Young men with low-T. Success stories? Concerns?

[Lorn290]

First, my story: Up until age 14 I was healthy and energetic and had a normal teenage supercharged libido. My only problem was that my right testicle had, since as far back as I could remember, a tendency to withdraw into my abdomen and stay there for extended periods of time. My concerned parents took me to a urologist who insisted that the testicle had to be removed because it could turn cancerous if left inside my body. He performed the orchiectomy that very week and assured me that my remaining testicle would perform double-duty and my hormones and development would carry on as normal.

He was wrong.

Over the next six years (just about all of my teen years) my weight ballooned and my body took on the textbook bosomy and paunchy shape of a hypogonadal person. My energy level declined into non existence and I was hit by waves of depression. My libido also declined and I became, for all intents and purposes, asexual, with a pale, unresponsive, and sensationless penis. I also experienced a lot of brain-fog and I was often confused and had bad word recall. I went to doctor after doctor with these symptoms and was always dismissed as having simple "depression" or "anxiety" and sent away with an anti-depressant. Finally, at 21 years old, I found a doctor who agreed to test my testosterone. FINALLY!

The result: Free Testosterone: 29.1 pmol/L (31.0 - 94 is the normal range). At 22 years old, I should be near the top bracket.

The doctor was initially cautious about treating me (TRT is a bit taboo amongst non-specialists, as I'm sure you're all sadly aware of) but relented and prescribed 5g of 1% Androgel to be applied once a day (a very low dose). The first three months on Androgel saw some improvement of my attitude, muscle tone, and cognitive functioning. Now however, after about 5 months on the stuff, my muscles are disappearing, my energy has vanished, I can't sleep, and the depression is creeping back in despite no changes in my lifestyle which I've geared towards raising my T through proper diet and exercise.

I have just had another, more thorough test taken and am going to see yet another specialist (a urologist this time) in October. I'm holding out hope that he'll be able to fix me but I'm starting to feel a little hopeless about the situation. Is my testosterone going to continue to decline over the next two months? I don't know, and there's nobody I can really ask about it except for you guys.

There are so few young men with this problem, which is a good thing I suppose, but it also makes it difficult to share stories and get advice. So, can anyone relate to my story? Any other young guys going through/gone through this mess?

 

[wtgrantham]

First, my story: Up until age 14 I was healthy and energetic and had a normal teenage supercharged libido. My only problem was that my right testicle had, since as far back as I could remember, a tendency to withdraw into my abdomen and stay there for extended periods of time. My concerned parents took me to a urologist who insisted that the testicle had to be removed because it could turn cancerous if left inside my body. He performed the orchiectomy that very week and assured me that my remaining testicle would perform double-duty and my hormones and development would carry on as normal.

He was wrong.

Over the next six years (just about all of my teen years) my weight ballooned and my body took on the textbook bosomy and paunchy shape of a hypogonadal person. My energy level declined into non existence and I was hit by waves of depression. My libido also declined and I became, for all intents and purposes, asexual, with a pale, unresponsive, and sensationless penis. I also experienced a lot of brain-fog and I was often confused and had bad word recall. I went to doctor after doctor with these symptoms and was always dismissed as having simple "depression" or "anxiety" and sent away with an anti-depressant. Finally, at 21 years old, I found a doctor who agreed to test my testosterone. FINALLY!

The result: Free Testosterone: 29.1 pmol/L (31.0 - 94 is the normal range). At 22 years old, I should be near the top bracket.

The doctor was initially cautious about treating me (TRT is a bit taboo amongst non-specialists, as I'm sure you're all sadly aware of) but relented and prescribed 5g of 1% Androgel to be applied once a day (a very low dose). The first three months on Androgel saw some improvement of my attitude, muscle tone, and cognitive functioning. Now however, after about 5 months on the stuff, my muscles are disappearing, my energy has vanished, I can't sleep, and the depression is creeping back in despite no changes in my lifestyle which I've geared towards raising my T through proper diet and exercise.

I have just had another, more thorough test taken and am going to see yet another specialist (a urologist this time) in October. I'm holding out hope that he'll be able to fix me but I'm starting to feel a little hopeless about the situation. Is my testosterone going to continue to decline over the next two months? I don't know, and there's nobody I can really ask about it except for you guys.

There are so few young men with this problem, which is a good thing I suppose, but it also makes it difficult to share stories and get advice. So, can anyone relate to my story? Any other young guys going through/gone through this mess?

Do some research, it is very well documented that guys who start on a low dose of Androgel do well for a short period but when there natural production shuts down their testosterone levels plummet, many times lower than before starting TRT. A good TRT doctor would check follow up levels and change dosages accordingly, many times the fix is upping your daily dose of Androgel or swirching to injections. Since you originally started feeling better on the Androgel it sounds like you are on the right track but definitely still need some 'tweaking"

 

[300winmag]

I am young as well, 27. Started on the GEL and never felt anything, after a month felt like garbage, and overall T was 136 70 points less then when I started. Switched to injections 100mg every 6 days and feel better. Not great yet but better.

