Hi. Firstly thanks to @bruschi11 for the add and keeping this forum going.
Main things to note in terms of medical history are: Had symptoms of HPV from 2019-2021. Tinnitus randomly switched on during lockdown (GABA related mess?) in 2021. Was on Mirtazapine for around 5 months in 2021.
Developed PFS pretty much on Christmas day 2023 (isn't life great). I'd been on low dose oral fin for around 3 weeks and topical minox for around 1.5 months, also saw palmetto shampoo for a couple weeks (which at one point I accidentally applied instead of bodywash which gave me itchy af balls for a few days after..) and then a bout of covid just prior to christmas which I reckon was the cherry on top that caused the whole cataclysm to happen so suddenly. Oh I also took a small dose of shrooms back in November. Noticed the sides occuring and stopped taking everything immediately, no tapering.
Symptoms were the fairly standard ED, loss of libido, insomnia (type 2), night sweats, tremors (especially pelvic floor and legs), depression, loose stool, dry skin peeling on hands,
First couple of months I think I just panicked, I can't really remember any of it. At some point during this I tried Cialis and that did fuck all of course so only took 5mg a couple of times. In Feb I water fasted for 9 days, followed by juice feasting for a week. Also started the Bulletproof gut protocol immediately after and tried to practice general healthy consumption, going paleo, etc. except I was still vaping a lot.
As I hadn't yet seen many accounts warning of the controversial herbs I began ashwa, rhodiola, spirulina, based on some less reliable forums. Can't say these messed me up much, beyond giving me the worst runs and making me feel super faint, but I only stuck with them for around a week. Around the start of April I quit those ones and stuck to TMO herbs and chose ones which were vetted by more reliable accounts, alongside continuing the Bulletproof gut protocol. That stack was:
MORNING
L Carnitine 500mg
L Citrulline 500mg
Butea Superba = once a week (cycle)
Horny Goat Weed w /maca = once a week (cycle)
Tongkat Ali = once a week (cycle)
Fadogia = once a week (cycle)
Pine pollen = once a week (cycle)
Eucommia = once a week (cycle) (1200mg)
Astragalus = once a week (cycle)
AFTERNOON
Royal Jelly (daily)
L Carnitine 500mg
L Citrulline 500mg
EVENING
Gut smoothie
NIGHT
Magnesium Glycinate
L Carnitine 500mg
L Citrulline 500mg
L Thianine
Ox bile with meaty meals too
Capra mineral whey once a day
Something in this first couple of months Jan-April did steer me slightly back on track, although I feel like it was my body just naturally healing to the best degree it could manage, which saw the end of my premature ejaculation at least, but that was it - maybe that was the limit to my natural recovery and my body found its new baseline, or maybe I started meddling when I should have just left things alone.
I believe I had testosterone and SHBG levels tested prior to commencing this protocol, maybe at the start of Feb, but this info’s been overwritten and I need to see if my doc still has the records. Had bloods taken end of May, whilst on this regimen, and my serum testosterone level was 37.7 nmol/L and SHBG extremely high at 134 nmol/L.. Both endocrinologists I’ve seen since have speculated that the herbs are maybe responsible for the high levels. As I’ll get on to, there is some credence to this.
End of June I came off of herbs and was ready to jump on prohormones, as per TMO, but I was nervous and went to the first of the two endos I’ve seen. Thought I’d try out his advice and came off everything for 6 weeks to see if this would lower my SHBG. He also recommended I drink red wine every day. Didn’t believe much in this old wives tale approach. However upon testing in Aug, at the end of this period of taking nothing, I did have a much lower SHBG, down to 69. My serum testosterone went down too however, to 33. Free testosterone was at 444 pmol/L, but I’m not sure what my prior level was. Also should note the one liver flush I’ve done was during this period, with a professional conducting it, had a little crash following it but recovered to baseline after a week or two.
Since that first upswing in April I continued to have upswings and downswings and these seem to continue no matter what protocol I’m on. No upswing had me exactly where I was pre-pfs but they were substantial enough.
At the end of Aug I jumped on HTMA trace minerals and some TEI components like raw egg whites for a couple of weeks and I had a pretty big upswing. Then start of Sep I started seeing an ayurvedic doctor and tried maintaining paleo along with those dietary restrictions as best I could. Was put back on ashwagandha along with other herbs and dietary factors which comprised things I’m not aware of. During this period I’d say I had the best improvements to my gut and bowel movements which have been harder on average since. Was only committed to this until Nov when I switched to a new protocol.
