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Where are you from (country)? England (UK)
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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?) Found this site googling many many times, always been a reader, never a member.
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What is your current age, height, weight? age : 24, Height: 5’11, Weight 14st (approx)
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Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise? Only recently, attempting to run, though finding it very hard.
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What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)? Varied, meat based mostly.
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Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)? Hair loss
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For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)? approx 14 months (stopped and started)
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How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride? 22, Jan 2010
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How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit? 23, March/April 2011
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How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)? Turkey
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What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic? Propecia
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What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)? 1 mg/day
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How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects? a few very early on, but the worst ones only since stopping.
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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
[ ] 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
[ ] Testicular Pain
[x] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[x] Weight Gain
[x] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[x] Muscle Weakness
[x] Joint Pain
[x] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[x] Prostate pain
[x] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[x] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[x] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature
[ ] Other (please explain)
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What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug? Tried only one, Zinc worked for a little while, though long term faded out.
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If you have pre or post-Finasteride bloodtests, what hormonal changes have you encountered since discontinuing the drug (pls post your test results in the “Blood Tests” section and link to them in your post)? No tests
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Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
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Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
Well, Im not after author of the year or winning anyone over with a sob story, but I really totally regret ever even looking into taking this drug. Sadly, my emotion and attitude towards baldness was deep rooted (scuse the pun)
Unfortuantely as a child, I remember my mother and stepfather talking about my Dad being bald, almost mickey taking. I also remember one day talking about hereditary hair loss, and them saying “well, you havent really got any hope, as your dad was bald” to which i replied “But his dad wasnt”. At this quote, the room erupted with laughter, and I felt incredibly insignificant at such a young age. It was at that point I learned my deceased grandfather was in fact bald, and wore a tupé, and I never realised. This whole conversation has stuck with me my entire life, so naturally, approx 10 years later, I was INCREDIBLY paranoid about balding.
At around 20 the hair started to go around the crown, but never receded from the front. One person at work even commented once “god your hair looks thin” to which she had a swift response of “fuck off!”. I then began my hunt for Minoxidil, and had some imported from the states. I had minimal success, though never was totally commited. two years on, my hair state was more or less still the same, so despite my paranoia, I dont think it ever was as bad as I thought, nonetheless, I noticed a local pharmacy (boots) had began promoting propecia. I couldnt beleive my luck. At last! A cure! just a simple googling of “propecia effectiveness” and I was sold 10 times over! of course, the pharmacist was happy to accept my payments of £90 per 12 week supply for a long time, without any significant mention of side effects. The pills worked. They worked very very well. Where I had been thinning for years, suddenly became a thick forest of hair again. I was impressed.
I only noticed a downside around december that year, (11 months on) I could get it up, but had 0 interest in sex. i assumed it was the girl, and broke things off. sadly that wasnt the case, And i began noticing that i was looking ill, daunt, tired and putting on weight. I stopped after one year, but about 1 month on, the shed kicked in big time, so i freaked and started again. I then stopped a further 3 months on, when I found an absolute MODEL of a girlfirend, someone who 12 months before I would of (and excuse my bluntness) fucked all day if i could; but had very little interest in it. Initally, for the first two times it was good, then I had no interest again. I decided at this time to stop. well, its nearly one year on, and things worsened. I now suffer with the testicles of a 2 year old, anxiety, depression, lack of interest in sex ( i have a “fuck buddy” but i go there once a week, and it feels like a chore.) forgetfullness (a symptom I have only recently discovered purely as it was mentioned at work, I used to be properly ON THE BALL.)
Ultimately, I would try anything to be the old me. I notice several success stories with various supplements, but am unsure of how to obtain most of these in the UK, any guidance or advice would be greatly appreciated.
If i knew back then how i would feel now I wouldnt of done it, though I probably could of been told and wouldnt of cared then! but now I would rather be bald 10000000 times over and to feel like i used to than feel like this.
Another one joins the ranks Im afraid.
Andy