Is anyone trying Beta-sitosterol supplements? [He recommends it but I think for PFS sufferers, it’s not good!]
Beta-sitosterol is the main culprit in saw palmetto which destroyed me. Any one who suggests to take BS is talking bs. He is your enemy. It is phytoEstorgen, a darling of tarns genders for growing boobs.
Well in fairness, that Doc was addressing patients with prostate problems, presumably those with enlarged prostates. Not PFS sufferers.
Correct me if im wrong, but since propecia was designed for shrinking enlarged prostates, wouldnt our prostates be too small? And if too small, wouldnt we want to avoid treatments to shrink the prostate?
Yes, I agree, this was written for the general public and not specifically for someone suffering from taking finasteride. And I also agree that taking anything that can potentially shrink your prostate after finasteride use would be contraindicated. You have to discern what would be appropriate. I should have noted that when I posted the link. I think the author mainly endorses beta-sitosterol,
(β-Sitosterol is one of several phytosterols (plant sterols) with chemical structures similar to that of cholesterol. Sitosterols are white, waxy powders with a characteristic odor. They are hydrophobic and soluble in alcohols). -wikipedia,
for BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy). I would not suggest anyone should take a supplement or herb for a condition or illness they do not have. To be fair, the author does go on to endorse beta-sitosterol for other ailments such as high cholesterol, etc for which he sites studies. But again, I would not endorse taking any product for a condition you do not have and have not been diagnosed with using any means, be it by natural or pharmaceutical methods.
Overall, I thought the information provided about hormones, vitamins, minerals, saliva testing, etc could be helpful and lead to further interest and education with regard to the prostate.
Also, I think when referring to whole grains, it is meant one should consume complex carbs/healthy grains like spelt, millet, buckwheat, quinoa, brown rice, soba noodles, etc. not simple/junk carbs like white bread, white rice, bagels, etc which the body responds to as if eating sugar.
Id say some of us deffinetly have enlarged prostates. I remember mew saying his prostate was examined and was found to be small tho.
are you serious or joking?
Fin or SP shrink prostate. Can you show me a single study where SP or fin can enlarge prostate. I offer you $1000. I can bet 99% of us have shrunken prostates now, Again I offer you $1000 if you prove me other wise. Sorry don’t have more money in my account.
No question. Not debatable. This is what proscar was originally indicated for. And no question about it, we have shrunken, atrophied prostates thanks to finasteride. Elsewhere, I have read that Dr. Crisler treats enlaraged prostates with estrogen reduction; don’t know too much about this, but just fyi.
Wow, quite a bit of action on here. Well of course my prostate is smaller, it feels like theres a hole where it used to be, i was pissing once an hour and couldn’t really feel that usual power i could generate, piss out the toilet window kind of power. So i’ve been trying to exercise by stopping flow mid stream and doing some general prostate control exercises (PFM exercise). And i have to say i’m peeing less at least, and i am still drinking a lot of water being in a hot climate.
Take it with a grain of salt, but stimulating muscles increases blood supply and oxygen to that area. Essential for regeneration, the same as any physical exercise. People may disagree but i’m going to keep at it. There can’t be any harm, if i don’t come out of this normal i’ll at least have good bladder control.
Aside that a few tired days this week, hard to tell between workload and exercising, but better than i’ve been. Found some GNC Triple Ginseng in Malaysia, which was 130RM, about 35US which is wicked cheap. Much better on my stomach than the pharmacy brand stuff, and makes me happy, i’ve had a great day today. No real benefit on the ED though,still the main worry.
Have some slight morning wood now though, got a phone call last night and found it fairly full and weighty, not even close to hard, but its like the engines turning over now at least. Just starving for fuel.
This is more a blog for myself to track what i’ve done, but if it benefits someone so be it.
Had a seriously low day yesterday, was tired, balls were small, really saggy and aching. I decided to have a good dinner, i usually eat a fair bit of red meat so i had a decent bit of rib eye, nice and rear.