Started doing TEI again, but didn’t see the same upswing as before, alongside some new complex supplements from a natural medicine endocrinologist I found, which included:
Adrenal Support and Body Clock Regulation:
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, L-Theanine, 5-Hydroxytryptrophan, Melatonin, Tribulus
Extract, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Pregnenolone, Passiflora Extract, Rhodiola
Extract, Lepidium Meyenil Extract, Valeriana Extract
Male Vitality Formula:
Muira Puma Extract, Damiana Extract, Tribulus Terrestris Extract, Americal Ginseng
Extract, Peruvian Ginseng Extract, Gotu Kola Extract, Astragalus Extract,
Homovanillate (HVA) and Vanilmandelate (VMA) Balancing:
L-Tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine, Mucuna Pruriens Extract
Glutathione Support:
Milk Thistle Extract - Glutathione - Diindolylmethane (DIM)
Indole - 3 Carbinol - N-Acetyl Cystine (NAC)
In the blood tests collected in Jan of this year, whilst on this programme, my serum testosterone was 36.9, SHBG was 70, and free testosterone was 510 pmol/L. I’ve quit this programme now as didn’t have faith in the endo - asked several times for the dosages but he avoided giving them to me which feels very unethical - and feel like it was having a negative impact on my estrogen, with my already lacking sensitivity worsening. For now I’m seeing another endo in London, who has again recommended coming off everything for 6 weeks and testing again at the end to see where I’m at in terms of SHBG. He actually has experience dealing with PFS so I’ll see what he recommends next.
For now I’m just going to continue with TEI for this 6 week period.
Currently my sleep is good (aided by magnesium still however), libido is above baseline, morning erections not full but are there, sensitivity above baseline, pelvic floor tremors pretty much gone, although I’m getting some twitchiness in my testes, dry skin has pretty much gone, bowel movements are pretty sturdy, depression and brain fog quite bad currently though.
Attaching my HTMA (May 2024), OAT (May 2024), DUTCH (Sep 2024) and bloods in separate entries below.
Feel like an intruder here as I’m certainly not smart enough to analyse or strategise for myself, so I’m hoping for some guidance here and intense edification. Really appreciate this forum and any help you guys might be able to offer - I owe you all a cup of Capra mineral whey if anyone can lend some insight and help me through this.
Main things to note in terms of medical history are: Had symptoms of HPV from 2019-2021. Tinnitus randomly switched on during lockdown (GABA related mess?) in 2021. Was on Mirtazapine for around 5 months in 2021.
Developed PFS pretty much on Christmas day 2023 (isn't life great). I'd been on low dose oral fin for around 3 weeks and topical minox for around 1.5 months, also saw palmetto shampoo for a couple weeks (which at one point I accidentally applied instead of bodywash which gave me itchy af balls for a few days after..) and then a bout of covid just prior to christmas which I reckon was the cherry on top that caused the whole cataclysm to happen so suddenly. Oh I also took a small dose of shrooms back in November. Noticed the sides occuring and stopped taking everything immediately, no tapering.
Symptoms were the fairly standard ED, loss of libido, insomnia (type 2), night sweats, tremors (especially pelvic floor and legs), depression, loose stool, dry skin peeling on hands,
First couple of months I think I just panicked, I can't really remember any of it. At some point during this I tried Cialis and that did fuck all of course so only took 5mg a couple of times. In Feb I water fasted for 9 days, followed by juice feasting for a week. Also started the Bulletproof gut protocol immediately after and tried to practice general healthy consumption, going paleo, etc. except I was still vaping a lot.
As I hadn't yet seen many accounts warning of the controversial herbs I began ashwa, rhodiola, spirulina, based on some less reliable forums. Can't say these messed me up much, beyond giving me the worst runs and making me feel super faint, but I only stuck with them for around a week. Around the start of April I quit those ones and stuck to TMO herbs and chose ones which were vetted by more reliable accounts, alongside continuing the Bulletproof gut protocol. That stack was:
MORNING
L Carnitine 500mg
L Citrulline 500mg
Butea Superba = once a week (cycle)
Horny Goat Weed w /maca = once a week (cycle)
Tongkat Ali = once a week (cycle)
Fadogia = once a week (cycle)
Pine pollen = once a week (cycle)
Eucommia = once a week (cycle) (1200mg)
Astragalus = once a week (cycle)
AFTERNOON
Royal Jelly (daily)
L Carnitine 500mg
L Citrulline 500mg
EVENING
Gut smoothie
NIGHT
Magnesium Glycinate
L Carnitine 500mg
L Citrulline 500mg
L Thianine
Ox bile with meaty meals too
Capra mineral whey once a day
Something in this first couple of months Jan-April did steer me slightly back on track, although I feel like it was my body just naturally healing to the best degree it could manage, which saw the end of my premature ejaculation at least, but that was it - maybe that was the limit to my natural recovery and my body found its new baseline, or maybe I started meddling when I should have just left things alone.
