St John's Wort and/or Inositol Log

[jinstewart]

Hello all,

Right, made my mind up. Next experiment will be St John's Wort and/or Inositol. Having read a few of the PSSD recoveries here and feeling like laying off the "proper" pharmaceuticals for a while this seems like it'll be worth a stab. My thinking is just fiddling with 5HTA receptors for six weeks or so then stopping, see what it does. I wonder if my chronic use of hayfever medicine (fexofenadine - took 90mg/day for about three years pre-PFS) screwed up these receptors for me, and something to do with that has led to either PFS or aspects of it.

Putting together something vaguely like Beetlebum and PharmD did, it looks to be a toss up between SJW and Inositol. Maybe both can be run together? Alternate weeks even? Idk. Let's find out.

Thinking it could be:

wk1 - SJW 900mg/day
wk2 - SJW 900mg/day (but 4 day break)
wk3 - Inositol 18g/day, Monday single Berberine tablet, Friday 1.5g Choline
wk4 - SJW 1350mg/day
wk5 - Inositol 18g/day, Monday single Berberine tablet, Friday 1.5g Choline
wk6 - SJW 1350mg/day
wk7 - Inositol 18g/day, Monday single Berberine tablet, Friday 1.5g Choline
... [continue until feeling like benefits taper off then stop dead, max 8 weeks.]

Anyone fancy having a think? I'm not sure if I do improve any from cipro (or even fexofenadine) but I know I've had no allergies since the start of the year, and I used to be fiercely allergic to my cat. Would this also go any way to explaining temporary cipro recoveries?

Of course any and all suggestions welcome. Alongside this I'll be running Gillian Hamer's diet and probiotics, the gut protocol, paleo diet and gym 4-5 days/week plus 2x30-60 minute runs/week.

Thinking also of running the following bloods towards the end of the cycle:

DHEA-S
FSH
LH
Test
Free Test
SHBG
FAI
Oestradiol
Prolactin
Albumin

Cheers everybody!

EDIT - I'll try and limit masturbation throughout, have been indulging recently. Have done a LOT of reading on SJW, but not a lot of understanding with it. Wish I had Helen or Boris on speed-dial...

It does look like it increases prolactin, so I'll not do any more to that with excessive masturbation. In my SMALL/probably wrong understanding it works by a different mechanism to upregulate 5HT-x receptors by blocking seratonin recycling and also levels out GABA. I'd imagine some feeling like Beta Blockers? I never took them, but a friend described them as "feeling like always being at 30% and you never move"

I mean, there's more research on SJW than I could read in a year I think, but that's my summary. Have a little dump:

5HT2A Receptors: Anxiety, Fatigue, Sleep Problems & CIRS - SelfHacked

5-HT1A Receptor: The "Single" & "Self-Transcendent" Receptor - SelfHacked

5-HT2C Explains Anxiety, Depression, Weight Gain & More - SelfHacked

Beta-2 adrenergic receptor - Wikipedia

I'm *thinking* SJW primarily affects 5HT2C and Beta-Andrenergic receptors. I'm totally not done researching what Inositol is supposed to do, best I have is "similar but more to do with signalling between things" so I'm not yet sure if alternate weeks is best, if just running SJW 6 weeks then trying inosotol 6 weeks after (or vice versa) might do, but I gotta start somewhere I suppose.

Sod it, I'm feeling brave, I'll prod @Helen and @Boris for an ask.

Recoveries (PSSD) I'm looking at are:

kramdrol (St. John’s Wort)

Beetlebum (St. John’s Wort)

PSSD (Inositol)

PharmD (Inositol)

Hopefully this is worth a gander. SJW and those two types of receptors seem to touch and account for SO much. I'm also so so suspicious my chronic use of fexofenadine over a few years has screwed with this a bit, but there have been recoveries with Trazodone (or at least one) which I think does similar to SSRIs at high doses, and antihistamines at lower ones.

Oh god if only I had one of you guys' brains for a day seriously...

