Ex Propecia user help needed

[dp1286]

Hi all,


Hoping I can find some help and support here for what seems like a dead end situation Ive got myself into...

Started taking propecia for hairloss for 5 years (1mg a day)
Came off propecia after noticing a significant drop in sex drive and ED
During these 5 years I go from top performing sportsman to lazy and overweight and unmotivated
I breeze through university but then this new found fatigue causes me to take the easy options in life and walk away from my chosen career path
I also develop severe psoriasis during this period while on propecia
I literally go from top performing alpha male to rock bottom
I have been off propecia 5 years and somehow managing to exist with all these symptoms and just get by

Then after training in the gym for 3 months before a holiday to Las Vegas I crash majorly
(was taking grenade fat burners twice a day for 3 months during this period)

I now
- Find it impossible to get up in the mornings my eyes sting and my body is so weak I can barely stand up without assistance
- Can not remember anything and have no concentration
- Can not play any sport as I am out of breath instantly and my body is so weak
- Can not train in the gym as I am then in pain for upto 7 days
- Have no regular digestive routine and am always constipated
- Never ever have morning wood
- Erections are weak and orgasm is almost non existent
- Testicles / penis have shrunk and always feel like they are trying to go inside
- Severe depression and feel like I have lost my personality


Having been to see a private endo he has done the attached tests and also recently and SST for Cortisol which came back normal

He is at a loss and seems completely unaware of any permanent damage caused by Propecia / Finasteride and says maybe I have ME which I feel is a complete cop out

Please can anyone point me in the right direction

 

[CoastWatcher]

Welcome to Excelmale. Propecia is a drug with a horrible profile in terms of sexual side-effects. Leading doctors who practice in the field of male androgen therapy have seen stories similar to your own over and over. I'm sorry you find yourself dealing with this.

Your labs, if you attached them, didn't post due to a security feature. Members have to accumulate five posts before they can attach something (it's an effort we use to discourage spammers). Did your doctor run DHT levels? And have you considered finding a new doctor...this isn't you, it's the drug.

There are many communities and boards dedicated to propecia and the problems associated with it. We're glad you're here, and hope you'll be an active member, but you should also look broadly for information.

 

[dp1286]

Labs I have had done as follows
Total Protein 71 ( 60-80g/l)
Albumin 48 (35-50g/l)
Total Bilrubin 10 (0-21umol/l)
AST 20 (0-37IU/L)
ALT 28 (10-41IU/L)
Prolactin 190 (86-324mu/L)
Oestradiol 46 LOW (99-192pmol/L)
Testosterone 13.3 (9.9-27.8pmol/L)
VitaminB12 424 (180-2000ng/L)
Serum Folate 9.48 (4.6-18.7ug/L)
P3NP 10.4 HIGH (3.3-9.7ug/L) (Liver test to take methetrexate)
SHGB Normal
Vitamin D 138.9 nmol/L
Serum TSH level 2.58 miU/L
Serum prolactin level 273 (86-324mu/L)
Serum FSH level 9.2 (1.50-12.40IU/L)
Serum LH level 4.9 (1.70-8.60IU/L)
Anti Nuclear antibody Normal
SST test for Cortisol has also come back normal

 

[dp1286]

There is my labs

I should mention I am now on Testogel and have seen improvements in my psoriasis and muscle fatigue

No improvement in ED as of yet though

 

[CoastWatcher]

You are outside the United States, aren't you? Your estradiol will be a challenge to monitor since you'll not have access to the sensitive test. Where are the free testosterone, DHT, and thyroid values? What is your SHBG result? Normal, as you reported, is meaningless since it can cover a lot of territory. The same is true for cortisol. Was that a serum or salivary cortisol sample? What other drugs/supplements are you taking? What have you taken to deal with these issues in the past?

 

[dp1286]

Hi Coast Watcher

Yes Im UK

TSH was 2.86 / Hashis test normal
Free T not done as T considered normal
DHT they won't do
SHBG not done as T normal

I am going to pay privately cortisol saliva done

I haven't taken anything previously, as mentioned I took a lot of fat burners before crashing in May

What has been the best recovery process on this forum?

 

[CoastWatcher]

The reason I urged you to visit some of the Finasteride forums is because that's what they do, all day/every day. We have certainly had members who are dealing with challenges similar to your own, but not enough to draw any conclusions as to how you might respond. The "post-Finasteride syndrome" is real and alarming. There is no agreed upon "cure," and many doctors, not as many as there once were, are dismissive of men presenting with symptoms similar to your own. They should be ashamed of themselves.

 

[CoastWatcher]

DHT levels are important when a man presents with your symptoms and a history of finasteride use. You should pursue this on your own if the NHS won't pay for it.

 

[Nelson Vergel]

I would get tested for sleep apnea. How many hours per night do you sleep? What time do you got to bed and get up? Do you get up a lot to go pee?

To increase DHT, a lot of ex-Propecia users rub T cream on their scrotum.

TD test cream: testicle application

www.excelmale.com/showthread.php?2207-TD-test-cream...

For men with low DHT production due to prior exposure to Propecia or ... (non alcohol based) applied to the scrotum may be a good option.

