Super LOW T and Treatment Issues

[beagle187]

At age 31, I was diagnosed with Low T. My first test wast done by Urologist, showed my T levels at 60. He sent me to an Endocrinologist who did his own test, it showed my levels at 25. They did an MRI to check my pituitary gland, no problems there, so he started me on Testim. I tried it for about a month, one tube a day, it raised my levels to almost 200. But the smell was horrible.
He changed me to shots, 100mg/wk.

I just turned 33 and my issues are that when I take the shots, after about 4 or 5 months, I start having ED issues. I will have a good libido, but can not seem to get and/or maintain an erection. This is very frustrating to me and my wife. Over the last year or so, once I start having the ED issues, I will stop taking the shots for about 2 or 3 weeks. This seems to correct the problem. But them I become tired, irritable, joint pains, etc....

As of November of last year, I quit taking all testosterone therapy. I just stopped. I got tired of ED problems, highs and lows from shots, etc..

Now, 6 months later, I am still tired every day. I once did a 1 month trial on Axiron. I still have some left over. Every now and then I will take a single dose and for about a day I will feel great, with energy, then it wears off.

I am wondering what you guys think I should do. I have an appt with my endocrinologist on July 22. I still have a prescription for Axiron. Should I start taking it again?
I liked the shots, but didn't like the ED problems. My wife also said it looked like I was growing breast tissue when on the shots. Like I was holding extra water weight.

I would like to have some ideas and a little more education when I go back to the Endo Dr and know what to ask him about.

Thanks!

 

[tiredguy]

At age 31, I was diagnosed with Low T. My first test wast done by Urologist, showed my T levels at 60. He sent me to an Endocrinologist who did his own test, it showed my levels at 25. They did an MRI to check my pituitary gland, no problems there, so he started me on Testim. I tried it for about a month, one tube a day, it raised my levels to almost 200. But the smell was horrible.
He changed me to shots, 100mg/wk.

I just turned 33 and my issues are that when I take the shots, after about 4 or 5 months, I start having ED issues. I will have a good libido, but can not seem to get and/or maintain an erection. This is very frustrating to me and my wife. Over the last year or so, once I start having the ED issues, I will stop taking the shots for about 2 or 3 weeks. This seems to correct the problem. But them I become tired, irritable, joint pains, etc....

As of November of last year, I quit taking all testosterone therapy. I just stopped. I got tired of ED problems, highs and lows from shots, etc..

Now, 6 months later, I am still tired every day. I once did a 1 month trial on Axiron. I still have some left over. Every now and then I will take a single dose and for about a day I will feel great, with energy, then it wears off.

I am wondering what you guys think I should do. I have an appt with my endocrinologist on July 22. I still have a prescription for Axiron. Should I start taking it again?
I liked the shots, but didn't like the ED problems. My wife also said it looked like I was growing breast tissue when on the shots. Like I was holding extra water weight.

I would like to have some ideas and a little more education when I go back to the Endo Dr and know what to ask him about.

Thanks!

sounds like you only got 1 leg of a three legged stool, and fell over, not surprisingly. a well-crafted testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) appears to have 3 elements - T, an Aromatase inhibitor (AI), and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) - did he ever prescribe an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) to control gyno/estrogen issues - or even do an e2/estradiol test?

 

[riprockwell]

Tiredguy is correct. Estrogen control is very important when taking exogenous testosterone. Testosterone aromatizes to estrogen and I am sure that is what your problem was. If you are getting puffy nipples, you were getting gynocomastia. You need to monitor your estrogen. If it is too high or too low, you can get erectile issues. In the meantime, taking some cialis wouldn't hurt you. I use it quite frequently just in general. I am on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) as well. I would definitely stick with injections or gels/creams any day. Gels and creams actually aromatize to estrogen much easier than injections. So get on some injections and look in to getting an Aromatase inhibitor (AI). (Aromatase Inhibitors). A lot of guys either choose arimidex or aromasin for their Aromatase inhibitor (AI). I would get on injections and test your testosterone levels and estrogen levels. Remember, if you are wanting to have kids down the road, you will want to be on Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) as well. If you are not having luck with your doctor, then you can get with an online Testosterone clinic. That is what I did. Get with this site sponsor IMT (IncreasemyT) and they can help dial in your hormones. You are too young to be having these ED issues and not fixing the problem. If your doc doesn't want to get you an Aromatase inhibitor (AI), you can click on the site sponsor banners and order them yourself with companies such as RUI, etc.

 

[beagle187]

Thanks. I am not having any more children. I already have 4. I got a vasectomy back in 2009 (which probably caused my Low T) and last year my wife had to get a hysterectomy. So we won't be having anymore children.
I don't think he ever checked my estrogen levels. I still have refills on both Axiron and Test Cypionate. I have been afraid to use the Injections because of what happened last time. When I go back to him in July, I will bring this up. Maybe he will help!

