd be great. I think overall i have some pretty pale dry skin, and my scalp is very much thick, calcified and dead feeling.

Try to befriend your sister and don’t put her in the same category as your mom. Sounds like bad family politics.

 

[LUH 3417]

If anyone could help with a dry, dandruffy and deadish scalp, thatd be great. I think overall i have some pretty pale dry skin, and my scalp is very much thick, calcified and dead feeling.

My hair got really shiny when I healed my relationship with my brothers and father.

 

[KDawg]

Try to befriend your sister and don’t put her in the same category as your mom. Sounds like bad family politics.

i think thats important too. thank you

 

[LUH 3417]

i think thats important too. thank you

Good luck

 

[theLaw]

5'3 , 63kgs (130 pounds) and 22 years old

honestly man. I havent tracked in a long time, but generally 3 cups of coffee, 1 or so cup of orange juice, 2 eggs , cup of rice, 1 cup of milk, about palm size of protein each day. Throw in the occasional fruit

Based on your post, that's around 1000 calories/day, which is officially the lowest caloric intake I've seen from a male on this forum by far.

You're starving yourself by every metric.

I would double your food for a week along with keeping carbs/protein 2/1, and see how you feel.

For caloric intake to be this low, it sounds like you're under pretty severe stress.

 

[Peatful]

Based on your post, that's around 1000 calories/day, which is officially the lowest caloric intake I've seen from a male on this forum by far.

You're starving yourself by every metric.

I would double your food for a week along with keeping carbs/protein 2/1, and see how you feel.

For caloric intake to be this low, it sounds like you're under pretty severe stress.

+1

I 100% agree with this and would only add:
I wouldn't jump from ~1000 calories to ~2000 calories over night; move to 2k calories over the course of a few weeks.
Start: 1k -> 1250-> 1500->1750->2k

Best of health to u.