Work, career and professional life.

General Discussion
#1

I know many here have stopped working after propecia. It is the same for me, as i was unable to function and think clearly for quite some time. I still have many ups and downs, and this is the most challenging aspect of this disease for me. There is never stability. And this is what makes it harder to restart my professional life again. Work used to be the main part of my life, and it makes me very sad and empty to feel not useful. I am having great difficulty in finding an occupation that is compatible with the limitations i have now, which are:

  1. I can’t go to school again, i am not as sharp as i used to be, don’t follow the same pace as others (if i have to study everyday and some days i am feeling awful, for example). I wish it wasnt that way, i d go to med school or architecture, i am smart enough to do it, but i lost my edge… I was so competent and competitive, and now i am old and slow.
  2. I don’t have a lot of energy
  3. Every day i have to adjust my metabolism according to the symptoms i have on that day (light depression, insomnia, digestion problems, fatigue, etc). So depending how i wake up, i exercise or eat something that will fight the symptom, etc. This takes time.
  4. I used to work on the food business, which i loved, but it is fast paced and energetic, i can’t do it anymore. My whole career is based on that field, which makes it very hard to start from scratch now. No one hires me on another field, because my resumee shows that my work experience is on food business. I can’t start my own restaurant, because i would not have the energy needed to make it work. I also have many diet restrictions now, which does not help if you want to manage a food place.
  5. I have thought about starting a small business, so i can only manage it (not required to be there the whole time, this is what i mean), but i am quite insecure if i will have the stability and be able to do it.
  6. My last alternatives have been to take easy low paid jobs, so the level of commitment is lower, and you have to spend less energy (physical and intelectual) to keep it. It worked for some time, but it is getting frustrating after some years doing this. I feel empty. I can do so much more professionaly, but my metabolism is now a burden.

I just wanted to share this with you and hear how you have managed to overcome these obstacles. It is amazing how this drug screw us in so many areas of our lifes.

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#2

I actually never thought I’d work again in the first couple of years post fin, I was that screwed up.
Dramatic changes in body composition, severe fatigue, pitiful concentration, chronic cognitive dysfunction, depression and more.

If you’re at the sharp end of PFS, and getting every single symptom of androgen deprivation rather than just ‘persistent erectile dysfunction’, it’s a pretty serious health condition. Only in the last year or so has some of the stuff become more manageable to the extent that I could consider getting back into the workplace, but I’m in no rush. I am amazed and admire how some guys who also got hammered in all areas can try and carry on but you only live once.

I also couldn’t go back to my old career. But in some ways it’s a wake up call about what’s important in life, truly ‘your health is your wealth’ and should be your top priority. I am also worried I might regress, or deteriorate in other areas. Motivation is also a problem, it’s amazing how much of a man’s vitality let alone virility is controlled by hormones. I think when they decline in older men it’s nature’s way of telling you you’ve had your time.

#3

Sounds a lot like me, and what my future holds. I went to school part time, was aiming for a second degree in math, just because I wanted the challenge. I can no longer work. I used to love working in the food business because it was so easy to meet girls and get laid.

To avoid the “what ifs” and “what could’ve beens” I just pretend that I am in jail. I did commit a crime (against my body), I am a prisoner (in my own body). When you’re in jail, you don’t need to worry about having sex or being in a relationship. I look forward to when I get released, I don’t know when that’ll be, 4-8 years, who knows. That’s how I have to reframe my attitude to avoid severe depression.

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#4

I absolutely loved my job, but had to give it up because I could no longer function and felt so awful during and after my finasteride usage. nothing is the same. Nothing. I agree with SA, this is like a prison sentence. Probably worse in reality.

#5

I had my dream job… a once in a lifetime opportunity, had to give it up two months after starting because of my cognitive issues. They are holding the job for me, but who knows when i’ll be able to get back at it. It’s pretty physically demanding, I worked hard and got my degree did 6 of the top internships in the country in my field to get where I was now it’s over.

#6

I too think my career as a Network Engineer is over. It needs a lot of physical energy and mantel alertness which I don’t have any more.
After thinking and thinking I decided to dribe a taxi . I thought it would be an easy task but after spending $1200 I failed the test. I needed to memorize many location in my city which was not difficult and many new comers to my city memorized these locations easily but for me it was like climbing a mountain. I will make an other attempt if could not pass then will think about other options.

#7

I graduated from electrical engineering and had to drop out and devote myself to work easy and simple for congnisitivos problems but the strange thing is that I began to give braing pic from 8 years of propecia. Unfortunately that has caused this causes us to go and make an attack merck be if we listen to once and for all.

#8

I’m interested to know how long guys took off work due to the crash before being fit enough to return? Please post or pm me, thanks

#9

I lost my job aswell i was happy person before finastride but now not