Hair loss at 16 years old, i lost about 40% of hair!?!?

Hi, Im turning 17 in 1 month and i am going through severe hair loss. My hair started to fall out when i was 16. friends and people on yahoo answers told me its due to stress and lack of nutrition. Its summer now and i've been getting a lot more sleep and low stress.
i went to the doctor about 6 months ago and she told me to use minoxidil 5% once a day, everyday. i didnt follow it. i only used it like 3 times a week and took it for 2 weeks and stopped for 2 weeks. then i stopped using it completely about 3 months ago. and my hair keeps falling out. it stopped for about 2 weeks in the beginning of the summer and started falling out again.

one of the reason I KNOW why my hair got thin and lost is because i used to use shampoo everyday when i was 16. i stopped that about 10 months ago. and i don't think that is the reason my hair still keeps falling out, or is it?

my dad is also mostly bald. he told me he started losing hair in his late 20s.

i started using minoxidil again today and i am going to use it everyday from now.
my doctor said once a day, but should i take it twice? i cannot contact the doctor because she is a traveling doctor and i have no idea where she is right now.
please help me! i have no insurance so my parents cant afford all the medical visit bills.

[hcog2003]

I'm speaking from experience here...I think you're supposed to use Minoxidil twice a day.  Does it have directions on the bottle?  I've dealt with slow-progressing hair loss ever since I was 18.  I am 25 years old now, and have very little hair on top.  I've tried Rogaine...I've tried Fish Oil (which does help keep you from losing hair, my doctor says)...I've tried just about everything possible, and there's not really been any solutions.  However, a few months ago, a lady that works with me told me she had something that would work.  It was from Arbonne Intelligence (they have a website).  I ordered their Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and the Thermal Revitalizer, and I have actually had some new hair growth within a couple of months.  It is amazing!!!!  Dude, I know Minoxidil is hard to keep up with...try the foam.  It's not quite as messy.  Best of luck to you!!!