You are vitamin D deficient dude, where I live the normal reference range is 50-150 nmol/L. Good Vitamin D status is crucial for testosterone production. I’d start supplementing with 5000 IU vitamin D and 200mcg Vitamin K per day. Get Vitamin D rechecked in 3-6 months time, you want to be around 120-140 nmol/L I believe. This may help your recovery substantially.
IMO - SHBG will likely lower with time. In my case for example, after using Finasteride, Nolva & Clomid, my SHBG was at around 50-55. It’s since dropped to 39-46. Hopefully as your body returns to homeostasis your SHBG will return to pre-PCT levels. Boron, Magnesium & Omega 3s, and lots of water 3L per day minimum I believe can help.
Also I’m not sure why the Doc ordered fT4 and not fT3 … given fT3 is the active hormone that is responsible for all the positive physiological effects. Nontheless, your TSH looks really good, so I don’t think you need to worry about your thyroid.
Looks like you’re on track man. IMO - It’s best to give recovery of your testosterone the best possible chance and try everything you can naturally before you go down the TRT route. That way you will always look back and know truly that it was a last resort option. Just do good things every day and give it time, the body can and will heal itself.
Remember this experience will develop you into a much stronger person than before, this is an opportunity for transformation. Always look on the bright side. Keep your head high, understand that this is temporary, you will recover your health, stay positive and never give up.
Hey, thanks for the reply. I will definetly do everything I can before trying TRT. I too am supplementing with Melatonin, 1MG pills. It has improved my sleep dramatically, but some days it still doesnt work, however much better than before. I will start supplementing with Vitamin D, thing is my appetite is horrible since the crash. I eat once a day most days, some days 2-3 times a day.
Latest blood results below. I saw a fertility specialist before hopping on TRT, he wanted to run a hormone panel, and I wanted to share here to inspire future readers. Recovery is possible, it just takes time, consistency, dedication and a bit of luck.
I still plan to hop on TRT, I want to get my Free T to 1000-1500 and see how I feel. Call me crazy, but I still have literally all the symptoms of low T, no doubt this is classic Post Finasteride Syndrome, receptor issues or androgen resistance. Treat the symptoms not a number on a piece of paper.
Hopefully I will be starting at 200mg/week Test next week! Happy to upate here if people are interested.
Please update. I’m also struggling with post-drug issues (apparent androgen receptor and or estrogen receptor insensitivity, which results in the same sides as fin).
TRT showed some favourable sexual benefits initially for me, but they have waned recently. I changed esters and haven’t been super consistent with the dose, so it may be my fault.
Sorry to hear that man, this condition is an actual nightmare. Have you tried increasing the dose? Maybe more T is just needed to overcome the androgen resistance / receptor insensitivity. That’s my logic anyway to try TRT / a mini-blast. It’s worth a shot. I’ll update here with how I go.
Thanks for updating. Your decision seems very reasonable as you have done everything you can to let your body recover. I have a gut feeling that I will have to resort to TRT myself. My T is increasing but it seems like my SHBG is also increasing with it just like you. Just a question, I noticed recently that I used to be able to feel my epididymis, but I cant feel it anymore at all. Did you experience this? Wishing you good luck with the TRT and hope it relieves your symptoms. Will follow along with your journey for sure
Hey mate, yes I 100% understand where you’re coming from here. My balls are so severely atrophied that I too can feel what you are referring to. I didn’t know what an epididymis was until I googled it, but the wikipedia definition of “long, coiled tube” describes perfectly what I feel.
It’s very suprising that I am still fertile and able to pump out so much T despite the trauma the testies have been through.
I am 1000% certian it was the finasteride that did this to me.
Also I have been on low dose fluoxetine for the past few weeks for its positive effect on neurosteroids. It’s really helping with my hypersensitivity / hyperarousal issues to stimulation. I have no issues socialising or being on the computer now.
I hope you’re doing alright mate, we’re in this together and feel free to reach out whenever you want to have a chat. Cheers.
It’s really a mystery man. I remember when I was using hcg I had test levels at 37nmol aswell. but had no symptom relief. Merck are a bunch of evil bastards. As you might remember I never used finasteride, but somehow have all the same symptoms, and it happened after using a DHT derivative compound. Something about messing with DHT seeems to cause major issues man. It really does help to know you’re not alone, just seeing these replies makes my day better. We’ll sort this out, take care brother.
Yeah man on this point, looking back; when I was on HCG and had my TT up to like 40 nmol/L, my lifestyle was so fucked-up I’m not suprised I still felt awful. I was under so much stress and anxiety, my sleep & insomnia was awful, I was on the computer all the time to just escape from how awful my life was, etc. I was doing so many things wrong and my lifestyle was totally counterproductive towards recovery.
