First off, I apologize if this is in the wrong forum, or if I’m in any trouble for not being a Fin user. Here is my story…I would love thoughts, ideas, positivity, hope…anything. I’m pretty low, and if I hadn’t found this forum I don’t know what I’d do.
This past Fall I was experiencing symptoms of low Testosterone. Lack of libido, ED, grumpiness, no energy, barely any body hair, inability to build muscle…just overall not feeling very “manly”. I had a T test performed by my doctor and he confirmed my suspicions. My total T was just 284 (I’m 26 years old). He assured me that it was within reference ranges, and to try and increase my T naturally through diet and exercise. He did reluctantly prescribe Androgel, but I was unable fill the prescription due to cost and the fact that insurance wouldn’t cover it.
I was up late night, brain storming more cost effective ways to raise my T, and I saw a commercial for a product called “Ageless Male”. I called the next day and started the one month free trial.
After just a few days of using Ageless Male, I felt great! Constant erections, more drive and focus, energy, and a great libido. I had a couple instances of ED over that month, but overall I was great.
I had to stop using A.M. due to it’s cost (around $40 a month), and in mid December when I did, I began to notice immediately. It started with my mood…it sank very low, and depression kicked in. Then, within a few days, I was totally unable to get an erection. Either with my Fiance, or myself. I experienced chills, appetite loss, muscle twitches and tremors, ZERO libido, no energy, fatigue, and just DARK depression.
Then, after about 10 days of this hell, like a switch had been turned on, one night I was ok! I was able to get an erection, my mood improved, and my appetite came back with a vengeance. I dipped back into the “dark” feelings and symptoms a couple times, but overall I was on the mend.
On January 1st I started a regime of Testosterone Boosting herbs. I bought 6 different herbs, took one a day, and had one day of rest. I used a T boosting website as my guide, and told myself I would get my T back up and be just fine. I also started taking ZMA before sleep, and trying to get back into the gym (working out seemed to be when I felt the best).
And now here I am…this past week feels like I’ve totally backtracked. Since Monday I’ve experienced ED, DARK depression, chills, anxiety, no appetite, no libido, and a couple new disturbing symptoms:
My nipples are always erect, as if they’re cold. They’re “down” only maybe 10% of the day, the rest of the time they’re sticking straight up. Also, my fiance and I aren’t completely sure, but we suspect that my flaccid penis size has gotten smaller. We aren’t sure if she’s just seen it when “cold”, and therefore smaller, or if it really has shrunk. I measured it when erect, and it’s the same size.
Here are a list of all the side effects I’m having right now, 6 weeks after stopping Ageless Male…
No appetite
Fatigue
Terrible Depression
Mood Swings
Anxiety
Difficulty Breaking A Sweat
Erect Nipples
Constant Crying
Chills (I feel cold ALL the time…I was never like this before AM)
No libido
Erectile Dysfunction
Weak or Non Existant Morning Erections
Headaches (with pain behind the eyes)
No energy
Decreased Facial Hair Growth
Memory Loss
Brain Fog
I did some research about apparently Ageless Male contains a proprietary blend of Astaxanthin and Saw Palmetto. It didn’t say how much of the blend was SP, and how Much was Astaxanthin, but here is the link to the label:
http://www.newvitality.com/shop/ageless-male1.aspx
I took one pill in the morning, and one and night, for 30 days. And here I am more than 6 weeks after my last pill in complete misery. My family is scared, my friends think I’ve dropped off the planet, my responsibilities aren’t being taken care of, and worst of all (I’m getting married in 5 and 1/2 months) I feel like I’m losing my fiance.
I’ve stopped my T boosting herbs and ZMA, just in case they were interracting with anything. Right now I’m just taking a multivitamin, St. John’s Wort (to try and help the depression) and I recently started taking Creatine after I read a study that it increases DHT levels.
I’m sorry for the long post, and again very sorry if it’s in the wrong forum…I just don’t know what else to do, or who to turn to. I feel like you guys may be the only ones who understand. Is this permanent? What did the Saw Palmetto do to my system? Did it raise Estrogen? Permanently lower my DHT? Are my T levels at rock bottom? Is there any reason to think that because these side effects are still here after 6 weeks, that they could be permanent? I worry that I’ve messed my body up forever at just 26. I feel like an old man.
Do you guys have any tips? Should I restart my T boosting herb regime and ZMA? Should I start taking Vitamin D? Is there anything else I can do to make this better? I have considered going on an anti depressant to help make it through this…does anyone know if that may help?
Please…someone give me something to live for…thank you for your time…and reading…