My continuing journey

[David1963]

The symptom that you mentioned in your original post, "symptoms of being extremely drunk, but I hadn't been drinking" sounds to me like very low blood sugar. I would hope that with all of the testing that you had the doctors ruled that out? Since you're fairly young, I'm also guessing that you're not taking anything for your cholesterol? It seems to me that something else must be going on other than, or in addition to your low test, but I'm sorry to say that I have no idea what that might be. I suggest you treat your low T, as suggested above, but keep looking for other causes for your problems.

Good luck!

 

[bodyofageekgod]

Dude you sound so much like me a year ago. And a lot of the guys on here have been through what you are going through. Keep your chin up and realize your not crazy. I actually did cry in a couple doctor's offices because they didn't seem to be listening or caring about how bad I felt. I felt like such a freaking chic.

I was never on gel, but I went to multiple primary care physicians, and multiple Endos, even the Chief of Endocrinology at U of W and was absolutely shocked how little they knew about treating low T. Like you originally I had bad depression, panic attacks, ED, Low Libido, extreme fatigue. My original primary doctor told me that she couldn't see how all of those symptoms could be caused by low T but it was.

I spent months on MedLine/PubMed reading the studies myself so I knew what my options were. You have to become the expert and push the physicians but do it in a logical way. If you get emotional or adversarial with them, they will get defensive and less likely to listen or help. Just know it can get better but it takes time to find the right physician and get dialed in.

Your side effects sound like high E but we need the labs to know for sure. I've had those exact same symptoms when on a stupid high dose of HCG that a "expert" Endo put me on, my E was 108!. Most likely the high E is caused by the large dose of Testim aromatizing.

My recommendation, get your labs ASAP (especially your Estradiol E2), and then just like others have said get on injectable test, maybe HCG (but watch it cause it also can cause high E) and if absolutely necessary eventually an Aromatase inhibitor (AI). If your physician/endo objects to HCG tell them that you want to keep your fertility up or are planning on having kids soon. AIs are much harder to argue for. Few physicians want to prescribe them.

I finally found a doctor that was humble enough to listen to me and was willing to look at the research that I found. I'm on a pretty good protocol now (100mg Test Cyp per week, 300iu's HCG 3 times a week) and feel good. I'm still dealing with slightly high E, but hope to get with IMT soon to address that with an AI.

Keep us posted man, we're hear to help each other.

 

[miller98b]

Dude you sound so much like me a year ago. And a lot of the guys on here have been through what you are going through. Keep your chin up and realize your not crazy. I actually did cry in a couple doctor's offices because they didn't seem to be listening or caring about how bad I felt. I felt like such a freaking chic.

I was never on gel, but I went to multiple primary care physicians, and multiple Endos, even the Chief of Endocrinology at U of W and was absolutely shocked how little they knew about treating low T. Like you originally I had bad depression, panic attacks, ED, Low Libido, extreme fatigue. My original primary doctor told me that she couldn't see how all of those symptoms could be caused by low T but it was.

I spent months on MedLine/PubMed reading the studies myself so I knew what my options were. You have to become the expert and push the physicians but do it in a logical way. If you get emotional or adversarial with them, they will get defensive and less likely to listen or help. Just know it can get better but it takes time to find the right physician and get dialed in.

Your side effects sound like high E but we need the labs to know for sure. I've had those exact same symptoms when on a stupid high dose of HCG that a "expert" Endo put me on, my E was 108!. Most likely the high E is caused by the large dose of Testim aromatizing.

My recommendation, get your labs ASAP (especially your Estradiol E2), and then just like others have said get on injectable test, maybe HCG (but watch it cause it also can cause high E) and if absolutely necessary eventually an Aromatase inhibitor (AI). If your physician/endo objects to HCG tell them that you want to keep your fertility up or are planning on having kids soon. AIs are much harder to argue for. Few physicians want to prescribe them.

