My journey [Attempt to beat sides]

[Mens Rea]

I know ive rambled on about my situation here and there but i thought it might now be a good idea to document my progress to for others to follow....hopefully with a good ending.

So i started taking finasteride back in January 2009. I took it until 17th March 2010 which my lowered libido became a concern.

The first time i noticed my lowered libidio, i recall was when i was on holidays for 3 weeks - August 2009. I noticed that i didn't have that much of a desire to masturbate whereas usually after a few days id be really ready to go. I suppose being at home i masturbated freely and routinely instead so perviously i hadnt picked up on any signs of lowered libidio.

Anyway, i still persisted with it - not a big deal right? I did have sex a few times over this period with no issues so i always thought a slightly lowered drive was no real problem.

Come March 2010 basically i flopped lets just say. My masturbation was much teh same as before and maybe this was just a one off as i hadn't any issues weeks previously but it still freaked me out. Never before would this even have been close to possible for me. Right away i went cold turkey...never to go back.

Months later....still no improvement. Ive became more conscious of things. I notice i have watery semen, i require more stimulation, serious lack of random erections, weaker erections etc etc. You get the picture.

If anything since i went off it its became worse. I read that this is very common due to the body reacting to my default! Not good.

I have experimented with l-arginine and things like that, with varying success. Some weeks i would have felt quite decent libido etc but still....watery semen and nowhere where i was before.

So ive decided to take action. Ive been speaking alot to Enden on this forum who has been very helpful. Ive also looked at propeciahelp (a forum i intentionally avoided beforehand.) I know a lot of guys on here dismiss that forum but it is 100% legit and very useful. I dont believe guys like me are "the exception" at all.

Anyway, i went to the doctor on Monday (11/10/10) and ive had my bloods taken. Hoping to get my results on Thursday. I'll go from there. Im worried they'll come back in range which seems quite usual post-finasteride. Why? Due to androgen resistence and secondary hypogonadism.

I've also been taking zinc 100mg a day for the past week. Absolutely no help at all but ill take it another week to see.

I explained the situation to my doctor. I knew a lot more about it than her but she was genuinely interested and believed what i was saying.



Will update when i get my bloods back.

 

[Ende]

I don't think androgen resistance is a part of the problem. Is it even possible for drugs to induce that condition? What I've read, make it seem like you're born with it. My body responded drastically to an experiment with Proviron, and it responds to TRT.

 

[Mens Rea]

Who knows Enden?

End of the day, if all things are in balance its a possibilty. Our bodies are very "adaptable" i guess.

I would say though, if i was able to do some damage over the course of 12 months theres no reason why i cant reserve it with similar opposite measures. Its complicated i guess but i definately wish to avoid over-complicating it. I'll try the basic approaches first in the hope its just simple T/E levels.

What is your opinion on the likes of l-arginine and other supplements? Ive stopped them because i dont want a fake testosterone production that my body wont emulate itself i need somethig that kick starts my body to do it naturally..

 

[Ende]

I believe that it's as simple as T/E ratio to begin with, but it gets more complex as time goes on. In the end, you're probably stuck with supressed testosterone and DHT level, and elevated estrogen-, prolactin- and SHBG level. It's a vicious circle.

I don't believe in any other supplements than zinc, but if my hypothesis is right, you need drugs to restore the balance.

 

[Mens Rea]

I believe that it's as simple as T/E ratio to begin with, but it gets more complex as time goes on. In the end, you're probably stuck with supressed testosterone and DHT level, and elevated estrogen-, prolactin- and SHBG level. It's a vicious circle.

I don't believe in any other supplements than zinc, but if my hypothesis is right, you need drugs to restore the balance.

I think im beginning to understood your ideas. I know one thing for sure, those people on propeciahelp taking T injections are stupid. It will mess up your fertility and stop your body making T itself. It's also a life time commitment. How dumb is that?

I do think some people can recover naturally over time though. Slowly and surely. Ive read a few decent recovery stories. If one can naturally increase his T levels via natural means and keep good health and circulation etc the body may well slowly reverse to where it was. Either way im looking for a "boost" if i cant get it naturally.

 

[Ende]

Well, I'm doing testosterone injections once a week myself, and have been doing so for many months. It's not the correct treatment for secondary hypogonadism, as it's unbalanced hormone levels which are the cause, and not testicular failure, but it's the safest alternative if you don't get any help. Trying to restore the HPTA without blood tests is very difficult, and you risk primary hypogonadism if you don't know what you're doing. hCG is used to maintain testicular function while on TRT, for those who wish. hMG is used to restore fertility. I can go off TRT anytime I want, and try to recover my HPTA, but I've decided to stay on for life. Your testosterone production declines gradually as you age anyway, and many men begin TRT in their 30's or 40's.

Sure, there are some people who suddently recover many years after quitting the drug, but would you count on it? What if it never happens in your case? Why should you, if there are drugs available, which can help you recover within a couple of months?

