Sides Just Started - Please Help!

Member Stories
#21

Hey guys nothing’s really changed and it’s been 3.5 weeks

Any followup advice? Is the recommended strategy just to prioritize overall wellness?

I feel like I should be doing something… the symptoms turned on like a switch, and nothing’s really changed since then

My doctor told me that could take several months for it to return if it’s going to though.

Getting anxious about it… also been feeling kinda out of it, but that could honestly just be stress related to the sexual issues and fear of developing others.

Definitely don’t want to sabotage myself further with nocebo, so trying to stay positive.

#22

I hate to break this to you, but nobody really knows, not on here not anywhere. Hopefully we’ll have a deeper understanding of PFS in the near future. What we do know is people have gotten worse by experimenting with substances so if I were you I’d avoid playing around, especially at this early stage.

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#23

The first months are the worst; both mentally and physically. Personally, I just got out of that phase of hell and it really is like hell. You need to give it time. Your body doesn’t run on the same schedule as you want it to, it takes time to recover from sprains, cuts, abrasions, breaks, strains, etc. You can’t exactly tell your body to hurry up; it just does what it needs to do with what’s available. If you are constantly stressed/anxious/depressed, you actually take away some of the resources that it needs to perform optimally, e.g., body energy management, low energy intake, elevated cortisol, etc.

I’m not saying that I know whether you will recover, no one honestly knows that… but based from my own experience and many others, time usually does improve overall symptoms for most. Full recoveries are quite rare but how we define “full recovery” is also vague. I would consider you fully recovered if your symptoms have improved enough where it becomes comfortably livable.

#24

Hey everyone it’s been about a week and a half since my last post.

Just wanted to say no improvement that I can tell, and testicular atrophy seems to be continuing. I’m not measuring the sizes or anything… wish I had… but I can tell they’re smaller.

The gyno may have improved slightly but it’s hard to really tell.

Sensitivity remains largely the same. Still amazes me how it shut off like a switch. I’m glad I can still get hard and successfully masturbate, but the pre-orgasm experience may be a bit stunted due to decreased sensitivity… and of course I’m analyzing.

Orgasm satisfaction is lower too… I’m not sure why, but it’s not horrible… just not quite the same especially after the 1st.

Today I had 3 masturbation sessions, because I read 4 per day may help PFS… just pulling at straws here lol

One concern still… is the hair. I’ve started on 2x daily minox and will start derma-rolling again next week when I’m back from vacation.

Has anyone had luck taking low dose fin to reverse PFS? I had been fine on low dose, wish I’d just stayed ok it.

Now I wonder if the low dose fin will help fix the hair and help the PFS… hair id the dog they say.

But, yes, I understand that sounds like a bad idea. Also I know… a lot of you are against 5aris so idk…

Will keep you updated thanks again =)

#25

I’d be wary of the minoxidil too if I were you.

It does have some nasty sides which is quite similar to fin. Post minox syndrome is also a thing, but to a less degree than fin. Probably cause it’s applied topically, but even so some always go systemic.

I know how you feel about your hair, but minox won’t stop the loss anyway. Just delay/hide is slightly.

#26

I didn’t start seeing sensitivity improvements for a while. Initially masturbation did help alleviate the symptoms, but I found out that it was more of a psychological thing, for me at least. For instance, I was super concerned about my ability to perform, so being able to masturbate made it reassuring. However, after having recovered mentally (for most part), I can say with confidence that abstinence helps it a lot, mostly around the 4-5 day mark. Also, my sensitivity is better with many days of proper sleep.

#27

I totally get the performance thing, I feel like every day I test myself to make sure I can still successfully masturbate.

My testicular atrophy is really freaking me out… have you heard of hCG? I’ve seen others on this forum talking about it specifically to reverse androgen induced testicular atrophy, and I’ve seen some research on it.

I’m hesitant to try anything this early in the game, but I’m also hesitant not to… because the atrophy has greatest chance of reversal when treatment starts early.

Also thanks for the tip on abstinence. I think I’ll give it a shot then, but everything feels like shots in the dark.

Also… mini-rant… but in the past, doctors helped people find creative, tailored solutions to their medical issues.

These days, in my experience, doctors suggest (and know) little more than the FDA approved solutions and studies.

It makes sense with the risk of malpractice suits and the legal minefield. So… I think individuals primarily solve problems themselves. Not just PFS… lots of shit.

It really opens the door for more medical specialists who don’t necessarily have degrees or “practice” in the traditional sense, but still advise “as-is” for profit.

#28

I’ve heard of this a few times, but I was under the impressin minox is primarily a vasodilator and not androgenic, is that correct? I haven’t had any heart / rhythm issues, but I had seen collagen degradation

#29

From what I understand it interferes with androgen receptor.

It was thought to be only a vasodiliator for a long time but I believe this thinking is obsolete. Oral minox got such a nasty leaflet with side effects it’s ridiculous.

#30

This is really good info… very interesting, thanks so much.

I’ve already cut out my Saw Palmetto shampoo and ketoconazole shampoo.

I’ve been on minox for several years now… maybe I’ll cut it and focus on derma-rolling.

Any known androgen activity there? Though, with most things in life, if you look hard enough for an effect, you’ll probably find something.

