Hello,
I have been on this forum since December when I first quit propecia (I was only on 0.25mg per day for 3 months total). I am 25 and I was healthy and had a very high sex drive. After taking the drug I immediately noticed weaker erections and extremely diminished semen volume. I tried reducing the dose and waited it out thinking it would improve as I had read that with most people the side effects resolve over time with continuation of the drug. Once I quit in December, I had some rough patches but also some good days where I felt almost normal. I continued to slowly decline, however, and without experiencing a specific crash, now almost 8 months later what I am left with is:
Below range low Free testosterone as confirmed by 3 tests
Low but within range total testosterone
Constipation and unpredictable bowel movements (sometimes constipated, sometimes it comes out ribbon like or pencil thin)
Low libido
Little to no morning or random erections (up until April I was able to get erections through mental stimulation, no longer possible)
Muscle twitches (have come and gone and returned over the past few months)
Small testicles (sometimes they return to about 70% normal size but this does not seem to last)
Random aches and pains
Weight gain
Depression and anxiety (this may be one of the only things that has improved since quitting)
Lack of dreams (this has been good the past week for the first time since quitting, but who knows if it will hold)
Eustachian tube dysfunction- started in april I have had fluid that wont drain in my ear. This may be unrelated but never happened before.
Small rings and a slight curve appeared on penis in March, has not improved or worsened since
Anyways I in no way envy anyone on this site, however sometimes I wish I had just crashed off the beginning as at least some of the crashers seem to experience improvements. I am terrified that I am going to keep getting worse and worse, and honestly I don’t know what to do. Will I be left with nothing? Does anyone else have this slow decline? Did it stop or get better for anyone? I pretty much just want to hear stories from other people who did not crash, and hopefully we can help eachother out.
Anyone in a similar situation please respond as I find it even more frustrating when I can’t seem to find anyone with my situation so i feel all alone in this. Can it get better (or at least stop getting worse).
Please any information is appreciated.
Brad