8 months out

Member Stories
#1

  1. Where are you from (country)? USA

  2. How did you find this forum (Google search – if so, what search terms? Via link from a forum or website – if so, what page? Other?) Google Search

  3. What is your current age, height, weight? 30

  4. Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise? No

  5. What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)? regular

  6. Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)? hair loss

  7. For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)? 5 months

  8. How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride? 29

  9. How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit? 29

  10. How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)? cold turkey

  11. What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic? Propecia

  12. What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)? 1mg/day

  13. How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects? 5 months

  14. What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?

Put an X beside all that apply:

Sexual
[X] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[X] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[X] Loss of Morning Erections
[X] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[ ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[X] Watery Ejaculate
[X] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility

Mental
[ ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[ ] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ ] Confusion
[ ] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[ ] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[ ] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ ] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[ ] Suicidal Thoughts

Physical
[X] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[ ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[X] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes

Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[ ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[ ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature

[ ] Other (please explain)

  1. What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug? Doing multivitamin, Zinc, Fish Oil and Vitamin D. Occasionally Vitamin C.

  2. If you have pre or post-Finasteride bloodtests, what hormonal changes have you encountered since discontinuing the drug (pls post your test results in the “Blood Tests” section and link to them in your post)?

  3. Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?

  4. Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.

I was prescribed the medication for Hair loss.I tried this drug once before in September 2013 for like a week or 10 days and I started to feel more tired in the morning. I didn’t feel right and I quit the drug. I did not experience side effects during that time or after I quit the drug. Fast forward to Jan 2014, for some other unrelated reason I did have extensive blood tests and the test did include Total Testosterone tests along with Vitamin D.

Jan 2014 - At this time, I had no side effects.

Pulled around 7:30AM in the morning.

Total Testosterone - 561.25 ng/dl ( Normal Range: 241 -827)
Vitamin D - 8.97 ng/ml - DEFICIENCY ( NORMAL SUFFICIENCY 30 -100ng/ml)

TSH - 3.16 uIU/ml (0.30 - 5.5) (uIU - Think this is micro)
Total T4 - 7.40 ug/dl (4.5 - 12) ( ug - Think this is micro)
Total T3 - 119 ng/dl (60-200)

I started taking Propecia in Feb 2014, my hair loss had really stepped up. It was a really bad idea. Should have known. Five months later June 2014, ended up with ED, loss of libido and decreased sensitivity after talking to the Dermatologist who prescribed it, I stopped taking the medication end of June 2014.

The side effects did not abate, I went back to the Dermatologist in Aug 2014. He asked me to wait it out for some more time to see if it gets better on its own. Then I went back to my GP in Nov 2014.

I had a round of blood tests per advice of the GP Nov 2014:

Blood samples pulled out around 11AM

Total Testosterone - 466 ng/dl
T4 Free - 1.1 (0.8 - 1.8ng/dL)
TSH - 2.21 (0.40 - 4.5 mIU/L)

He also ordered a comprehensive metabolic panel which included AST, ALT. Everything came out in the normal range.

The two of them together referred me to a Urologist and an Endocrinologist in Jan 2015. This time I did my research gathered docs from propeciahelp and went back to them saying these are the recommended set of blood tests from the site and presented to them the list of doctors mentioned on propeciahelp who have experience dealing with this. I can’t go to those Doctors as none of them are close.

After extensive discussions, they said all of those blood tests are not necessary and asked me to perform the following tests:

Blood samples pulled out around 7:30AM

Estradiol E2 - 30 ( < 39pg/mL)
DHT - 45 ( 16 - 79 ng/dL)
Vitamin D - 44 (30-100 ng/mL)
3A ANDROSTANEDIOL GLUCURONIDE ( Type II alpha-reductase marker, I presume ) - 1221 (Normal Range: 251-1503 ng/dL)
TSH - 4.3 (0.40-4.50 mIU/L)
FSH - 6.9 (1.6-8.0 mIU/mL)
LH - 6.8 (1.5-9.3mIU/mL)
–> PROLACTIN - 27.7ng/mL (2.0-18 ng/mL)
Total Testosterone - 415 ng/dL (250-1100ng/dL) --> This dropped from 561.
Testosterone Free - 82.4 pg/mL (46.0-224 pg/mL)

Following this my Urologist had ordered a MRI, which I have had, I am waiting for the results.

From what I read on the site, it seems to be a complex problem that nobody understands and just boosting the Testosterone through artificial means(TRT, Clomoid or anything else) might not be the answer.

Most days I can still get 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep, some days I do wake up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep for an hour or 2. But these are less frequent like once in two weeks or less, especially if I have all the supplements. I don’t feel fatigue all day. The side effects I continue to experience are mainly ED, loss of libido, etc. I don’t think I experience Insomnia or other mental side effects. I am not sure if I have REM sleep, but some days I do have REM sleep. I think while on the drug the second time, I did not have REM sleep.

I had stopped medication after the first time mainly due to fatigue.

Made the mistake of taking the medication in the first place, but its in the past now and I can’t change that.

I want to focus on getting better and pray that side effects go away for ALL on this forum.

