Testosterone replacement therapy

[Leatherneck]

Anyone else going through this therapy?

I had a blood work up done for the Big 50 physical, and at the suggestion of my GF asked for a testosterone check.

She had read an article about low test. and indicators of it and identified a few in me. She's sharp like that. I would never have recognized them. Hell, I wouldn't have read the article.

Lo and behold, the results came back kinda low...oh, alright, more than kinda.

The "normal" range for this test is 241 - 827. Mine was 279. Geez, I'm in the bottom 20% that makes the other 80% look healthy.

Outward appearances, I look alright. Could stand to lose 20 or so. Couple beers a week. Down to one or two cigs. Diet o.k.

I was surprised. I've been increasing my exercise lately. I've really been off for a year with three knee surgeries in the last year.

Today we discussed treatment and I'm now going to be on a testosterone replacement program. I'll have a gel that I rub into my shoulders every morning to be absorbed through the skin. We're looking to get the level back up to around 500. Follow ups every few months.

So. Anyone else going through this therapy? How is it going for you? I just didn't like the idea of having the testosterone level of a 90 year old.

Kevin

 

[Ben314z]

No shame man, no shame. At some point in each of our lives we're all betrayed by our own biology. My uncle started his therapy a few years ago and we've all noticed a difference. He's still the same person, just with a lil' more spring in his step. I hope you see benefits from it.

 

[Emmett]

Just be careful to let the gel dry completely and wash your hands very well after application. It has been documented that it can transfer between people if you're not careful. I know a couple guys on it and it's treated them well.

 

[PTurchan]

My understanding is that what are normal T levels has not been defined. Does anyone know if this is true or not? Anyways, good luck with it man.

 

[Walter Sobchak]

Good for you man. I hope it helps. No shame in it whatsoever. Modern medicine affords us many 'quality of life' therapies and they're there to be taken advantage of. Kudos to you for posting about it. I'm interested to see how it works and other people's experiences with it.

 

[PTurchan]

Reminds me of this video I just saw of Stallone training at 62:
[YOUTUBE]Vm4B0FWrrD0[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Leatherneck]

Thanks for your responses.

If the Op sounded "oh woe is me", it wasn't meant to. Actually, if anything, there is a feeling of relief.

Ben, glad it's helping your uncle. I'm really looking forward to this. Hearing positive results is encouraging.

Emmett, I watched a video on the drug makers website about the application and the same thing was reenforced. Apply it and wash hands thoroughly.

As for Stallone: I remember when I was training him. I kept telling him to push throu........Well, you know.

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[RayH]

You don't really have to use a gel. While I don't know how much the gel costs, you should look into getting some DHEA at your local health food store. It will help your body produce more testosterone. Some people use HGH, real or herbal to do the same thing. HGH causes the body to produce DHEA which in turns helps to produce more testosterone. Here's a page on it.http://www.livestrong.com/article/1...hoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_Articles

 

[The Nid Hog]

Glad to hear that you're getting it taken care of, Devil Dog. No shame in anything like this--we put a lot of mileage on our bodies over a lifetime. Hope everything works out well.

This is purely anecdotal, and I haven't had any before/after tests done, so you can take this for what it's worth. However, I started seriously doing squats and some Olympic lifts a year or so ago when I got interested in Crossfit. I've always been pretty athletic, but getting older and busier started to take its toll. For whatever reason, I had never been much into squats when I used to work out. Supposedly squats are an exercise that stimulates testosterone production. Now, like I said, I haven't had any tests done to prove that this is what I've experienced. However, I feel much more energetic and I also feel like I'm getting greater gains from my other workouts since I've added squats/Oly lifts. YMMV, but they're fun too.

 

[Leatherneck]

Ray, thanks for the link. The supply/prescription I have will last awhile, which will give me time for lots of reading about this. I bookmarked some other links while beginning to look around the net. I'll add this to it.

Nidhooooooooooogggg, cool info. Maybe later on the squats. I've got a lot of work to do on the knee, yet. Right now I'm happy with being able to bend it enough to sit down on the toilet. My son was doing Olym. and squats a while back. I'll have to ask if he still is.

You guys take care,

Kevin

 

[don.putnick]

Leatherneck, I tried Androgel; it wasn't getting absorbed. I get the results tomorrow on Testim (which smells).

A friend at work went through the same ritual. Androgel and Testim weren't getting absorbed for him. A weekly shot of T in the behind works for him.

 

[Leatherneck]

Leatherneck, I tried Androgel; it wasn't getting absorbed. I get the results tomorrow on Testim (which smells).

A friend at work went through the same ritual. Androgel and Testim weren't getting absorbed for him. A weekly shot of T in the behind works for him.

Testim is what I am starting on. The. Dr. kick started me yesterday with an injection. Hopefully it'll absorb. Today was the first day I put it on. Yea, it smells, but not that bad. How often do you go back for testing to see if it's absorbing. My next appt. is three months.

Kevin

 

[IronJohn]

I just found out last month I have low testesterone. I read about the symptoms and asked the doctor. Mine was only a little low, so there is a question if insurance will cover it. He gave me shot of testosterone, andro-something or other it was called.

