Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) emergency. Having a terrible time. Need help...

[< JB >]

Trt emergency. Having a terrible time. Need help...

Hey guys I already started a new thread hoping to get some answers or advice on the problems I am having but im not sure I did it properly so I thought I would give it another go. I am 25 years old living in Toronto. To make a long story short, I have been feeling very off for a couple of years now and no doctors have been able to explain why, all of them seem to think depression or that it's all in my head and I was just going through a "phase" but I knew in my gut that something just wasn't right with me. I honestly do not feel like the man/person that I am supposed to be. I have absolutely no motivation in life and cannot seem to find any enjoyment or happiness in the things that used to give me such feelings. Its hurting my relationship and making me feel worthless and unimportant. This all led me to do some research and end up getting my Testosterone levels checked, results are as follows: My Total test- 9.3 nmol/L and Free test- 8.1 nmol/L. Although my extremely inadequate doctor did no other hormonal tests these testosterone levels seem very strange for a 25 year old male with otherwise no health issues im aware of. He eventually decided to put me on a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) program ( without further testing or exhausting all possible reasons why my levels are even low in the first place ) but not knowing much about the program, I assumed my doctor had my best interest in heart and agreed with doing the TRT. He prescribed me 200mg test E once monthly ( No Aromatase inhibitor (AI) and No Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) ), Doc isn't concerned with monitoring E2 or any other hormone levels. He is literally just injecting exogenous test with no care in the world as to what it is going to do me. At first I was so excited to maybe start feeling like myself again and that everything was going to get better but now 3 weeks after the injection I am feeling so terrible. I get EXTREMELY irritated by everything and anything and when this happens I feel shaky and restless to the point I feel I need to walk it off. I have never been an angry person, Im a very humble guy who cares very much for others. Is this normal when being on TRT? or is this because my test levels are now worse than they were before I started? I have absolutely NO energy at all and feel very sluggish if that makes sense. Its hard to get going in the morning and I burn out very fast. I have NO sex drive at all and the weird thing is that for like a week after getting my first injection I felt like my sex drive was suddenly on fire or awakened. And another thing I want to mention is that I am sweating so severely its kind of freaking me out. I will just sweep the floor which takes no energy at all and sweat will literally be dripping off my face, and I'm not even exaggerating. I have never sweat like this, not even after running a mile in the hot sun. Is this another normal symptom? I am so sorry for all these questions but I am at a total loss. My doctor seems so ignorant to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and wont listen to any of my concerns. He refuses to prescribe any more than 200mg a month and will NOT even split the dose up to 100mg twice monthly to help with the ups and downs. I dont understand, I thought this was going to help me? I feel worse than ever and almost wish I never even knew I had test levels this low. I cant even find a new doctor who wont charge an arm and a leg to help me. ( I live in CANADA by the way, where health care is free ) No one seems willing to help or let me know what is really going on with my body. Once again sorry for the rant and all the questions Im just feeling helpless right now. I just want to feel normal and be the person I know I can be. And one final question and it may sound absurd but do you think becoming knowledgeable on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and going around the doctor route and self prescribing through an UGL is a cheaper more efficient way to do this? seeing as I cant find a competent doctor in my area? Just a thought. Thanks for everything. < JB >

 

[halfwit]

Hey guys I already started a new thread hoping to get some answers or advice on the problems I am having but im not sure I did it properly so I thought I would give it another go. I am 25 years old living in Toronto. To make a long story short, I have been feeling very off for a couple of years now and no doctors have been able to explain why, all of them seem to think depression or that it's all in my head and I was just going through a "phase" but I knew in my gut that something just wasn't right with me. I honestly do not feel like the man/person that I am supposed to be. I have absolutely no motivation in life and cannot seem to find any enjoyment or happiness in the things that used to give me such feelings. Its hurting my relationship and making me feel worthless and unimportant. This all led me to do some research and end up getting my Testosterone levels checked, results are as follows: My Total test- 9.3 nmol/L and Free test- 8.1 nmol/L. Although my extremely inadequate doctor did no other hormonal tests these testosterone levels seem very strange for a 25 year old male with otherwise no health issues im aware of.

He eventually decided to put me on a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) program ( without further testing or exhausting all possible reasons why my levels are even low in the first place ) but not knowing much about the program, I assumed my doctor had my best interest in heart and agreed with doing the TRT. He prescribed me 200mg test E once monthly ( No Aromatase inhibitor (AI) and No Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) ), Doc isn't concerned with monitoring E2 or any other hormone levels. He is literally just injecting exogenous test with no care in the world as to what it is going to do me. At first I was so excited to maybe start feeling like myself again and that everything was going to get better but now 3 weeks after the injection I am feeling so terrible. I get EXTREMELY irritated by everything and anything and when this happens I feel shaky and restless to the point I feel I need to walk it off. I have never been an angry person, Im a very humble guy who cares very much for others. Is this normal when being on TRT? or is this because my test levels are now worse than they were before I started?

I have absolutely NO energy at all and feel very sluggish if that makes sense. Its hard to get going in the morning and I burn out very fast. I have NO sex drive at all and the weird thing is that for like a week after getting my first injection I felt like my sex drive was suddenly on fire or awakened. And another thing I want to mention is that I am sweating so severely its kind of freaking me out. I will just sweep the floor which takes no energy at all and sweat will literally be dripping off my face, and I'm not even exaggerating. I have never sweat like this, not even after running a mile in the hot sun. Is this another normal symptom? I am so sorry for all these questions but I am at a total loss. My doctor seems so ignorant to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and wont listen to any of my concerns. He refuses to prescribe any more than 200mg a month and will NOT even split the dose up to 100mg twice monthly to help with the ups and downs. I dont understand, I thought this was going to help me? I feel worse than ever and almost wish I never even knew I had test levels this low. I cant even find a new doctor who wont charge an arm and a leg to help me. ( I live in CANADA by the way, where health care is free ) No one seems willing to help or let me know what is really going on with my body.

