ncsugrad's log / help!

[ncsugrad]

Hello,

Similar story to plenty of other people here.. I was on propecia for 3-4 years, then avodart for 1-2 years, all with minimal sides (libido dropped some but not noticeably). A few times over those years I forgot to take it for a few weeks and noticed my libido started coming on strong.. so I always thought I would be fine to stop whenever if I ever wanted to.

I then stopped taking Avodart out of sheer laziness (didn't get prescription refilled) and a few weeks later sex was amazing, felt better than I had remembered it being in a long time. Started back a few weeks later (didn't connect it to Avodart yet), sex went back to how it had been (not as good). So, I stopped again... same thing, sex got awesome, then went down hill and I have had issues ever since. That all happened around April of 2018.

My main issues are lack of genital sensitivity (which makes it very difficult to orgasm a lot of times, DE) and long refractory period (2-3 days usually vs. used to be 100% good for once every day, sometimes more).

Prior to taking anything, I had some basic tests done and I had HIGH total test (1100+) and LOW free test (not sure of the numbers). This is all I had tested at the time. I wish I had tested DHT/SHBG but I didn't know I needed to.

Since then I've been all over the place trying different things. I tried HCG (seemed to help but I only did 1 cycle of 1000 IU's per week for about 3 weeks) but the more I read about it the more I didn't think this was a long term solution. Proviron (makes me super numb when I take even 12.5mg of it) so did not continue that. I've tried all kinds of herbs/vitamins, though not as consistently as I probably should be.

After cycling HCG I had another blood test done a week or two later and I had NORMAL total test (500'ish) and LOW free test, again (not sure of value). I also had some Thyroid stuff checked this time and found. TSH was 2.5, I can find the other results if needed. I'm not sure if test was reduced on this one because of coming off HCG or what.

2-3 weeks ago I tried Tribulus for the first time and the results the first 2-3 days were amazing. Sensitivity was back, refractory period was normal... it was a glimpse into how things should be. But, the results were short lived. I tried it again after a 1 week break but was not able to get the same results again.

Right now I'm taking Iodine supplements, Selenium, NAC, histidine and Choline, all once daily. I just started all of these in the last day or two (some two days ago, some last night) so I don't really know if they are helping or not yet (though some raging boners this morning say probably they aren't hurting, lol)

I really need help on what to do next. Do I give these current supplements time to see what they do? Proceed with TEI?

If proceeding with TEI, do I need to stop taking anything for a few weeks first?

I am at a loss on what to do--I know I need to pick a path and stick with it, I can't keep jumping around. I feel like this forum finally has some possible answers/solutions so I'm leaning towards trying TEI since that seems to work for so many, though it takes a while.

Thoughts?

 

[MNK99]

Good sign can get erections etc and good quality. I'd take TEI. I was totally screwed and only got better with fasting. I was severely depressed tho.
TEI helped a ton of things. I had most symptoms gone, but* it worked on things with also pretty bad symptoms as well as things that felt like a nice bonus.
If not busy/ I'd be back on round 2, plus I needed time post anavar (which was ok - decent, but fasting, tei, etc far outshot it in terms of overall health benefits and efficiency).

Also, it could depend on which symptoms you have... Like 35 plus (From PFS/instigated by Finasteride), I needed to fast, as tons were severe.
And yes, Ideally hold off, Not sure but say 2 weeks min. More like 3-6 weeks maybe to be safe, for TEI testing - to elicit accurate supplementary recommendations.

 

[ncsugrad]

Thanks--I'll try to do 3-4 weeks without any supplements then, then TEI. I'm going to give the current ones I'm on a few more days just to see if they help or not before I stop everything. Maybe I will get a few good days out of it.

It will feel pretty crazy to not take anything for 3-4 weeks, lol

Yeah, erection wise I'm good to go... have maybe had problems once but it's not a regular issue. Usually I'm good to go there

 

[Trump_1776]

Thanks--I'll try to do 3-4 weeks without any supplements then, then TEI. I'm going to give the current ones I'm on a few more days just to see if they help or not before I stop everything. Maybe I will get a few good days out of it.