 

[imlosinit]

Thanks. I will follow your journey. I'm very much in the same boat.

 

[Joe-1991]

Are you post finasteride sufferers over on the other site too?

 

[Nuli]

100mg of zinc is a high dose just saying...

 

[Mens Rea]

yeah down to 50mg now just to be safe

decided not to get too carried away with anything until i get my bloods back.

Update in regard to the bloods... doctor rang me, said only some of the results in so to make an appointment next Monday. I believe she said my estrogen level appears high but needs to see my testosterone levels etc first. Im actually glad that something appears out of range - should prove less complicated


Will report back soon



And no, im not on the other site, may or may not sign up. Probably will post up my final experience when i hopefully get back to where i should be just to help other posters!

 

[Ende]

That's good. Keep me updated, colin. Don't let her treat you with anything before you're sure she knows what she's doing. I would like to explain my hypothesis, if she's willing to help you.

 

[Mens Rea]

Ok, quick update. Enden obviously you know the position.

I got my bloods back last week

I have high Testesterone levels (top range) and above range estrogen (E2) levels. Prolactin etc appears okay.

So, at first look, my bloods look a little out - excess estrogen would certainly compromise on my libido.

Ill be getting more detailed bloods done very soon and am due another appointment with my main GP tomorow to discuss this.



I went to the endochronologist on thursday 28th october (referred by my GP - i opted for private for a quick appointment). He says he's had one other guy in a similar situation induced by finasteride, as me, so he has some experience in this

For that guy he simply prescribed him cialis which apparently helped his erections etc and also helped clear up some brain fog (placebo effect maybe?) but he ended up going to another guy in London who gave him anti-depressants that made him worse.

I told him about propeciahelp and he told me he had been on it before and is very interested in this whole thing. He accepts theres definately issues with finasteride and said the last time, he asked around the other specialists who told him they've stopped prescribing finasteride for hairloss due to complications it seems to bring to people.

He noted that secondary hypgondaism (sp) obviously cant be ruled out - and we'll need to see SHBG and free T levels, but since my body hair continues to grow and my hair continues its thinning that its less likely. Obviously its a case by case basis.

In the end he's booked my a test on the NHS (public health case) to have my petuitary tested to ensure its working okay (spinal messages from brain to prostrate i think) - he says he'd imagine its fine but its worth checking. He also asked for futher tests which im going to try get off my GP tommorow.

In the mean time he prescribed my cialis.

Problem here is that, im noticing its bloody expensive and probably not a real solution anyway.

He did say he would be very cautious with administering drugs for this as theres a risk of making things worse. So atleast he isn't one of these guys that has disregard for ones health (it seems theres a lot of doctors helping guys on propeciahelp prescribing all sorts)

 

[TA45]

This is very interesting and informative.

 

[Mens Rea]

Thanks Tim

There various other snippets but id be writing all day if i was to include everything.

The guy gave me his email address and ive since emailed him also. Ive researched the whole thing is serious detail - potential drugs etc that may help my system "reset". So we'll see where this goes.

I'm meeting with my GP tommorow to discuss things

I had ball ache just today and yesterday, something i dont usually get. Im going to ask my GP for some anti-inflammatiaries just incase there is an infection/inflamation in the prostrate area that could be contributing to things.

That'll mean i'll have :

- Taken meds for any potential inflammation
- Got (getting) my petuitary checked to ensure everything is still ok here.
- He mentioned an MRI of something, not sure?
- Got all bloods checked inc costisel levels etc


So i'll be covering all areas.

 

[Prop]

colin, did you have some kind of shrinkage in your testis/penis ?

 

[Mens Rea]

colin, did you have some kind of shrinkage in your testis/penis ?

I think so. I think ive lost a bit of girth when flaccid and its more flat and dead. Hard to tell for sure but im pretty sure.

 

[Prop]

colin, did you have some kind of shrinkage in your testis/penis ?

I think so. I think ive lost a bit of girth when flaccid and its more flat and dead. Hard to tell for sure but im pretty sure.

yes, at beginning me too i was unsure about shrinkage
after 1 year was more evident but for luck now is recovering

mainly in the middle (hourglass effect) and right side.
evident in flaccid state, unnoticeable in erection

 

[TA45]

I had the houglass shape when not erect as well! It seems to have improved!

 

[Prop]

I had the houglass shape when not erect as well! It seems to have improved!

my situation is improving too, but very slightly.
after 2 years:
first at all i regained the "connection brain genital", second glans sensibility, third normal penis shape.

i think that this can be the regaining sequence for sexual sides
if someone experience this i think is on the right way of recovery

but however that above is far from my old self

 

[Mens Rea]

I had the houglass shape when not erect as well! It seems to have improved!

my situation is improving too, but very slightly.
after 2 years:
first at all i regained the "connection brain genital", second glans sensibility, third normal penis shape.

i think that this can be the regaining sequence for sexual sides
if someone experience this i think is on the right way of recovery

but however that above is far from my old self

you took anything to aid/accelerate your recovery?