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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by NYCguy on January 31, 2007, at 12:14:57
Hi everyone!
This is just something I've noticed recently. I find no real benefit at all to the Testim/Androgel TRT routine I have been on. It makes me too relaxed, too sleepy, and seems to have a bad effect on my blood sugar and mood the day after I take it. I think that I may just have been designed to function with lower than average T levels. (total T around 275-300)
I gain weight faster when on TRT, I don't seem to gain much muscle mass... and I get depressed more easily. It does not help at all with ED, either. I don't know what to make of it. I wonder if this means that I don't need it anymore... or that I never really did. It certianly relaxes me... it's kind of like taking 10mg of Klonopin at one time... that's how much it puts me to sleep if you can imagine.
Are there any P-Babblers who have tried Hormone Replacement/ TRT and what have been your experiences?
Posted by Quintal on January 31, 2007, at 13:32:42
In reply to Testosterone Replacement = More Fatigue, posted by NYCguy on January 31, 2007, at 12:14:57
I took Proviron (mesterolone) for a short while but I don't remember it doing much for my mood or anxiety. It did seem to restore nocturnal erections and strengthen normal erections though.
>I think that I may just have been designed to function with lower than average T levels.
I've had similar thoughts myself. I wonder if adding testosterone might just unbalance other hormones/metabolic pathways in some way rather than being beneficial and correcting a deficiency?
Q
Posted by keeppluggin on February 1, 2007, at 8:07:48
In reply to Testosterone Replacement = More Fatigue, posted by NYCguy on January 31, 2007, at 12:14:57
I have been taking 5 mg of Androgel for almost two years. I am 43, had T levels in the high 200s, and had a major depressive episode 2.5 years ago. I also take, T3 & T4, 60 mg of Cymbalta and 600 mg of trileptal. Like you, I have gained weight since starting the testosterone (about 10 pounds) but I have never known if that was the Androgel or the anti-depressants. My mood has been ok, but my sleep has been problematic, waking up 2-3 times a night and never feeling rested. NOt sure if the Androgel has been causing that side effect. Just hard to know when there are so many medications in the mix.
Posted by NYCguy on February 1, 2007, at 13:56:44
In reply to Re: Testosterone Replacement = More Fatigue, posted by keeppluggin on February 1, 2007, at 8:07:48
keeppluggin,
What are your current T levels with the Androgel? Have they improved with therapy?
Posted by Quintal on February 1, 2007, at 15:38:19
In reply to Testosterone Replacement = More Fatigue, posted by NYCguy on January 31, 2007, at 12:14:57
NYCguy have you considered combining testosterone with progesterone? It may help regulate anxiety and mood since progesterone raises GABA in the brain, and it balances high estrogen levels better than testosterone. Did you have your estrogen levels checked at the same time?
How is the Parnate going?
Q
Posted by Iansf on February 1, 2007, at 23:33:02
In reply to Testosterone Replacement = More Fatigue, posted by NYCguy on January 31, 2007, at 12:14:57
I found that testosterone supplementation actually made me impotent rather than improving my situation sexually. I tried both injection and patches, and both had the same negative effect. My doctor told me it couldn't be the testosterone, but I knew it was.
> Hi everyone!
>
> This is just something I've noticed recently. I find no real benefit at all to the Testim/Androgel TRT routine I have been on. It makes me too relaxed, too sleepy, and seems to have a bad effect on my blood sugar and mood the day after I take it. I think that I may just have been designed to function with lower than average T levels. (total T around 275-300)
>
> I gain weight faster when on TRT, I don't seem to gain much muscle mass... and I get depressed more easily. It does not help at all with ED, either. I don't know what to make of it. I wonder if this means that I don't need it anymore... or that I never really did. It certianly relaxes me... it's kind of like taking 10mg of Klonopin at one time... that's how much it puts me to sleep if you can imagine.
>
> Are there any P-Babblers who have tried Hormone Replacement/ TRT and what have been your experiences?
Posted by NYCguy on February 2, 2007, at 12:38:58
In reply to Re: Testosterone Replacement = More Fatigue » NYCguy, posted by Iansf on February 1, 2007, at 23:33:02
> I found that testosterone supplementation actually made me impotent rather than improving my situation sexually. I tried both injection and patches, and both had the same negative effect. My doctor told me it couldn't be the testosterone, but I knew it was.
>Wow! That's what I've been finding. It is at best neutral on sexual functioning and is mostly harmful. It may be that while TRT increases your Testosterone, it also increases Estrodial too much and that counters the effect. I swear it is easier to gain weight on TRT than it is not taking hormones. If only there was a way to simply increase the Testosterone.
Anyway, I'm not going to obsess about it. I'll just do what works, quit the TRT, accept that I'll be skinny, and use Cialis when needed. Case closed.
Posted by bulldog2 on February 2, 2007, at 15:54:43
In reply to Re: Testosterone Replacement = More Fatigue » Iansf, posted by NYCguy on February 2, 2007, at 12:38:58
Very few docs know how to do TRT. When on TRT your doctor should be monitoring your estradiol which can be controled with a drug called armidex which stops the conversion of testosterone into estradiol. You do need some estradiol so you don't want to shut it down completely.
Secondly TRT docs in the know also administer HCG injections (can be done subq) which continues to stimulate the testes to produce it's own testosterone. You see when you administer exogenous testerone you shut down your own production so you often end up with no gain.
The bad part is I have down TRT the right way and bumped up my testosterone to good levels and it hasn't done much for depression. Made me a little pissed of and somewhat better libido but not much else.
Posted by NYCguy on February 4, 2007, at 14:35:44
In reply to Re: Testosterone Replacement = More Fatigue, posted by bulldog2 on February 2, 2007, at 15:54:43
I'm sorry to hear that proper TRT hasn't helped your depression. I did try the HCG route for a year or so and it never really improved the total or free-t levels. Just made me foggy-minded.
Do you take Testim, Androgel, or get it from a compounding pharmacy? Or maybe injections? Also, is it best to take the T in the morning?
I get the feeling if I asked for armidex my Edro would look at me like I were trying to become the next Barry Bonds. I'm not even really into sport let alone lifting, I just want to be as healthy as I can be.
> Very few docs know how to do TRT. When on TRT your doctor should be monitoring your estradiol which can be controled with a drug called armidex which stops the conversion of testosterone into estradiol. You do need some estradiol so you don't want to shut it down completely.
> Secondly TRT docs in the know also administer HCG injections (can be done subq) which continues to stimulate the testes to produce it's own testosterone. You see when you administer exogenous testerone you shut down your own production so you often end up with no gain.
> The bad part is I have down TRT the right way and bumped up my testosterone to good levels and it hasn't done much for depression. Made me a little pissed of and somewhat better libido but not much else.
Posted by bulldog2 on February 4, 2007, at 19:18:07
In reply to Re: Testosterone Replacement = More Fatigue » bulldog2, posted by NYCguy on February 4, 2007, at 14:35:44
Arimidex is not a steriod. It just prevents the conversion of testosterone to estradiol. TRT frequently fails because as guys get older they tend to convert to much T to E. When you do HCG it creates a lot of aromastase activity which arimidex helps with.
Posted by bulldog2 on February 4, 2007, at 19:20:30
In reply to Re: Testosterone Replacement = More Fatigue » bulldog2, posted by NYCguy on February 4, 2007, at 14:35:44
I did androgel plus HCG plus arimidex. Both total T and free T went up. For me higher T makes me more irritable.
This is the end of the thread.
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