Sharing my journey with you all - Blackkey

[blackkey96]

I took the drug 1mg/day for 18 days. I dropped it because i couldn't get it up at all once. Two weeks after quitting, i was getting spontaneous erections back, but i crashed right after.
Right now, my symptoms are
1. Low (no) libido,
2. ED (can only maintain an erection with stimulation),
3. No pleasure during orgasm and very little ejaculate (like 1/10th of what it used to be).
4. I also developed a curvature on my penis, going to see the urologist for that, hoping its nothing serious
5. Penis just feels "thinner"
6. Very very mild brain fog. Improved a lot since I stopped. Was 9/10 before but now its like 2/10
7. Breathlessness while i'm asleep...usually connected to weird dreams.
8. Voice is flat
9. Don't feel as centered and confident as I was before, looking forward to life and all

Noticeably, my nocturnal erections/morning wood have been rather regular and gradually stronger every day, which I am looking at as a positive sign. But that's obviously not a solution.

Since this is my 6th week off the drug, and recovery is usually 3-6months naturally, i am hoping for a miracle. But I am also prepared to get into this regimen right after the 2 month mark. So basically, in 3 more weeks.
Additional info: I got my bloodwork done a few days ago, my serum testosterone came out as 537 ng/dl, and my estradiol came out as 17.9 pg/ml. Both, the nurse said, are in "normal range".
An additional note: I have regularly been going to the gym 4 times a week for more than 2 years.

Just had these lingering questions:
1. Can I continue the same gym routine I've had and just up the weights? Or should I match it exactly as the protocol? My current routine is as follows:
Shoulder: Dumbbell Shrug, Seated Rear Lateral Dumbbell Raise, Cable Face pulls, Dumbbell Front Raise, Side Lateral Raise
Legs: Leg Extensions, Calf Raise, Leg Curl, Squats, Romanian Deadlift
Chest: Pushups, Dumbbell Fly, Chest Dip, Dumbbell Bench Press, Rope Triceps Push Down
Back/Bi: Bicep Curls, Pull ups, One Arm Dumbbell Row, Standing Bicep Cable Curl, Lat Pulldown
2. Do I HAVE to opt for "Carb Backloading"? I can easily cut out carbs/bread etc, but is the backloading part necessary for recovery?

Thank you for reading! I will be regularly updating this forum!

[MungYarlon]

You're in a similar situation to me at the moment, I also took a DHT inhibitor in August, and since then I've had periods where I have felt 100% recovered and others where I am defo not. Since you appear to be recovering, I reckon hold off TMO for another month. If you feel a good improvement by then, you'll be fine (this is also what I'll be doing).

[blackkey96]

Thanks for your response! But my libido is still not the same as pre-fin, so I don't feel like I have 100% recovered on some days. The only times I get an erection is through manual stimulation or nocturnal erections, that's it. Sort of confused as to what I should do. I quit the drug on September 18th.

[MungYarlon]

No worries, you are improving (brain fog going from 9/10 to 2/10 for instance) at a relatively fast pace. These things take time to improve, but in your case waiting it out, and doing resistance training will be fine I think.

[MungYarlon]

Also, I know it sounds hard, but stop worrying so much about this. The less you think about it, the less likely you will feel the effects, and the quicker you will recover

[blackkey96]

Thanks for being so encouraging. And after discovering this forum and the positivity surrounding it, i do feel like thinking about these symptoms less and less. It's just that (don't mean to sound like an idiot) i was highly sexual before and this libido hit kind of really threw me off you know...and my penis had such a full feeling when flaccid and erect, and could get erect spontaneously. Two things which i'm hoping solve by themselves, like you say.

[MungYarlon]

We'll work this out together since our side effects our pretty identical. What I noticed tonight is that I felt fine drinking alcohol, and was easily able to get aroused, without any stimuli. It makes me think that in our instances, it is likely a psychological issue as opposed to a hormonal issue. I'll go on this once a day to make sure you are ok, but other than that I'm gonna keep my mind off this as much as possible, to stop overthinking.

[blackkey96]

Breakthrough: I was able to get a boner without stimulation. This happened right after sunning my balls interestingly. Wasn't a full boner but it was a 70%. Which is coming from 0% in the worst days. I'm slowly incorporating the protocol in my life through bits, because I do believe It is a healthy way of living. I'm gonna go all in starting December, even if I get better or not. And I'm gonna jump in with both feet, I don't usually like to half ass things. Which means a complete change in my lifestyle.

[Cdsnuts]

There is no need to hold off on the protocol.....at all. This is something that "normal" guys can do to take themselves to the next level. That is like telling someone not to bother creating healthful habits.

@MungYarlon I appreciate you trying to help, but at the moment you're really not in a position to be giving advice, especially incorrect advice at that.

@blackkey96 You are correct. Cialis is a bandaid if anything. For the moment, try and stay away from all pharmaceuticals. They are not something you need to be introducing into your system when it is in such a fragile state.

Edit: We posted at the same time Blackkey...good for you. And yes, sunning the testicles creates an IMMEDIATE surge in test levels. Imagine what the whole protocol can do for you?

[blackkey96]

Just wondering about something regarding everyone's natural recoveries. It seems like people who recovered still used different things outside the protocol. For example @rahaysa used dopamine antagonists, RES100 etc, @jimmyjonas used something called 5a DHP or something, and zinc and copper, @English used aromatase inhibitors...Just wondering if theres something i am missing out on that would prevent a full recovery for me like the ones these guys had. I do want to stay with the natural herb rotation and what not, but i also want to go for a full 100% recovery