how to detransition if you have you used Saw Palmetto.

[sp2000]

Hi All,

I have used Saw Palmetto for few months 4 years ago.My testosterone has dropped too low,my testicles have shrunk,  constant fatigue and flu like symptoms. I have a lot of muscle pain and joint pain. I also have very unrefreshing superficial sleep. Always wake very tired. Before using SP I was perfectly normal male. Is there any hope to revert these sides?

[buttertly]

Hi All,

I have used Saw Palmetto for few months 4 years ago.My testosterone has dropped too low,my testicles have shrunk,  constant fatigue and flu like symptoms. I have a lot of muscle pain and joint pain. I also have very unrefreshing superficial sleep. Always wake very tired. Before using SP I was perfectly normal male. Is there any hope to revert these sides?

That's pretty much the bad effects of removing natural hormones. I've noticed I can't sleep either. I don't have the flu like symptoms but I can imagine it.

Really, your little testosterone factories should bounce back. If I go off the hrt for a week, I'm bouncing off the ceiling.

[Dena]

I don't know if you are still taking SP but if you are, here are the side effects.
In most cases, side effects of saw palmetto are limited to minor discomforts, such as headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, or upset stomach. However, saw palmetto has been linked to liver injury in a few rare cases.

[Ms Grace]

If you are still using it then stopping it should cause everything to rebalance. But it sounds like you used it for a few months four years ago? I would suggest that if you haven't used it for over three years and you have these issues then the Saw Palmetto is not the cause. See a doctor, preferably an endocrinologist, immediately to sort out what is going on.

[Cindy]

Everything, herbals, hormones can have severe side effects depending on the individual and what else you may be on, your overall physical health etc.

Please go and see a Doctor and tell them honestly what you have been using.

One of the first laws of medicine is dealing with a problem as early as possible has the best outcome, so don't dither, go see a medic.

[Joelene9]

  I vote doctor as well. Saw palmetto did not stop my libido nor did it drop my PSA levels.

Joelene

[HughE]

I have used Saw Palmetto for few months 4 years ago.My testosterone has dropped too low,my testicles have shrunk,  constant fatigue and flu like symptoms. I have a lot of muscle pain and joint pain. I also have very unrefreshing superficial sleep. Always wake very tired. Before using SP I was perfectly normal male. Is there any hope to revert these sides?

It's possible you have post finasteride syndrome, since the biological effects of Saw Palmetto are very similar to finasteride (they both target the same enzyme). However the symptoms you describe sound a lot like ordinary hypogonadism, so maybe the saw palmetto has nothing to do with it and you would have gotten sick with hypogonadism regardless of whether you'd taken it or not. It happened to me, quite suddenly, not long after my 43rd birthday (well, I've actually had symptoms of hypogonadism all my life, it's just that it got dramatically worse at that time).

Going on estradiol HRT should cure those symptoms (and you probably wouldn't need an antiandrogen either), however if that's not what you want to do, you need to find a doctor who specialises in treating male hormonal problems, have some blood work done to establish whether it's primary or secondary hypogonadism, and whether there's any underlying condition (that could potentially be treated) causing it.

Seeing as you presumably have gender issues (otherwise why would you be here), it's possible that the same thing that affected your brain development and your gender identity, also damaged your endocrine system (which is what appears to have happened to me). If so, it was a ticking time bomb that you were born with, and it's only going to continue to get worse as you get older, so your only option is to go on HRT of some kind.

If it's secondary hypogonadism, you have the option of taking fertility drugs (clomid and/or HCG), as an alternative to going on testosterone replacement. A low dose of one or more of these meds might be able to keep things ticking over satisfactorily for a while at least, which would be less invasive than going on T replacement (and also means you remain fertile, an important consideration if there's still a possibility you might want to have kids).

Unfortunately, most doctors don't have the first clue when it comes to male hormonal problems (even endocrinologists, the ones who are supposed to specialise in hormones), so it is important to find one that knows what they're doing.

This is quite a good site, where people should be able to help you further:
http://www.allthingsmale.com/community/forums/male-health-hrt.2/

[buttertly]

It's like saying you overdosed on st johns wort. Are you on another baldness drug like finasteride? That'll make you sick.