It will feel pretty crazy to not take anything for 3-4 weeks, lol

Yeah, erection wise I'm good to go... have maybe had problems once but it's not a regular issue. Usually I'm good to go there

If you don't abstain for some time and allow your body to achieve homeostasis on it's own how could you know if you've recovered to any degree?

 

[ncsugrad]

Don't be getting all logical on me now

 

[Walker]

Honestly, if you've never fasted - and have the ability to do so in these 3-4 weeks of no supplements (even if it's only for a week), I would highly recommend doing so. I believe that a lot of people miss out on this opportunity to really heal the body before starting on a protocol. I would do it during the first week however, to give your body time to come back to homeostasis, before taking a hair sample.

 

[ncsugrad]

I guess I've never understood how not eating is going to fix anything--I can understand eating healthy vs. eating crap and how that would help but not sure how eating nothing does. I hear all this "cleanse" and "detoxify" but it sounds like hippy bullshit to me. I guess I'm not saying it doesn't help, but I think there's a more scientific reason behind it than that, if it does, which would make more sense to me than the usual stuff people say about fasts

By fasting I assume you mean nothing but water for days? I've never done anything like that, but I guess I could try it, at least for maybe 2 days at first to see how I do. I need to learn a bit more about it though.

What about the whole juice feast thing that CDNuts recommends? I would at least get some nutrients then, seems more doable than just water for days

 

[Walker]

I guess I've never understood how not eating is going to fix anything--I can understand eating healthy vs. eating crap and how that would help but not sure how eating nothing does. I hear all this "cleanse" and "detoxify" but it sounds like hippy bullshit to me. I guess I'm not saying it doesn't help, but I think there's a more scientific reason behind it than that, if it does, which would make more sense to me than the usual stuff people say about fasts

By fasting I assume you mean nothing but water for days? I've never done anything like that, but I guess I could try it, at least for maybe 2 days at first to see how I do. I need to learn a bit more about it though.

What about the whole juice feast thing that CDNuts recommends? I would at least get some nutrients then, seems more doable than just water for days

I personally recovered using the CDnuts method, and I did a week long juice fast prior to beginning the regimen. And honestly man, if you do some digging around this forum, you'll find that plenty of people have used fasting as a great tool. I would recommend doing that before partaking in it yourself, it's always great when you do your own research, I've found.

Given that you're doing fairly well versus most people (erections are easy, etc.) I would say a juice feast would do you well, but a water fast will be more powerful, there's no doubt about it.

 

[ncsugrad]

I personally recovered using the CDnuts method, and I did a week long juice fast prior to beginning the regimen. And honestly man, if you do some digging around this forum, you'll find that plenty of people have used fasting as a great tool. I would recommend doing that before partaking in it yourself, it's always great when you do your own research, I've found.

Given that you're doing fairly well versus most people (erections are easy, etc.) I would say a juice feast would do you well, but a water fast will be more powerful, there's no doubt about it.

Sounds good--may start with juice feast instead first then... that will be tough enough for someone like that me that has never had to think about what they eat. I can usually eat fried chicken and Oreos all day and not gain any weight

Glad to hear you recovered! Did you do his whole method, i.e. all the cold showers, herbs, etc.?

 

[Walker]

Sounds good--may start with juice feast instead first then... that will be tough enough for someone like that me that has never had to think about what they eat. I can usually eat fried chicken and Oreos all day and not gain any weight

Glad to hear you recovered! Did you do his whole method, i.e. all the cold showers, herbs, etc.?

Yes. I was pretty rigid on following everything to the T that he listed. I attribute this to recovering from PFS in around 18-22 month timeframe. I'm currently working on some pre-existing conditions that I had before PFS (PTSD, gallbladder removal causing digestion problems) that I'm utilizing TEI for currently, but as far as PFS goes, I can only recommend the CDnuts method.

