kman

Hey bro,

That sort of thing happens to lots of guys so we can sympathize. I don't want to sound gay(not that there's anything wrong with that) but I have had occasional problems in the past with women when I first met them, and the hotter they were it seems the more difficult it was. It all boils down to performance anxiety. Once I got past the initial encounter and we had a second date the problem resolved itself. I felt more comfortable with her since she clearly wasn't with me for the great sex apparently, which took the pressure off. But that's just me. I'm not suggesting you're as messed up as I am.

I don't know if fin is causing your problem or if it is just age catching up to you(and the rest of us)...and don't discount your recent divorce, which can be traumatic. I went on levitra(similar to viagra) a few years ago due to a drop off in my liido and it works but I also had side effects like flushed face and headache. I found taking half a pill gave me the "benefits" without the side effects. Something to consider. I would talk to your doc but I don't think you will have to choose btwn sex and hair.

BTW, I am on propecia(fin) since early 2007 and wondered if it would have an effect but it didn't seem to. I keep some levitra around tho...just in case.

Best of luck with the HT and the girl.

I am at 2 months post HT and have also noticed these red dots. They don't look like pimples, just red circles about the size of a pimple. I noticed 1 about a month ago and now see 3.

I wasn't too worried and now that you are also experiencing this I figure it must be part of the healing process. If I recall correctly, I also read another post on this topic during my research and it wasn't anything to be concerned with.

Hope you start seeing some growth soon. rrrrooaarr.

Not you Jobi! You're "true" through and through.

For me it was the Bosley commercials that got me thinking about a transplant so in that sense they helped put me on the path, but I also didn't do any research other than going to the phone book and looking for a local HT clinic. Ignorance is bliss! While I was lucky in the sense that I didn't exactly get butchered, I did pay $5500 for approx 750 grafts and $4500 for approx 700 grafts a year later. My second surgery used the tricophytic closure but my first surgery didn't and left a very noticable scar.

I do wish I had known about this site from the start and maybe I would have only required one HT...not to mention save money. Dr Rahal charged $9100(after travel discount) for 2590 grafts vs their 10 G's for roughly 1500 grafts. Oh well, that's water under the bridge now. Hopefully you'll benefit from my mistake by not repeating it.

Like you guys I also looked at peoples blogs or pics and tried to find cases similar to me to see their results. That also helped with my expectations, which is another big part of a transplant.

Jobi, how come no blog? Just curious.

Also, why do some change coalition doc's for a 2nd or 3rd HT. I suppose we can all refine our choices and maybe our needs change, so our doc would too?

Thanks again for the advice.

I am curious to know how others made their choice of HT doctors.

I chose Dr Rahal based on the fact that he was a recommended coalition doctor on this site and the review by Pat and also his before and after photo's on his website. I definately feel I made a great choice but I'm curious how others made up their mind with their doc. Was it coalition membership, patient photo's, posters opinions, or something else?

For myself, I put a lot of weight on the fact that a doc is a coalition member as well as the review by Pat and less weight on someones personal opinion. Just my way, I guess, but I base that on other experiences. When I read someones personal review/opinion of a resort, restaurant or even movie, quite often I get surprised(good or bad) when I check it out on my own. I guess it's just the subjective nature of an opinion. I don't discount it and I certainly listen to it and appreciate it, but in the end I make my own mind up.

So, how did some of you come to your own decisions on doctors? I think this might help others on here with their own decision process.

Hopefully this won't descend into a recommendation of just a few select docs. You don't want to get banned now .

Sorry Pat. Just kidding.

Thanks for your advice.

I am curious to know how others made their choice of HT doctors.

I chose Dr Rahal based on the fact that he was a recommended coalition doctor on this site and the review by Pat and also his before and after photo's on his website. I definately feel I made a great choice but I'm curious how others made up their mind with their doc. Was it coalition membership, patient photo's, posters opinions, or something else?

For myself, I put a lot of weight on the fact that a doc is a coalition member as well as the review by Pat and less weight on someones personal opinion. Just my way, I guess, but I base that on other experiences. When I read someones personal review/opinion of a resort, restaurant or even movie, quite often I get surprised(good or bad) when I check it out on my own. I guess it's just the subjective nature of an opinion. I don't discount it and I certainly listen to it and appreciate it, but in the end I make my own mind up.