Had a good sleep afterward, and woke up feeling pretty chipper this morning. Seems i require a lot more sleep at the moment.
But my balls were up, bigger and things felt a little more normal down there this morning.
Had a serious urge to see/root my girlfriend today, which hasn’t really happened yet. Even a bit frustrated and emo that i won’t see her for another 6 weeks. Probably a good sign, has been a while since i’ve felt emotional.
Taking Vit D3, GNC Triple Ginseng, Centrum Multi.
General diet is oats for breakfast no sugar, usually rice and curry for lunch (work provided), Beans, greens and some rice for dinner.
Managed a pretty solid erection lying on the couch, full head, still a little bendy. But the best yet i’d say. I get that shiver when i pee again too, quite a bit more sensitive i’d have to say. Kegel’s have been going good, less urge to pee at work, and i can really control that muscle more now.
I’m going to keep this up weekly till i can honestly say i’m recovered.
Next things to try is a 60m wreck dive, coming up this weekend, deepest i’ve ever been, who knows maybe a bit of nitrox will work.
Makes me seriously hyperactive usually.
FWIW, I definitely have a much more frequent need to pee, and sometimes have trouble getting a stream started, so aren’t those signs of an enlarged prostate? Or maybe they can be both? (I’ve had no shrinkage, btw).
I used to be a fairly frequent urinator pre-fin especially when drinking so I don’t really need to pee more than usual but i do have trouble getting it started and the stream is much weaker post fin. I never got pee shy before fin but it seems to happen quite often now.
My list exactly.
I have frequent urination also.
Anyone else get uncontrollable urination? If I don’t go sometimes it happens on it’s own even if I am sleeping. I plan my actions on whether or not there will be a toilet around me. If not I stop drinking water way before I go anywhere so there is no more left to pee out.
Well another week rolls by.
No i don’t have uncontrollable need to pee, and really it’s probably cos i drink a lot of water. 3-5L a day generally. But i used to be able to hold it in for a long time, now it seems i feel the urge more. It’s not a big issue for me though, and i usually try exercise while i’m at it.
Pretty decent week actually. One day where i was quite tired, but aside that i’ve had a fair amount of energy, and been pretty motivated. Brain fog has definitely gone. Back the the clear head i remember, decision making skills are getting back, that was the biggest surprise of the week. Back to the quick problem solving skills i used to have.
Things that have gotten better:
Balls have been a bit larger, can get a pretty solid boner now but it doesn’t hang around for long. Generally more full and weighty all the time, so the shrinkage isn’t permanent. Sensitivity is better, i notice it when i pee.
Energy level. Semen is less watery, i think that comes with the balls thing.
Things that haven’t changed:
General desire, spontaneous erections, morning erections, still seem to be in some kind of testosterone cycle, ups and downs.
Nothing’s got worse anyway!!! I think this is reversible damage…
Nothing extra to the regime, just gym, running and vitamins.
And to the people that email me, just write it on the board for everyone’s benefit.
This is still an unstated side effect of Propecia yet a direct cause/effect relationship for Proscar. They have almost identical alterations on circulating DHT levels, the reduction of which reduces prostate size.
It seems to me there are a lot of unstated sides. But everyone’s physiology is different, the activity of certain receptors and cycles varies. Some people don’t get side effects at all. I can only speak for my changes, i’m not a medical doctor, but have a university background in pharmaceutical chemistry, enough to understand what has been effected in my body. The whole time i used Propecia, i was looking for the changes i knew might happen, the day i noticed, i got out. But had the joy of the “Crash” and post fin sides.
For me, i am fit and punish my body pretty hard. I notice how my diet effects my performance. So i can definitely notice what this has done to me. Unfortunately it has been post fin that the side effects picked up, something none anticipated, i’d believe weaning off the stuff would leave you more hormonally level.
