Mikey's blood tests

Member Stories Lab Tests
#21

Getting the appointments with docs is one thing and that can be frustrating – but going to get blood drawn at a lab can be done anytime and should not be frustrating. You don’t generally need an appointment to get blood drawn, just go to the lab with your requisition sheet in hand and wait in line.

That said, bloodtests should always be done in the morning before 10am when T levels are highest. Not sure why you had to rush out and do labs at 6pm, why didn’t you just come into work late the next morning and do them beforehand? It seems to me you’ve been causing yourself this frustration despite knowing the outcomes of doing tests at the wrong time… not to mention daily alcohol consumption despite your doc’s orders.

How do you even know your problems are from Finasteride and not due to being an alcoholic? Now docs have an alternate thing to blame for your problems – alcohol. Do yourself a favor and STOP DRINKING so they won’t have that excuse, if you are sure your problems are indeed from Fin.

Well hopefully that might shed some real light on things. You need to tell your endo and GP you got your tests taken in the late afternoon/evening, because that essentially invalidates your Testosterone results.

Looking back through this thread it seems you mention you feel recovered. So not sure why you are here, or what your symptoms even are anymore?

#22

I don’t know that my problems are not from Finasteride but I am still afraid that they might be. That being said i will discontinue drinking and see if theings get better.

And my docs know that blood was drawn at the times i mentioned becasue it was done in their offices. Yet I still have the test that I did last Saturday morning that I will get tomorrow.

My symptoms are as follows. Two weekends ago on Sunday after drinking all weekend I just felt not as horny and not as vigorous and erections were harder to come by as well as lack of spontaneous erections.

AS of today i am able to masturbate fine but my erections seem to not last as long after the fact. I can have sex but use viagra so iam not as anxious…

#23

Ok well that’s a problem. If you can’t even be sure your issues are from the drug, then kinda pointless to be going down this route, especially when other variables are involved (alcohol). Being “afraid they might be” is a lot different than KNOWING they are. Being “afraid” and “anxious” can lead into a psychological condition where you actually CAUSE yourself performance problems due to performance anxiety etc.

Most guys on this site can say with 100% certainty their sexual, mental and physical health has been decimated by Finasteride – evidenced by penile/scrotal shrinkage, muscle atrophy, loss of spontaneous/nocturnal/morning erections, complete loss of libido etc. since it’s the only drug they ever took in their life and there were no other factors to cause these problems.

You’re not even sure, which is a big red flag. I’m not sure what to make of your story anymore… too confusing. Good luck with your docs, see what they say. But if you consistently have low Testosterone via bloodtests in the AM, I’d say there’s an issue there.

I rest my case. This could be a direct result of DRINKING and being hungover.

#24

I really appreciate your feedback. I guess if I live a cleanier lifestyle for awhile and nothing changes I will have my answer.

The only symptoms I have are lack of libido/loss of spontaneous erections which causes me some erectile problems although I can masturbate etc…

I just don’t know when I will know if they are from Finasteride. I literally felt GREAT for five months and then recently this happened to me after a binge drinking weekend…

It’s just that alcohol never has really affected me in the penis/libido area which is why i thought it might be fin. but maybe that has changed…

#25

Again this points to a non-Finasteride related issue. Most guys here who have permanent side effects, they live with these side effects daily, and they are a constant reminder of the damage the drug has done.

You’re saying you were fine up until you went drinking one weekend, 5 months after quitting Fin. That is a completely seperate issue and likely points to alcohol abuse as the probable culprit of your problems.

Yea well, things CAN change. Your body can only handle so much abuse, especially the liver which has a role in metabolising hormones. A chronic drinking problem can certainly impact sexual function.

If you’re looking to use Finasteride as a scapegoat for your alcohol problems, I don’t think you’ll find much success. Anyway I think I’ve devoted enough time trying to explain basic concepts you should have inherently known… so good luck.

#26

I understand what you’re saying. Here is a copy of my bloodwork from my endocrinologist takem Monday afternoon at 3 p.m.

Please let me know what you think:

[/img]
Doc1.doc (76.5 KB)

#27

Some of your liver enzymes are elevated, which gives more evidence towards alcohol as the source of your problems. Stop drinking, reassess in 3-6 months.

#28

Here is my bloodwork from last Saturday morning:

Total Test – 404 Reference Range 260-1000n/g/dL

Test % Free – 2.2 Range 1.0 -2.7 Percent

Test Free – 89.8 Range 50-210 pg/mL

What do you think of these?

I guess this points to the alcohol issue…

#29

Figures are a bit low, maybe you’re not entirely out of the woods yet. It’s not unknown fr effects to emerge later on but at least you didn’t crash.

Be good to your body for a while.

#30

How long does it take for one to start feeling better, been off the sauce for two and a half days, still having same symptoms – lack of spontaneous erections, erections going away immediatly after masturbating and just harder to masturbate…

Please help…

#31

mikey,

It takes the body some time to recover after abuse of alcohol. I know when I have a glass of wine it can throw me for a loop for weeks. Being anxious doesn’t help. Just chill out, get some exercise, and give it some time.

#32

Thank you Martin. i’m just more concerned about the loss of libido and my indifference towards my girlfriend. I know I have to stick this out to be sure of my exact problems but it is wearing my patience thin…

#33

yeah, join the club. But unfortunately it’s like any health problem you can’t force it…

#34

To preface I have not had any alcohol for three days.

I’m having nocturnal erections and can masturbate but I don’t seem to have that vigor and desire to masturbate and want to fuck. The sensation/tingling doesn’t seem to be as strong.

Going to urologist today and he has the results of my testicular ultrasound, any suggestions on what I should ask him, i’m sick of this shit…

#35

Personally I think you’re wasting your time even seeing the Dr. and getting tested until you spend at least a month off the sauce. One of the things we tend to do is see the Dr. right after we realize what’s happening and have already changed our behavior. This means your testing and seeing them as your body is already responding to change, in this case 3 days off the sauce.

You need time, be patient. I assure you you are not at the top of the list when it comes to side effects, annoyance, or rage at this issue.

Good luck!

#36

Thanks Martin. I am seeing the endocrinologist for the second time today, have to go as I took a half day from work.

Should I ask him to do more comprehensive bloodwork?

#37

Personally I wouldn’t do anything until you give your body a month to recover at least. It may be much ado about nothing…

#38

Thats just it, I don’t know what is casuing this?!! I haven’t drank for a week and my symptoms are still exactly the same. I really suspect it is NOT the alcohol. I know friends that have worse alcohol habits than me and they aren’t experiencing this.

I hate feeling like this and living like this. I gave my body time to recover from initially feeling the dreaded effects of propecia withdrawal and was back to normal after two and a half weeks. i was even drinking during this time and then five months after this recovery I am stricken with these symptoms again. It just doesn’t make any sense to me.

I am going to see a psychiatrist tonight to explain to him what is going on with me. Any advice?

#39

Taken last SAturday morning:

FSH : 1.9 Ref range: 1.6-8.0 mIU/mL

LH: 4.5 Ref Range 1.5 - 9.3 mIU/mL

Test (Total) 340 260-1000 ng/dL

Test % free 1.8 1.0-2.7 percent
Test free 60.8 50-210 pg/ML

What do you make of these?

#40

bump