Did My Gender Transition Cause ME/CFS and Chronic Illness?

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

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[@amyayars-evans4666]

My beautiful Finn!!! This was so well said. It did make me think, have I put myself at risk? These surgeries are extremely hard on our bodies. The trauma I went thru, the infections, nothing like I ever experienced before. I am so low energy too. Now that I got CV last month, I feel it's taking a bit to un-hinge its claws from me. I don't have to sleep like you do but boy I would like too. Those are two different things. I love how honest and raw you are. It's what drew me to you from the jump. Thank you for that. It's so fun watching you be a dad and having a fur baby on screen with you. Congrats on the trailer tent and that decision! Not that you need my validation, at all, but I think that was such a wise decision. It keeps you accessing nature and "get always" with much less work. That is good for you both! I can't wait to hear how baby boy does on camping! I hope he loves it! I love you so much!

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Hello you gorgeous human being! Thank you for your lovely comments as always! I dont think its as simple as we 'cause' ourselves this and blaming ourselves is never helpful. Yes surgery is a huge stress on the body but we also have additional stresses to deal with as trans folks, accessing healthcare, accesptance in society, the constant negative stuff in the media that we soak up and affects us, etc etc etc!! If we were better supported, then surgery and recovery wouldnt be as sressful as it is. And besides, its about balancing the risks isnt it, because wihout these surgeries, wouldnt we be worse off anyway? I personally dont think Id be alive had i not gone through transition. I would have gone back on the drink and either drunk myself to death or had a drink related fatality. I NEEDED medical care to get mentally and physically well. I do think that as trans folks, we might often feel obligated and pressured to just put on a brave face and get on with and I wonder whether its this that does the most damage. We have so much going on, and therefore its so incredibly imporant we have the time to stop and have deep rest, but how many of us allow ourselves that?! Im glad you are loving the pup chaos! Hes such a cheeky boy! He was all chilled and lying on his mat right before I set my tripod up! Check him out with his doggy door bell though, so proud of him! Thank you re the trailer tent, weve been considering it for a while as camping has stopped being the quck fun get away that it used to be. Poor Chris has to do EVERYTHING now, get all our gear out, carry it downstairs and into the car, then put the tent up, and hes just worn out! Now its all in the trailer tent ready, so we can just pack clothes and go! Ill share lots of camping updates this week! Love you blooming loads!

[@amyayars-evans4666]

@@FinnTheInfinncible I love you blooming loads! Yes, all that you mentioned is so true about our NEED for surgical intervention and hormones. The additional stressors we go thru are absolutely pile on's to our MH and physical health. The hoops. The re-location to have access, as many of us have to do. It's so hard to be trans. I get aggravated at people thinking this is a choice. Why, on Earth, would anyone choose to go thru life non congruent in their brain and body. Often times, even after hormonal and surgical intervention we are left feeling incomplete in some way. Folks that don't have to live our paths don't know the true difficulty of our journies. I am so happy we are on each other's paths. I know that! 😘😘😘

[@MrPotatoemouse]

Love the puppy chaos! I’m enjoying his healing energy. And an excellent video, couldn’t agree more.

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Haha thank you! He keeps me on my toes! He is very smart, which has been very helpful, ie with toilet training and now ringing a bell, but his smarts also make him quite the cheeky boy! Love him 🐾💗🐾. And thank you re video

[@MrPotatoemouse]

The bell thing is amazing, I’ve never heard of that before! You must both be smart to come up with that and make it work. ❤️

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

@@MrPotatoemouse I found them online! He pretty much trained himself to use them. 💜. It's made a huge difference to my energy levels as it was exhausting having to watch him all the time and track when he last peed . Now he just alerts me when he needs it... perfect!

[@henitinker8808]

When I start Testosterone it will actually help my hEDs, because it reduces the production of progesterone which causes the joint pain and subluxations. Not to mention that it also helps to build muscle, which again benefits joint pain. People are always so surprised to hear this, because like you say, 'taking hormomes' is regarded as harming your body because of transphobia in society.