EDIT - Pre-bloods are here for reference:

### Pre-SJW/Inositol bloods ###
Test - 25 nmol/L (8.64-29) high range
Cortisol - 525 nmol/L (166-507) over range
Test/Cort ratio 0.05

Albumin - 45.2g/L (35-50) ok ish
SHBG - 57.4 nmol/L (18.3-54.1) over range
FSH - 4.85 IU/L (1.5-12.4) low-mid
LH - 5.16 IU/L (1.7-8.6) perfectly mid-range
Oestradiol - 67.6 pmol/L (41-159) in range, tad low
Test - 25 nmol/L (8.64-29) high range
Free Test calc 0.38 nmol/L (0.2-0.62) mid range
FAI 43.55 ratio (24-104) low ish
Prolactin - 262 mU/L (86-324) slighty high
DHEA Sulphate - 6.23 umol/L (2.41-11.6) low/mid
Progesterone - 0.17 nmol/L ( < 0.474) NORMAL!!!
DHT - ??? nmol/L (1.14-4.13) -awaiting results-
#########################

 

[jinstewart]

Here we go then, day1. My "post-cycle" RU bloods were taken this morning and I took the first 450mg just after. Bought Laif 900 SJW as per Beetlebum, we'll see how this goes.

I need to have a little think on the alternating between SJW and Inositol. Or even if I'm going to do that weekly/fortnightly. I'll read up more on what Inositol does I think, and just stick to the SJW for the first two weeks anyway.

Wish me luck!

EDIT - after fumbling around it looks like they both affect Beta-andrenergic receptors, 5-HTx receptors, glutamate receptors and modulate GABA to some degrees, but nobody's quite sure how. Regardless, four recoveries from the same things looks like a decent bet however you dress it up.

As it stands will give it 8 weeks max, or until I feel like crap, which might be a sign to stop. Berberine I'll also throw in on occasion, I'm doing so as two recoveries mentioned them as very occasional use, if that. Not sure to what degree they helped though. Also hints of omega-3 and curcumin assisting. Not sure on those, I'll see.

 

[jinstewart]

Week 1, day 4

Thursday today, still on SJW, 900mg/day (half AM half PM.) Taking this and gut protocol and Gillian Hamer's supps.

I slept well. Got up for a piss once about 3am, went back to sleep and my alarm woke me up this morning.

MY ALARM WOKE ME UP THIS MORNING.

I cannot remember that EVER happening since my crash. I do feel a little more relaxed and I do think "something" is happening...

Hard to know what to dabble in to augment things, as the suggestions list is berberine, green tea, omega 3 oil, turmeric, choline (and probably phosphatidylcholine/serine.) But "accessories" can be for another time, a little further in. I'm also not perfectly sure about cycling inositol or working up to trying, say, 900mg SJW AM and maybe 10g inositol PM.

But yeah something is going on...

EDIT - as far as I believe (could be WAY off ofc) you can, in the process, run low on your own choline stores. I think. Which might be beneficial to know for the inositol weeks. I've no idea if (even if this is right) SJW could 'use up' choline stores. Just putting that down for a ponder.

 

[jinstewart]

Week 1, day 5

SJW 450mg AM/PM
Gut protocol

Friday today, might as well spam this thread too! Woke up 5 minutes before my alarm. I can now sleep SO WELL I leave the laptop on and just drift off with a documentary on etc. It's heavenly. I think I'm even sleeping slightly better than I did BEFORE PFS. Have slightly stressy dreams though.

I'll admit I have been masturbating a bunch (at least once a day and twice yesterday.) Gosh there was a time a couple of months ago where masturbating would crash me HORRIBLY but now it's ok. Erections still suck, no randoms/mornings/nocturnals really. I'll lay off masturbating until Monday and take a very easy weekend.

The sour headache (despite my apple earlier in the week) is REALLY getting PUMMELED by this, and has taken on something of an uncomfortable sinus/front of head and face feeling with a little bit of dopey/laziness rather than sawing horror underpinning my life - in fact I've only got a MEMORY of that state of being. Also the skin on my face, neck, upper arms and penis has become a little insensitive. I have also on occasion got a little hayfever sneeze which is VERY VERY promising!!