It is the smartest move I ever made. The lead up to the diagnosis was humbling, after all what guy wants to admit his once, thriving, libido is dwindling at only 41.

That down in the mouth feeling lasted up until day two after the injection. Here is what I saw and felt:
1.Working out. I noticed and without prompting, my wife noticed, visible improvements. I wasn't bulking up like Mr. Olympia, of course, but there were visible changes in three weeks. I felt stronger and could work out longer.
2.Energy was way up.
3.Mood was improved greatly as well.
4. It goes without saying that libido went way up.

Ok, I don't feel like a 18 year old buck ready to take on hell with a teaspoon of water. But words such as, "strong like bull" come to mind.

Unfortunately the effects lasted only about 2 weeks, gradually dwindling. I see the doctor in a week for a follow up. Since my levels weren't THAT low (remember the scale they use is actually a "best guess" kind of deal. I think that, for me, the levels were much lower than they need to be) the injection was a test more of less. I look forward to trying the patch or the jell, as they are a sustained method of delivery. If insurance won't cover it, I'll pay out of pocket. Yeah it was that good.

I hope this helps.

 

[don.putnick]

Testim is what I am starting on. The. Dr. kick started me yesterday with an injection. Hopefully it'll absorb. Today was the first day I put it on. Yea, it smells, but not that bad. How often do you go back for testing to see if it's absorbing. My next appt. is three months.

Kevin

Yep, every three months. I'm an Rx junkie, so I need to go back every three months anyway.

 

[Leatherneck]

I just found out last month I have low testesterone. I read about the symptoms and asked the doctor. Mine was only a little low, so there is a question if insurance will cover it. He gave me shot of testosterone, andro-something or other it was called.

It is the smartest move I ever made. The lead up to the diagnosis was humbling, after all what guy wants to admit his once, thriving, libido is dwindling at only 41.

That down in the mouth feeling lasted up until day two after the injection. Here is what I saw and felt:
1.Working out. I noticed and without prompting, my wife noticed, visible improvements. I wasn't bulking up like Mr. Olympia, of course, but there were visible changes in three weeks. I felt stronger and could work out longer.
2.Energy was way up.
3.Mood was improved greatly as well.
4. It goes without saying that libido went way up.

Ok, I don't feel like a 18 year old buck ready to take on hell with a teaspoon of water. But words such as, "strong like bull" come to mind.

Unfortunately the effects lasted only about 2 weeks, gradually dwindling. I see the doctor in a week for a follow up. Since my levels weren't THAT low (remember the scale they use is actually a "best guess" kind of deal. I think that, for me, the levels were much lower than they need to be) the injection was a test more of less. I look forward to trying the patch or the jell, as they are a sustained method of delivery. If insurance won't cover it, I'll pay out of pocket. Yeah it was that good.

I hope this helps.

You, sir, are now my shining example of hope.

Yep, every three months. I'm an Rx junkie, so I need to go back every three months anyway.

 

[Leatherneck]

I just found out last month I have low testesterone. I read about the symptoms and asked the doctor. Mine was only a little low, so there is a question if insurance will cover it. He gave me shot of testosterone, andro-something or other it was called.

It is the smartest move I ever made. The lead up to the diagnosis was humbling, after all what guy wants to admit his once, thriving, libido is dwindling at only 41.

That down in the mouth feeling lasted up until day two after the injection. Here is what I saw and felt:
1.Working out. I noticed and without prompting, my wife noticed, visible improvements. I wasn't bulking up like Mr. Olympia, of course, but there were visible changes in three weeks. I felt stronger and could work out longer.
2.Energy was way up.
3.Mood was improved greatly as well.
4. It goes without saying that libido went way up.

Ok, I don't feel like a 18 year old buck ready to take on hell with a teaspoon of water. But words such as, "strong like bull" come to mind.

Unfortunately the effects lasted only about 2 weeks, gradually dwindling. I see the doctor in a week for a follow up. Since my levels weren't THAT low (remember the scale they use is actually a "best guess" kind of deal. I think that, for me, the levels were much lower than they need to be) the injection was a test more of less. I look forward to trying the patch or the jell, as they are a sustained method of delivery. If insurance won't cover it, I'll pay out of pocket. Yeah it was that good.

I hope this helps.

You, sir, are now my shining example of hope.

Yep, every three months. I'm an Rx junkie, so I need to go back every three months anyway.

There's hope for us, yet!!

 

[NightLad]

Today we discussed treatment and I'm now going to be on a testosterone replacement program. I'll have a gel that I rub into my shoulders every morning to be absorbed through the skin. We're looking to get the level back up to around 500. Follow ups every few months.

Just a note; be careful about other people coming into contact with the areas of your body the cream happens to be on.

I read a true story in a medical journal a while ago about a little boy, 5 or 6, whom doctors believed had a rare condition that basically started puberty at an accelerated rate. He had started growing pubic hair, etc.

After investigation it turned out that his father used a cream on his shoulders to supplement testosterone production, and the boy would go for piggy-back rides and wrestle around with him shortly after.

PS: The boy was okay because they caught it fast enough. It was actually very dangerous, because puberty is when the bones are triggered to slow down their growth and eventually stop. There are a host of medical issues that could have happened to him if they didn't do anything.