 

[Lorn290]

I am young as well, 27. Started on the GEL and never felt anything, after a month felt like garbage, and overall T was 136 70 points less then when I started. Switched to injections 100mg every 6 days and feel better. Not great yet but better.

Hmm based on your experiences and what wtgrantham said, injections seem to be the better option. Are you given the medicine and needles to inject yourself or do you have to go to a doctor's office every week? Also, did you feel like your estrogen increased when you crashed after a month on androgel? I've noticed some gynecomastia and tingling myself.

 

[300winmag]

Hmm based on your experiences and what wtgrantham said, injections seem to be the better option. Are you given the medicine and needles to inject yourself or do you have to go to a doctor's office every week? Also, did you feel like your estrogen increased when you crashed after a month on androgel? I've noticed some gynecomastia and tingling myself.

Androgel works for a lot of people but I think more for older guys. The CYP comes in a bottle then a needle. you draw it out and inject into your butt or quads( i rotate between the four).

When I crashed on androgel I dont know what I felt I just felt horrible. The problem with T is that you have to wait a solid 4-6 weeks to see what it does, and you might just just need more. Alot happy people on androgel, me I wasnt plus it was something I had to mess with every day. Estrogen I dont think will be a huge issue going every 6 days with injections and only doing 100mg. You may have different issue because your missing a marble in your ball bag. But really whether you have one ball or two once on TRT they both or one shut down so it shouldnt matter.

 

[mfwar1]

Hey I had almost exactly the same thing, but I was on much stronger stuff. I had really high estrogen and if you are a bit overweight it might be something to look into. I have since cut back my dosage but still have some of the symptoms, I am hoping to get on an estrogen blocker of some kind, and eventually onto injections. Creams suck. The test gel will have a higher rate of conversion to estrogen apparently. I'm 23 and had a vericocele which shut down my left nut. It's about the size of a shrivelled grape. I was told the same thing as you. Have seen about 5 doctors, currently seeing an 'anti-aging' doctor who is mega expensive, so I am basically adjusting doses etc myself. Better than the alternative though.

 

[Broshifstalin]

There are so few young men with this problem, which is a good thing I suppose, but it also makes it difficult to share stories and get advice. So, can anyone relate to my story? Any other young guys going through/gone through this mess?

I'm a young guy too (22) and from Ontario as well, I've had all the symptoms you had except my sex drive disappeared later in my teens, I feel for you bud the doc's are quick to say no - I like to think that their dumb to the issue in young men and not watching their own backs as prescribing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to a guy our age could perhaps prompt an investigation(maybe idk?)

Like the other guys said adrogel seems only to work for a short while in young men - perhaps you could push your doc to give you injections?

I wonder if there is a reason more males are showing hypogonadism so early - perhaps to more pollution growing up BPA's in the water and estrogen based drugs being flushed into our local water supply - I know now in some watersheds theres a prevalence for stream trout to become male sterile or transgendered because of the problem.

All I can say is hang in there, were all in this together - its a disgusting reality, feeling powerless because you know the problem and the doctors, those that are ment to help you turn an ignorant eye.

I'm pullin for you bud

 

[300winmag]

I'm a young guy too (22) and from Ontario as well, I've had all the symptoms you had except my sex drive disappeared later in my teens, I feel for you bud the doc's are quick to say no - I like to think that their dumb to the issue in young men and not watching their own backs as prescribing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to a guy our age could perhaps prompt an investigation(maybe idk?)

Like the other guys said adrogel seems only to work for a short while in young men - perhaps you could push your doc to give you injections?

I wonder if there is a reason more males are showing hypogonadism so early - perhaps to more pollution growing up BPA's in the water and estrogen based drugs being flushed into our local water supply - I know now in some watersheds theres a prevalence for stream trout to become male sterile or transgendered because of the problem.

All I can say is hang in there, were all in this together - its a disgusting reality, feeling powerless because you know the problem and the doctors, those that are ment to help you turn an ignorant eye.

I'm pullin for you bud

A lot of it is exercise and diet, along with always being fat. Personally I was energetic and not over weight, never ripped after trying really hard but never fat. Since about 21 I felt like car slowly running out of gas then finally the last two years the car quit and thats when I finally felt like crap and gained weight I think a lot of the younger guys you will find were fat to start with and by getting in shape and eating right half their problems would be solved.

 

[status44]

I think my t was low for years and I just brushed it off and wish I did something sooner. Ever since I did my first injection a couple weeks I felt normal for the first time in many years had drive and motivation back, sex drive through the roof. Which my wife enjoyed. Best decision I have made in years.