Crashed yesterday

Member Stories
#73

Just as an update I am day 16 post-propecia. Some days I feel like I can have a “normal” erection (although I’m not even sure what that is anymore), however other days I feel the testicular shrinkage and feel the “rubbery penis syndrome” and “numb dick” that others have described. I haven’t been with a girl since the episode of ED so its difficult to tell whether an erection during masturbation will translate into vaginal sex like I was having on the drug, that’s the part that bothers me the most. When the time comes to be with someone and things don’t work…is that the PFS or severe anxiety from going through all of this? Anyway, trying to get on a better diet and exercise even if I’m depressed (seems to affect things). I can’t help but to masturbate from sheer paranoia because I have this vision that any moment, my penis will simply just stop working. I think day 20 will be a good milestone to see how things are going. I haven’t exactly felt a crash. The worse part is I’ve been working so hard to get to a place where I finally feel like I’m ready for a long term relationship and a family and now this. That’s the worse part about it. Do most of the PFS sufferers…are they able to still have sex and carry on relationships?

Thanks!
longtimeuser

#74

It is now almost 5 months since the last pill, and 4,5 months since my first crash.

Ongoing symptoms:

  • Sleep problems still exist. I can sleep more than during the months after the crash, but often wake up after 4 hours of sleep. Sometimes I wake up to fast pulse and heart palpitations.

  • My resting pulse has gone up to 60-70 from pre-crash rate of 47-48. However this might be partly because I have not done much aerobic exercise. I have also gained 5 kg weight, probably for the same reason.

  • Fat around my eyes seems to be further reduced, making me look older and sicker.

Improvements:

  • My genitals have stayed in a same size and condition for over a month and libido is normal.

  • I can eat carbohydrates without crash symptoms. This probably applies to exercise too.

I would rate my recovery to be around 75% of my pre-finasteride state. I am planning to do more sports in the spring/summer.

#75

I woke up in the middle of the night and got nothing to do, so would like to make an update.

Improvements:

  • Have not suffered from cold hands or hot head for a while.

  • My voice seems to have deepened.

  • Body seems to get hairier still.

  • I am able to eat carbohydrates without crashlike symptoms.

  • My adam’s apple looks and feels more prominent, although I am not sure about this.

  • Standing imbalance seems to be slightly improved.

Ongoing/worsening symptoms:

  • Insomnia is getting a little worse, woke up 2 hours ago after 2,5 hours of sleep and did not feel at all tired.

  • I can still feel my heartbeat when lying on the bed, and resting pulse is usually elevated (60 when it used to be under 50).

  • I’ve been feeling somewhat depressed and and a little anxious lately. Don’t have the energy to go out and meet people after work.

  • My genitals still react to competitive sports. Penis becomes cold and smaller and testicles start to hurt.

  • I’ve gained 5 kg in my stomach area in the last month, currently weighing 102kg.

  • My penis is still wrinkled with prominent veins and softer skin, and sometimes curves to the left and displays an hourglass form.

  • I have dark eyebags and loss of fat around the eyes.

Here is some information about my usage history:

I started Propecia for the first time in May 2002 and took 60 tablets. I noticed more frequent urination, dribbly penis and watery ejaculation soon after starting.

However Finasteride stopped itching and burning feelings in my scalp, which was a big relief. I used to hold a bag of ice on my head during the worst burning sensations. Besides itching I also got pimples in my scalp that were really painful, but on Finasteride they too disappeared. I have later speculated that eating gluten might have caused/worsened the scalp problems, I’ve been gluten free since 2008, after which constant itching in my throat and palate stopped.

I am not sure if I renewed my Propecia prescription after those 60 pills, but in March 2004 I started to take generic Finasteride and would cut the pill in 4 pieces. I remember being very nervous and anxious in September 2004 during a sports tournament, and now think it might be because of the drug.

In 2007 I remember noticing that I should only take the pill every other day to avoid negative symptoms (don’t remember what they were though), and a dose of 1/8 of a pill is enough to keep the itching of the scalp away.

Since I ruptured my achilles tendon in the autumn of 2007 I have been overweight. I suspect Finasteride has something to do with either weakening of tendons of tightening of calf muscles. I used to be 85 kg before, but my weight crept up to 102 and stayed there despite a lot of sports and low-carbohydrate diet.

Also since 2008 I have been unproductive at work, required naps during the day. I’ve also felt anxious, less motivated and difficulty to concentrate.