I believe I had testosterone and SHBG levels tested prior to commencing this protocol, maybe at the start of Feb, but this info’s been overwritten and I need to see if my doc still has the records. Had bloods taken end of May, whilst on this regimen, and my serum testosterone level was 37.7 nmol/L and SHBG extremely high at 134 nmol/L.. Both endocrinologists I’ve seen since have speculated that the herbs are maybe responsible for the high levels. As I’ll get on to, there is some credence to this.
End of June I came off of herbs and was ready to jump on prohormones, as per TMO, but I was nervous and went to the first of the two endos I’ve seen. Thought I’d try out his advice and came off everything for 6 weeks to see if this would lower my SHBG. He also recommended I drink red wine every day. Didn’t believe much in this old wives tale approach. However upon testing in Aug, at the end of this period of taking nothing, I did have a much lower SHBG, down to 69. My serum testosterone went down too however, to 33. Free testosterone was at 444 pmol/L, but I’m not sure what my prior level was. Also should note the one liver flush I’ve done was during this period, with a professional conducting it, had a little crash following it but recovered to baseline after a week or two.
Since that first upswing in April I continued to have upswings and downswings and these seem to continue no matter what protocol I’m on. No upswing had me exactly where I was pre-pfs but they were substantial enough.
At the end of Aug I jumped on HTMA trace minerals and some TEI components like raw egg whites for a couple of weeks and I had a pretty big upswing. Then start of Sep I started seeing an ayurvedic doctor and tried maintaining paleo along with those dietary restrictions as best I could. Was put back on ashwagandha along with other herbs and dietary factors which comprised things I’m not aware of. During this period I’d say I had the best improvements to my gut and bowel movements which have been harder on average since. Was only committed to this until Nov when I switched to a new protocol.
Started doing TEI again, but didn’t see the same upswing as before, alongside some new complex supplements from a natural medicine endocrinologist I found, which included:
Adrenal Support and Body Clock Regulation:
Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, L-Theanine, 5-Hydroxytryptrophan, Melatonin, Tribulus
Extract, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Pregnenolone, Passiflora Extract, Rhodiola
Extract, Lepidium Meyenil Extract, Valeriana Extract
Male Vitality Formula:
Muira Puma Extract, Damiana Extract, Tribulus Terrestris Extract, Americal Ginseng
Extract, Peruvian Ginseng Extract, Gotu Kola Extract, Astragalus Extract,
Homovanillate (HVA) and Vanilmandelate (VMA) Balancing:
L-Tyrosine, L-Phenylalanine, Mucuna Pruriens Extract
Glutathione Support:
Milk Thistle Extract - Glutathione - Diindolylmethane (DIM)
Indole - 3 Carbinol - N-Acetyl Cystine (NAC)
In the blood tests collected in Jan of this year, whilst on this programme, my serum testosterone was 36.9, SHBG was 70, and free testosterone was 510 pmol/L. I’ve quit this programme now as didn’t have faith in the endo - asked several times for the dosages but he avoided giving them to me which feels very unethical - and feel like it was having a negative impact on my estrogen, with my already lacking sensitivity worsening. For now I’m seeing another endo in London, who has again recommended coming off everything for 6 weeks and testing again at the end to see where I’m at in terms of SHBG. He actually has experience dealing with PFS so I’ll see what he recommends next.
For now I’m just going to continue with TEI for this 6 week period.
Currently my sleep is good (aided by magnesium still however), libido is above baseline, morning erections not full but are there, sensitivity above baseline, pelvic floor tremors pretty much gone, although I’m getting some twitchiness in my testes, dry skin has pretty much gone, bowel movements are pretty sturdy, depression and brain fog quite bad currently though.
Attaching my HTMA (May 2024), OAT (May 2024), DUTCH (Sep 2024) and bloods in separate entries below.
Feel like an intruder here as I’m certainly not smart enough to analyse or strategise for myself, so I’m hoping for some guidance here and intense edification. Really appreciate this forum and any help you guys might be able to offer - I owe you all a cup of Capra mineral whey if anyone can lend some insight and help me through this.