Gym and overall energy have been much better I think. I've been DOING THINGS after work too, rather than "OMFG I have PFS I'm stuck I'm doomed gotta cook my beef in lard and scramble my eggs and get to bed at my appointed PFS time and have my PFS gut drink in the vain hope PFS goes away in a few years OMG OMG" I've been more like "meh, feel ok after gym, dick's broken and that sucks, headache and a bit detatched but got shit to do, get to the shops and put a wash on and do it."

There's absolutely no denying it though, I 'feel' better and more relaxed and more 'present in the world'. Have caught myself daydreaming too. This is already doing better I think than the RU did.

So, am I keeping up? Swapping to inositol in a week and a bit? Running BOTH SJW and inositol? I'm not sure, but I may well try running both together. Hell I've got time to fiddle around, PFS sure isn't in a hurry to leave yet! Might do SJW 450mg AM and inositol 12g PM, and on occasion have a berberine tablet and 1.5g choline or 800mg phosphatidylcholine (the last one I've got a bunch of.) I'll see how it goes adding that in. I'm looking out for "heat stress" sides as my indication I've "gone too far" with what I'm doing. I could also add in a little fexofenadine or cipro even. I don't know yet on the last two, or even anything beyond adding in the inositol.

Bloods ordered too, probably around week 5 I'll test:

DHEA-S
FSH
LH
Test
Free Test
SHBG
FAI
Oestradiol
Prolactin
Albumin
Progesterone
Cortisol

Wish me luck everyone!

 

[MNK99]

careful running SJW, inositol, and all that stuff, incl. choline at once. In case you have any predelection for cycling moods, mania, etc.

 

[jinstewart]

careful running SJW, inositol, and all that stuff, incl. choline at once. In case you have any predelection for cycling moods, mania, etc.

No not especially prone to any of that, all in the spirit of experimentation too. If I start feeling wacky running them all together I'll ease back or just run one.

...Anyone else fancy running either just the inositol or the SJW? I'm keeping SJW Laif 900 brand as per another recovery and Swanson inositol.

 

[rock]

No not especially prone to any of that, all in the spirit of experimentation too. If I start feeling wacky running them all together I'll ease back or just run one.

...Anyone else fancy running either just the inositol or the SJW? I'm keeping SJW Laif 900 brand as per another recovery and Swanson inositol.

I'm also taking 900mg SJW from 3 days. Looks positive to me. I'm gonna run full 6 weeks.

 

[jacknap]

st johns wort improved my mood but killed my libido before I had pfs so I dropped it and then had a nice snap back after 2 weeks off it of libido. I prefer high dopamine to seratonin. which i think is an inverse relationship. I did my urine analysis and my dopamine was twice the range and seratonin a bit low. I am a moody artist type lol

 

[MNK99]

noots at large.
Nootropics Compared

 

[MNK99]

st johns wort improved my mood but killed my libido before I had pfs so I dropped it and then had a nice snap back after 2 weeks off it of libido. I prefer high dopamine to seratonin. which i think is an inverse relationship. I did my urine analysis and my dopamine was twice the range and seratonin a bit low. I am a moody artist type lol

I relate my man. I think tho everything helps my libido but makes me more mental and less able to hold my life together. its good.

SJW -- i was bouncing off the walls but horny I guess. Street weed super so, but couldnt control my face, could barely shower properly or spent 2 hours showering because i got lost. AND then other stuff helps but then like i dont know what day it is, like effexor probably helped ADD for a bit and definitely helped mood, then i was manic (and ADHD times one million) for a year... so all in all, extremely good times. Mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and finasteride bring sex drive down a lot tho. so there's that.

 

[jinstewart]

Week1 day 7

Okay I'm a bit hesitant to get all excited but something is definitely going on.

I'm feeling better by the day here mentally. Sexually though it's weird. Masturbation (I just CANNOT resist it at least once a day) is good, better than ever with PFS but erections are ironically worse - nothing spontaneous and nothing in nocturnals or mornings but I'm certainly hornier.Sensitivity is certainly improving.