But saw palmetto? Andbi got drunk on a cup of tea.

[sp2000]

I dont have any gender issue.
I was searching for SP side effects and found this forum.
I am married and was happy with my male (or ex male) body.
I am not using it, have stopped four-fives years ago.
I have been to so many drs and Endos. Have been on TRT but the problem is after sides, TRT does not work. It stopped its effects after few weeks. All I was getting was bloating and water in my body.I had to stop it.
I was perfectly fine or should say was above average males.Very strong and no sexual issues at all in my whole life.Just a normal healthy male could be. I used SP only for my hair loss. Never used anything before or after SP. All I knew it reduces DHT and that DHT is a culprit hormone.It should be killed in your body because it gives you baldness and causes your prostate to grow. Now I know how important DHT is. I was so brain washed.

[Dena]

In case you weren't aware of it, you posting history is available to everybody on the web site and it reads a bit strange. With the additional information you provided, it makes a bit more sense. If your problems are clearly link to SP then I would suspect it's due to a one in a million reaction to SP and it will take more digging. I found a possible web site already but it went down today and will remain down for 6 days. I will bookmark this thread and if I come up with something I will post it

[Dena]

Back with questions.
1. Were you taking the recommended dose or a much higher one.
2. Did you take other medication of any kind or alcohol or supplements
3. Any surgeries in particular Gallbladder http://www.askdocweb.com/sawpalmetto.html
4. I know you said you were healthy but have there been any other medical issues in the past.

[Dena]

Susan's was pretty slow last night so I spent several hours of intense web searching finding out how good the stuff is and very little about the bad side. I did hit a little pay dirt that you may or may not know about. Being unregulated, Saw Palmetto's quality is all over the board, it can be contaminated and the concentration isn't consistent. It's possible to get the good stuff and overdose on it. In addition it's cleared through the Gall Blatter very slowly taking as much as 27 days to clear the system. Knowing this I would be very wary about taking the stuff.

On to your problem. The problem you are seeing most of the time is short lived but I did find a few other cases like your on the web. I didn't find doctors commenting on the problem but what I found suggest the damage is the the adrenal gland which sounds right as so much was affected. Two places suggest vitamin D through a healthy diet might help with the problem but it's not stated as a cure to the the problem.

The adrenal gland is a pretty complex and important part of the body and I don't know I you have attacked the problem from this point of view. I would guess that the odds aren't real good that you will be able to fix the problem but maybe this will help.

I am sending you a link dump by PM of what I found as I don't want the mods having to dig through the links to make sure they are appropriate for this web site.

[sp2000]

Susan's was pretty slow last night so I spent several hours of intense web searching finding out how good the stuff is and very little about the bad side. I did hit a little pay dirt that you may or may not know about. Being unregulated, Saw Palmetto's quality is all over the board, it can be contaminated and the concentration isn't consistent. It's possible to get the good stuff and overdose on it. In addition it's cleared through the Gall Blatter very slowly taking as much as 27 days to clear the system. Knowing this I would be very wary about taking the stuff.

On to your problem. The problem you are seeing most of the time is short lived but I did find a few other cases like your on the web. I didn't find doctors commenting on the problem but what I found suggest the damage is the the adrenal gland which sounds right as so much was affected. Two places suggest vitamin D through a healthy diet might help with the problem but it's not stated as a cure to the the problem.

The adrenal gland is a pretty complex and important part of the body and I don't know I you have attacked the problem from this point of view. I would guess that the odds aren't real good that you will be able to fix the problem but maybe this will help.

I am sending you a link dump by PM of what I found as I don't want the mods having to dig through the links to make sure they are appropriate for this web site.

Dena
I think you are right about Gallbladder and Adrenal. While I was on SP and for many months after stopping it I kep having very nasty and bad smelling burps. My digestion was (still today) extremely slow. My food was staying in my belly and I had got (which still present) pot belly.
No I never drank or smoke in my life. I was very health conscious guy. I loved weight lifting and hiking.Now none of these activities is possible.
I took normal dose, 320 mg soft gel caps from GNC store, some from other herbal store. All kept me making weaker and weaker.
you might be right about Adrenal glands. What do you suggest about fixing them.But yes you are right to become normal again is not possible now. All I want is to live fatigue and pain free life again. At least can go back to work like other people. In my present condition sex is luxury not necessity for me. Another side effect is, I am very crying now. I easily start crying.Very emotional.I hate this. When I look my back I don't remember if I ever cried like this in my life.Not even when I was a child.

