New Member Profile UK

Member Stories
#1

  1. Where are you from (country)? UK

  2. How did you find this forum (Google search – if so, what search terms? Via link from a forum or website – if so, what page? Other?) Google

  3. What is your current age, height, weight? 31, 5.11, 165 pounds

  4. Do you exercise regularly? If so, what type of exercise? Yes weight training 3 / 4 times per week + gently cardio 3 times per week

  5. What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)? Body Building diet, high protein, moderate to high carb, fats 7 fruit and veg per day.

  6. Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)? Hair loss

  7. For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)? C5 years

  8. How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride? C26

  9. How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit? Cjuly 2012

  10. How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)? Cold turkey

  11. What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic? Mix of all over the 5years

  12. What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)? 1mg for c3 years, 2.5 for a year, then 1.25 for a period as well

  13. How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects? Not until going to 2.5mg really

  14. What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?

Put an X beside all that apply:

Sexual
[x ] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive Improved but not 100%
[ ] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[ ] Loss of Morning Erections
[ x] Loss of Spontaneous Erections Improved but not 100%
[ ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[ x] Reduced Ejaculate Improved but not 100%
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility

Mental
[ ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[ x] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ x] Confusion
[ x] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[x ] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[x ] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ ] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[ ] Suicidal Thoughts

Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[ ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ x] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ x] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes

Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[ ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[ ] Frequent urination
[ x] Lowered body temperature

[ ] Other (please explain)
Leaking some urine when sitting after just having been to toilet (very small amount) shrunken prostrate probably.

  1. What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?

  2. If you have pre or post-Finasteride bloodtests, what hormonal changes have you encountered since discontinuing the drug (pls post your test results in the “Blood Tests” section and link to them in your post)?

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7616&e=0

  1. Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride? Very very strong libido before use, fine at 1mg, 2.5mg dropped libido a lot, has come back up since quitting but not close to like it was before.

  2. Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.

As above and see viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7616&e=0

Lab results - 6 month post finasteride
#2

hey ziggy any update or luck as to what you done or who youve seen?

#3

Sorry it’s been a while since I updated

Jan13 Lab results

T test 7.1 (7.6 – 31.4)
Free t 5.23 (8.8 – 27)
Oestradiol 51 (44-156)

Feb 13 – TESTS VIA CENTRE FOR MENS HEALTH LONDON
Hormones
Testosterone 9.9 (9 – 30)
SHGB 41 (18 -50)
Oestradiol 45 (40-160)
Free Androgen 24.1 (25 – 130)
Calculated
Free Test 158.4PMOL/L (300 – 600)

FSH 2.2 MIU/ml (0.95 - 11.95)
LH 1.5 MIU/ml (1.14 - 8.75)

PSA 0.3 (0.2 – 4)
Free PSA 0.1 (0.1-2)

Had a tone of other tests as well i.e cholesterol these were all normal.

Report on visit to Dr Malcolm Carruthers at the centre for mens health London

Overall I was happy with DR C spent an hour with him, told me test and Estrogen are low, suggested bone density scan (he is writing to me GP) due to these levels and my neck pain, nobody had thought of that before not even the spinal surgeon. Asked him if I was primary / secondary he said not to worry about that just that the levels are low and need to be brought back up. He suggested gels cause they covert to DHT and I may be low on this due to prev finasteride use. He as given me testogel 50mg per day for 2 months, need to email him in 1month with update and repeat test / consultation in 2 months. He also suggested a zinc supplement (I was taking already).

Been on the gels for 4 weeks at this point there are some improvements i.e able to deal with cold temperatures better, harder erections, better orgasms, slight increase in libido, not getting as tired. Will probably need to go on to the full dose 10g or two tubes per day as most people don’t see great results from 5g per day. I am also decided to go with the ledger clinic in Doncaster for my ongoing treatment CFMH are just so expensive.

I was wondering if it normal to have low Estrogen after fin I was supervised by this and always thought that it would be high.

#4

Any update mate?

#5

Hi All

I am a 31 year old, UK based male took finasteride for c5 years, 1mg ordered from inhouse pharmacy for c2years then 2.5mg per day prescribed by private DR. I did not notice any side effects at 1mg and I think it stopped hair loss but no regrowth. 2.5mg came with side effects which kind of crept on me low libido, loss of focus, weaker erections with less volume and less pleasure. 2.5mg did thicken the hair a fair amount as well.

Stopped taking the drug 6 months ago due to worries over long term effects and the fact that I have had unresolved neck pain for nearly 2 years (spent c £8,000 on various treatments with no success). Since stopped symptoms have improved a bit but I am by no means back to my pre finasteride self. Decided to get some basic blood test done, results were:-

Total T = 7.1 nmol/l range (7.6 -31.4)
Free T = 5.23 ngdl range (8.8 – 27) – this is very low
17 beta Oestradiol 51 pmol range (44 – 156)

Will being seeing an endo soon, he will no doubt know nothing of PFS, am I right in thinking that the current best practice is to try a restart of natural test production first then move on the HRT. I am already following the rest of the guidelines in terms of nutrition, diet and training (basically training / fitness is my hobby and has been right through this period).

Anyone got any further insight into my results, any ideas stoke suggestion on which DR to see in Cardiff, South Wales, UK would be great.

PS Due you think I could sue to DR who put my on 2.5mg of the drug when the correct dose if 1mg?

#6

Hi there, my total testosterone also bottomed out at around the same figure you’ve posted. Sorry if you know any of this already, but here are my thoughts:

I’m not a doctor, but taking into account your results and age, in my opinion the results clearly indicate hypogonadism. Before seeing your Endo I’d suggest getting your LH nd FSH tested which will enable him / her to diagnose either Primary or Secondary Hypogonadism. Primary = problem with your testicles, Secondary = problem with your Pituitary / Hypothalamus.

If your LH and FSH are normal / high, then you will likely be diagnosed with Primary Hypogonadism i.e. your testicles are being stimulated, but are unable to produce testosterone. I haven’t gone down this route, but the treatment options outlined by my Endo were basically limited to exogeneous testosterone. Not a great outcome as your body would then shut down it’s own production of testosterone and your testicles would shrink etc.

If LH and FSH are low, then the diagnosis will likely be Secondary Hypogonadism i.e. not enough LH and FSH is being produced to stimulate your testicles. Your Endo would likely then recommend a Prolactin test. High Prolactin could be indicative of a Pituitary tumour and you would need to have an MRI to rule that out. Low / normal Prolactin and you can rule that out without the MRI, and start looking at your treatment options.

That last outcome was basically what happened with me, check my post for the treatment route I’ve taken. I saw my doctor for a follow-up today so I’ll be uploading an update soon. I’m lucky to have an Endo who is fully aware of PFS.

Welcome and good luck…

PS - Check out the posting guidelines…they like you to fill out the template form and post your bloodwork separately, so we can learn a bit more about your history