Sleep is almost perfect. Dreams just feel a little 'stuffy' though, that's odd, but I'm getting dreams and refreshing sleep to be sure. I'm also feeling a little cooler in the nightand tolerating drafts a bit better - thyroid struggling back online?

I'm still running the gut protocol, tempted to add in a little clove and wormwood and black walnut extracts too, but I'll see. Also running a few extra probiotics and Gillian Hamer's supps.

I have JUST now masturbated (sorry everyone) and I've DEFINITELY got the 'electric' feeling in my balls, which are a little softer and a little bigger. Oh boy I need to make a point of not masturbating a few days and seeing where I get. Masturbation is fun, I'm kinda doing it 50% to test myself (yeah I know that's bad but we all do it) and 50% because I actually want to now. Semen is usually perfect the second time in a day, but the first time a touch clumpy and watery, like not 'mixed' right.

Upswings do come in waves, as I read. Got little flashes but certainly had an hour today of mentally ZERO symptopms and I almost forgot about PFS - though I used to be permanently horny with a full-time semi almost, so I do miss that. But it feels ike the more you 'come back' the more you realise just how far you've slipped away.

I'm not stressed out by anything though really, and even a little careless. But this is very very significant already.

Had a little try on a licorice root tablet this morning, which if anything did some good rather than not! A few months ago I was writing suicide notes after a single licorice root tab, now perhaps even a slight lift from it? Not sure. Might dabble now and then, I'll see.

Also hayfever is JUST happening a little tiny bit now and then, just get a little itchy eye and a sneeze or two per day. BO is also coming back.

This beats the shit out of any of the RU improvements. I'll run bloods towards the end. What I'm IDEALLY looking out for is exactly what Beetlebum had, and after about 7 weeks I'll feel a definite decline in improvements, then stop, then await the snapback in a week or so.

Please cross fingers for me, this really is something else, but I feel I need something to just nudge me into a certainty. I'm not sure what that might even be, but this is truly truly amazing.

 

[Helen]

inositol is made by phospholipase C . which is activated by noradrenaline. thru a1 receptor which I mentioned in this theory. https://www.hackstasis.com/threads/another-theory-for-pfs-andregenic-receptor.1639/

 

[Helen]

@jinstewart are you taking only SJM now?

 

[jinstewart]

@jinstewart are you taking only SJM now?

Evening! Been dying to hear your thoughts on it tbh!

Okay, today I added in a licorice root (Swanson, 450mg) just for an experiment - but a 'regular' cycle day looks like:

AM:
900mg Laif 900 SJW
Probiotics - BioKult Advanced Multi Strain
Jarrow Lactoferrin (just finishing this up)

PM:
450mg Laif 900 SJW
Gut protocol drink made with kefir
Probiotics
Bionutri Taracyn
Bionutri Ecobalance (1 strip)

I have on occasion (as per the other trials) had a berberine tablet (probably only two since it started.) I will now up the dosage as above to 900mg AM and 450mg PM, as Beetlebum did, though he's a little inconsistent in his account about moving up, down or even stopping. I'll try and be less scatty! Curcumin, Omega 3, Gingko have all been fielded as supporting this, and I have them all here.

Diet is paleo with carb backloading.

Exercise is weights every weekday, 2x 30min runs every week.

I have noticed, as Beetlebum did, a HUGE lift from caffeine. I drink green tea as he did during the week and I definitely feel it.

With the increase in dosage there might be more sexual sides (this is disappointing I must admit, wish I'd get some improvement there) and I'll back off if I feel "heat stress" sides.

Of course, there's always the Inositol too, which could well have achieved the same thing for the other PSSD sufferers. I have it, but I'm not sure if cycling SJW and Inositol (and somehow or not incorporating Choline) should even be done, but I may experiment. Not yet sure. Could DEFINITELY do with a sexual improvement, although I must say this is pretty major mental improvement.

 

[jinstewart]

There's something to that licorice root...

