Mental side effects vs physical side effects

[devils342]

Hey guys,

I’m 2.5 months off finasteride. For about a month post fin things were okay and I had only slight ED and lower libido. Then suddenly all my side effects worsened. Since about 1.5 months I have complete ED, shrinked penis, brain fog, anhedonia, no libido, no motivation. For now i dont care about sex or penis. Most important for me are mental side effects. Could you tell me what is more plausible: mental improvement or physical improvement? And what is the recovery window for mental sides?

Thanks,
I’m pretty desperate atm.

[Zonz]

There really is no definitive answer but I’ve seen many users here says initial anxiety can improve.

[devils342]

To be honest I only care for mental sides. Maliny anhedonia bothers me the most.

[Zonz]

Anhedonia can suck and I have windows where it’s really bad but other times where it’s better. I still don’t have the dramatic emotions but the dead feeling lessens.

[devils342]

And how much off the drug?

[Tzinkman]

I had severe anhedonia for a lot of the first 6.5 months. It was the most difficult symptom to live with, amongst many devastating symptoms. It has improved a lot for me since then. Give this a read

Scared, would like advice on PFS timeframe

Yes. But when I say bad period I mean absolutely critical, clinging on by my fingertips desperation. I too went to Accident and Emergency (a few times) and spent a day on an acute medical unit. The assessing doctor looked at me without doing any tests and thought I had Crohn’s disease. I had lost a lot of weight at that time. I also had brain fog so bad I could barely lift my head at points. My sleep was destroyed, I couldn’t stay sleeping for more than an hour or so at a time without waking, i…

I know it’s so difficult when you’re feeling like that but please try to keep it in mind that things can improve, particularly in the first 6 - 12 months.

[devils342]

But im worries about crashing. Does it have any influence on possiblity to recover?

[Tzinkman]

I crashed. I think most patients here experience the crash.

[devils342]

What in your opinion is the best way to improve the recovery period? Do you still have anhedonia? I cant laugh or smile. I can only cry.

[lakehouse]

the first 10-12 months for me were bad when it came to the brain fog, but then i recovered to about 70-80%.

still not as sharp as before but i can function and get work done. having grit makes up for a lot of the decreased ability

let yourself heal and dont try anything crazy/risky

[Tzinkman]

@devils342

What in your opinion is the best way to improve the recovery period?

There isn’t much you can proactively do, really. It’s more important to avoid trying to self-medicate during this period, so many patients report temporary, and sometimes persistent, worsening from trying different substances. I don’t really recommend self-medication beyond the 12 month period either.

Best things I can recommend at the moment is to have people around you who care for you. Try to limit externally stressful situations as much as possible. Be kind to yourself, don’t self-blame.

If you want to inform your doctor of what has happened to you, you could give them this PFS resource pack https://www.propeciahelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/PFS-Letter-to-Health-Care-Providers.pdf

@devils342

I cant laugh or smile. I can only cry.

I was in that state. Like I said, it took 6.5 months for a significant improvement.

[devils342]

Thank you but i dont know if any doctor would want to read this especially in english. Im from Poland and medical care is -10/10 here tbh. If i dont get better in a year i will be a maniac and will quit for sure.

[Tzinkman]

Don’t worry too much about the doctors, it’s a common experience here for PFS patients to be met with disbelief or bafflement by their medical care givers. Please stay strong.

[devils342]

Yeah im trying but waking up with this condition is making me closer and closer to the other side.

[Greek]

Sadly, as @Tzinkman says this is a familiar story. It does get better for many people. His advice to you is good advice. Now is not the time to make statements, this time will be tough, but you can get through it.

[devils342]

I can but living all my life with this. No thanks.

[Greek]

Yeah, like I said, now is not the time for grand statements.

[Tzinkman]

Please take heed of the previous posts in this thread. The state you’re in now, many members here have been there. It feels completely hopeless. It was so bad for me I didn’t believe I could improve. But I did. You’re being incredibly brave at the moment; keep being so and remember our advice here when things seem intolerable.

[jinstewart]

Yep. Just what I wanted to post.

Currently sleep good, laugh at things, have hobbies again… never ever thought I’d get there (Greek especially will remember how bad I was at first) but now I’m way way better than I was at the start. I’m sure you’ll get there too.

[devils342]

Yeah but ultimately i want to be better not get better in coping… Do we have any chance? Baylor pls.