So, how did some of you come to your own decisions on doctors? I think this might help others on here with their own decision process.

Hopefully this won't descend into a recommendation of just a few select docs. You don't want to get banned now .

Sorry Pat. Just kidding.

Thanks for your advice.

Yeah, I agree...can't we all get along?

PGP, I didn't mean to imply that after trying to resolve things one on one with the doctor, that was the end of it. Sure, get some input from forum members after that if you're not satisfied, but just give the doc a chance first.

Also, my other concern was that when we get into specifics we're usually only getting one side of the story, unless the doc continuously monitors what's posted and takes time to chime in online. Not a good use of his time and also there is doc/patient confidentiality to be considered.

I do agree tho that problems do tend to get resolved(fairly or unfairly) when a light is shone on it. I just want to be fair when the spotlight is used.

Pat, I didn't mean to volunteer your time in resolving everyones issues with coalition doctors. My earlier point was that if a doctor no longer meets your standards, that you would take action then, after examining the issue thoroughly.

I agree with what MrJobi said about the forum being a place to provide objective advice for people losing their hair and "not" for resolving a specific issue with a doctor.

I think any patients concern with their doctor should first attempt resolution with the doctor. Anyone who runs a business would prefer an opportunity to resolve an issue in private "before" being sandbagged in the "press".

After reading the last few threads about Dr Epstein I actually felt sorry for the guy. His reputation was being assaulted with inuendo, some speculation and a lot of "onesided" criticism. If the doctors had to spend all their time on here looking for criticism to defend against, they would have no time for transplants. Honestly, I don't think heart surgeons get held to the same standard. Cripes, how many of their patients have poor outcomes. I won't even broach obstetrics.

If a legitimate complaint isn't resolved, I am pretty sure that Pat would look into it and take action if required.

I'm not saying we can't discuss our concerns about hairloss and our experiences good or bad, but it shouldn't decend into the public "stoning" that seems to happen when a doctor issue gets discussed on here, before even trying a serious and fair attempt at resolution one on one.

Don't mean to offend anyone but that's how I've been seeing things on here lately.

Hi Pat,

I'm a newbie here so I'm hesitant to give my opinion on this. As the creator(vger of this forum you have provided a valuable tool for the rest of us to share ideas and gain insight into not just HT's but other peoples personal stories of how balding affected them and still others reassurances that there is hope out there. Obviously no one, including you, wants to see that type of exchange censored.

Personally, I enjoyed NG2GB posts for his colorful humor and bluntness...he seemed quite the character! He also had some pretty good advice to share. I don't know what was said in his reply to you but there is no excuse for someone to be disrespectful. Once that line has been drawn it is difficult to back down and to be frank, NG2GB must have known there would be ramifications, and I think there has to be, otherwise why bother monitoring?

I would like to see his posts once again so hopefully you guys can come to some sort of an understanding. I didn't read the guidelines for posting(even though I accepted them when I joined) but I would prefer some sort of incremental sanctions. That way, such harsh measures as censorship are limited initially. First inexcusable offence and you're banned for 3 weeks(or whatever), no further action is required and reinstatement is automatic. Further offences and...no soup for you!! Banned..1 Year!!

I understand the position you're in but hopefully we can look forward to NG2GB's posts in the near future.

Great post! After my HT I had to wear that Shriner looking surgical hat to the hotel. I thought no way am I going through the airport with that on so I decided to wear a ball cap. I probably would have been better off with the surgical hat and maybe avoided all the attention at the security gate. I didn't want to remove my cap and explained i just had surgery and was hoping to avoid unnecessary attention. No dice. I had then waving wands over my hat and then they called over a supervisor and they both peeked under my hat. Then the head supervisor comes over and the three of them are peeking under my hat. Finally I just removed the damn thing and let them scan me. So much for not drawing attention. I had a friggin line up of people behind me staring!

FYI, I had my sutures out at day 12 and was told that was fine. I had it done at a walk in clinic but I agree, it's so simple you could get your GF to do it.

Enjoy Mexico. I'm heading down there Apr 27th and will be 6 weeks post HT. Still gonna cover up the head tho...you should too MBM since you're only 2 wks. BTW, if you had no hair there in the first place, why do you have to keep things covered for the first 3 mths?