I finally found a doctor that was humble enough to listen to me and was willing to look at the research that I found. I'm on a pretty good protocol now (100mg Test Cyp per week, 300iu's HCG 3 times a week) and feel good. I'm still dealing with slightly high E, but hope to get with IMT soon to address that with an AI.

Keep us posted man, we're hear to help each other.

It was really good to read this and its always good to get information from those that have dealt with these issues. Thank you so very much for taking the time to respond and share. I went to the urologist yesterday and he checked EVERYTHING under the hood and said that he suspects a Varicocele, but nothing major. He checked over my bloodwork and FINALLY agreed to test my E2 levels after some major advocating on my part from the info I've procured from this site. Thanks guys. So there are no tumors, no cancers, no real blood abnormalities except low T and no infections. I have a spinal tap to thank for that assurance. Let's see how the E2 levels come out and see where to go from there. I'm waiting for a special package to come in the mail and things will start to get better......I'm sure of it.

Here is what I want to discuss with all of you. I explained my symptoms to a friend and she told me that I sound like I'm hypoglycemic with the dizziness, the fatigue, the irritability and emotional sways.....among other things. I went and got a glucose monitor and I continue to test between 85 and 95. That's normal. Then my research online showed that cortisol imbalances can act very similar to hypoglycemia. I know I'm pulling at straws, but when you feel this horrible, you tend to look under every rock.....and medically, I've done that to the best degree possible. Here are the symptoms that I have experienced:

Signs & Symptoms of Higher Cortisol Levels
***8226; Depression
***8226; Memory issues
***8226; Anxiety
***8226; Fatigue
***8226; High blood pressure
***8226; Weight gain/loss

Signs & Symptoms of Lower Cortisol Levels
***8226; Stress intolerance
***8226; Chronic Fatigue
***8226; Cold intolerance
***8226; Fatigue
***8226; Weight gain due to lack of proper blood sugar levels
***8226; Aches and pains
***8226; Common colds
***8226; Depression
***8226; Insomnia

So how do I test for either low or high cortisol levels? How do I treat? Could this be my problem alongside bad E numbers levels?

Thanks again everyone!!!!!

 

[Megatron28]

Go to Private MD - Buy Lab Tests Online and do a search for cortisol. There are blood tests you can get that start at $40. I don't know which test is the best one to get.

 

[bodyofageekgod]

Miller98b, I had thought the same thing about cortizol levels, adrenal fatique or an adrenal tumor as possible causes. I asked my primary doc for tests on those, all came back negative/normal.

It's tough to be "idiopathic" meaning they don't freaking know why.

 

[HumbleMuscle]

Hey bud I didn't mean any disrespect by my post...I have had two people close to me commit suicide and when I hear people talk the way you are it gives me a sick feeling...Why dont you give IMT a call, you can go to their website or you can PM me and I can give you my reps direct number. Its as easy as that...no more seeing doctors...no more runaround...just results

 

[miller98b]

Hey bud I didn't mean any disrespect by my post...I have had two people close to me commit suicide and when I hear people talk the way you are it gives me a sick feeling...Why dont you give IMT a call, you can go to their website or you can PM me and I can give you my reps direct number. Its as easy as that...no more seeing doctors...no more runaround...just results

HumbleMuscle, you are a good man for coming back and saying that much. On most forums, people would probably just start yelling and cursing and screaming. Thanks for coming back and sharing your experience. At first I was a little put off by your remarks, but then I assumed Good Will and "heard" what you were trying to say. I took it to heart, but I know that I'm not "Unstable" like most of these freaks off shotting people or killing themselves, but I was definitiely unstable hormonally. With my strenght of character, which was very evident in that bitch fest that you originally commented on , I powered through the trouble. So wanna hear some more of my great story?..........

After more doctors treating me horribly and the third endo and second uro saying that I was clear of testicular cancer and a prostate cancer, but politely saying that I was just looking for roids, I took the advice of the guys on this site and contacted my new best friend. He helped me start a new protocol last week of 200 mg/week of T cyp and 50 units of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) 2x week. I left out the Aromatase inhibitor (AI) for now as suggested by my new friend and got test results right before I started.

