Finally “dipped”. Not too bad, just minor setback and some crummy sleep. Looking forward to the rebound.
Sleep wasn’t great still last night, but I’m already feeling MUCH better. Not the reason I’m posting though, here’s a weird one that I just noticed.
My dandruff is back. I had completely forgotten but I have always had problems with pretty severe dandruff. I had to use dandruff shampoos or it would get really bad and my head would itch like crazy. Well I haven’t had that issue for past few years and didn’t even realize it. Now I definitely notice that my dandruff is back and my head itches like crazy.
No idea what this means, but assuming it’s a good thing.
Crazy as shit. No sooner did my dandruff come back, it’s gone again 2 days later. End of month update. Overall best month yet despite the no-sleep crashes. Primary gains this month were libido related. This month I feel like I completely recovered libido. The quest for 100% continues though. Started working out again, not necessarily because I think it’ll help, but it definitely can’t hurt.
Great month so far. Still experiencing noticeable swings but even bottoms are still good. Suddenly have joint pains and problems now these past weeks (fingers, knees, feet). Last night slept 12 hours but woke up every 1-2 hours which is not normal for me. Also peed a lot throughout the night which is very reminiscent of my early PFS days, but has not happened in soooo long. Similarly woke up with EXTREMELY dry eyes, also an early symptom I haven’t had to deal with in a while. Also, my brain feels like it’s on fire again this morning which is always scary. Not sure what’s going on, but wanted to document it.
Despite all this, still doing well.
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End of month update. Here’s the highlights, a bit of a mixed bag:
- No “crashes” of no sleep or similar
- Sleep overall worse, but still not bad and is restorative ( 5 - 7.5 hours mostly) Almost always wake up twice per night now suddenly again. Always at 4.5 hours and then again at 7:30AM no matter what. Sleep after that point is very hit or miss. Some good days of very deep sleep like before, maybe once every 1-2 weeks.
- Definite drop in libido compared to last month although I feel like it’s starting to come back today. Last month I felt 100% recovered in libido. I had sex 1-2 times almost every day. Had sex 4 times in one day which I haven’t done since my 20s, also once (not proud of this), I became horny I had to masturbate while on a long drive. This month for the most part that was gone. I still want to and can have sex, but if I don’t for a week or more it doesn’t bother me.
- Dry eyes is back and cracked toe is back.
- Joint pain is back
- Anxiety/depression/anhedonia symptoms almost entirely absent this month WOOOOOO!!!
- Mental function and focus seems more improved
Not complaining about any of this. Still very much recovered, still up and down, still not 100% so I’m gonna continue to document for now. Coming up on ~2 years post-fin here pretty soon.
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Dandruff came back again, and a day later huge upswing in mood and libido. Libido is back near normal again for two days.
There seems very likely some correlation with the dandruff but I don’t know what. Joints are worse though, especially in the mornings, but maybe I’m just getting older. Jump in libido also coincided with a solid 8 hour nights sleep.
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Dandruff is still here, head itches a lot. Libido still stable, not 100% but really close. There was about a 5-6 week gap between the last drop off and this recovery. Sleep has just suddenly improved drastically this past week. Can now easily sleep
Until 9AM or later and I need more than the 4-5 hours that would sustain me before. I really need 7 to feel good this past week. Night disturbances have dropped off significantly this week.
The ability to get addicted to things is really coming back. I’ve been VERY hooked on a new video game release and haven’t felt this level of interest in something for some time.
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You shouldn’t be experiencing joint pain at your age unless you are physically overexerting yourself in some way.
I actually had troubles with waking up with stiff and sore joints and muscle pains from the time I started Accutane in 1998 to about 2014-2015. It just seemed to spontaneously improve. I was ~34-35 at that time. Had a good run from 2015 until injuring my rotator cuff last year from overexertion lifting and cutting stone at work.
Have you spoken with a doctor about the pains?
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I haven’t yet but I can’t even close two of my fingers all the way now sometimes and multiple joints feel like they’re getting worse. Super stiff at times throughout the day and others it’s barely noticeable. I am definitely going to go to the doctor soon. The finger joints in question have noticeable nodules on them that are painful to the touch now. Seems some type of quick onset arthritis. I hope not RA but I can’t think of what else it may be other than some other crazy ass side effect of finasteride, which I’m definitely not ruling out.
Dandruff is suddenly gone again, libido still decent but not peak. Ability to get/maintain an erection (non-serious) and ability to climax has really taken a dip suddenly. More early symptoms returning. Some that I had occurring from before I knew I had PFS, pre-crash. Rash/bumps in my hair on back of my head and severely dry lips. Can’t sleep past 7 again suddenly.
No serious issues though still and mental health continues to be very stable.
