@CloudsInTheHead
I did not have bloodwork done but it was from a reputable source and brand. I'll never know 100% though.
Recap of my story:
30 years old. Apart from insecurity about my hair I was the happiest guy in the world, very ambitious, high libido, athletic physique (still the case). Privileged happy youth without any trauma whatsoever. Post msc university education and job.
Took 1mg finasteride for 20 days in March 2020 and got Post Finasteride Syndrome. Noticed erectile dysfunction and total loss of libido, immediately quit but these sides never passed. Anhedonia and severely flat emotions seem to have creeped in during the year 2020. I experience complete lack of androgenic drive, complete lack of ego or ambition. Fortunately not feeling depressed either, no serious brain fog and only slight cognitive impairment. Testosteron level 12 nmol/L (median in society for my age 22nmol/L).
Tried hCG 200IU eod for 6 months (Jan '21 - June '21), increased my testosteron to 35nmol/L, skyrocketed estradiol to way above normal, noticed an increase in energy in the purest sense of the word (no effect on all the symptoms, except energy levels) and stools turned a little softer again, hair less dry. After quitting had severe drop in energy levels, felt miserable. Tried bupropion 300mg every day without any noticeable benefits for 3 months (July - Sept '21).
Restarted hCG 300IU every 3 days in July '21 to raise energy levels again (through higher testosteron) and have been using hCG since.
Tried Proviron 200mg per day for 7 weeks in november 2021 with no effect.
Currently trying to ramp up weight lifting, hypothetically firing up intracellular 5AR activity. The hypothesis is our intracellular 5AR enzyme activity has been almost completely shut down. With weight lifting we'd be trying to use the positive feedback loop between DHT and 5AR activity, as shown in this study among others: Pubmed ID 6218182. Also check out this study about central (hippocampal) DHT production after exercise: PMID: 22807478. Seriously interesting material.
I did not have bloodwork done but it was from a reputable source and brand. I'll never know 100% though.
Recap of my story:
30 years old. Apart from insecurity about my hair I was the happiest guy in the world, very ambitious, high libido, athletic physique (still the case). Privileged happy youth without any trauma whatsoever. Post msc university education and job.
Took 1mg finasteride for 20 days in March 2020 and got Post Finasteride Syndrome. Noticed erectile dysfunction and total loss of libido, immediately quit but these sides never passed. Anhedonia and severely flat emotions seem to have creeped in during the year 2020. I experience complete lack of androgenic drive, complete lack of ego or ambition. Fortunately not feeling depressed either, no serious brain fog and only slight cognitive impairment. Testosteron level 12 nmol/L (median in society for my age 22nmol/L).
Tried hCG 200IU eod for 6 months (Jan '21 - June '21), increased my testosteron to 35nmol/L, skyrocketed estradiol to way above normal, noticed an increase in energy in the purest sense of the word (no effect on all the symptoms, except energy levels) and stools turned a little softer again, hair less dry. After quitting had severe drop in energy levels, felt miserable. Tried bupropion 300mg every day without any noticeable benefits for 3 months (July - Sept '21).
Restarted hCG 300IU every 3 days in July '21 to raise energy levels again (through higher testosteron) and have been using hCG since.
Tried Proviron 200mg per day for 7 weeks in november 2021 with no effect.
Currently trying to ramp up weight lifting, hypothetically firing up intracellular 5AR activity. The hypothesis is our intracellular 5AR enzyme activity has been almost completely shut down. With weight lifting we'd be trying to use the positive feedback loop between DHT and 5AR activity, as shown in this study among others: Pubmed ID 6218182. Also check out this study about central (hippocampal) DHT production after exercise: PMID: 22807478. Seriously interesting material.