I consumed a total of 60 pills of 1 mg (Propecia) and 360 pills of 5 mg (generic) in little over 11 years, which makes it (1860 mg / (11*365)) = 0,46 mg of Finasteride daily. I did stop for a few times during those 11 years, but itching of the scalp always made me start again.

I stopped the drug during summer 2013, wanting to see what would happen. Did not take any pills for a few weeks, and started noticing heart palpitations. I went to the doctor and had my heart monitored, but they found nothing except that my resting heart rate was 60 bpm, when it used to be 47-48 before.

For some reason (might be itching of the scalp, don’t really remember) took a single dose of 1,25 mg the 20th of September 2013. I remember lying on the bed after taking the pill, and realizing that there is something wrong with me, and went to Google Finasteride side effects. That’s when I found this page, and have not taken any pills after that.

10 days later I crashed (see my first posts for details), could not have an erection at all for 3 days, and was at my sickest during the 3rd day of the first crash. On that day I thought I was dying, was hyperventilating and had strong waves of tingling going through my body. I was barely able to drive to the emergency room, and the doctor thought I was suffering from mental problems. During the evening of that day I could not remember my bank account number, which I had always remembered. However the next day I was feeling better and my memory recovered.

I had another severe crash 12 days after the first crash, and some small crashes after that. I have contacted the doctor who prescribed my the drug, and he has filed a report to the officials and the manufacturer. Hopefully this poison is pulled from the market some day.

#76

Hi!

Where in Sweden do you live?

In your previous posts you said that you visited a doctor and did some tests and the doctor told you that you have hypopituitarism. Are you still seeing the doctor and are you in any treatments right now? What kind of treatment did the doctor offer?

#77

Hi, I would not like to share more personal information, as this is not something I would like to be recognized for.

The doctor who said I suffer from hypopituarism did not know much about PFS and could not give any reasonable advice. I also crashed again a week after the doctor’s appointment. Only thing he mentioned was prescribing testosterone gel, but since people on this forum have had bad experiences from it, I don’t want to try it. I have not taken any treatments besides vitamins and natural supplements.

#78

Hi,

It is soon 6 months since my last pill. I’ve been feeling relatively fine, some nights I can sleep 8 hours uninterrupted, sometimes 4, but fortunately I get a total of 8 hours of sleep every night. I can have sex multiple times per day without crashing. Fasted for 3 days this weeked, and although it seemed to help me sleep a little better and perhaps raised my libido, I am now starting to eat because of fatigue (have to work tomorrow).

As I have written before, my crash and other symptoms seem to be caused by elevated cortisol. Finasteride somehow messes the cortisol regulation, and after quitting finasteride cortisol rises, and causes testosterone to drop. Here is one article linking penis shrinkage to cortisol: herballove.com/guide/penis-s … s-hormones

If this is true, it might be important to advice people who are quitting finasteride to somehow limit their cortisol levels. Since the pfs usually begins at the crash, avoiding the crash might help people to avoid also pfs.

#79

That site is a sham promoting supplements sales, a few PFS guys have been stung from there in the past with no benefit.

I agree stress does not help matters at all, but how would you propose avoiding a crash? Seems it’s either going to happen or not, not much you can do about it.

#80

If crash happens because cortisol rises too high, then doing something that lowers cortisol or/and avoiding something that rises cortisol. might prevent the crash.

I wonder if people who quit finasteride in the future will be put on a diet, medication and exercise regime which keeps their cortisol levels minimal for weeks or months after quitting. That might solve the pfs for future quitters.

#81

I am now 10 months post crash, and would like to do an update, though not much has changed:

Ongoing problems

  • Insomnia, most nights I wake up after 4 hours of sleep to fast and strong heart beat, stay awake 1 hour and then sleep 4 hours more. Holding my breath seems to help to normalize the heart beat.
  • Visible eye floaters, eyes are blodshot and sometimes dry.
  • Erections are not very strong and morning erections are rare, maybe 1-2 per week.
  • Penis still has visible veins.
  • Sometimes mild pain in testicles, ejaculation volume has gotten smaller.

I would say I am still at 75% recovered. Mentally i do feel quite good though, I have no anxiety or depression.

A guy from India seems to have same theory as I do about finasteride causing elevated cortisol which then lowers testosterone. I think this is what happened to me during the crash, and my cortisol levels are still sometimes elevated (eg. during the nighttime awakenings): mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/cove … 016337.cms

“If the person works out unwillingly (or demands way too much from his body), the stress factor comes in causing cortisol production. And this cortisol dampens the effect of testosterone.”