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End of month, 2 years post-fin. Had a week of feeling like 99% before a “crash” yesterday. However, crash is a strong word. Just a noticeable sudden drop to include the following:
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Couldn’t get to sleep first half of the night was full of sleep disturbances, constantly waking. Still got like 8 hours though total. This is how far I’ve come.
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noticeable slight anxiety increase, slightly less desire to do things.
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light muscle twitches
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libido drop
I’m feeling noticeable increases in mood during the past peak and also some additional aggression, ambition, and drive returning. My brain just really felt like it was firing on all cylinders finally again. I’ll get back there, just gotta ride out this short drop. My joint issues continue to get worse though, I can now barely close my hands in the mornings, I’ve been exercising more now though again and I’ve notice after a long run, my hands feel normal again. They also feel better naturally throughout the day, but every time I sleep, they tighten up significantly.
Overall, still the best month yet despite the joint issues. I’m really closing in on a stable 100%
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Rigid hands in the morning just as me… Also muscle twitches and spasm and libido drop… + anxiety and tiredness…
Something interesting. So just to preface, I’ve taken another significant leap forward in all aspects so far this month. Just when I think I’ve peaked I hit a new level I had forgotten was there. Not why I’m posting though.
I think I mentioned previously that my blood pressure has always measured almost exactly 120/80. It’s always been perfect every time I go to the doctor. It’s just something I could always count on pre-PFS. After PFS, it has always measured exactly 110/70 for the past few years. Again, always. Every time, just very consistent.
I went recently again and it’s now back to 120/80. Something else signaling a return to normality. Just thought it was interesting to note.
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What about sexual sides?
So, I just “crashed” today and before this I was sexually almost 100%. Only libido fluctuates mainly still, always good and sometimes 100%.
However, a few days ago I experienced genital shrinkage (significant) but no other symptoms. This went on for two days, then I experienced difficulty to achieve orgasm/erection one day, and then severe headache, and today I have significant anxiety which I haven’t had for months. I am having trouble with normal functioning it’s so bad. I’m still ok, and know it will pass, but not a fun day for me.
I’m confident this will lead to further recovery, so I’m just waiting for that.
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Definitely going through changes. Anxiety has been waning day by day, but having other symptoms. Dry eyes and feet are back. I’m also having vision problems that I never had previously, but I’ve seen other people mention it. I was trying to read a menu sign at the counter the other day and realized I couldn’t, at a place I regularly frequent. It’s possible I’ve had this before but did not notice it early on when I had way worse symptoms to manage. My rigid hands and joint problems fluctuates on a daily/hourly basis. Sometimes it’s there, sometimes it’s not.
Main thing I’ve noticed so far is my sleep has taken a leap forward. I have been falling asleep at around 9-10PM which is very early for me and sleeping until 7-8AM with very minimal interruption. Really close to normality on sleep again right now.
Sexually, not recovered yet. Libido is lagging along with general sexual utility. Instead of 1-2 times a day that I was at, I’m now back in ~once a week territory.
I’ve tested it multiple times now over past few months and chocolate still seems to make me feel very weird, within minutes of ingestion. Could be entirely in my head, but I really don’t think it is. I haven’t noticed any permanent or long term complications from eating it, but the feeling is intense enough to make me quickly quit eating it when I do eat some. I eat some anyways from time to time, but I get this anxiety type feeling whenever I do. Just something else to note.
Same here… Dry eyes, low lívido, rigid hands… Badly poisoned by finasteride
Sorry you’re going through this Tiro. I hope you feel better someday.
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Have been doing really well lately, especially with sleep. Just wanted to check in and say I finally tested alcohol last night and I’m not doing that again. I think I’m permanently off alcohol for the rest of my life. Just not worth it.
Nothing really bad happened or anything….yet. Last night I drank one pint of a 4% beer, then an overly large mug of something 2.5% over the course of like 5 hours. Not a lot of alcohol, but man did it affect me. I mean I guess I hadn’t drank in like 2+ years but the alcohol hit me more than expected with the “normal effects” of alcohol first off. Just wasn’t a great buzzed feeling, not bad. Just not exactly fun.
Then my sleep has been one of the things that has been doing the best lately. I sleep like minimum of 7 hours now, mostly straight and up to 10+ hours if I’m really tired or went to bed late the night before. Like NORMAL Sleep! However tonight I went to sleep woke up after like 2.5 hours, then woke up again at like 5.5 hours and cannot sleep anymore. I also just feel my mood took a small hit, (although likely because my sleep sucked). Lastly, my joint issues with my hands which has been up and down, but recently on the decline hit me hard this morning. This could also be related to sleep as it is worse in the mornings generally.
Will update later to see if there’s any other effects, but my advice would be to steer clear of alcohol.
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bro you are the hero,It is rare to see such a person who insists on updating on the forum, you bring us hope.
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