If someone like, bizzibee or english or anyone who has got better or is more experienced, would respond would help out a lot. Does anyone know if and when PMs are enabled? I would request the admins to enable PM for me.

#2

So I had the MRI for elevated prolactin and it turns out there is micro-adema on the pitutary.

After this I had another round of blood tests:

Total T 416 ( 250 - 1100 ng/dL)
–>TSH 4.53 (0.40 - 4.50 mIU/L)
–>Prolactin 23.3 ( 2.0-18.0 ng/mL)
SHBG 17 (10-50 nmol/L)
DHT 30 (16-79 ng/dL)
Vitamin D 48 (30 - 100 ng/dL)
Type 2 3 alpha reductase marker 1045 (251 - 1503 ng/dL)
FSH 6.6 (1.6-8.0 mIU/mL)
LH 5.7 mIU/mL (1.5-9.3mIU/mL)
Estradiol (E2) 25 (<39pg/mL)

Same side-effects as before. Haven’t seen the doctor yet, but looks like he’ll order another test for TSH, T4, T3 or may be say I’m hypothyroid and try to do something about it.

#3

Your 3 adiol g looks really healthy. Most guys here have low levels.

On the other hand… your prolactin and thyroid do not look healthy. TRH (thyroid releasing hormone) increases prolactin so there may be something to that in your case.

Your T is on the low side and high prolactin suppresses GnRH. However, your LH isn’t low, so I’m not sure.

#4

Don’t know whats going on…

It was only in Nov 2014 that I had a comprehensive metabolic panel (Stopped Propecia in June 2014) that my TSH and T4, Free were in healthy normal range.

Nov 2014
T4, FREE - 1.1 ( 0.8-1.8 ng/dL)
TSH 2.21 (0.40 - 4.50 mIU/L)

The only thing that has changed between that time and Apr is I added:

Zinc 25mg
Fish Oil/Flaxseed Oil (500mg) twice a day (Was on Flaxseed then switched to Fish Oil)
Vitamin D (approx 4000 - 5000 IU ) a day
Multivitamin (15mg Zinc here, that makes it 40mg, known to reduce prolactin)

That’s about it. The last two times I had blood drawn wasn’t a fasting one, the one in Nov was a fasting one. Don’t know if that’s got something to do… but I don’t think so.

I might try to convince the Doctor to run a comprehensive tests before considering any treatment, like Adrenals and stuff. There might be something off there too.

Don’t know if they are going to go with it though.

#5

Update:

The doctor wanted to prescribe medications for hypothyroidism. He said if I have to treat between high TSH, high prolactin or both, he would choose high TSH. But he’s not sure what will happen to high prolactin, the tumor or other symptoms. I decided to hold off for the time being.

#6

If this helps anyone, zinc is known to help with high prolactin.

Interestingly, during my second blood test the Urologist told me to go off all supplements. And i had the tests after about 2 weeks after I had stopped the supplements.

The 3rd blood tests were taken when i was on the supplements. One can see the estrodial dropped by 5 points, there was a drop in DHT as well as prolactin.

I know from Mitch’s thread that he had thyroid problems as well adrenal fatigue and he got better and finally healed through diet(paleo), exercise, armor thyroid & adrenal supplement (Isocort).

Does anyone have a profile similar to mine, dropped T, HIGH prolactin, normal FSH & LH, HIGH TSH?

Interestingly, I tried the blood pressure test for adrenal fatigue, atleast on the face it, it doesn’t seem to be affecting me. It’s done by resting for five minutes in a sleeping position, taking the blood pressure, then immediately standing up and taking the blood pressure. The blood pressure is supposed to drop or stay the same if you have adrenal fatigue. If you don’t then the blood pressure will rise. It did for me.

I am sort of scared to over-exercise, its supposed to bad if you have thyroid problems. Can anyone comment?

#7

Common guys 400 odd views !! I need your help…

#8

This might help out some people esp those who did not have other issues, I majorly have only sexual sides:

I noticed that whenever I would sleep after meals, i followed it up with some sort of fruit snacks like strawberries, blueberries or something that keeps you full for, I would normally be able to sleep through 7 or 8 hours of generally sound sleep. I would also have the supplements listed above, I dont know if these help.

Other times when I was not well fed, I would usually wake up after 4 or 5 hours of sleep, somewhere in the middle of the night and then not be able to sleep for atleast next hour or two.

By the way for people who are hypothyroid like me, if this helps(I googled around a lot):

Gluten-free is non-negotiable.
Stay away from goitrogens, (Soy, Brocolli, spinach others (If you steam or cook, then supposed effects are reduced), Strawberries are also on that list other berries are fine, some say in moderation is ok)

Interestingly, Mitch says he had a lot of brocolli. So maybe if you are on paleo maybe its ok, I am not sure.

#9

What all sexual sides are you suffering from??, have they improved with time??

#10

I am almost one year out. I haven’t made any progress to speak. It’s really hard to stick to a specific regimen and I have not been able to stick to things I had planned to(& likely mentioned in my post). I am still figuring out things.

#11

I guess you are very lucky for not having the mental sides. Have tried the thyroid meds? There are many medicines that can lower prolactin and affect positively your sexual sides, so you might give a try there.