I was so damn giddy to finally have a solution to my problems, that the injections were an absolute breeze; and that is coming from someone who used to be needle phobic. I did my second injection of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) this morning, and I was like a kid on Christmas morning....thats just sick I know they say it can take up to ten weeks to be effective, but no joke, I noticed the difference the next day. If it was the placebo effect, I still welcome it!! I still feel great and I hope it continues. I can't wait for time to pass. This sounds crazy, but I haven't slept this well in 15 years, been so anxious-less, had this much energy or been so optimistic in A LONG TIME! There may be a rollercoaster effect, but I am mentally prepared for it.

Btw, I got my test results back from 12/28.....

T free= 1.1
T total= 49
Estradiol= 13.1

How about them apples......JUST ROID CHASING HUH?!?!?! I can't thank you guys enough and I welcome any comments you may have regarding my most recent developments.

 

[miller98b]

HumbleMuscle, you are a good man for coming back and saying that much. On most forums, people would probably just start yelling and cursing and screaming. Thanks for coming back and sharing your experience. At first I was a little put off by your remarks, but then I assumed Good Will and "heard" what you were trying to say. I took it to heart, but I know that I'm not "Unstable" like most of these freaks off shotting people or killing themselves, but I was definitiely unstable hormonally. With my strenght of character, which was very evident in that bitch fest that you originally commented on , I powered through the trouble. So wanna hear some more of my great story?..........

After more doctors treating me horribly and the third endo and second uro saying that I was clear of testicular cancer and a prostate cancer, but politely saying that I was just looking for roids, I took the advice of the guys on this site and contacted my new best friend. He helped me start a new protocol last week of 200 mg/week of T cyp and 50 units of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) 2x week. I left out the Aromatase inhibitor (AI) for now as suggested by my new friend and got test results right before I started.

I was so damn giddy to finally have a solution to my problems, that the injections were an absolute breeze; and that is coming from someone who used to be needle phobic. I did my second injection of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) this morning, and I was like a kid on Christmas morning....thats just sick I know they say it can take up to ten weeks to be effective, but no joke, I noticed the difference the next day. If it was the placebo effect, I still welcome it!! I still feel great and I hope it continues. I can't wait for time to pass. This sounds crazy, but I haven't slept this well in 15 years, been so anxious-less, had this much energy or been so optimistic in A LONG TIME! There may be a rollercoaster effect, but I am mentally prepared for it.

Btw, I got my test results back from 12/28.....

T free= 1.1
T total= 49
Estradiol= 13.1

How about them apples......JUST ROID CHASING HUH?!?!?! I can't thank you guys enough and I welcome any comments you may have regarding my most recent developments.

Two things:

1. After reading my most recent post, it reads like I'm saying that people that kill themselves are freaks and I know that HumbleMuscle shared that two of his freinds passed that way. My "freaks" comment was directed at those that are off shooting others and not to those that committ suicide. That is a tragic result for people that are struggling with very difficult situations.....with the way I have been feeling these past few months, I could see why a medical condition could lead to such a tragic result.

2. I was very surprised with the wretched pain that was occurring in my balls since I went on the gels. It was like someone took a hammer to my balls everyday and it was unbearable. Within 48 hours of taking Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), and through the past 6 days, not one instance onf pain......there is no way that this is a placebo effect. AND MY BALLS CAME BACK. The ED is still a bit of an issue, but I know I need to give it time.

That is all....thank you once again.

 

[miller98b]

Update....if anyone is still reading

Its been almost three weeks on 200 mg of T cyp per week split into two shots of a 1/2 ml on Monday morning and Thursday night. The first week got bad towards the end of the week and I just assumed it was due to the half-life of the T. I'm also on 50 units of HCG twice a week which has taken away ALL ball pain; which I have suffered with my entire life.

