JN's story -- former 2001 Yahoo Group Member

General Discussion
#581

m 81, yep things were holding steady at some point until I saw Dr Emerson and got those diagnoses.

In March I was still on T HCG arimidex oxytocin pregnenolone

I got diagnosed with all 5 points above in June and started treatment under Dr Greg Emerson as follows:

  1. compounded pyroluria teatment twice a day plus evening primrose oil 200mg (again for pyroluria)
  2. stromectol (ivermectin) for the worm
  3. nitrazoxinide for the unidentified parasite
  4. organic vegetables, etc
  5. iodine 1 drop a day
  6. Most critically; AVOIDANCE OF ALLERGIC FOODS
  7. All the other stuff; please check out Dr Greg Emerson; he promotes a lifestyle, he is what a real doctor should be;
    drgregemerson.com

He’s also got some stuff on youtube (but it’s a bit cheesy)

Interestingly he did live blood analysis on me (took a drop off my finger) and put it under the microscope, the first time he reviewed me. He stated that I had a bowel problem since childhood, and that was wearing my adrenal gland out for years. I guess the bowel problem was the multiple food allergies and the worm and parasite.

In addition, and I’ll throw this in for good measure, I’ve been consulting a psychologist to help me deal with my anger and frsutration issues ( some stem from childhood). It has really helped and my anger has literally evaporated (whether it’s the pyroluria treatment or the psychologist, I’m no too sure).

Essentially I have suffered chronic fatigue syndrome over the last 10 years and I think finasteride was the main trigger or precipitant. That said, I think I was predisposed to it due to my full-on personality, being very driven and having a childhood in which I was pushed very hard by my parents.

Since the treatment, yes, I’ve made the most remarkable recovery. I’m off ALL meds. I’m organic, natural, pure and functional. And yes, better than ever. Got a tennis match tonight at 4.30pm. Feel pretty horny too.

My advice to sufferers is to see holistic doctors who TREAT THE CAUSE OF THE DISEASE. This concept is very foreign to most doctors, as fucking obvious as it sounds.

This time I’m better for real, good luck

JN

#582

Hey Moonman,

The two doctors I can vouch for in Australia are:

Dr Sandeep Gupta
Dr Greg Emerson

They also work closely together
I live East Coast now.
No such luck in Perth, and don’t go to Desana.

You’ve asked some other questions that will take time for me to answer, but please just check out drgregemerson.com
(yes, I know it sounds like I fancy the guy and am trying to plug him) but this guy has literally saved my life.

JN

#583

  1. Yes, Dr Emerson is booked out till 2012, but if you ring every other day to get an appointment, you’ll get a cancellation appointment. That’s what I did.

Basically the 5 or so things that messed me up; parasites, food allergies, thyroid and adrenal issues. Dr Emerson also cites yeast infections, copper toxicity, mercury toxicity, zinc deficiency as culprits. It’s the same pattern amongst anyone suffering chronic fatigue like symptoms. We are NOT an exclusive bunch. The only thing we have in common is our trigger; taking finasteride which, to the human body, is akin to a drough, famine or near death.

Dr Emerson is a fucking genuine guy. He was an emergency doc like me for 20 years. There’s no bullshit here. He told me he’s seen 5 or more sufferers of finasteride and he’s got them better. He’s totally spot on.

Really bad, yes. Terrible. Not functional at all.

JN

#584

Wow JN. Good to hear from you finally lol.

So you are attributing your problems to parasites and worms now? It sounds like metal toxicities as well?

I was thinking something along the same lines. I just got a food allergy test, will get the results in a few days, but metal toxicities and parasites/gut checking were next on my list once I got the dough together for the testing.

Can you please make a post saying what tests you think specifically help with this problem and what you are doing about them, in order of importance? I’m also on all organic and I think this is 110% one of the most important things to do. I ate regular produce for one day and saw HORRIBLE results from it, I couldn’t believe it.

Just looking for more information from what you think. Thanks JN, and glad to hear you are doing good!

#585

Ok, I’ll post a list of blood tests or other tests to do when I get time.
I’m unsure how important ‘organic’ is, but it’s coincided with my getting better.

JN

#586

Pesticides contain sulfites. Something you mentioned that you are allergic too. I am also super sensitive to sulfites and MSG. I remember I had ranch dressing and felt my right arm going numb. I also had farmed salmon with food coloring added and felt my heart beat race up. Another clue which after research showed me was an MSG sensitivity.

#587

Hi JN,

Just a couple of questions that I think many of us would like to know the answer to:

  • Did you ever have sensitivity issues and did these resolve?
  • Based on your experiences then, do you feel that this problem is not related to AR down-regulation or related problem (gene expression etc etc.)?

Glad to hear you are doing good

Chi

#588

Hi JN

What are your current bloods after treatment?
Care to break down the “pyroloria treatment” twice a day?
how does your doctor say this ties into finasteride?

#589

JN, first off congrats on feeling better! A couple of thoughts:

I believe the trandermal magnesium can be causing your feeling of calm and well being especially if you weren’t able to absorb magnesium by eating prior to this.

Also, iodine can have a similar balancing effect especially if you were iodine deficient. It’s a noted method of thyroid treatment and perhaps needed given possible depletion due to the prior meds you’ve been on. So these two things alone could be causing success.

