Size is half way. I halved the antibiotic 5 days ago and since then things have got worse. Thats not to say everything was 100% before. Sexually things were better but mentally and vision still not great. Mentally things were probably marginally better when on antibiotics.
There is more to it than the prostate alone but as xyrem did not work for me i wonder what other choices i have.
One thing is clear. Sexual function can be brought back.
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bad news. I stopped antibiotics and slipped back at far bit. My sleep is once again agonizing. I just canāt get up in the morning. So physically tired. Sexually things are slowly getting worse. It hasnāt gone all the way back though yet. The question i have is why do antibiotics help?
I had the idea that the reason they help is because they bind to albumin. Levofloxacin does this especially and that helped more. When they bind to albumin they compete with testosterone so more free testosterone is available. I need to get free testosterone measured and not rely on the free androgen index as a high DHT would distort it. Thats my theory. Itās the only that can tie things up. Anti inflammatory effects would only relate to the prostatic issue.
This might explain the more consistent morning erections with levofloxacin and the near normalization of sleep patterns with it.
What do you think?
in my case iādnāt say it is the same as u think cause i just had back my blood tests and my free testo is lowest than ever,but in general and sex too,i am feeling betterā¦
Update:
Been a while since i updated. Condition still the same. Still on doxycycline as it beyond a shadow of a doubt gives some symptom relief. If you havenāt tried the antibiotic route i would suggest a 6 week trial of 100mg doxy twice a day. It has helped (not cured) the sexual issues and the sleep to a degree.
I recently tried a two week course of prednisolone 15mg for 6 days and then tapered off. Did it help? Hard to say really. I did have more energy that week and that helped with various aspects but not sure if it would be statistically relevant. I am convinced that there is an inflammatory process going on hence antibiotics help. In the past i have tried increasing my testosterone production and although it did improve erections etcā¦ it did not feel like a natural improvement in the same way taking doxy does. It also increased the amount of prostatic pain. I donāt know what this all means. But I continue to hope.
I have recently been trying some Quercetin, which is also known to help as an anti-inflammatory agent, and it seems to be helping somewhat. Have you tried it? Also there has been some posts about ibuprofin helping some people which is also an anti-inflammatory. My guess is that if we do have issues with inflamation that it is in the prostrate. I had a dull ache in mine which is why I started on the Quercetin. After about 3 weeks the ache cleared upā¦not sure if it would have on itās own but my libido seems to have had a slight bump since I went on it. One thing about Quercetin that Iāve read is that it inhibits some of the liver enzymes that metabolize some drugs, including Cialis. So maybe the Cialis is staying in my system longer which is bumping things up. Who knows.
19,
I find it very interesting that you responded to antibiotics, thanks for sharing your story. Minocycline has been an antibiotic that has been documented to significantly raise 5 alpha reductase type 2. Logic would dictate that other tetracycline derivatives (such as the ones youāve been taking) might also raise 5 alpha reductase.
If your doctor is willing, have him test your total serum testosterone along with 3a androstanediol glucuronide. You will need to explain that it is a final metabolite of 5 alpha reductase type 2 (5AR2), and that 5AR2 is a key enzyme at work within the prostate. Then go on minocycline (a fairly mild antibiotic) for three weeks or so and then retest 3a androstanediol glucuronide to see 1.) if symptoms improve, and 2.) whether your levels have increased.
My personal belief is that a severe lack of 5AR2 as part of the post-fin effect causes significant prostate hypoplasia (as opposed to benign prostate hyperplasia more commonly referred to as BPH). It is possible that hypoplasia, if severe enough, would cause prostatis type symptoms.
Badluck, watch the Quercetin. It inhibits expression of the LNcP gene within the prostate. Who knows, this may be a good thing, or it may not.
19,
Can you tell me how did you find out that you have prostate problem? Did your PSA indicate an alarming number?
nice to hear your thoughts. I think its a good suggestion. It is certainly warranted. Just to answer texas123 question first.
It took me a while to really consider the prostate as a problem. I realised when i first did a trial of doxy. Before i had some mild aches and discomfort down there with very quality semen etcā¦ and poor erections and poor senstivity to touch - numb like. When i started it over time these things improved in a very significant way. Morning erections although not strong returned. So i went to see a urologist. He thought prostatitis and did a rectal exam which was painful when he felt the prostate. PSA was normal. And ultrasound of prostate was normal. Its not so much of a structural anomaly although ultrasound is not very sensitive.
An interesting observation is how long it takes for things to get worse after stopping doxy. It takes around a week before things worsen again.
Also when i did increase Testosterone - increased pain.