[@damienb6184]

Oh man. I stumbled on your videos about transitioning, I’m nonbinary gay trans masc (didnt know until my early 30s) and have been thinking recently about whether I want to microdose T and get top surgery, and maybe bottom surgery much later. I clicked on your channel thinking “I have a lot in common with and love this person’s energy, and their videos seem like a really good source of info!” Then when I saw your more recent videos, my heart dropped, and it hit me like a brick wall …you have the same illness as me. I’m so sorry this happened to you too. I don’t wish this on any person, it has been a hellish 2 years. I’m severe cognitively and physically, bedbound, cared for by my parents, and trapped in my childhood bedroom at 38. Ive had so many traumas and have lived in chronic stress most of my life. I tried coming out of the closet twice to my mom before I became this ill, she shut me down both times, and she is the more liberal parent. Only my cousin and close friends know my true identity and pronouns. So I’m mostly still closeted, which adds another layer of suffering. Right before I caught Covid which led to my ME, I was working towards moving out again and living independently (severe anxiety, adhd and sleep issues made me unable to work for many years). Now I don’t know if I’ll ever get to be my authentic self and live like other adults. During these 2 years my identity became less of a focus as I was in panic/survival mode, but now recently these gender feelings have been coming up again. I just wanted to reach out and say thank you so much for making videos about all these experiences you’re having, it helps me (and doubtlessly others) feel less alone. Sorry if I’ve been too negative and rambled on, your message here really resonated with me and gives me hope. Hugs from Canada 🫶

[@AngelicNTT]

Hi Finn with u. I'm a trans female and although not YET directly come in contact with haters I'm sadly realistic that I'm sure I will. Full respect to you and we peacefully stand strong together as a community. No one is alone cos we unite X

[@rhiawolf]

It's interesting, because I'm a trans man with similar chronic illness to Finn's. However, I've never medically transitioned to any degree. No surgeries, no hormone therapy, nothing. (So yeah, Finn, going off T won't make a difference -- I've never been on it, and I'm still dealing with the fatigue.) Now, there is evidence that exposure to long term high anxiety conditions, like an abusive childhood, etc, can cause permanent alterations to people's endocrine systems and other whole-body systems, potentially causing physical, biological (not emotional) chronic fatigue. (Not saying this is a condition that can be cured psychologically, because it can't - it's physical, even if prolonged psychological trauma may have contributed to the cause. That would be like saying that psychiatric therapy can cure lung cancer because someone's smoking habit was depression-linked. That said, treating depression might help someone quit smoking, and treating CPTSD might similarly help someone keep from developing worse symptoms in future.) Taking this emotional causality possibility into account, it makes more sense that (IF there is a link between being trans and chronic fatigue, which I would need a lot more data to know whether there even is) the causality would be more like how the anxiety and depression of being trans in an anti-trans world cause the sort of long-term heightened whole-body tension that permanently imbalances the system in a way that can cause chronic fatigue. This is pretty much the same idea as what Finn said. I just wanted to point out my perspective as a fellow trans man with chronic fatigue. Lack of surgery doesn't help. Lack of testosterone doesn't help. That's not the connection. Jaskasses telling us to just magically stop being trans are a far more likely contributor.

[@eliandkate]

Just leaving a comment to say hi. After Beverly tagged us in one of your instead I of course had to come be nosey 😂 Loving going back through some of your old videos and getting to know you ❤

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Ah hello and welcome to the FinnFam! Thanks for checking our my channel!

[@sharonc9259]

I hope your health will improve and I am glad you are happy with your transition. God Bless.

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Thank you so much for your kind words

[@mzthorn]

As a trans man, you just can't win. If you're perceived as a woman, then you're exaggerating and it's all in your head. Perceived as trans, then it's your transition. Overweight? That must be the problem. Imagine a world where medical people listened to their patients.

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Im high fiving you right now! Yes yes yes yes yes! Much of the stress over the last few years of being unwell, before being diagnosed ME, has actually been caused by NOT being listened too, by being sent away, fobbed off and often gaslit by medical proffessionals. Its been so exhasuing....on top of the already existing fatigue! Its likely THIS which has made my ME as bad as it is now!

[@dorianr4770]

omg 100% this!

[@mcdanielvalerie0]

Most definitely, it's like when you go to some of these medical practices, your concerns is falling on deaf ears. Patients are being neglected and they are left to deal with the aftermath.

