I haven’t seen him or anyone else yet. I will update when I do.
The sad reality is that nobody has come up with a treatment that works for PFS. Maybe a treatment helps one or two guys, but I haven’t seen anything that works consistently in the long time I’ve been here.
Irwig is not a thief. In fact he is one of the first people to have written up a case study of PFS patients, if not the first. He has repeatedly said that he doesn’t know of any treatment for PFS and he’s a conservative doctor so I don’t think he likes to experiment. Jacobs and Goldstein are more open to experimental treatments with hormone therapies. I’m not sure why these doctors see PFS patients, but Irwig has tremendous integrity.
I think he walks a line between putting out a study acknowledging that there are real consistent effects of finasteride, while also not trying to treat or explain it in a way that would deem him a quack in the eyes of the general medical community. I think its half assed, but also the first step toward getting the public to acknowledge this without writing the doctor off as crazy. That said, his attitude was not exactly helpful from a patient’s perspective. I’m just angry at merck, myself, and the prescribing doctor.
On the other hand, Dr. Jacobs seemed to pretend he knew everything that was going on and to be honest, didn’t seem to really know much. He literally pulled out a pocket calculator to calculate some ratio of thyroid hormone from a bloodwork test he ordered, and said I was at 18 instead of 20 and prescribed liothyronine. It’s just frustrating to try and find a way to be alive right now. He said there were no negative effects from anastrazole, when I have seen a lot of them documented here. He also couldn’t help with anything evaluation-wise. I just wish someone would try and make a diagnostic measure for those who have this disease- It would make the pathway for a cure, compensation, and prevention about 1000x more likely.
That’s really not a fair characterization of Dr. Irwig. Since you new here, you wouldn’t be expected to be familiar with the history of growing acceptance of PFS. Irwig really went out on a limb to stand up for PFS patients and published the original case series which helped us get recognition that PFS is a condition that deserves attention. He received a lot of criticism for it back then but he offered a significant contribution.
He unfortunately doesn’t have much else to offer. I think he is public about not knowing how to treat it so he isn’t actively trying to bring in PFS patients to his practice.
It could be worth visiting Dr. Jacobs to test for general endocrine problems. We don’t really know if PFS is related to hormone levels or something different at this point. IMO it’s definitely worth getting worked up by an endo and other specialists to see if there are simpler fixes that may explain your condition. But true PFS isn’t treatable right now as far as I know.
You pretty much restated what I said about dr irwig. And I already saw both dr irwig and dr jacobs.
I didn’t restate what you said. You referred to his work as “half assed” when he is actually a real hero to the PFS community for his pioneering contribution.
I am ready to try TRT and I am considering going to Dr. Keith Jarvi in Toronto, but I am concerned he may not know how to do TRT properly. His info page however looks reassuring as he specializes in male reproductive issues. https://www.mountsinai.on.ca/care/mkuwc/staff/dr-keith-jarvi
I have talked with people who have a lot of personal experience trying different types of TRT and from them I have heard clomid does not work very well long term as a form of TRT.
I am a lot more willing to trust doctors or patients who have a lot of experience applying TRT, and not just those who are academics and read papers. I would trust an experienced bodybuilder the most, in fact.
Does anyone know a good and experienced endo in Ontario?
Apparently, Dr. Crisler had recommended Dr. Komer in Burlington, ON, who specializes in treating andropause. Dr. Kromer - Anti-Aging doc in Burlington, Ontario, Canada Has anyone seen him? http://mastersmensclinic.com/
P.S. Actually I just found a post by someone who saw Dr. Komer but it is not clear if Dr. Komer is on board about PFS… 2 Toronto, Canada Specialist Doctors - aware of the dangers of Finasteride
According to this post, Dr. Komer used to be on the Foundation’s list of doctors but I don’t think he is there any more. Is there information in that fact? My progress
I saw Dr. Jarvi again. Going to give clomid a go since my T and LH are quite low.
I have a phone appt with him next month. Looking forward to it, but, I don’t really know what do. Trying test cyp the last 7 weeks.
Interesting he picked clomid over hcg.