Once again sorry for the rant and all the questions Im just feeling helpless right now. I just want to feel normal and be the person I know I can be. And one final question and it may sound absurd but do you think becoming knowledgeable on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and going around the doctor route and self prescribing through an UGL is a cheaper more efficient way to do this? seeing as I cant find a competent doctor in my area? Just a thought. Thanks for everything. < JB >

I know you were just "yelled at" to make your own thread, so I feel bad by being a grammar nazi - but splitting up your wall of text makes it MUCH easier for others to read and reply to your posts. I know this can be a pain if done on the phone or if you just feel you have a lot to get off your chest, but it does help you in getting more replies as most won't even bother reading a wall-of-text. Just a suggestion.

With that said, your total test levels are indeed VERY low for a person your age, so testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) was likely the proper course of treatment for you. It is upsetting when a doctor, being a trained individual doesn't take the proper precautions or protocol as they SHOULD know better through ongoing educational requirements in the medical community. Sadly, most docs that see folks for hormone issues are nothing more than glorified diabetes specialists masquerading as male hormone "specialists". It's safe to say by the blatant disregard for your health that your current doctor is one of these.

Estradiol/Prolactin/LH/FSH and many other vital hormones are needed to paint the complete picture on what is going on in your case and they are often overlooked as some doctors just don't know or understand what they do. I would strongly suggest that you either push your current doctor (unlikely given his strong opinion on dosing protocols) for more tests, or FIRE HIS ASS and find another doctor that actually has a clue. Sadly I do not know much about how the Canadian health care system works, so hopefully this is an option for you as you are NOT in good hands. It might be too late to find out if you are primary hypogonadic (your testes just don't work for some reason), or secondary - which may be caused by other facets of the HPTA, the engine that drives your sex hormones. As you are already on exogenous testosterone, your LH/FSH will be shut down most likely - making a test for these levels worthless at this point as an example.

Now on to your problems:

1. Sweating excessively is something that may happen as testosterone is responsible for proper metabolic function and can increase your body temperature slightly, causing you to burn calories constantly. This may or may not go away over time once your body reaches homeostasis, but I have a feeling that you may also be dealing with elevated estradiol levels, which can also cause this. Hot flashes/sweating/anxiousness/depression are all signs of estrogen dominance, which can be caused by high levels of estradiol combined with crazy peaks and valleys in your testosterone levels - being caused by your ridiculous once a month injections. This is why injecting twice a WEEK is recommended as it keeps your hormone levels nice and steady.

2. You need to get that Estradiol checked along with the hormones mentioned above. High estradiol is not only something that can make you feel crummy, but can increase your blood pressure, cause prostate cancer, and even make you grow breasts if the levels run unchecked long enough. Not to mention it kills your ability to get/maintain an erection and sexual desire. This all comes back to the quality of doctor you have and if you are able to find a second opinion. If you are unable to get help from a professional, there are other ways to go about this, but I would strongly suggest going through the proper medical channels FIRST.

3. Your aggression and moodiness can easily be caused by these huge fluctuations of hormones as once a month injects will give you this HUGE peak of testosterone, followed by a gigantic crash. Your doctor is making things worse in this regard. Keep in mind that this is TOTALLY fixable once you are able to get proper medical care by someone competent.

I COMPLETELY understand where you're coming from as I spent the better part of a DECADE trying to figure out what was wrong with me as I too had very low levels of testosterone, but my doctors all wanted to make buddy with their drug reps and put me on all sorts of anti-depressants and other drugs that weren't needed if they had just realized how important optimal levels of testosterone are to us men. Stick with it man, eventually with persistence you will come through this and see the results you are hoping for so desperately. I do not know if money is an object for you or if they even cover Canada, but Increase My T, a board sponsor here specializes in male hormone replacement and I'm 100% sure they could get you fixed up in no time flat. This is something to investigate if you feel it may be an option for you.

My .02c

 

[< JB >]

Thanks a lot for the fast reply, From now on I will split up my massive on running sentences ( a bad habit of mine ). Yea I just feel lost and really need to figure this out and im in it for the right reasons I believe so Im determined to find the right doctor/care that I need. I really want to try and find a competent Doc. before I go the UGL route or these new " Wellness Clinics " that cost a boat load of money. But thank you for the helpful info. it means a lot. Take care Halfwit

 

[halfwit]

Thanks a lot for the fast reply, From now on I will split up my massive on running sentences ( a bad habit of mine ). Yea I just feel lost and really need to figure this out and im in it for the right reasons I believe so Im determined to find the right doctor/care that I need. I really want to try and find a competent Doc. before I go the UGL route or these new " Wellness Clinics " that cost a boat load of money. But thank you for the helpful info. it means a lot. Take care Halfwit

My pleasure man, I really hope you do get this sorted out soon. I vividly remember what having low testosterone felt like and can say it is LIVING HELL. Low energy, unable to get it on with the missus, being cranky/irritable over everything, always depressed, and the damn weight gain that just refused to come off! Let us know how it goes for you, it's always nice to see a happy ending to such a horrible beginning.

 

[1693]

You might be better off stopping testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) until you find an adequate doc. Alot of guys do their best injecting every 3.5 days.....you are every 30, that doesn't work.

 

[tiredguy]

you need a new doc, it is that simple.

get this book http://www.amazon.com/Testosterone-...721&sr=8-1&keywords=testosterone+a+mans+guide - or read the guy who wrote its blog: http://www.testosteronewisdom.blogspot.com/

hopefully you can overcome the canadian medical system's approach to TRT