[@mcdanielvalerie0]

​@@FinnTheInfinncibleIt's really unfortunate to hear that this could've been caught early on if someone had just listened and acted on your concerns. Finn keep being the voice in these open spaces because you provide insight that's very informative. I think your journey is definitely worth sharing, and I appreciate your transparency.

[@jessicakullander8517]

MECFS has so many unknowns. I crashed, out of the blue. No viral event. No trauma. Maybe hashimotos or adrenals are a contributor, but really no tests or scans or anything else could explain the crash and post exertional malaise. I am straight, married to my spouse, with kids, with MECFS and I have found many of the things that Finn feels and describes about his journey with MECFS to be valid no matter his medical past. Finn, you often elequently describe aspects of mecfs, you have a wonderful way of putting feelings and thoughts into words that make sense. The rambling works! I find myself rambling sometimes too, until I figure out the words to signify what I want to convey. Keep it up! And I appreciate your gender/transition aspects of your messages and channel. My daughter is very casually exploring all the pronouns (they have adhd and it seems to change day by day) and I keep your story and accomplishments in mind as we keep space for them. Thank you FInn!

[@emilys9659]

Such a good video Finn, thank you for sharing and explaining. I found you through your ME/CFS content as I have that too. I agree that noone is invulnerable to this illness- you could get covid or the flu or need surgery for a gall bladder or have an accident and it could trigger it after a perfect storm of other factors. We just don’t know!

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Absolutely my friend. This can unfortunately happen to anyone for any reason, medical, stress, surgery, just bad luck, and would then people be villified for example for having surgery to fix a gallbladder, or for having a baby and then ending up with ME/CFS? So why, even if going through transition did trigger my ME, should I be villified? It's utter nonsense isn't it? It's not about the ME/CFS at all really, it's just another way for the anti trans brigade to have a pop at trans folk!

[@johanm1534]

I love the 'It is pointless.. arguing with idiots' That is so true 'chuckles' And you are right. You don't need their crap in the comments. That pup I would luv boroing that fluffy cutie. When hearing all this I'm thinking that Anyone going through any kind of operation and having immunsystem low can get this. So no it's not you being Trans at all. You just happened to get it with a operation you needed as a Trans guy. But could have been any other operation as well. I'm happy to hear you doing so much better after Transitioning and I am sure once I am on Testo I will not go off it in the first place either. Why go off it when you finally doing better mentally cos you can be yourself. No need going there. I'm waiting for my own first meeting. I got another almost 2 years left til I get my first appointment. Thank you for teaching me a bit that I didn't know before.

[@flowersstorms8863]

Sending you all my love as always, dear brother. Yep, synthetic hormones are an incredibly effective treatment. As a cis woman on HRT they've made my life so much better and I know that T has helped you many magnitudes more. Our bodies are complicated and our health issues can be triggered by all sorts of random things and we often never know what a fraction of those triggers are. Live and love your life - you are an incredible man and thank you as always for explaining your experiences to us with humour, vulnerability and so much compassion xx

[@feral_vlogs]

I'm proud of you on your sober journey

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Thank you! I'm proud of you too!!

[@alasacab6784]

I am amazed by this individual.

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Thank you 🙏😊

[@alasacab6784]

@@FinnTheInfinncible you don't see many get out of a jazzy and walk again after using it

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

@@alasacab6784 ?

[@pattyfluegel7816]

Very kind of you to discuss such a vulnerable topic so vulnerably and kindly. Its obviously a sensitive topic about which people have been unkind to you, and yet, you have chosen to be the bigger person.

[@carriefernandez8705]

so glad to hear the brain zaps are gone! honestly I think a lot more people deal with chronic stress-induced conditions than we're aware of. the more marginalized identities you have and the longer you've had them, the more chronic stress you're under. (by "the longer you've had them," I mean both 1) that someone can be more genderfluid and be comfortably cisgender for many years until they realize along the way that they now ID as trans, vs your situation where you would have IDed as trans in your youth, and 2) that sometimes the marginalized identity is something like disability, where you don't have it until you have it, as opposed to one like race where you have that identity your whole life.) it does also look like Pip has helped quite a bit! my last kitty passed away in December and the new kitty has helped tremendously with keeping me on anything resembling a schedule. I had the last one for a decade and my life literally took the course it did because of her, so that's a loss I'm still grappling with and I suspect I'll always have to in some way. but new kitty at least gives me a reason to get up in the morning and laugh at him being a dodo bird.