Chnages: I'm definitely not feeling as tired and the anxiety and depression has started to subside. The anxiety attacks still get me, but its not as constant as it used to be. I still need Cialis at times, but I did notice that my last orgasm was INCREDIBLY powerful and I was hoping that was a sign of imporvement. I did have the energy at the end of the day to lift yesterday and that was a plus. Overall, I have noticed a slight change and I am watching to see if it is permanent or just temporary like the gels. I really dont want to incresase my T any more, so I need 200 mg per week to be adequate.

My plan as of now is to wait for my new 10 week protocol to work its magic and then get new bloodwork. Based on theose numbers, I will tweek as necessary. I know this is a lifelong process, but I'm ready to get 90% of the way towards feeling better and fight for the rest over time. Currently though, I feel as though I'm up to 40% from 10%, so that is something to appreciate.

Peace

 

[miller98b]

Not sure this has any bearing on my situation, but since so many people asked, I got my BF% calculated. I'm 6'3" 285 pounds with 26.7% BF. My lean mass, without any fat on my body, is 209. Here is the kicker, my doctor asked me to get to a "healthy" weight of 195 lbs., as per the standard guidelines, before we start looking at TRT. He said "normalizing" my weight might negate the need for TRT. Hey Doc, that means that I would have to not only lose 100% of all of my body fat, but would also have to chop off a leg. Yeah, real healthy.

My new Personal Trainer helped me establish a new BF% goal of 16.5% with a weight of 250 pounds. He said that this is very good for an endomorphy body such as mine and that I will really like the results. So, that is where we are on that topic,

With regards to feeling better.....not too much yet.....still waiting.

 

[miller98b]

Morning Wood! So, I woke up to the fact that I tried to roll over and felt like a log rolling downhill with a branch still attached. It was really nice to see my old MW and I hope its a good trend. The only problem I have noticed besides some arm acne, is that I have become increasingly agitated lately. Things just seem to get under my skin so easily the past two days and I know its due to the medications. Not sure if that is a side effect of the T or the E?

Also, never got an answer to one of my most pressing questions. If my TT was 49, TF was 1.1 and E was 13.1, given that T is contextually or comparatively very high compared to the T's, does that mean that when my T's go really high that my E will continue to stay above them? I know bloodwork will tell, but wasn't sure if anyone has any experiene with the comparative movement of all three hormones together.

 

[NateDEEzy]

Hard to say, but blood work will show you. You could always try an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) to see if it helps

 

[miller98b]

Hard to say, but blood work will show you. You could always try an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) to see if it helps

So IYO, do you think under my three week current protocol of 200 mg of T Cyp per week, broken up into two doses of 100 mg, with 50 units of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) 2x/wk, should I start the Aromatase inhibitor (AI) to "test" it out or will that be premature.

 

[NateDEEzy]

So IYO, do you think under my three week current protocol of 200 mg of T Cyp per week, broken up into two doses of 100 mg, with 50 units of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) 2x/wk, should I start the Aromatase inhibitor (AI) to "test" it out or will that be premature.

Well, IMO, I think it would be best to get a blood test to see where your estrogen level is at with this protocol. Now, everyone is different, so this protocol would effect everyone who implements it differently and this is why it's good to get blood work to see where exactly your testosterone and estrogen levels are at (who knows, maybe your testosterone is too high and this is what is accounting for the agitation ??). However, I know it's been observed with some individuals that hCG causes a bit more aromatization, and so, it seems given your protocol that lacks an Aromatase inhibitor (AI), that elevated estrogen could also be the culprit for your agitation. Again, it is best to check with blood work, BUT blood work might not always indicate what you're looking for, and so, you might still benefit from a small dose of an Aromatase inhibitor (AI), even if your estrogen is high-normal or even slightly elevated. BUT it is always good to 1st get the blood work so you can see where your levels are with the protocol you are on, that way, if you decide to change your protocol, you can compare with more blood work to check and evaluate what levels under what protocol make you feel best.

 

[Megatron28]

So IYO, do you think under my three week current protocol of 200 mg of T Cyp per week, broken up into two doses of 100 mg, with 50 units of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) 2x/wk, should I start the Aromatase inhibitor (AI) to "test" it out or will that be premature.