I saw you over on Swole Source as well, I'm Maxout777 over there. My log is on that forum if you want to read anything I posted from back in the day related to my PFS recovery.

 

[ncsugrad]

Yes. I was pretty rigid on following everything to the T that he listed. I attribute this to recovering from PFS in around 18-22 month timeframe. I'm currently working on some pre-existing conditions that I had before PFS (PTSD, gallbladder removal causing digestion problems) that I'm utilizing TEI for currently, but as far as PFS goes, I can only recommend the CDnuts method.

I saw you over on Swole Source as well, I'm Maxout777 over there. My log is on that forum if you want to read anything I posted from back in the day related to my PFS recovery.

Thanks--I'll do that. Hearing 18-22 months scares the shit out of me. I'm impatient I guess, and the idea of doing cold showers for a year+ makes me want to cry, haha.

I wish we could figure out "why" it works so someone like Helen can come up with a faster way to make it happen. Oh well. One day.

 

[Walker]

Thanks--I'll do that. Hearing 18-22 months scares the shit out of me. I'm impatient I guess, and the idea of doing cold showers for a year+ makes me want to cry, haha.

I wish we could figure out "why" it works so someone like Helen can come up with a faster way to make it happen. Oh well. One day.

It's all dependent on an individual's body chemistry. You're much better off than I was when I started. I was in a really bad place. There's people on there that recover within a year. Again, I believe this is where fasting helps more. I think had I bit the bullet and water fasted for a longer period of time, my recovery would've been a little quicker. Either way, it still works.

Also, keep in mind that I was highly "liveable" after 10 months to a year. It's the final 10-20% that takes FOREVER to come around. It's honestly one of the most annoying things.....you get to the point where you feel like a normal human being again, just minus a few things - and PFS becomes less and less a thought in your life. But you're just a few steps from being all the way back with your friends, family, etc. It's a real mind fuck.

 

[ncsugrad]

Good deal--I mean honestly if I can get the sexual sensitivity stuff back I'd be fine, so I guess that's not bad compared to a lot of folks. I have some other small things like headaches many late afternoons that I never had before, but nothing crazy compared to a lot the stories I've read

So the plan is a few more days of current supplements for the hell of it

3-4 weeks with no supplements/juice feast or fast if I'm feeling brave then go from there, to either CDNuts diet, etc. or do TEI

 

[joekool]

That refractory length is due to prolactin levels. Try pramipexole to fix that and bring those levels down

 

[ncsugrad]

That refractory length is due to prolactin levels. Try pramipexole to fix that and bring those levels down

I’ve taken cabergoline before, doesn’t fix it. And gives me a wicked headache

I can try prami if you think that would work better?

 

[Trump_1776]

Thanks--I'll do that. Hearing 18-22 months scares the shit out of me. I'm impatient I guess, and the idea of doing cold showers for a year+ makes me want to cry, haha.

I wish we could figure out "why" it works so someone like Helen can come up with a faster way to make it happen. Oh well. One day.

LOL, my bro... 18-22 months is nothing

 

[ncsugrad]

 

[Trump_1776]

I mean.... Some dudes have had this shit for 8 years bro

 

[joekool]

What kind of cabergoline did you try? Research grade in liquid or pharma grade in pill form?

 

[ncsugrad]

What kind of cabergoline did you try? Research grade in liquid or pharma grade in pill form?

Pharma grade, pill form. I have before/after prolactin tests that took it from high side of "normal" to low side of "normal" with no change otherwise, so it wasn't fake stuff. I just don't think that's the problem for me. I was taking tiny amounts, like 0.125mg a week. I felt better when I stopped taking it than when it was doing its thing. I don't think that's the problem in my case, but maybe I didn't try it long enough or something like that?

Does anyone else feel decent sexually when hungover? It seems to take drinking two days in a row now for it to happen.. but I still feel pretty damn normal the morning after I drink 2 nights in a row (which is very, very rare)