[@sebsensen]

THANK YOU for talking about this. When I told my mom I had ME/CFS, her very first question was, "Is it because of the testosterone?!" [Really? 8 years after starting T?] It was the first of many comments that I would hear as a trans man with ME/CFS. So nice to hear someone else talk about it.

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Oh it really grates my cheese! Its because whether folks realise it or not, the negative talk about transition soaks into peoples brains and so ts the first thing they blame when anything happens. Im glad this video helped!

[@Gadfly333]

Then don't tell your Mum about your own problems.... Learn to cope by yourself.

[@Moosh207]

You do a really great job in managing the mindsets of people who need an education, who think they know what they are talking about but they don't really know what they are talking about. I've been following your amazing channel since the beginning and seen all of your vlogs, and had close contact while you were writing your published book. You are very thoughtful, thorough in your research and self reflection, and you make decisions once you know you have gone through all the research. You have definitely been through so much in your life where it's way more than what a person should have to tolerate, and you have come through it with so much character, substance and wisdom. Thank you for this video and for taking the time to, yet again, inform people of how it really is. Pip is so cute! I love following him on your social media too. I hope you have a great time camping xx

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Thank you so much lovely. It's wonderful to find a comment from you . Yes it's been a bloody rollercoaster of a life and really it's unsurprising that I've ended up with a chronic illness! Yo try and just blame one thing is both impossible and short sighted, and that's why I had to talk about this. It's the same with mental health, people assume all trans folks struggle because ipoor mental health is part of being trans, but that's not the case. We struggle because of the society we live in. The struggle to come out and be accepted, trying to access healthcare, transphobia, deacriminatuon, micro aggressions every day on social media, the constant stress of this is what causes the high prevalence of mentali and physical illhealth in trans people,.not because it's an inherent part of being trans. I'm incredibly blessed to you an ally and friend for all these years . Thank you for having my back always 💜

[@CoMorbiditty]

l agree whole-heartedly

[@Moosh207]

​@@FinnTheInfinncible aww I love that you feel that way! You're so sweet! 🥹 I'm really blessed to call you my friend all of these years too. You're so smart. I love everything you choose to do 💜

[@CoMorbiditty]

l thank the heavens and earth for Finn and the impact he has had on my life as a trans gay man. From my panic over not being able to find a doctor to get testosterone... to my distress over not being able to get top surgery atm, the Finn Fam community is my life-line. l'm one of those.. "get on with it" people cos the world dont stop for us... we just got to do what we have to do, like work and pay bills. Thanks Finn and the Finn Fam gang :)

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Love you so much fella. Together we can get through anything

[@CoMorbiditty]

@@FinnTheInfinncible Ditto my friend... Ditto. 💟

[@oliverg6864]

Omg yes, about a year after I started T I was exhausted all the time. My family was not super supportive and my aunt who's a doctor was like, "it must be the T maybe you should stop." Turns out my iron was just low and I felt better after a few months of supplements. It's so annoying to have people assume that your transition is the problem!!

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Grrrrr!!! This is exactly the issue. I've had many people say to Chris, who only know me a bit, ...is it because of his testosterone or transition....and I get so upset! Most don't mean harm, but it's this automatic assumption that comes from the unconious negative bias towards trans folks and transition!

[@oliverg6864]

​@@FinnTheInfinncible haha yeah, like would you suggest to a cis man that he should just start taking testosterone blockers because his testosterone might be the problem? It's so silly.

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

@@oliverg6864 yep!

[@parkershot]

Hey Finn! Thank you for your videos. I've watched your videos since you started posting on KZbin! "The trans broken arm".... So true!!! As a trans man, I've hard great difficulty finding a GP (or any other doctor) who will look at the whole picture of all my symptoms. I've been searching for some kind of diagnosis for years and have yet to find a doctor who will take the time to look at everything. They either focus on my sleep (due to being so exhausted) or brush me off all together. So frustrating.

