Hey guys,
Been lurking awhile and I can use some advice...This post will be long but I'll try to keep it focused!
I will say for the record that this thread is embarrassing and what you read here I hope does help others to avoid doing some of the things I did. I am lucky I have not (hopefully) done real damage...
My doctor at the time started me on Androgel..The plan was to always get tested and go over the numbers with her and she was cool with this and was aware that I was going to do injections.
I started at 200mgs of Test 2x a week ..This was too much for me and we adjusted it to 200mg once a week...
In November 2011, they did followup tests and my Hematocrit level was 45.9, Red Blood Count 5.22 and Hemoglobin was 15.1. All good.
I waited another month or two and started up the Test again at 200mg once a week. I went back for a routine checkup with my cardiologist in July 2012 and I was not feeling good..
I was tired, more heat sensitive than usual and generally didn't feel so good. My cardiologist was aware of the Test injections and wasn't against them but never mentioned these abnormal results and I didn't think much about them as I didn't know what they meant. I moved and wasn't seeing the other doctor who would of course caught it. Instead the cardiologist gave me heart meds to resolve the problem which now I know was only due to the Testosterone.
My numbers in July 2012 (pretty much through till last week) are Hematocrit 56, Hemoglobin 18.5, Red Blood count around 6.2.
I felt like crap and just not right and finally went back to the cardiologist (I should never have waited so long) and he did another echo test and blood work.
The heart doctor said, you have to reduce the Test, don't just stop it..He didn't say much else...Meanwhile I am feeling worse and worse..
None the less I started really researching and it didn't take long at all to find that none of what I was experiencing is unusual and is almost typical of idiots like me not closely checking in with a doctor and making adjustments to the Testosterone!
I called the doctor's office yesterday and spoke to the Nurse Practitioner who was just zero help and she told me the doctor is on vacation for two weeks. I told her I read about donating blood to reduce the Hematocrit and she said not to do that and see an Endocrinologist first...I called the two doctors she gave me, and they don't take my insurance.
I am feeling like total crap now...I am sure the new stuff I am injecting is more powerful and the emotional aspect to all this and how I am almost killing myself with this stupidity really was weighing on me..I've been feeling horrible and depressed about it constantly! I feel like I am 85 years old..always tired and out of breath...and no idea why!
So I make a command decision and start walking to the blood bank about 2 miles from my apartment...I have to stop a couple of times and finally about 1/4 mile away, i really am feeling like crap, very dehydrated and I go into a deli, down a Gatorade, powerbar and some salad...I wait 1/2 hour..I am that wiped out and off I go.
Long story short (not that short haha) I donate a pint of blood and umm..is it my imagination or do I already feel better? Yes no doubt about it..That fast I feel different..not just a little different either...Last night I felt my breaths were much deeper for the first time practically since my surgery!!
Today I woke up and it's even better.
I am still sick with the thought of how I have been mentally and physically suffering...I am really mad at the cardiologist who ordered the tests and enver told me the results...but mostly I am mad at myself and thankful I didn't have a stroke or heart attack...
Now the question is what do I do? Oh, My T level is over 1500 and has been for probably a year or more.
My estrogen levels have never been tested but from what I've read and how I've felt, it would be a safe bet that they are very high..No man boobs but heat sensitivity, less libido and all the other stuff you would think.
I spoke to a friend who suggested to to reduce the injection to 100mg once a week..and I know that might be a good idea but I am thinking maybe it would be good to be off of it for 2-3 weeks? I really just don't know...You guys for sure know better than me and that's why I am posting!
Anyway, I hope all who read this think I'm an idiot and that you don't or didn't do what I did...It sort of just fell through the cracks and I thought the cardiologist was on top of it and it's no excuse but that's my story.