I slept less well but still fair - was hard to nod off last night and I woke up and dozed for an hour or so before work. I feel a little jittery today, but despite that a little better even. I'm going to just risk this thread getting long and log EVERYTHING as stuff is improving (or at least swinging around) this might be a help. Or a good cautionary tale in case I fuck myself up.

I've been getting 'good' feeling little throbs in my genitals on and off, but these are a little more frequent. about a dozen a day I think, though the number increases. Have a little libido today but no erections with it. However, I did get a 'partially annoying' semi-nocturnal last night when I woke up sort of holding it and tried to piss. That's something at least, considering I masturbated twice yesterday. I AM LAYING OFF MASTURBATION UNTIL FRIDAY I SWEAR!

I have also noticed a return of feelings for a colleague who REALLY likes me, but PFS stole my emotions for. Honestly folks she's amazing and SO beautiful. She cried at the weekend because she went on a date with someone else who wasn't me, and I just ACHE for her today, never thought I'd get that bittersweet feeling back, but I'm sat here typing to you all and LONGING for her. She's downstairs, I might make her a tea.

I think, although Champstar from Swole Source swears it wasn't a factor, that licorice root can play a part. I'll incorporate it into things. Maybe just 450mg at weekends for now. Matey here swears it recovered him too: ggggg123 (Licorice Root)

I'll always recall Chi and Bruschi saying PFS is a case of cracking your particular code and when you do sticking with it and pushing on. This doesn't feel like the RU did this feels like a very big piece. God if only I had some solid sexual progress I'd be very happy, but the mental relief now compared to even a month back is really striking.

Gym still 5 days/week. I might incorporate a leg-day too. Currently it's

Mon - Chest
Tue - Shoulders
Weds - Back
Thurs - Chest
Fri - Arms

And something in me in little spurts says "go running, you need to go running." - could this be similar to Beetlebum's saying "I WANT things, not sure what they are but I want them" ?

I have also been taking NO-Xplode before the gym too, which has a LOT in it. I will stop this Wednesday until later in September:


SUPPLEMENT FACTS
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (18.5 g)‡


Amount Per Serving
%Daily Value
Calories
20

Total Carbohydrate
5g
2%†
Vitamin D (as Cholecalciferol)
500IU
125%
Vitamin B1 (as Thiamine HCI)
2mg
133%
Niacin (Vitamin B3)
20mg
100%
Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine HCl)
2mg
100%
Folate (Folic acid)
200mcg
50%
Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin)
6mcg
100%
Pantothenic Acid
10mg
100%
Calcium
40mg
4%
Phosphorus
10mg
1%
Magnesium
125mg
31%
Sodium
110mg
5%
Potassium
200mg
6%

N.O.-XPLODE™ MASTER PERFORMANCE BLEND*

Myogenic Matrix*
5.1 g
**
Creatine Blend (Creatine Monohydrate, Creatine Anhydrous, Creatine Peptides [Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate, Creatine Monohydrate] (CREActivate™)), Taurine, Di-Calcium Phosphate, Di-Sodium Phosphate, AstraGIN® Proprietary Blend [Astragalus membranaceus Extract (root), Panax notoginseng Extract (root)]
Endura Shot*
2.9 g
**
Beta-Alanine (as Carnosyn®), Potassium Bicarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Cholecalciferol
Thermic Energy*
1.3 g
**
N-Acetyl-Tyrosine, L-Tyrosine, Caffeine Anhydrous, Grapefruit Bioflavonoid Complex, Pterostilbene:Caffeine Cocrystal (PURENERGY™)
N.O. Alpha Fusion
1 g
**
L-Citrulline Malate, Danshen Extract (Salvia miltiorrhiza) (root), Grape Skin Extract (50% Polyphenols), Phyllanthus emblica Extract (fruit) (CAPROS®), Hawthorn Extract (aerial parts) (1% Flavonoids), Folate
Shock Composite*
290 mg
**
DMAE Bitartrate (2-Dimethylaminoethanol), DL-Phenylalanine, Nicotinic Acid, Calcium D-Pantothenate, Toothed Clubmoss Extract (aerial parts)(1% Huperzine A), Thiamin HCl, Pyridoxine HCl, Cyanocobalamin

†Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. **Daily Value Not Established.
Other Ingredients: NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CITRIC ACID, CALCIUM SILICATE, SILICON DIOXIDE, SUCRALOSE, MALIC ACID, SALT, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, RED 40.
Contains: Milk


Fuck PFS, go Hackstasis experiments crew!