#82

I am now a little over 1 year post crash, here is an update:

  • Libido is ok, but erection strength is not perfect and ejaculation volume is a little low. Penis still has visible dark blue veins. I have morning erections maybe once a week.
  • I have occasional pain in the heart. The pain passes if I stay still.
  • I always wake up after 3-6 hours of sleep. Sometimes I fall asleep again after peeing, but usually I stay up 1-2 hours.
  • My hair has started to thin a bit. I sometimes have a similar slight pain in the scalp which drove me to take the poison in the first place. Pain is stronger when I massage my scalp.
  • Penis does not seem to shrink that much after sports. Eating carbohydrates does not result in any problems.
  • Sunbathing a couple of days improves my symptoms. Garlic improves erections. Drinking mead also feels good. It could be that since I am avoiding gluten, mead is one of the rare natural sources of vitamin b, and thats why I feel I need it.

Overall I think I am slowly getting better. Despite a horrible crash a year ago my life is quite close to normal.

#83

Hi, I am now 1 year and 4,5 months post crash.

Improvements:

  • My body has stopped twitching before going to sleep.
  • I cannot hear my pulse anymore (there used to be pounding in my head when i pressed it on a pillow), also no more heart palpitations.

Ongoing symptoms:

  • I rarely have morning wood, max once per week.
  • My libido seems to have dropped. I don’t want or think about sex very often.
  • Penis still shrinks and gets cold after sports, although less than before.
  • I have gained weight on my waist area despite a lot of sports and healthy diet, now 105kg.
  • Penis is still veiny, ejaculation volume is low.
#84

Update, 1 year and a little over 8 months post crash:

Improvements:

  • Libido has returned to a pretty good level and erections have gotten harder.
  • There is noticeable pain in the scalp regularly, and i think hair has started to shed.
  • Sleep might be getting better, I do not wake up in the middle of the night that often.
  • Penis does not shrink that much after sports.
  • My forehead is often greasy and I get pimples in the face now and then.
#85

Congratulations!
I am also at a good point. Recovery is possible, keep fighting! :wink:

#86

Update, its now 2 years after crash.

  • Sleep problems exist, I sometimes wake up once or twice per night for 1-2 hours.
  • Penis is still veiny, scrotum is tighter and ejaculation volume lower than before the crash.
  • Erections are not very hard, but I am able to have sex.
  • I have problems losing weight, currently 104 kg.
  • Alcohol does not suit me, I have feverish feeling for days afterwards.
  • After 2 hours of exhausting sports I need one day to recover, I am so tired I cannot even work.
  • Luckily I don’t feel depressed, I also feel more aggressive in general.
#87

Hi,

I have been taking two nutritional supplements now for a week, another is a probiot containing bacteria beneficial for digestion, another is a fermented enzyme drink.

For some reason my lethargy is totally gone. I used to be tired after work, but not at all now. I have also been sleeping better.

I have a theory that finasteride messes up cortisol balance, which then messes up digestion. During my crash the digestion was totally wrecked, and problems have existed ever since. I will report if these improvements are permanent.

#88

Hi,

I am now 2 years and 4 months post-crash. I still have following symptoms:

  • Wake up in the middle of the night for an hour or so.
  • My penis leaks urine after peeing. Urine flow is not strong nor continuous.
  • Ambition in life is quite low.
  • Calf muscles cramp after sports despite magnesium supplements. I am considering topical magnesium spray.
  • I am 105kg, have a pot belly and losing weight is difficult.

Improvements:

  • I have not had prostate pain for couple of months.
  • Ejaculation volume might be increasing and semen is less watery.
  • Have not experienced twitching at bedtime.
  • Erections have been quite good in recent weeks, although I have been having less sex.
  • Vision problems have either gotten milder, or I have gotten used to them.
#89

Thanks for your update. I always watch new messages on your blog because we’ve stopped finasteride around the same time. Little question: have you done a feces test?

#90

SAME

#91

No, but thanks for the advice. I know I have some problems with my digestion, maybe thats something I should look into. I am also reading your story, it is interesting to see how your gut treatment works.

#92

Hey never_again,

I saw on my thread that you posted in september 2015. Regarding that post: i also worked on the cortisol problem. I had some tests done (t3, free t3, t4) but my orthomoloculair doctor said that the results from my triple feces test were more important. First heal your gut she said because 70% from our our immune system is located in the gut.