[@cherjohnson5807]

Finn I enjoy your videos so much , I have learned so much thank you Finn, and as always your in my prayers 🙏🏼

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Bless your heart thank you so much for this

[@georgeallen3214]

Hi lovely! As an EMT we're taught to assess the whole situation, not just the "distracting injury"... I'm totally gonna whisper "trans broken arm" on my next call 😂 Great video, as always x

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Haha! Hello lovely!!! It's so good that you are taught this, I'm sure most are, l think unfortunately some forget or let the predjudices get in the way. I'm grateful for changes to things happening now that will.omprove this as I get so sick of medical appointments where I'm having to work so hard to explain myself and distract them from my testosterone/surgery etc into the actual issue! It drives me spare!! Love to you !

[@JackxJewell]

Hey Finn! New to your channel. I’m sorry you’ve had to face questioning such as this and the backlash. I’m not trans, but I have wasted lots of time wondering if I didn’t anything to cause my chronic illnesses/pain. It’s not helpful and I’ll never know, so I can empathise with this burden. I’ve just started a channel to hopefully help others in situations such as these :).

[@dwentlandt1022]

I’m so glad you addressed this. I’ve had people ask me if some of my health issues are caused by testosterone. No people. It has nothing to do with testosterone. It’s the persons body that has everything to do with it and it isn’t because we are transgender.

[@chaisorrowscfs]

I was wondering where I could get the raising awareness not seeking attention shirt? Love your content 🎉 am also trying to spread info about ME/CFS

[@andrewmcdonald3199]

Hi finn I am trans men myself. I would like to know what exact from topsurgyer?I have just been put on the waiting list.

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Hi my friend, exciting times for you, though I know the waiting lists are long. It does mean that it gives you time to prepare which is good. I have a whole playlist which follows my own top surgery journey from start to finish as well as other vlogs with tips and info, I also have a website with top surgery info over at finlaygames.com Here's some links to get you started Top surgery diary: Top Surgery Diary | Start to Completion: kzbin.info/aero/PL-xdbMjLqelL6-Rc2qxqVP565qMpucGBn How to prepare for top surgery : finlaygames.com/how-to-prepare-for-top-surgery/ I hope these help!

[@rouowward6917]

Enjoy the staycation. Thx for the updates. ❤

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Thanks my friend!

[@natashamason3328]

Transition saves lives for so many. I’m so sad that people would still see it as a negative thing. Thank you for continuing to share your story and help people understand. Sending love 💜xxx

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Thanks sweets. I'm very very glad to have you as an ally and as a very special friend .

[@carolinecarlson4307]

All data shows WORSE mental health outcomes with medical transition

[@carolinecarlson4307]

When people have medical transition surgery they are 19 times MORE LIKELY to die from suicide. Medical transition reliably results in WORSENED mental health outcomes.

[@chrissimpkins4144]

@@carolinecarlson4307 please cite your sources.

[@MovingOnify]

​@@carolinecarlson4307 transition procedures for those people who medically need it for treatment of dysphoria gain significant improvement in mental health actually. That's a good thing. However, where a person's mental health could worsen, is in how ignorant people in society speak to and treat trans people in an unsupportive way

[@simonlarkin2263]

Well said finn . Hope you're okay .

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Thank you my dear friend. I am OK , its tough but im getting there! I hope you are well?

[@simonlarkin2263]

@FinnTheInfinncible (Finlay Games) mental heath sucks lol I'm getting there getting sick of Dr's blaming my t shot lol but that's the joys . Keep vlogs coming when u can love watching you all . Love si and astra

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Bless you buddy. I think its incredibly lazy and neglectful of medical professionals who just jump to blame T without first thorougly testing for everything else! thats what stopped my hypothyroidism being diagnosed for such a long time, the GP was too fixated on my testosterone, my gender transition and my mental heath and would not listen to me!. Perhaps if that had been caught early, thing might not have progressed to full ME/CFS. We have to become very strng and be our own advocate. Thank you for your lovely comment. Much love to you and Astra

[@Reed5016]

Honestly, as a 19 year old trans man stuck in an extremely transphobic household, I’m glad I came upon your videos. I’m genuinely afraid of transitioning (once I am financially stable and out of this house). I have a family history of blood clots, and I’m afraid that going on testosterone might make that happen. Perhaps I can ask my doctor about blood thinners if I decide to get on t in the future.