I now believe that recovery is multi-facted, however at the time I had “low T tunnel vision” and was convinced all my issues were testosterone related. My body wanted to rest and heal itself, but I continued pushing myself to work, to workout, etc, I was still living the lifestyle I was living before I crashed, my body wanted to be resting, to be relaxing, so it could heal itself.
A big turning point in my recovery was when I finally got in-tune with my body and listened to what it needed, sounds cliche but listening to your body really does work. It’s taken 1-2 years to realise that there was so much I was missing and it’s taken that long to learn everything that I preach and discuss in this thread.
Now that I have healed my body, my cortisol has normilised, my sleep is good, my anxiety and stress are gone, now I believe it’s a better time to try TRT or HCG and get my levels up to see how I feel. Now that I have addressed all the other issues in my life that were holding me down. We get desparate and want a quick fix to recover, however it doesn’t work like that, recovery requires you to change your life and it takes consistency, dedication and patience. Well, that’s how it was like for me at least. Stay strong and never give up, you will be healthy again.
Sickening man. I don’t trust these pharmaceutical corps and doctors anymore. Today I do everything in my own and I’m lucky to of found a legit TRT doc.
My wife is dealing with ibs and the only thing doc can do for her is write a script. Had he ever tried to get tk the bottom of the ibs or even attempt to find a cure? Nope.
Our country is hooked on pills as solutions tk everything and it’s causing some serious damage out there.
Too bad these and other studies aren’t shared with folks who have been suggested these drugs.
I bet most guys would forego the pill and just go bald .
Awful stuff man.
Are you able to pinpoint what may have triggered the relapse for insomnia & tinnitus? Perhaps an increase in stress levels and anxiety?
Suicide is never an option man. If you’re really feeling like that, then maybe its worthwhile to hop on TRT, correct the testosterone deficiency, get yourself stable and feeling better. There’s no point prolonging the suffering if you’ve already tried everything. It does sound like you’ve tried everything man, so you will always know that this would be a last resort.
With the TRT. I know it’s scary looking down at a lifelong commitment. Its taken me years to bite the bullet and jump on. I’ve been injecting for about 2 weeks now. It’s honestly so easy and I associate every injection with feeling better, feeling energetic, reducing depression, etc, etc. I have zero issues being on for life if it gives me my old life back. Your quality of life and how you feel on a daily basis is the most important thing. Look at the positives - I’ll now be able to live an optimised life, reduce age related decline, and hopefully build some muscle. Only you know deep down what the right move for you is, but always know that TRT is an option over suicide.
I’m certain I’m feeling better on the TRT already. I haven’t noticed any change in libido or mood yet, but I’m feeling way more energetic when I exercise and stronger in the gym for sure. So its positive signs thus far. I played volleyball with my mates last night, and the energy & intensity I was able to bring was next level, when usually I feel like I’m dragging myself & pushing myself through it. A nice change of pace.
I live in Norway and won’t be able to get TRT here. Also I can’t get over the fact that I’ve done this to myself. Nice to hear you’re doing better though. I would like to wait atleast one more year, but dude it is so tough. Especially if it doesn’t work out, I’ve been tweaking my whole day for recovery, but I am not seeing any results. It’s like PFS where I suddenly crash again. I can’t recall doing anything differently that might have caused it. It has happened before aswell, sudden crash out of nowhere.
Drives me fucking insane because if you were a trans FTM you would have literally zero issues getting testosterone prescribed.
What’s the UGL situation like in Norway?
You will get through this man. Honestly I can relate 100% to how you are feeling, I was there, it felt like a dark black hole with no end in sight, the depression I experienced was severe, I would go to bed every night hoping I would die in my sleep. This is temporary man, I’m a completely different person now, suicide would never be something I would ever consider in a million years, it gets better, please hang in there and keep pushing forward.
Are you living with your parents? For what its worth, I had to quit my job and move back in with my parents, there is no shame in doing so dude, this is life or death. Having my family support me and take off all the pressures of life was a huge factor in my recovery. This is always a better option over suicide. There is always another option than suicide, exhaust everything man, you will get there.
What did you take again dude? I remember you saying it was a DHT derivative?
It really sucks man, you only get TRT here if you have a genetic disorder like kallman syndrome. I am currently living with my father and working from home office here. I’d rather work than not to be honest, it forces me to keep a pattern which I reckon is better for recovery.
I took a DHT derivative compund called Primobolan, atleast that’s what I thought. I’m pretty sure this was another compund now, might have been Tren.
Even if your testosterone was at 0 they still wouldn’t prescribe? All I’m saying is there are ways to crash your levels temporarily for a blood test, oral ketoconazole, SARMs, etc … probably best to try safer methods like sleep deprivation & consuming sugar before the blood test first before hitting it with the big guns, especially in your situation given how sensitive your body is.
For your information as well, Testosterone is usually the least faked PED because it’s so cheap and easy to make… UGL is always an option.
Happy to upate here if people are interested.