Your thinking is sound kazman. The only potential problem with it is that i did also switch doxy to levofloxacin for 4 weeks or so and the improvement was maintained. If levofloxacin also has a similar action then fair dos. If not i am not sure. I may look into it in the near future but not just yet. I have alot on my plate at the moment. Maybe i will try increasing the dose a little and see if any further improvement. I tried halving it and things did worsen a bit.
Just to let anyone is considering trying doxy the side effects iāve experienced are: upset tummy from time to time, dry mucous menbranes i.e. dry mouth (i constantly chew gum now), reversible teeth yellowing (it does fade after you stop). Thats about it. Also check your liver from time to time. Its used for malaria prophylaxis long term and is much safer than something like a quinolone.
i missed out the word poor somewhere. see if you can see where.
thing is, i got my prostate checked numerous times and its not inflamed, its actually quite small. would a psa be another tool to diagnose prostatitis? if my prostate is not inflamed is it possible i still have prostatitis?
I donāt have the perfect explanation of what has happened to us neurochemically to cause these persistent conditions weāre trying to survive, but from what Iāve lived in the past year, it appears thatā¦
Every area of tissue from the prostate, penis, testes, scrotum, cremaster, etc. has been affected.
None of them have āgrownā or expanded since the first week of February 2009. At that time, they all seem to have shrunk with the sensation of plastic wrap shriveling up in/near a fire.
There are intermittant times of the day when the testes hang a little lower and feel larger, but overall, they are smaller than my former, normal self.
I have made no progress during the past year.
I am having a difficult time imagining myself recovering from this.
what are all your symptoms?
shrunken testes, penis. lack of urgency to urinate, water retention, more body fat in two or three areas.
depression, anxiety, lack of deep sleep (meaning, not enough of it).
dry skin, dry eyes. skin lost oiliness.
trouble maintaining stable body temp. OR lack of ability to cope with environmentally low temperaturesā¦ iām too cold if the weather is cold.
These all began during and after FIN use last year and have not changed since.
Sounds awful. I know how you feel. What have you tried in terms of treatments? Any interesting blood tests? Or any supplement help?
I think everyone is affected differently. I assume youāve had thyroid checked. You did say tyrosine helped you. Also cortisol. Do you get a morning erection? What is the quality of your semen? Any numbness?
There is hope. The problem is i canāt tell you how long it will be. Try to keep positive. I know thats easier said than done. If your situation is at all similar to mine i would suggest a course of doxycycline to see if there is any effect.
Doxycycline is available here without a prescription. Prices look reasonable:
Update:
Situation much the same. I did a little experiment though. I tried using spironolactone topically for hair loss to see if it would worsen propecias side effects and if it didnāt i would have probably seen if it helped the hair loss. It did worsen things. I stopped using it today.
What does it show? The problem must be related to testosterone and DHT and their ability to perform. Maybe doxycycline increases this ability.
Just some thoughts.
Update:
Iāve been avoiding this forum for a while now. But need to give an update.
I continue to take doxycycline 100mg 2x daily. It does provide a degree of symptomatic relief - only a degree. I admit it is no cure but without I cope less well.
I am currently trying resveratrol and it seems to help erections but like last time when I took Stacker T (Tribulus+Maca and other things) although it improves erections substantially it makes my mind and vision worse.
I am scheduled to take part in the study and I am trying to get Adiol-G tested. Its difficult in the UK it seems. If anyone has any suggestions let me know. I am thinking of contacting Dr Crisler or Shippen too.
Just out of curiousity has anyone else tried antibiotics??? And why would they work? The ones that work are ones that penetrate into the prostate. Is it an anti inflammatory effect or something to do with its metabolism. How does this fit in with the gene expression theories? As far as iām aware it has no effect on hormones themselves.
As i said i know its no cure but why it helps baffles me. If there is inflammation why is there? etcā¦
My erections improve with antibiotics and with supplements. Sensitivity is more improved because of the former than the latter but the former doesnāt let me maintain an erection. And the latter knocks me out. My hair is still falling out (maybe a bit slower). This must mean DHT is still being produced (by type 1 or type 2) and must be exerting some effects on the AR receptor. Is this correct logic?
If we are insensitive to androgens wouldnāt our bones suffer as well. Thinking about it - may link in with the vit D. But i speculate.
Also reading anonymousās DHT treatment to restore a balance makes alot of sense to me. Any thoughts? I swear the hypothalamus and pituitary must be key.
Iām not doing too good. Not much has changed symptom wise but my ability to cope is decreasing. I just failed my university exams and have to repeat they year. On top of this my problems have stopped me pursuing a girl i really like. It just keeps taking and taking.
I donāt know what to do. Antibiotics help butā¦i just donāt know.
You sound just like me bro quite a few years agoā¦itās hard, especially accepting the fact we have a disability. However, we are very close to what I think could be a good treatment protocol with proviron, to atleast get our lives 80-90% of what it use to be.
Keep the Faith