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Hi my friend, Im so sorry you are living in such a toxic environment, that must be so incredibly hard. I hope you have some good support outside the house? As for the blood clots, testosterone can increase the likelyhood of blood clots, a consition I cant remember the official name for but called "sticky blood" where the blood gets too thick. I do know of a could of trans guys who have had this. One manages it by giving blood regually, the other is on regular medication to manage it, so it definately is possible. Plus, theres always the option of testosterone gel rather than injectins. So, dont lose hope! sending love and strength your way

[@Reed5016]

@@FinnTheInfinncible Thanks Finn. I really appreciate it.

[@pattyfluegel7816]

...also, you may well feel better after a while. I have friends with CFS who have had extremely debilitating periods in their life, and then long periods of remission.

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

I hear ths a lot and I am being quietly hopeful!

[@carinagomezfernandez7473]

I was on testosterone for almost 2 years and my iron and redblood cells became too high. I want to restart my testosterone but I am also afraid for illnesses because of the synthetic testosterone. Some older transmen develop polycethemia vera on T. At the moment I am in doubt wether or not to start again with my testerone because of this.

[@royallyscrewed7]

very good video!

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Thanks my friend! Im glad you thought so and thank you for letting me know!

[@ceahorse56]

Even with me/cfs you're in a better place Finn that's the most important thing! I have a lot of thyroid issues even thyroid cancer when I was younger so maybe trigger my me/cfs? idk. In my day they called me/cfs the yuppie flu, now long covid... hang in there kiddo ❤ Pip ❤

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Exactly this. Life isn't black and white is it? One area of your life can be a challenge whilst another can be awesome, and one area of your life can get worse whilst another dramatically improves. A perfect life devoid of any illhealth and challenge is an impossible thing! My life now is marvelous in so many wonderful way and only really challenging in a couple, I'll take that any day over the entire shit show it was 11 years ago! Much love to you

[@michelleclayton6892]

I love you Finn. Healing vibes your way. And don’t worry about the haters and the bigots! They have nothing better to do with their lives. ❤️

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

I agree, and thanks lovely!

[@andrewmcdonald3199]

I find your videos interesting. I have md and to know if can still get topsurgyer?

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Thank my friend. I don't see why not, you might need additional medical care and extra protocols in place. I would contact a surgeon and ask

[@anne-louisegoldie]

Count Pupula is very cute 🐾🐾😍 I also have M.E. I think having our nervous systems stuck in the sympathetic branch for years, especially when we're young and growing, is really bad for our health in later years. Something will eventually become the trigger that shuts down our bodies , puts our brains on minimum, where we can barely function, and we don't know how long it will be for. Being told we're just lazy or making it up, and being told the NHS has 'Nothing To Offer' , doesn't help anyone living with M.E to feel hopeful of recovery and support. We have to advocate for ourselves, and that's really difficult to do, especially for people who are on their own 🤗🤗

[@pyenygren2299]

Keep on shining, beautiful star! 🌈🏳️‍⚧️

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

You are so lovely 😍

[@joyoung7804]

Hugs x

[@tandnbarnett]

I’ve had covid 3x and got long covid and after this it gave me CFS. I haven’t transitioned and can’t but still have the stress with the dysphoria as I have transitioned socially. I can’t go back to where I was but can’t have the ops neither.

[@pattyfluegel7816]

people who specialize in psychoneuroimmunology would tell us The limbic system (which regulates emotions and memory) upregulates and downregulates autonomic and endocrine function in response to emotional stimuli this has a strong effect on the immune system. A lot of disorders are caused by gene expression also. These things are affected by stress and PTSD...trauma which may be an effect of being trans in society such as it presently is. ...as well as other life experiences (sure, surgery can cause trauma ...and, people get surgery for lots of different reasons). Sure, you have altered your hormones. ..but one thing testosterone does is give us energy better cognitive function and muscle mass. So....even though every thing is part of the picture we try to figure out not sure why we would jump to suspect testosterone above all the other more likely contributors. A much higher percentage of women are diagnosed with chronic fatigue than men, and while its not entirely clear if this is partially because women report more than men, if women experience it more, then we could just as likely contribute it to being born in a female body and say thank goodness you adapted the body or it might be much worse! The truth is, we just dont always know the factors that create our life situations. Once we are there we just have to explore the best ways to move forward. I am sure you do this with research online and discussion among groups of people who share the diagnosis. I wish you all the best in your journey whatever it is meant to be. (Also, if you can find a somatic experiencing practitioner or similar who specialties include chronic fatigue they may be able to help with treatment toward remission of lessening of expression)