#12

Trying to stay away from meds, esp when the doctors don’t really know what they are doing. In a gist, that’s what the doctor told me.

#13

I had a blood test last week, for TSH, cholesterol among others. This time my TSH has come back in the normal range:

TSH - 2.06 (0.5 - 4.5)
Triglycerides - 60 (This was 151 Nov 2014)
Total Cholesterol - 160 ( 176 Nov 2014)

I have been having 4 gms of Fish Oil/Flaxseed Oil, 4000 IU Vit. D, 25 mg Zinc, multivitamin tablet. Additionally, I have been sticking to extremely low carb, as far as possible gluten free, very minimal dairy.

High good fat, protein rich and as many vegges as possible, with some fruits quite a few times ( low glycemic index )

Work out sometimes, compound exercises ( benchpress, squats, pullups & likes), HIIT once to twice a week,
meditation sometimes and waking up early the last two really help.

The sexual sides persist. But its good thing I did not go on thyroid meds. If this helps anyone.

Only thing is the blood was drawn past noon this time, early morning a couple times(before this). But I feel different overall, esp with the diet compared to six months ago.

#14

your Triglyc and total Cholestrol are good. High cholesterol is another side effect of pcf.
I noticed you have been using Flax seed oil. Do you think it is helping you? how long have you been using it?

#15

I believe so, yes. I have been using it for more than six months now. I had flaxseed oil for a while, then switched over to fish oil and then back to flaxseed oil for no particular reason. It’s just that I started with flaxseed, so I went back on it. And I have my fish & eggs. You could also do just fish oil.

The difference between flaxseed and fish oil is :

Fish oil : only Omega 3 Fatty acids
Flaxseed Oil: Omega 3,6,9 and its in a more favorable ratio which is good for the body.

I also use quite a bit of Turmeric (Curcuma longa). Read that book from Dr. Perlmutter.

Even I was kind of taken aback after I switched my diet, I had high cholesterol a year and half ago, but usually have been having minimum of two whole organic hormone free eggs every day for past six months. If you add the cholesterol in the two eggs, it easily runs over the maximum dietary recommendation, and was expecting my cholesterol to be high but its actually going down.

I also believe its a result of all of the things I am doing combined, not just one. Read his books, he also books, he has talked about making people having Alzheimer’s better with diet alone. I didn’t believe it a whole lot and many things are actually similar to that Adrenal Fatigue book.

On the sexual sides, things are still where they are but I feel like a completely different person. The mental clarity and things.

Overall I would say, orient your diet to being high anti-inflammatory. You do that by trying to limit insulin secretion and having pre-biotic food (don’t know if this works but… ). And hopefully slowly & slowly things might take for a better turn. I have had a few times, when I haven’t been able to sleep properly, its quite devastating, the brainfog etc. Meditation adds a new dimension. Am I going to heal? I don’t know, but I am trying to do things that I think will give my body a fighting chance.

And according to things I have read, there is a gut-brain connection. No one really knows if its true, but if you look at babies or toddlers, they get quite cranky when they are hungry and they are happy if they don’t have any health type issues and they are well fed. Hope this helps.

#16

are you taking any supps or vitamins? which ones and what mg?

#17

Usual over the counter multi-vitamin (with most things in it), additional Zinc 25mg, 4gm flaxseed oil, 4000 IU Vitamin D. Zinc is known to decrease prolactin, help with formation of T4 from T3 in the gut or something, 60 or 70% T4 is produced in the gut.

I did not jump in to 4gm flaxseed directly, instead i ramped it from 500mg depending on how i felt, vitamin d was standard.

Additionally, I sometimes throw in raw onions, turmeric, garlic all raw. Not everyday though more like atleast one of each every day. You can have your own regimen. But you can also use, artichoke, asparagus. I try to stay away from grains, whole/refined. Story with artichoke, asparagus, etc according to Brain Maker (book) is good microbes feed on em and multiply ( over time ). Gluten at molecular level seems like Thyroid cells on molecular level, gut is leaky, gluten leaks in blood stream, immune system thinks its a foreign attack, so it attacks and attacks Thyroid gland taxing it and slowing it down. I really don’t know how far is this theory right but…

Hashimoto’s thyroid is auto-immune disorder.

#18

you don’t have Hashimoto’s, why are you bringing it up?
if you really want to know if flaxseed Oil helping you then you should stop VitD3 for few weeks.
Garlic , especially raw is garbage. But everybody is different. It sent me twice to emergency.Brought my BP too low.
you are taking bunch of vits and other stuff. you should try one at a time.
VitD3 is the king helper for pfs. when you eat it with butter it gives good results, especially before going to bed. I have been on it for five years, without a single day break. I cannot afford a break.

#19

You have an adenoma on your pituitary and high prolactin. Is this not your problem?

#20

A couple of months ago my TSH was at the maximum range 4.5. The doctor told me it’s Hashimoto’s, and I should go on T4 and that its a progressive condition. About taking bunch of stuff, I added it over time one by one.

About the garlic, yes you are right not everything might be for everyone. Everyone’s different.