[Dena]

you might be right about Adrenal glands. What do you suggest about fixing them.

There are diet suggestions in the link dump I sent you. I don't know if a supplement would help but after you review the link dump, you might want to talk to an Endo with what you have learned. Be careful with Vitamin D as it is fat soluble and is retained by the body. Overdosing on it is very harmful so talk to a doctor before going over the recommended intake.

[sp2000]

few other side effect I forgot to mention.
My gums bleed. Dentist have examined two times and nothing wrong there. I have to use wipes very gently after using washroom as that area start bleeding easily, even sometimes without  using any wipes. My nose bleeds too. My skin is very thin and fragile now.
I get cuts or bruises easily.Also it is so soft that Cloths leave print everywhere, never had this before. My limbs sleep very quickly.
I can not stand on feet right after standing up. Takes me 2-3 minutes.
Bones, especially hip bones are very painful. Can not sit on hard surfaces.Looks like either my muscles are soft there or they don't exist anymore. Hip bones hit surfaces directly.
I have very low blood pressure (below 100) which annoying. It was around 118 before using SP. I have been athelete so it was perfect.
I am taking VitD3 already. It is the reason for me to be alive today. What kind of dangers of taking VitD3 are?

[Dena]

As long as you don't go overboard on vitamin D3 you shouldn't have problems but when in doubt, consult the authority.
As far as bleeding gum, that could be vitamin C or K. You might consider switching to a multi vitamin because you my not be processing your food properly if you still have digestion problems.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D

[buttertly]

few other side effect I forgot to mention.
My gums bleed. Dentist have examined two times and nothing wrong there. I have to use wipes very gently after using washroom as that area start bleeding easily, even sometimes without  using any wipes. My nose bleeds too. My skin is very thin and fragile now.
I get cuts or bruises easily.Also it is so soft that Cloths leave print everywhere, never had this before. My limbs sleep very quickly.
I can not stand on feet right after standing up. Takes me 2-3 minutes.
Bones, especially hip bones are very painful. Can not sit on hard surfaces.Looks like either my muscles are soft there or they don't exist anymore. Hip bones hit surfaces directly.
I have very low blood pressure (below 100) which annoying. It was around 118 before using SP. I have been athelete so it was perfect.
I am taking VitD3 already. It is the reason for me to be alive today. What kind of dangers of taking VitD3 are?

Are you sure you don't mean orchidectomy in place of SP?

You are describing what happens to a male when you remove testosterone. It's a shame you had reactioons to the T shots, because that's what you need.

[Dena]

Are you sure you don't mean orchidectomy in place of SP?

You are describing what happens to a male when you remove testosterone. It's a shame you had reactioons to the T shots, because that's what you need.

The Adrenal gland is the master regulator of the whole body. Many things including our sexual function are regulated through the Adrenal gland. It appears the SP damaged the gland upsetting the chemical balance for the entire body. T shots only address one of many problems and the only real hope is to address the Adrenal gland. Anything else is just addressing the symptoms.

[Dena]

I did a little more searching and the pituitary gland is also part of the chemical balance game. You will need an Endo to run some special test checking out both areas of your body. Depending on what the failure is, treatment might be possible.

[sp2000]

I have spent thousand of $$ and seen many Endos. CT scan , xrays of pituitary gland, MRI etc etc, all useless.
My blood cortisol is always higher than normal but saliva is almost nonexistent. Drs don't want to hear a single word about saliva tests. They say adrenals are normal but my body temp is low and hands,feet, legs, arms are very very cold.My TSH is normal (lower than 1 around 0.75 or 0.9 ). Total testosterone is lower than normal. But like I said replacing it did not bring relief. My E2 is also low.Something is stopping my hormones from entering into my cells. This is all I can say.