[@dorianr4770]

god, it's like I'm your enbrother from another mother... ❤

[@blackhatter1980]

hey finn hope you are well not watched any videos of yours for a while been in a dark place with my addiction. but just wanted to say hi

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Hey my dear friend. Its so good to hear from you though I'm sad to hear you've been in a dark place.i.hipe Yiu are doing better now?

[@blackhatter1980]

@@FinnTheInfinncible thanks for the response Finn most grateful I'm back at the fellowship so hopefully better days ahead of me watched you channel 4 appearance well done the bravery it must of taken is amazing take care my friend X

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

@@blackhatter1980 thanks my friend that's lovely feedback. I'm so glad you are back in the rooms 💜

[@dwentlandt1022]

Autoimmune diseases are from the body attacking itself. Many times it’s from infection, but not from a hormone. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis many years before I even considered saying anything about being transgender. I had all my health issues before transitioning or even talking about it. I was born with one of my autoimmune disorders and once you have one you are more susceptible to having more the older you get. I’m glad you never thought about coming off testosterone. All that would do is cause you more harm that doing any good. 💕. Much love.

[@pmbluemoon]

Excellent topic. I'm in the same boat. I've had doctors tell me that my T is responsible for my heart problems, even though I've had heart problems way before I started T. Same with my skin and asthma, the one doctor, no matter how many times I told her it was pre-transition, she insists that using "the wrong hormones for me" are why my skin started to peel. I actually had an allergic reaction to a medication! This whole blaming HRT is getting way out of hand. Cis males take HRT when their T gets low too, why aren't they having all these "T related issues" then? 🤨Or how about all the mental health issues that come up? Thankfully I have an understanding program, but I've heard of doctors saying we're mad for messing with our hormones and we shouldn't transition if we have mental health issues! Um... wow. I have to stop or I'll fill up the comment section... I'm sorry you have to deal with this too Finn. 🙏 Venlafaxine would slowly leave your system, and if it was that, hopefully you'll start feeling better. I hope this reverses itself no matter what caused it so you can start feeling better 🤞 SO happy to hear the brain zaps quit, those are awful, there's no word to describe how bad those are! Now that you mention this, it seems like most neurological or hormone related diseases go through the "it's all in your head" phase, then the "it's a mental illness" phase, then the "we don't know but something is wrong" phase, then finally research happens before recognition that it wasn't all the other crap they said it was all those years. 🤣"Shark Mode" I love it! (as he's gnawing on your hand like a piece of rawhide) when you say "Count Pupula" the closed caption reads "Count Popular" hehe... My friend is deaf and I check the way they closed caption the videos so he's not confused about what you're saying (that part was just a chuckle of a mistake) Such a cute bunch of guys all around! I send you subscriber support hugs and subscriber puppy pettings as well!

[@myflyingkidney]

oh and also under no circumstances do ever stop testosterone! even if you had oestrogen in your system. if it works do not touch it. it can only make things worse.

[@myflyingkidney]

oh, you said it yourself. ok. haha

[@myflyingkidney]

also maybe check out dr. terry wahls. I am not sure if me/cfs has any autoimmune component or if we even know this information yet. but it seems to me that food isn't irrelevant in this subject, or at least in the thyroid problems. terry wahls has cured herself of multiple sclerosis so I guess she knows something. i have a feeling cfs is somehow autoimmune but we just haven't researched it enough yet.

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

I absolutely agree! This is precicely whay I was attempting to address in this vlog. It mostly comes from well meaning people, who do not realise they have subconciosly soaked up the negative stuff about gender transition being bad, so they automatically go to my transition, to blame that on my chronic illness and suggest I come of my testosterone, when its the ne positive thing n my life doing me the world of good! If I stopped my T, its likely so much of my physical and mental heath would suddently fall apart!

