Messed Myself Up with SARMs and Finasteride (Update: Restart Successful)

Pharma / TRT Testosterone Replacement
42

1500 IU each injection mon, wed and fri.

Did my first injection last night. I assume it’s still too early for my body to respond, interestingly however, today my nuts have been aching all day and are pulling up extremely tight and close to my body. Would have thought that HCG would have the opposite effect. Still early days and I’m sure I just need to wait it out.

Cheers

43

Wanted to update everyone on my progress for those interested. Have had zero response from the HCG over the past couple of weeks.

Saw the TRT doc today, he has advised me to swap from IM injections to SC. He wants me on the following protocol:

  • continue 1500 IU HCG, 3x per week, however to inject SC
  • low dose Azol (I think danazol?) to lower SHBG, 100mg every 2nd day

Both docs said they will prescribe test, but given I’m young, both believe it’s possible to restore hormonal function. Will update down the track on how things go. Cheers

44

Hey mate, any update on how things are going. I have been prescribed and am starting in the next coming weeks. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction

45

Hi there mate. Can do.

4 week bloods on 4500 IU HCG per week with no danazol below. Interestingly, SHBG almost halved. I have therefore not been taking danazol.

TT 39.7 (10.0-35.0)
SHBG 29.0 (13-71)
FT 1065 (225-725)
FSH <1 (1-10)
LH <1 (1-10)
E2 182 (55-150)

Then reviewed with my endocrinologist and he had the following to feed back:

  • advised reducing HCG dose, given elevated TT and E2, I am currently on 2250 IU per week and have another 4 wk blood test scheduled this weekend,
  • endocrinologist advised against using an AI like anastrazole to combat high E2. He instead advised reducing HCG dosage,
  • endocrinologist was not against the use of danazol, however advised the effects are only temporary while you are on the drug. I have not been using danazol and SHBG has reduced from 52 to 29 just by increasing my total test with HCG.

Symptoms have improved, but I am not 100% better yet. I am currently going through some depression from this ordeal which is likely having complications of its own. At least my symptoms are no longer debilitating which is a start.

Testies are yet to recover size. TRT doc advised this could take time, possibly 6 months, and advised to stay on HCG.

Endocrinologist wants to rereview at the 3 months on HCG mark, and wants to take me off HCG to see if my system recovers to produce test on its own. I am going to push my endo to see if he will supply a serm like clomid or nolva to help the restart.

I have another 4wk mark bloods scheduled for this weekend that I can share next week as well.

Good luck and feel free to ask any questions.

Cheers

46

Good to here that you are going through the process step by step to find if it is something else instead of being on trt.

What improvements have you had so far?

47

Hey mate, symptoms prior were debilitating. Post HCG I now have the energy to function throughout the day & at work. My mental state, wellbeing and motivation has also improved.

I’m not 100% better yet however. Fatigue & brainfog still persist. I have also just been diagnosed with coeliac disease which can lead to similar symptoms. So won’t truly get better until I resolve the issues with my gut.

Going to persist with the HCG and a healthy low inflamitory diet for now and place my body in the best possible position for recovery once I get off HCG

Cheers

EDIT 9/1/2020: I suspect I felt like shit on HCG due to really high estrogen. Looking back now I had high estrogen symptoms ( bloating and senstive nipples)

EDIT: 30/8/2020: Reflecting back now, I still felt like absolute utter shit on HCG, to be honest, if I did see any changes it was very very minor.

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48

Hey everyone,
Update for whoever cares.

After 3 months on HCG (I stopped cold turkey with no SERMS), I have now been off any medication for a total of 10 weeks. Blood test results below.

Natty (no HCG or TRT):
Testosterone 23.0 nmol/L(8.0 - 27.8)
SHBG 39 nmol/L
Free Testosterone 458 pmol/L (200-600)

Serum T has increased from 15 to 23
SHBG has reduced from 55 to 39
Free test increases from 200 to 450

I am personally calling this a successful restart and plan to continue with natural methods to optimise/boost natty T production further. I’m confident my T will increase further once I start exercising and weight training.

FSH is 9 (1-8)
LH is 3 (2-8)

I suspect my testies have been through trauma from this ordeal and may take longer to recover sperm production for FSH to normalise.

I feel significantly better and have started exercising again.

Thanks!

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49

Was likely the sarms I’m guessing and not finasteride. If finasteride changes anything it’s usually permanent. Good job recovering and don’t screw around anymore with and exogenous crap.

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50

Did your libido also recover with the restart?

51

Hey man. Any input on what I should do? I’m dealing with horrible brain damage from finasteride can’t even think

52

You are giving very little info man. Any specific symptoms and blood work?

53

I posted my blood work in another post but here it is. Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Am I missing anything?

As for specific symptoms, it’s hard to describe but literally my head feels horrible. Constant headaches, head heaviness, it feels like I’m high but I’m not. I can’t function without taking aderall because if I try to read I’ll instantly forget what I just read. It’s horrible

54

If Im mistaken you are not on TRT, right?
Your total test seems quite good. Have you done SHBG test?

To be honest Im not aware how PFS is being treated, I think @systemlord knew some doctors that know how to treat it

55

Hi I’m not on TRT. I’ll have to get that test I don’t have it but does that relate to the brain?

56

It does not relate to the brain but it can show how much free testosterone you have.

Can you test dhea-s and pregnenolone where you live? Pregnenolone relates to brain

I think you should really look for a specialist experienced in treating post finasteride syndrom

57

It sucks because I’ve spent the past two weeks searching for a specialist where I live that deals with PFS and literally can’t find anyone.

58

The vast majority of docs don’t believe PFS is real, so it’s going to be next to impossible to find anyone that specializes it in particular

59

@helpmeplease
There’s boards dedicated to PFS. Be careful about what some of the folks there say as they don’t have much real life experience with hormones but it might be beneficial to check out those boards.

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60

Agree with Dexter. Not much value on those boards, I’ve looked.

61

Those boards will only make you depressed and hopeless. Just getting away from them helped my quality of life.

I decided to look at it from a different angle:

If I didn’t know what PFS was and had never heard of it and never took finasteride, what would I do? What would I think was wrong with me?

My symptoms and blood tests matched up well with low T so I decided to try TRT. So far, it’s helped me significantly. 100% more than any of the crazy herbs and vitamins did that I spent god knows how much money on. I literally threw away an entire garbage bag full of pills from stuff I read on other forums. The only one that did anything was Tribulus

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