Don't think I'll make it to the finish line

Member Stories
#1
  1. Where are you from (country)?

USA

  1. 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

  1. What is your current age, height, weight?

30, 5’11", 172 lbs. (192 lbs. prefin)

  1. Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?

(Was a gymrat, now I’m a bedrat)

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

Try to eat healthy

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

MPB

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

Off and on for a few years

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

23

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

29

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

Cold Turkey

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

Propecia

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

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

Couple weeks

  1. 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
[ x] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[ x] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ?] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility

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

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

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

  2. (pls post your test results in the “Blood Tests” section and link to them in your post)?ok

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

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

Sorry guys, I held off on this because I wanted to share improvements. There is none. Don’t think I can make it to end. Don’t think I can watch my ex-girlfriend settle down with another dude. She was my world. I lost her cause of this shit.

#2

It’s valentines day. I could be making love to my beautiful girlfriend whom I adored. Instead I’m stuck in this sad state. I’d hate for you guys to have to deal with another paximperia situation, but if you do, I’ll make sure you guys get the attention you need before I check out.

#3

Don’t give up. I know things are tough right now, especially if relationship issues are involved, but with time it is likely you will see improvements in many areas.

If you are having bad thoughts, pls step away from this site and focus on yourself for as long as you need to. Constantly thinking negatively isn’t healthy for anyone, and this site probably doesn’t help in that regard.

If you need to speak to someone I’m sure many of us are available to talk, or seek out a professional who can help you work through some of the psychological issues you are dealing with (as it relates to your girlfriend especially).

Hang in there man, stay strong… many of us have been there. The future has never been more bright for us with increasing medical research and awareness and I hope you will reconsider your statements. We’re here for you.

#4

Stay strong mate. Really, you can get through this. Just hang in there, roll with the punches for a bit. We’re all in this together, you’re not alone, don’t forget that. And dude get yourself a puppy, a hobby, anything positive…they’re good for the soul, it’ll pick your spirits up.

I love you man, in a plutonic way as a fellow human being.

#5

Hi Brazilian dude, Can you start a new thread on this and go into more detail please? Would like to hear more. Whats happening in 2013?

Second Amendment, you have to hang on. EVERYBODY on this site is hanging on. You have to think of your family and your own future and just keep hanging until we get the next piece of good news. Bit by bit we will get there. I was on the shit for 6 days, and I will not accept that I am permanently damaged. I have all of the sides you have and more, but the fact is that the whole situation has not been researched properly yet and you owe it to yourself to keep going until we start getting answers. Seriously mate.

#6

don’t let propecia win, we r waiting to see the recent scientific discoveries, media attention is high compared 5 yrs ago.

i saw that 2 important studies r being showed in medical congress around italy, so keep faith.
probably in some months we see the publications

#7

Fight this insidious poison.

I took it at 19 and Im still standing - 7 years later. You learn to evolve and become smarter. If there is a cure, you will be able to acheive anything.

#8

I really appreciate everyone’s support. Thanks to the guys who PM’d me. It’s bad enough to deal with the symptom then I got to deal with the depression of losing my gf. I miss her so much. I lost my sexuality, girlfriend, intellect, job. Just losing one of those drives people to suicide. I lost all four, and much more, and continue to suffer. How much can a man take?

It’s unbelievable I was prescribed this shit in May 2011, with all the scientific publications and media attention this shit was getting. My derm is a 70 year old pensioner. Lazy as fuck. He tried to prescribe me accutane when I was a teenager (I had mild acne), but had heard it fucks up your joints. We got into a little verbal spat when I was younger. “I don’t want to take accutane.” “why not?” He rudely replied. “Because I don’t want to,” I shot back. If I had, I’d be in this situation 12 years earlier.

#9

SA, hang in there. Make sure you’re doing everything you can for yourself. Sorry to hear about your girlfriend. If you’re feeling overly emotional it may be due to high estrogen, other compromised hormones, or neurosteriod imbalances, not just because she left you. Try to focus on what you can do for yourself and understand that time and distance can make things better. If it’s proximity, move. Find new places to spend your time, get away from the girl. Lots of guys are having trouble getting through life but there’s a chance to improve in the future. Imagine being 35 and having this thing figured out! Hopefully after these dark nights we will find brighter days.

Hang in there mate, we’ve all gone through some very bad times, that’s why we’re here. Keep writing if things are bad.

#10

I would hug the shit out of you if I could man. As stupid as it sounds, I would like to hug all of you guys. It’d make me feel better anyways…

#11

Stay strong mate. I split up with a long term girlfriend this time last year and it was utter hell for a few months - i just wanted to disappear. I am fine about it now and probably care even less because my dick barely works. Even the best relationships get broken for all sorts of reasons, so in time, try to move on and not dwell on what ‘could’ have been.

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2101334/Teacher-24-paralyzed-diving-pool-starves-death-years-later-longer-burden-family–old-boyfriend-on.html

For all of us there is real hope now. The number of forum members is increasing daily, we have interest from university professors, Awor and his science team carrying out research, articles in mens health magazine, and of course the small chance that one may just get better naturally.

#12

Second Amendment,
don’t give up! I felt like you many times. I am suffering for 8 years by now and I try to go on with life. Remember how beautiful life could be…for you chances are good that you will recover someday (research is going on and natural recoveries do occur).

I know how hard it is. I am pretty sure that I would have been engaged or married by now if I had not taken propecia…but still life can go on.

#13

That’s a good question that some people have to answer continuously in a far worse health conditions and life conditions than you or i are mate, as hard that is to believe. :blush: :laughing: Not to belittle your feelings now - i read about your crashing with milk thistle so it must be hard now, what with your body influencing your mind to give up. That’s why do hard, extra hard to not to get into depression and suicidal thoughts. A man can get to his knees and cry but you do that to feel WHOLE and real, not to wallow in your misery forever… slowly get up again and start finding your way through like a true hunter and a champion. Keep your aim fixed high on the goal, no matter how deep in shit you end.

Btw, did you ever tell your gf why you turned the way you did and did she drop you or did you drop her? EDIT actually, nvmind, maybe it’s not a good idea to ask about private stuff like this in public.

#14

She knew what happened but it was hard for her to understand that a hairloss drug could fuck you up this much. Doctors can’t even understand how can a 20 year old girl?

#15

That’s just it… while it is MARKETED as a treatment for hair loss, it actually wasn’t designed for such uses in the first place. Fin was designed for prostatic BPH treatment and prostate cancer (androgen deprivation). Hair growth is a side effect.

It really is sad that the marketing of Propecia for hair growth fails to touch on Finasteride’s true mechanisms of action. No wonder so many men are duped into believing the drug is harmless, and why most in the medical establishment don’t realize the potential dangers.

#16

Spot on.

Also, how can people not understand how serious the drug is when it can cause serious damage to the genital/ sexual development of an unborn foetus. It wouldn’t surprise me if there are some screwed up kids because of finasteride being near women.

There are so many reasons for this drug to be banned, it’s unbelievable.

#17

Thank you for your concern Martin. But estrogen has nothing to do with how distraught I am (I have great estogen levels). Men without high estrogen can be devestated over a break up. In fact, studies show that men take break ups harder than women.

#18

Follow me as I fight for my life. I have 90 days.

90daystorecovery.blogspot.com/

#19

where is the link 2 ur blood tests?

#20

please dont kill yourself…i have been there and am still there many times…but you have to fight and pray improvement will come with time…how about if you recover in three years…imagine how amazing life could be…
im sure your loved, and you would be missed incredibly.
Don’t do it man. strangers care about you, and im sure your family does more than anything