Don't guess with your hormones. It is so easy to get a lab test done and know for sure. Lot's of guys don't need Aromatase inhibitor (AI) at testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) doses so don't assume that you do or don't.

 

[miller98b]

Don't guess with your hormones. It is so easy to get a lab test done and know for sure. Lot's of guys don't need Aromatase inhibitor (AI) at testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) doses so don't assume that you do or don't.

When i say i love hormones.....you better believe its spelled whore moans. This damn stuff is tricky.Im gonna wait another two weeks and get blood taken. How do i get labwork without goimg through my doctor?

 

[DavidB]

Hey Man, thanks for telling your story on here, it is one of the ones that I most identify with. For the past couple years I have had times or mostly normally, and then all of a sudden I would just go off a cliff. It would lead to massive panic attacks, some days I would just not get out of bed for work, or I would go to work and just start crying as soon I arrived. I just had no energy, I did not want to do anything. When I was like that I never really considered suicide, but I always went with the line in Bohemian Rhapsody, and would think sometimes I wish Id never been born at all. I had a complete breakdown in 2011, and ended up going to inpatient therapy for two months. I felt better after, but far from normal. I've been on a compounded test since then and every time I get my levels checked they are exactly the same, right around 200. Yesterday I got switched to two Testim's a day, and I know it's to early to say if it worked or not, but the one thing I do know is I had sex with my wife this morning, which is the first time my stuff has worked for like 6 months. I hate to think it will go away in a week like yours did. But I will hope for the best, and think positive.

 

[Megatron28]

When i say i love hormones.....you better believe its spelled whore moans. This damn stuff is tricky.Im gonna wait another two weeks and get blood taken. How do i get labwork without goimg through my doctor?

Use Private MD - Buy Lab Tests Online and get the female hormone panel (which is for men too). Do a search on this website and you will find more info on this. If you use this month's coupon code it should cost about $50 and you will have the results the next day.

 

[miller98b]

Hey Man, thanks for telling your story on here, it is one of the ones that I most identify with. For the past couple years I have had times or mostly normally, and then all of a sudden I would just go off a cliff. It would lead to massive panic attacks, some days I would just not get out of bed for work, or I would go to work and just start crying as soon I arrived. I just had no energy, I did not want to do anything. When I was like that I never really considered suicide, but I always went with the line in Bohemian Rhapsody, and would think sometimes I wish Id never been born at all. I had a complete breakdown in 2011, and ended up going to inpatient therapy for two months. I felt better after, but far from normal. I've been on a compounded test since then and every time I get my levels checked they are exactly the same, right around 200. Yesterday I got switched to two Testim's a day, and I know it's to early to say if it worked or not, but the one thing I do know is I had sex with my wife this morning, which is the first time my stuff has worked for like 6 months. I hate to think it will go away in a week like yours did. But I will hope for the best, and think positive.

Hey, glad to return the favor as so many people have helped me these past few weeks. If your story is anything like what i have rxperienced over the past few years, i wish i could buy you a few rounds in consulation. I'm troubled because I keep waiting to feel "normal" but after so many years of feeling like crap, I'm not sure i know what normal feels like. I'm still feeling down at times and experiencing other problems, but I guess I don't know what level of feeling good I'm trying to reach. If I can not be tired all the time, able to feel good hitting the gym again and maybe get a good erection every now and again, I'll be satisfied. Keep up the faith and we can find a satisfactory result by compatring notes

 

[miller98b]

Use Private MD - Buy Lab Tests Online and get the female hormone panel (which is for men too). Do a search on this website and you will find more info on this. If you use this month's coupon code it should cost about $50 and you will have the results the next day.

Ok, cool. I found the lab location I can use, but which tests should I get done? There are hundreds to choose from. Do they have a comprehensive test for what we are looking for or do i have to pay seperately. should i hust get estrogen test or the other E's too? Thanks Man, I've appreciated all of your advice.