How did you introduce these into your routine and do you have any data on magnesium absorption prior to using the transdermal?

#590

Hi JN, Congratulations on finally beating this nightmare. You suffered for along time and deserve to feel great.

I know you’re getting bombarded with questions, but could you please let us know if you had this side and if it subsided once you killed off the parasites.

I don’t recall you ever mentioning this side.

#591

JN what was your libido like post fin and what is it like now?

#592

If I may add to the thousand other questions -

Did you ever have penile shrinkage, weight gain, and/or muscle atropy? If so, have those returned to “normal” pre-Fin states? I’d be particularly interested in your experience (if any) with shrinkage and your opinion as a doctor and long term sufferer.

Thanks

#593

I think JN has finally gotten this thing figured out. I did a heavy metal detox and for a week I felt like a god. I wasn’t able to hold onto the recovery, but that is probably because the detox is only one piece of the puzzle. You need to probably have a comprehensive program that also includes diet and some other supplements and perhaps some exercise too. During this period my white coated tongue and my blurry vision and skin rashes got better too.

I just wish I had access to someone like JNs doctor. I wonder if he would consider treating people remotely? Or maybe he knows someone here in the states who can help?

#594

lol

youtube.com/watch?v=pjRu6nkYqVY&feature=related
youtube.com/watch?v=uq6CWrs6QFM&feature=related

Some of the stuff about natural remedies (maca, royal jelly) is interesting and has been discussed on here. I wish I knew about this kind of thing pre-fin. If there’s no total cure on the horizon I suppose we should at least try and optimise healthy lifestyles and diets.

Keep feeling great JN!

#595

I mean, I had ALL the symptoms, with the exception of brain fog. There was no ‘sensitivity’ down there’. My penis was like a piece of dangling rubber, if that’s what you mean. And yes, shrinkage, sagginess, all that to a huge extent.
And no, I doubt this is due to AR down regulation!! That’s a joke theory and there’s no evidence for this at all.

I have had some done, and will get back to you with this. I only know some of the results. But then, it’s not just bloods that are relevant for me, hey? I’m waiting for my October appointment (4 months after starting treatment) where Dr Emerson may want to repeat all the tests I did in April time (stool cultures urine tests etc). I will post all my results in the near future, to keep you guys satisfied.

As I said, massive doses of zinc, B6, Vit C and Vit E twice a day in a compounded capsule. I don’t have internet at home, and am currently at work, so can’t elaborate about doses. I stated to Dr Emerson that I have felt anxious PRE- finasteride (like, since I was 17). He whipped out a ten step questionnaire in which I answered ‘yes’ to every question, and further urine tests indicated that I had ‘pyroluria’. I don’t think finasteride caused or directly affected this diagnosis, apart from making me feel worse. This ‘pyroluria’ thing is unique to me. But gosh, I feel so much better on the compounded formula. It’s a real relief to not feel that anxiety.

MartinM, you are so right about this. After my shower this morning I wiped transdermal magnesium on myself. I will do for the rest of my life. A massive percentage of the population are deficient in magnesium and iodine, and these alone cause big problems. Why is this subject ignored so much? Yes, it’s known magnesium induces a sense of calm. I can’t get enough of the stuff; I bathe in magnesium salts after a sports session or yoga session, I wipe it on me daily.

Of note, Dr Emerson believes 5% Lugols iodine is ‘too harsh’ and recommends instead nascent iodine 1 drop per day. I’ll be replacing my Lugol’s with Nascent, for sure. Dr Emerson is on facebook and his regular updates are very informative and I learn stuff every day.

This whole recovery process has become my lifestyle; yoga, sports, sunlight for Vitamin D, organic vegetable juice, etc and I’ve embraced it totally. I guess I’ve had to…

The concept that there is a magic pill we can swallow to somehow reverse our side effects is almost laughable. I was barking up the wrong tree for years. I don’t really blame myself, as I was a desperate man, but now I’m on the right track…

Will respond to the other questions later, take care chaps…

JN

#596

JN can you please give us adequate information regarding testing? Are you aware if Dr. Emerson does any consulting with other docs perhaps in the United States?

Also, regarding magnesium, a number of ppl on this board who have had magnesium tested, showed it was in range… Is testing it through blood accurate?

#597

I have been tested for both parasites and pyroloria and came back normal.
Wheat and gluten allergies were both negative.

Im happy for you though jn.

#598

Just a heads up to people trying to find a doctor similar to JN’s if you can’t get his specific doctor. I’m currently seeing a naturepathic doctor. Search naturepath + your city name on google and you will be sure to find one. They try to find the cause of the problem rather than treating symptoms.

#599

Hi JN,

Thanks for your response. Just one last question on this subject, as this is one of the only sides I cannot work out how to resolve even temporarily:

  • Do your balls now retract for sex or hang saggy like a couple of tennis balls in socks dangling between your crotch? Not one of the worst sides, but it’s a pretty big indication that something is pretty fucked up for many.

Cheers and good luck to you. It concerns me that you are still recovering some 10 years on, but it seems like you are pretty close to being 100% hey

#600

Hey Jn,

Still really would like to know how your doctor say this ties into finasteride?
I also had anxiety before finasteride but it certainly wasnt as bad…