EDIT - also some suggestions SJW inhibits 5AR whilst inducing some good old CYP3A4: Effects of St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) extract on plasma androgen concentrations in healthy men and women: a pilot study. - PubMed - NCBI

 

[jinstewart]

Week 2 day 2

Very small update, last night I finished gym and felt VERY shaky and drained. Went home, stressy evening and felt PFS sour headache coming on again along with it. However, continued my 'longing' slightly for my colleague and had a little libido and an almost acceptable boner! Could be in line with the licorice root ups and downs, but I'm not sure. It felt like I was dropping right back after the gym into PFS, then PFS head happened with a bit of angst and guilt feeling, then I was watching TV and something 'shunted' over about ten minutes, then I was kinda 'content' a bit. Didn't really feel libido but thought I'd edge for a little thinking of her, and actually had an acceptable erection for about 30 minutes.

Sorry, that's pretty much just an update about boners so far.

Sleep is still good but I do tend to wake up an hour before my alarm now and just doze. Still I can't complain as I'm getting 7 hours on average a night, and I did dream of my colleague a little bit, which was nice.

I'm wondering if all the above it the licorice root doing it's work and the HUGE amount of caffeine in the pre-workout mix above kinda messing that up even. I'm dropping the pre-workout tomorrow, half-dose of it tonight.

Was pondering adding in Gingko too randomly, but I'm not sure. It's an anti-androgen I'm led to believe but I'll see.

Re-thinking the Inositol on the whole now as it's a methyl donor and was previously Vitamin B8 (I think) and high-dose B vitamins absolutely FUCKED me twice now. Just don't fancy messing with it. @Helen @Boris if you folks get time, any opinions on all this? No tearing need if not.

Bumped up the dosage to 1350mg/day, but I'll write off taking a break from SJW now and tweak the proposed regimen to:

AM:
450mg Laif 900 SJW
120mg Gingko leaf extract (maybe)
Probiotics - BioKult Advanced Multi Strain
Jarrow Lactoferrin (just finishing this up)
"Accessory supp" (Mon - Berberine, Tue - 500mg Inositol + 500mg Choline, Weds - 450mg Licorice root, Thurs - none, Fri - none, Sat/Sun 450mg Licorice root.)

MIDDAY:
450mg SJW

PM:
450mg Laif 900 SJW
Gut protocol drink made with kefir
Probiotics
Bionutri Taracyn
Bionutri Ecobalance (1 strip)

I'm starting to wonder if, with every little bit of mental adjustment creeping back in, I just realise more how far I've slipped and how horrid it is to not just 'snap out' of it now. For all my upcoming despair on my sexual symptoms I really feel deep longing for someone I once loved all over again, and maybe the lack of former sexual performance and muscle I had is biting just a bit more.

But all in all this is big. I can work effectively for a day now and do things of an evening. I have a personality, though not based on the person it always used to be (muscly-ish and tbh I was pretty 'equipped' and good at sex. Sorry, but I was and it made me cocky and confident and underpinned a lot of me. 'Coming back' mentally but finding that lacking isn't really 'coming back' in its fullest sense. But it IS definitely the best thing I've done for PFS.)

 

[jinstewart]

Week 2 day 3

Hope you folks like updates.

On a whim added in adrenal glandular, thyroid glandular and prostate glandular (had a few left over) instead of the Weds dose of licorice root. Also dropping the Gingko for a bit as I'm starting to try too much. Back in the early months of PFS these did nothing, but now licorice root definitely did something, so figured the adrenal glandular might be worth a stab too, see if I get licorice root-like benefits. @Helen this is all Cortisol stuff, right? Don't worry about replying if you're busy there.