[@myflyingkidney]

@@FinnTheInfinncible that is possible, but I actually think it isn't even necessarily negativity towards trans people that is behind it , it is just that the hormones are the only thing they know for sure that could affect your health and the only thing that you could change and see some type of effect relatively soon, so people suggest the most obvious thing. all the other causes are pretty difficult to figure out and require digging and knowledge and if you are not a doctor you can't really imagine most of things that could possibly cause your symptoms. i always remember video about a guy with insomnia who had a can of energy drink and could suddenly fall asleep even though it is completely counter intuitive. turns out he had low B12, so much so it actually caused insomnia, and energy drinks have a lot of b12. but you have to be a doctor to figure this out when a patient comes with a symptom that doesn't make sense at first. so people jump to conclusions and simple solutions. i hope soon we will have more research on your condition and possibly figure out something to ease the symptoms.

[@Gekkotogo]

Bravo! Hugs xxx

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Thank you!

[@purpledaydreamer9682]

I'm so sorry anti trans people are coming at you. And glad that you are choosing to not invest your energy into those people ❤ sending you lots of love

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Thank you so much for your lovely comment 😊

[@myflyingkidney]

i am really sorry you have me/cfs. I hope you find a way to have a decent quality of life. i wish you all the best

[@foxbat9444]

I cant even count how many people asked if **the testosterone** could be the cause of my chronic illness

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Yep, THE TESTOSTERONE,that evil ting that has just sprung into existence for trans people and never been used in medicine before and not been tested for saftey 🙄. Funny how that's all people see and not the other million things that could have cause it.

[@Gadfly333]

Then stop telling people about YOUR problems....

[@foxbat9444]

@@Gadfly333 sending you love.

[@irenes2795]

❤

[@kavitadeva]

I love you ❤❤

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

Love you too 💕

[@Lynchbricks]

Out of curiosity did you listen to the witch trials of Jk Rowling? I’d love to hear your take on it. (My blood boiled at the last episode)

[@jagdeepjano]

Some of this sounds like cope tbh but at the end of the day it's no one's business and people are allowed to live their lives however they want without breaking the law. Individuals have liberty in a free society and that's one of the factors has made the Western world so wonderful. So the haters have no place trying to police other people's bodily autonomy, and that's all there is to it. Head up soldier 💯♥

[@superdrwholock]

When people (who you know aren't well-meaning, thinking of anti-trans people specifically) say things like 'transitioning caused this bad thing' without taking in to account all the various other factors, it reminds me of fundamentalist religious people who say that a bad thing happened to a person because they don't believe in /insert relevant religion or god here/ (luckily not all religious people are like that! I think it's a small percentage, and you get bad eggs in every group). Like you said, you can't really reason with it because it's so beyond that. If someone wants to hate a group of people and believe that being part of that group or even associating with that group in a positive way is bad, they will attribute anything negative towards that and ignore all the positives. Which isn't logical, so you can't reason with it

[@pattyfluegel7816]

,,,and of course hypothyroid makes you hella fatigued. I hope you get the proper dose of thyroid meds and feel better there.

[@heatherwalsh9761]

Can I respectfully ask did you have psycho therapy for the gender dysphoria before you took testosterone? I am puzzled by why body modifications are used for mental distress in a patient with reduced resilience at the outset due to co-morbidities? Do you regret the surgery as it sounds like you had serious complications? Does it functionally work for you now?You have put yourself through so much physiological trauma to reach your male goal so it will have an impact on your immune system. Please don't cancel me as I have this happening in my family and I cannot understand it , nor can I understand the rationale for the clinical pathway transgender people are very rapidly set on. Every time I ask in a desperate attempt to get some clarity I'm cancelled for daring to literally ask.

[@soberdoggy]

No! Because gender is in the brain so your gender wasn’t changed. Your multiple surgeries to align your body with your gender *may* have contributed to your illness. Love you!

[@FinnTheInfinncible]

It may well have done, but like I said in the video, there are so many complex layers to this. I do hink its far more likely to have been a combination of factors.