I believe i have Pre fin blood work somewhere from a few years back, i’ll try find it and post it. I plan on getting a comparative when i see a civilized country again. I have a good health plan, so if someone can give me an idea of what blood work costs, i’m more than happy to create a blood history. Even a nice plot. I don’t think i’ll be rock bottom like some on here, just not the man i used to be.
4 months off the shit.
Another week goes by.
Interesting one all round, a new country, new diet and very little sleep.
Things that are worse;
Nothing !!!
But my balls are still small, ejaculate volume low. My main worry.
Rash? could be the new country or food, or a reaction to supplements. I have no idea.
Sensitivity, and feeling of nothingness in my loins.
Things that have gotten Better:
Everything else…!!!
–Firstly, my metabolism has gone back to normal, i’m starving hungry all the time, and burning food like i used to. Good amount of energy. Leaned down quite a bit lately. This could be due to a general change in diet in a 3rd world country but i’m not sure.
–Size, is full more often, but not as often as usual.
–Had a couple of day time random chubbies, not great, dissapear pretty quick but they’re something, and i can feel them.
–General laying around erections have been pretty decent 80%, the tip doesn’t seem to get very hard still, but definitely better.
–Skin is oilier, the odd zit here and there. Not sure if my hairloss has changed, but i don’t care at all. i’d say it’s probably where it should be if i had never taken that shit.
–Ball pain, mostly gone, hoping i may be able to get back on a bike soon.
–Morning and night wood. Not great, semi’s, 40%
Regime for the week:
Eating healthy in Burma, sleep as much as i can.
Triple Ginseng, Tribulus, Vit D 5000IU per 3 days, Centrum multi.
Kegel exercises (beneficial i think), Gym 3 days, Run 40 km. 2 hour traditional massage.
If i continue improving at this rate, i’ll be very happy, i’d say overall i’m at 50-60%. 80% within the month would be my goal.
I have to do a medical next month so i’ll ask for blood work, is there anything i should specifically ask for?
It’s at works expense, so i’m keen to help produce some data if required.
I’ll post the 2 year old blood work tomorrow.
Update since it’s been a month or more.
Some improvements, they seem to be slower now but i am in a more stable progression to normality. It’s coming up 6-7 months since i stopped using P and can now get and maintain a 85-90% erection during sex.
Ejaculate is thicker again and of a normal volume.
There is no brain fog, i’m focussed and clear.
Things that remain are:
Low sensitivity, Head doesn’t fill completely, balls are still smaller than normal but increased compared to 2 months ago.
Sex drive is up quite a bit, Random bone is not very frequent
Things i’ve noticed:
I’m shakier than i’ve been before. Shaky hands when i try and focus on doing something with them.
What i’m doing.
Vit D, Trib (cycles 5 days 3 off), centrum Multi, Ginseng, Sleep, exercise (swim run bike gym diving hiking).
Eating well.
Thought I’d post an update, as it’s coming up 3 years since I stopped using fin, and suffered from the same crash others describe.
I still have some persistent sides, but I can now live a fairly normal life. I still suffer from some ED, I believe some of the problem is anxiety though, but most of the time I have no problems in bed.
I do however have smaller that average testicles and suffer from noticable fatigue at times when life gets hectic. Libido is still a little low. The urge isn’t always there. Emotionally I’m a little flat, heartless maybe.
I do believe though that time is the cure with a healthy diet, exercise and maybe not focussing on the problem so often. I did a lot of research in the first few months, but there was no obvious answer, so i stopped reading, it became quite overwhelming, and i didn’t like the idea of drug concoctions i was reading about. The anxiety becomes hard to separate from the real symptoms. I don’t beleive hammering your body with drugs will fix a neurological/Hormonal imbalance.
I’ll update again at some point. I wouldn’t say I’m cured but the last 10-20% to normality will hopefully come with time.
For the people interested, daily I (try to) take the following. Nothing more, I don’t believe it makes and difference other than general health and sport performance.
Vit D
Magnesium
Zinc
Multi Vitamin
Gym days
D Aspartic acid
Protein shake + psyllium
Good luck all.