I should really get my cycle list down and stick to it and then get on-cycle bloods.

Also that pre-workout is making me feel AWFUL with one scoop, but a real buzz on half a scoop. I'll quit that tonight though, and drink one cup of green tea in the morning.

I slept kinda badly. Got a SOLID 4 hours of GOOD sleep, then about 2-3 hours of deep dozing after.

Erections definitely were a little better even last night. NOTHING has improved me sexually before now, this really is something. I also had a sex dream!!!

Made out with the beautiful colleague last night. Felt the urges and the 'grumble' from the loins! Enough of a weak erection to have done things too, if I'm honest. But just 'felt' her there with me. Erections last night were the best I've had in PFS; stronger but they still fade fast. I got a full (well, "PFS-full") erection from thought alone, for the first time since PFS.

In fact, this is the best and most 'settled' I've felt since I crashed last November.

Still get flickers of havfever and have done for the last week or so. Appetite has gone down though I think. Strength in gym is surprisingly ok and I get pumps.

 

[bruschi11]

Good stuff man. You are moving ahead. You’re an example of a guy who knows that if you try try try and make defeating this a major part of your life... it’s obvious what’s going to happen.

Don’t push too much though. That’s my big thing. You need to identify what is making you well. Lol getting sick this second time for me- that’s where I’m at now. It’s taken me nearly a full calendar year now to finally see what got me better when it did. Because I did so much stuff to get well originally.

 

[jinstewart]

Week 2 day 5

So, Weds night wasn't great. Got hit by sexual sides and couldn't get hard. Did eventually get there more or less before orgasm, and it was a VERY good one - though more watery than usual it did "shoot" out rather than dribble. Sorry, gross updates for you all.

On the bad side I can feel cortisol flooding through me and this may be the licorice root, may be the glandulars from Weds - little bit more general anxiety and 'tired but wired' feeling is present. Either way, not great. BUT this DID happen to Beetlebum, so I took nothing yesterday, only 450mg today and I'll take 450mg EOD for a few days, then work up to 450mg/day, then 900mg, then again the 1350mg as per his thread. He is a little scatty on the dosages.

I DID manage to JUST ABOUT have sex yesterday and was perfectly acceptably hard throughout, but only lasted 5 minutes! Stupid fucking P.E. thanks finasteride. Still, she enjoyed herself too.

Sleep has gotten pretty shit though. Got about 4-5 hours last night then nap-dozed for 2 hours.

I *think* I got a little bit of the "colours coming back" thing driving into work too. Emotions and old character are TOTALLY coming back, despite the odd flashes of "sour headache" - god I do feel like I'm REALLY sticking knives in that spiteful symptom and at least feeling it die a little bit. If this is a window I'm at least grateful for it.

I think for now I'll tread VERY carefully with licorice root or glandulars and just try and keep the SJW going alone.

My biggest personal worry is the sexual stuff though. I think if I got that back I'd say I was 90% cured and could totally live a life like this.

EDIT - For Helen and the science crew, this post might be interesting: PSSD Collaborative Research • View topic - SJW Always Cures My PSSD- kramdrol OP

Also going to TRY and just plot out Beetlebum's dosages, so we've got it here.

Days 1-4 - 900mg/day. Felt sexually worse at first.
Days 5-9 - 1350mg/day. Sexual sides so stopped dead on 9th day.
Days14-17 - 450mg EOD (vague, assuming.)
Days 18-47 - Started out at 900mg, switched to 1350mg AT SOME POINT in this range.
Day 61 - Felt nervous and aggressive and euphoric feelings went. Quit.
Day 67 - Felt sudden improvement.
Day 82 - Cured.

So he kinda accidentally cycled it.

 

[rock]

Took licorice (500mg) over the weekend. Felt terrible on it. Something has changed after coming out of it. My balls started tingling after 5 years. Penis girth has increased. Hair is turning pre-fin. Erection are not not rock solid but pe is gone.I think I'm just couple of months away from recovery. And all this with a sedentary life style with out doing any physical activity.
.