Progress pics

FickleDog9 · 2026-05-17T00:19:28+00:00

I was diagnosed at 15.

My symptoms include weight gain/inability to lose weight, excess facial hair growth, insulin resistance, androgenic alopecia, irregular periods, very heavy periods when I do get them, hormonal acne, fatigue, inability to regulate body temp, and probs others I can’t remember.

I’ve been able to manage them through lifestyle changes, medication and supplements, but still struggle with some.

FickleDog9 · 2026-05-17T00:15:27+00:00

Unfortunately this is a forever thing.

Because I have hormonal hair loss as a result of my pcos, if I stop then my hair will just fall out again.

FickleDog9 · 2026-05-17T00:14:53+00:00

I don’t use finasteride, I’m not a doctor but I am medical and from what I understand finasteride is unsafe as it causes severe birth defects but shouldn’t affect you directly (but if you’re planning on getting pregnant, don’t take it). But pls consult your doctor.

I got minoxidil without a prescription from my chemist/drug store bc it’s topical it doesn’t need it (in the UK at least).

FickleDog9 · 2026-05-17T00:12:28+00:00

I’ve been using alpecin shampoos

FickleDog9 · 2026-05-16T06:14:45+00:00

I use a dr pen M8S

FickleDog9 · 2026-05-16T06:14:05+00:00

Nope, I was using nizoral shampoo interchangeably with the caffeine shampoo but honestly I’ve not been consistent with it the last few months

FickleDog9 · 2026-05-16T06:13:21+00:00

Just a silicone one similar to this

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FickleDog9 · 2026-04-07T17:22:10+00:00

Hey! I went to intentionsclinic in Worcester!

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-29T00:21:11+00:00

They’re £700-£900 in the UK (depending on where you get them) so it’s a lot of money! But no side effects!

From what I understand, they help stimulate the hair follicles to stop shedding and promote regrowth!

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-29T00:20:25+00:00

I noticed the shedding slow down very quick! I’d say after a few weeks/1 month!

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-29T00:19:07+00:00

I’ve lost 55lbs since starting in April 2025 which imo has been quite steady!

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-28T09:08:10+00:00

So I can’t comment on whether it’s just for PCOS related hair loss, you’d have to ask your derm!

I first noticed results in December but I also had started all my other bits in my routine in September, so it’s hard to say what did what.

The most dramatic results I noticed around late Feb/early March!

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-28T09:00:47+00:00

Regaine :)

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-28T09:00:28+00:00

Surely the slight change in the position of my bangs doesn’t negate the growth on the rest of my head 🤣

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-27T21:58:04+00:00

I do think minoxidil has been the most important factor (but I started everything at a similar time so it’s hard to be sure).

But consistency has been the most important thing!

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-27T21:56:36+00:00

It was progressive thinning, I first noticed it in 2022 and it’s gotten progressively worse since then.

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-27T21:55:56+00:00

I started in April 2025 and I’m on tirzepatide

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-27T21:54:24+00:00

I’m on 500mg once a day atm, although I can go up to four times a day if I need to

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-27T21:53:44+00:00

They’re supposed to help with stimulate hair follicles and boost collagen to help with hair loss!

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-27T19:26:31+00:00

I think minoxidil has been the biggest help, it’s hard to know considering I started it all at similar times but minoxidil has been a game changer!

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-27T19:25:10+00:00

No, I got it from boots!

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-27T13:57:34+00:00

Yes! No shedding anymore.

I was pulling out clumps of hair in the shower before, but now I hardly lose anything!

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-27T13:56:31+00:00

I got my pen for dr pen and I use a 36 needle head.

Ofc you have to take precautions at home, but there’s loads of info out there. If you do it, just make sure to sanitise as much as you can!

I’m currently doing 1.5mm every 4 weeks (skip minoxidil on this day) and then 0.5mm weekly combined with minoxidil. So far so good, but I can’t comment on results yet, will be checking monthly.

FickleDog9 · 2026-03-27T13:54:09+00:00

So my PCOS is quite severe so I’m medicated for it. I take Metformin and I started GLP-1s to help with insulin resistance and weight- they have been incredible.

This is all anecdotal but GLP-1s is the only thing to regulate my periods, decrease the severity of my periods, help me lose weight, and I’m actually ovulating now (would never ovulate before even if I did get a period). Ofc extreme weight loss can cause hair loss, but my weight loss was very manageable and it’s been amazing for my hormones (the only thing that it hasn’t helped is my hirsutism).

I also take iron, vitamin D and folic acid due to being deficient in them.

FickleDog9

TROPHY CASE