 

[riprockwell]

Thanks. I am not having any more children. I already have 4. I got a vasectomy back in 2009 (which probably caused my Low T) and last year my wife had to get a hysterectomy. So we won't be having anymore children.
I don't think he ever checked my estrogen levels. I still have refills on both Axiron and Test Cypionate. I have been afraid to use the Injections because of what happened last time. When I go back to him in July, I will bring this up. Maybe he will help!

Sounds like a plan. Worst case scenario he doesn't want to monitor your estrogen, then just let him monitor everything else and you can post your results here on the forum and we can guide you. You can get an Aromatase inhibitor (AI) from research companies so its not that big of a deal. Remember a lot of docs are clueless with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) treatment therapy so go in there knowing your shit. You are your own best doctor. Remember that. In the meantime, look up some information on Dr. John Crisler. You can get some good information about testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) treatment, etc. to bring up to your doc when you hit your next appointment.

 

[beagle187]

My Endocrinologist office told me that since it will be 2 months before I can be seen, my Primary Care doctor can put me on something now.
If I were to go see them, what should I ask for to be tested for hormones?
I can get them to draw blood and test, then post my results. And also ask her to put me on Axiron for now.
I just need to know what to ask her to test for.

 

[kirt09]

I can totally understand where you are I have been on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for almost a year now and been having ED problems the hole time my doctor does check everything my E2 is in the mid 20s test levels are 900 the only thing for me that is high is prolactin is 20.8 range is 3.7-17.9 I to am to the point of stopping to. I have not had much change in energy still tired all the time I don't think testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is for me doesn't seem to help

My Endocrinologist office told me that since it will be 2 months before I can be seen, my Primary Care doctor can put me on something now.
If I were to go see them, what should I ask for to be tested for hormones?
I can get them to draw blood and test, then post my results. And also ask her to put me on Axiron for now.
I just need to know what to ask her to test for.

 

[beagle187]

kirt09, I understand. Once I quit, the very next week I was back to normal in the bedroom. LOL
My wife said it was like I was 18 again. But sadly, after 4 or 5 months OFF the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), I find myself not in the mood as often as I used to be. Of course I do have 4 children, so between ball games, church, gymnastics, and all the other things the kids do, I could just be tired from being so busy!! HA
It's not so much of being physically tired, it's having the mental and physical drive to get up and go do stuff. That's what I seem to loose when I stop TRT.

 

[kirt09]

kirt09, I understand. Once I quit, the very next week I was back to normal in the bedroom. LOL
My wife said it was like I was 18 again. But sadly, after 4 or 5 months OFF the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), I find myself not in the mood as often as I used to be. Of course I do have 4 children, so between ball games, church, gymnastics, and all the other things the kids do, I could just be tired from being so busy!! HA
It's not so much of being physically tired, it's having the mental and physical drive to get up and go do stuff. That's what I seem to loose when I stop TRT.

When you quiet did you do any kind of post cycle therapy (pct) or just stop. In the last year I have not gained any drive to get up and do more still feel the same just have ED problems now I have found that Viagra is a big help but I still don't understand why I have the ED problems doctor thinks I am stressed I told him wouldn't you if you keep going soft. stress is not the problem

 

[beagle187]

I just stopped, cold turkey.
I used viagra as well, but it gave me a terrible headache.
Coming off is not to bad. I did have some major mood swings. I would fly off the handle and get mad at my wife over dumb stuff. I believe it was week 4 or 5 after I came off that was the worst. I'm not sure if my estrogen levels were high, or if maybe my prostate had become a little swollen from the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but once I came off, everything went back to normal.
I am hoping this time around, I can go slow. Maybe I don't need high doses of TRT. My body might work fine on a very low dose.

 

[Megatron28]

Get your Estradiol (E2) -- a form of estrogen -- and Prolactin checked when you are back on your Test injections. One of those or both is probably getting high and causing your ED issues. Both can easily be managed while on TRT. You don't need to stop and start like you have been doing. My guess is that your estradiol is the issue and you just need an aromitisation inhibitor like Arimidex.

Get back on the injections and get lab work done in about 4-6 weeks to see where you are at. Read the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) stickies on this forum for a cheap easy way to get your own lab work done through Private MD - Buy Lab Tests Online.

 

[beagle187]

Ok guys, here is an update. Just got my blood test back.
Keep in mind I have not had a shot nor been on any testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) since Nov 2012, so 6 months off of everything. Here are the results:

Testosterone, Serum - 134
Free Testosterone - 4.7
SHBG - 11.7
Estradiol - 11.1


Not sure what this means so maybe you guys can help!!

 

[Megatron28]

There literally are corpses that have higher Test levels than you do. You must feel horrible. I would encourage you to get back on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and follow the previous advice I gave you and others gave you. Having T levels that low puts you at much higher risk of coronary death as well.

 

[lntense]

You need higher everything. Just general low hormones all around.


I'd get on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and also get your estrogen within range.