Looking for TR advice

[Jax26]

Hey guys - long time lurker first time poster. I'm pretty much at my wits end and looking for advice.

I've been on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for about 5 years. First with gels and then, when my son was born, with pins. My doctor is a nice guy but pretty clueless. He started me off on 400mg every two weeks. I broke that down 200mg every week to avoid the swings and then further down to 100mg (1/2ml) every 3 days.

My T labs were in the 8s (scale of 2 - 8.6) in December before I broke down to E3D (2 days after a 200mg shot) but recent labs were at 4.5 (scale 2 - 8.6) two weeks ago. E2 was 33 in December and <20 on the recent ones.

So anyway, I feel like crap. Emotionally, physically and sexually. I'm taking daily Cialis to help with ED and it all works fine. Sex is twice a week but I still feel horrible. I've felt horrible for awhile now and I'm hoping to find whatever the missing piece is. I tried an E2 blocker when I was at 33 but it seems that I'm an over-responder b/c at 1/2 mg the joints in my hand started to hurt.

Sorry for the novel - just really want to get to feeling better.

 

[JOWS6]

What is your free testosterone values at? Ever had a full thyroid panel performed? Any other conditions at play? - Like sleep apnea that you are aware of?

 

[Ratt64]

Hey guys - long time lurker first time poster. I'm pretty much at my wits end and looking for advice.

I've been on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for about 5 years. First with gels and then, when my son was born, with pins. My doctor is a nice guy but pretty clueless. He started me off on 400mg every two weeks. I broke that down 200mg every week to avoid the swings and then further down to 100mg (1/2ml) every 3 days.

My T labs were in the 8s (scale of 2 - 8.6) in December before I broke down to E3D (2 days after a 200mg shot) but recent labs were at 4.5 (scale 2 - 8.6) two weeks ago. E2 was 33 in December and <20 on the recent ones.

So anyway, I feel like crap. Emotionally, physically and sexually. I'm taking daily Cialis to help with ED and it all works fine. Sex is twice a week but I still feel horrible. I've felt horrible for awhile now and I'm hoping to find whatever the missing piece is. I tried an E2 blocker when I was at 33 but it seems that I'm an over-responder b/c at 1/2 mg the joints in my hand started to hurt.

Sorry for the novel - just really want to get to feeling better.

The big question would be, how were you feeling prior to switching your dosing to e3d?
Were you taking an E2 blocker when your levels were at 33?
Low e2 symptoms can mirror low t symptoms.
E2 of 33 is mid range so I'm not sure why you would want it lower unless you were experiencing symptoms associated with high E.
I've recently changed my dosing to e5d and it has worked wonders for me. No ups and downs and my levels are the same as when I was on e7d (both T and E).
You could try 140mg e5d which would equate to 200mg weekly.

 

[Jax26]

Hey guys - thanks for the replies. Just some additional information, I'm 6'1' and 225. Good muscle in arms and legs - a little pudgy in the gut. The other issue that I'm having, that may not be related to anything, is that I've been having rapid onset cramping in my hands and arms. Something as simple as screwing in a long screw will cause my hand to cramp up. Holding a book with one hand to read to my son will cause my arm to cramp up in about 3 mins.

I'm not sure about free T. I've asked my doctor to test it but it seems to never be included in the labs. My Thyroid is ok - that was one of the first things that they checked. I have moderate to severe sleep apnea and have used a CPAP nightly for about a year. It hasn't been the miracle cure that the doctors said it would be.

I felt like crud before switching and only feel marginally better since switching to E3Ds. I'm not sure what's going on with it all.

 

[JOWS6]

Obstructive or central sleep apnea? Did they say if you lost some weight that you might benefit from it?

When you say your thyroid is "ok", is that what the doctor said or have you looked into your thyroid lab profile yourself? Long story short: Labs use the old reference range of .45-4.5 (depending on the lab) but the AACE refined the reference range to .3-3.0. That means if your TSH came in at 4.23, the doctor will say you are fine based on old reference ranges but according to the new range, you have subclinical hypothyroidism and may benefit from some thyroid meds.

Free testosterone is the most important marker you should be concerned with. A person can have a high level of testosterone in the 900's but if their free testosterone is low, you will still exhibit signs of hypogonadism.

What else can you tell us about your sleep apnea? I jus' had a sleep study Wednesday and the technician said she couldn't tell me in detail without the doctor's permission but she did say I stopped breathing a few times during the study. I have an appointment on the 14th so we'll see if this CPAP machine works out for me. Jus' wondering if the doctors mentioned why the CPAP isn't working out for you. I'm checking out some sleep apnea forums, you should check them out too and see if there is something you'll learn that you should bring up with your doctor.