——

Also, to the mods, why have I lost the ability to post without review? There was a post I made on another thread which was marked as “unlisted”… no explanation as to why or why I lost my right to poat without review.

#31

Hey @Tyec

Sorry about that - not sure why you were on post approval but I’ve fixed that up for you.

I would completely cut anything that can be anti-androgenic - Saw Palmetto, Keto and Minox included. Some members are here because of those substances alone.

Also, once you have been off the drug for 3 months, could you please help our research efforts by completing the patient survey?

Thanks,
Mitch

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#32

Your taking saw P products after having issues from taking fin? How come ?

#33

No I used to be on it I got off after symptoms hit.

#34

Great thank you! I will plan to take the survey at the 3 month mark.

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#35

Guys I’m having a really hard time with this.

Ball ache / pain and the testicular atrophy is bad… they’ve lost about 40% of volume!

I’ve been scouring the forums, but there is nothing conclusive.

Does anyone have any advice?

I’m honestly worried that if I do nothing, then they’ll just disappear… sounds crazy, but they’re getting smaller with more pain by the day.

Sensitivity is still bad as well.

#36

Sorry to hear what you are going through

In my opinion in many cases for some reason after our bodies “get PFS” LH, FSH and testosterone is lowered in an attempt to fix the problem and get back into equilibrium or because androgens “are now the problem”

So the thing of it is that you are taking a risk no matter what you do . Don’t try to increase LH, FSH and testosterone and you continue to dwindle due to lack of androgens. You try to increase LH, FSH and testosterone and if your body is lowering it because if it doesn’t the problem will become worse then well your problems may get worse from increasing it…

Best options in my opinion:

Do nothing , take nothing hope it passes and you don’t get “true PFS”

Go for an approach in the middle . Don’t increase to TRT levels. But don’t settle with androgens being really low. Shoot to get your T in the middle of the reference range with herb cycling and sprinting, getting as much sleep as possible and working out hard. This is what I did in my early days and still do now at 36 but to a lesser extent obviously just because I’m not 25 anymore. It certainly prevented my body from dwindling . But never cured me …a similar approach combined with other things has cured others though over extended periods of time but their stories are not popular here mainly because this site generally speaking consists of the worst of the worst case wise which these things don’t generally work for

Have you had labs ? What are your levels ? I did not have time to read this those thread.
Consider full ZRT analysis so we can see exactly what’s going on right now with as many things as possible to the fullest extent that we currently have the ability to use . Which in my opinion as of now is ZRT lab analysis. If you would like a link to use to get the ZRT lab analysis done let me know. It’s not free though and your insurance won’t cover it . I have personally set up a way though to do it with no doctors order

#37

Hey guys, it’s been 2.5 months since my first post and things continue to get worse…

The testicular atrophy has continued, and it feels like my testicles are 1/2 their original size or smaller.

Given how incredibly rare this condition is, I cannot believe it hit me. I wish so badly that I never stopped taking FIN which is when I noticed all the sides.

Maybe I could have been fine with no sexual sides and hair had I just kept going idk…

My GP says the side effects may persist and I’m just so torn on what to do.

The atrophy is relentless and the sensitivity remains very low.

I’m just feeling desperate and I wish I knew what to do…

I have not stopped taking minoxidil because I’ve been on it years with no issues.

I also still use DHT shampoo and Nizoral because I can’t imagine those are potent enough to be significant…I never even noticed hair gain from them.

I’m considering cutting all of those products, but even in the last two months I’ve had dramatic hair loss.

I’m actually wondering, based on previous anecdotes, if getting back on FIN could help reverse the issue … I could feel it out and ween off slowly?

I’ve heard asparagus and testosterone boosting foods might help?

How about masturbating without orgasm to increase T?

I wish I understood…

I’m nervous that if I don’t do something different, my testicles will shrivel and stop working… they seem to be on their way.

Has anyone totally lost their testicles or successfully reversed the atrophy?

I haven’t had labs done yet because I have much less disposable income than I used to.

For what it’s worth I also had Covid a few months back, not sure it’s relevant

Just freaking out a bit, any arvice greatly appreciated as always.

I imagine everyone will say to stay off FIN and get off min / niz / dht shampoo… I’m just not sure that’s the best option based on other user’s anecdotal evidence

#38

We can’t say for sure what the prognosis, nor best course of action is. We’re all only operating from our personal experience and from what we’ve read of each other’s experiences.

The reason we all recommend getting off (and staying off) finasteride and any/all DHT blockers is because everyone on this forum who has gone back on has regretted it, as it only made things worse.

We can relate to how anxious and unsettled you are; how you want to do something proactive to facilitate healing and recovery. It sucks and I’m sorry you’ve been dealt this hand too. But patience and finding a way to get through day by day is the only safe advice. Some people have had benefits from various diets, supplements, regiments, etc., and then other people have had negative results from those same exact diets/supplements, etc. So we can’t say with any certainty that trying them is a good idea.

Personally, I got awful PFS symptoms after 6 days of 1mg/day of fin. I stopped cold turkey and suffered for 7 months. Then suddenly, I started to turn a corner. I can’t credit anything but giving-it-time.

So based on my own experience, the only thing I can recommend is to give it several months. Try to distract yourself best as you can. If you can find any enjoyment in music, video games, reading, movies, etc., focus on that for the time being. Get your mind off the problem as much as possible, then reassess in a few months.

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