[TD="class: gsc-table-cell-thumbnail gsc-thumbnail"]

[/TD] [TD="class: gsc-table-cell-snippet-close"]

[/TD]

Should You Apply Testosterone Gel or Cream on Your Testicles for ...

https://www.excelmale.com/archive/index.php/t-1215.html

Some compounding pharmacies make liposomal creams that are not irritant to scrotal skin. Some men who have used Propecia or Proscar ...


Also, you can guy Andractim DHT gel from Germany and use it along with TRT.

[TD="class: gsc-table-cell-snippet-close"]

[/TD]

 

[dp1286]

Thanks guys...

I get a solid 8 hours every night, I pass out and wake up completely unrefreshed and weak and sensitive to light
I don't really tend to wake at all at night

Should I push the doctor to test my T3 and T4 due to my thyroid being 2.86 (mum and sister both underactive thyroid too) How should I word this to him?

Thanks
Daniel

 

[CoastWatcher]

Thanks guys...

I get a solid 8 hours every night, I pass out and wake up completely unrefreshed and weak and sensitive to light
I don't really tend to wake at all at night

Should I push the doctor to test my T3 and T4 due to my thyroid being 2.86 (mum and sister both underactive thyroid too) How should I word this to him?

Thanks
Daniel

Yes - test for T3 and T4 values. As for your sleep, how "solid" is it, really? How old are you? Height and weight? Finally, the DHT issue should be considered. Your family history of thyroid problems should be sufficient, I would hope, for a doctor to dig deeper.

 

[dp1286]

Im 30 years old

Sleep just doesn't feel right, when I nap in the afternoon its like I pass out and Im not actually asleep its hard to explain

6ft 222 pounds at present

He says no point in testing DHT as if Test is low DHT will be low

He's a private Endo who seems reluctant to do any bloods I ask for

Low estrogen is the only clue we have discovered so far.

Testogel has somehow cured my psoriasis and restored a little of my get up and go but done nothing for my ED

My other worst symptom is morning fatigue when waking

Let me know your thoughts guys

 

[CoastWatcher]

Im 30 years old

Sleep just doesn't feel right, when I nap in the afternoon its like I pass out and Im not actually asleep its hard to explain

6ft 222 pounds at present

He says no point in testing DHT as if Test is low DHT will be low

He's a private Endo who seems reluctant to do any bloods I ask for

Low estrogen is the only clue we have discovered so far.

Testogel has somehow cured my psoriasis and restored a little of my get up and go but done nothing for my ED

My other worst symptom is morning fatigue when waking

Let me know your thoughts guys

I really do wonder if you're dealing with apnea, or another sleep disorder. Without more labs we're spinning our wheels. There are labs offering private testing in the UK. I can't tell you whether they offer the DHT test, I'd be astonished if they didn't have a full thyroid panel available, but it may be worth investigating.

 

[johndoesmith]

I'm surprised no one here has commented on the fact that you look a bit primary.

FSH is high, LH is mid range, but sometimes FSH can indicate LH is normally higher than what it was when tested. If so, fixing sleep apnea won't really help. You have painfully low E2, that's a big problem, and probably is the cause of most of your symptoms.

Your sleep sounds off too, not saying this is caused by low E2 or that poor sleep isn't contributing to your symptoms as well. Definitely get a sleep study done, it's not normal to be tired when you wake up.

 

[timk]

You may think you're getting 8 hours but a sleep test would be good to confirm that. My brother thought the same thing and he's now on a CPAP and feels great. He's not over weight and was surprised when he needed one. Give it a try.

 

[dp1286]

Hi guys

I am on TRT testogel at present as I practically forced the doctor to give it me. Stating there is something wrong in the testes to be seeing those levels

TRT has cured my psoriasis and given me more energy, it has also stopped muscle fatigue

But it doesn't stop the fatigue I have when waking, I am constantly falling asleep behind the wheel etc

I still have ED from propecia too - who has any thoughts on Cialis?

Thanks for your help guys - Im in a desperate situation and it means a lot

 

[dp1286]

Does anyone else think this could be an adrenal issue?

On the basis I used fat burners heavily for 3 months before my crash?

My acth and stimulation test came back normal but I haven't had the saliva test done

Thoughts please

 

[CoastWatcher]

Does anyone else think this could be an adrenal issue?

On the basis I used fat burners heavily for 3 months before my crash?

My acth and stimulation test came back normal but I haven't had the saliva test done

Thoughts please

Test and find out, that's all any of us can advise. As for the fact that you are "falling asleep behind the wheel," that is a serious concern from the perspective of public safety, if you are actually experiencing such episodes. Please take them seriously. It also speaks loudly of your need for a sleep study - that isn't normal.

 

[Vince]

This probably isn't much help, but I've never used Propecia / Finasteride
CONCLUSIONS: The risk of PSD in men who stopped finasteride 1mg therapy was higher than for omeprazole users. Patients who stopped finasteride therapy sought physician visits for sexual dysfunction up to 1 year after stopping finasteride. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
https://www.excelmale.com/forum/sho...ecia)-Use-Associated-with-ED-Low-Testosterone

Also, total testosterone levels decreased for the men taking finasteride. This did not occur in the tamsulosin group.

- See more at: http://www.issm.info/news/sex-health....F4BmeXU3.dpuf

 

[dp1286]

Thanks Vince

Ill have a good read and see where I go next from here

Daniel