Finally figured it out!

[ThrottleKing]

This is my first post on the board. Thank God there is the internet and sites like this that allow the sharing of knowledge and experience.

I'm 43 year old male living in the Pacific Northwest. For the last seven years I have felt increasingly fatigued, irritable and depressed. I would go through short periods of feeling normal just after my morning workout but by noon that good feeling would be gone.

About 4 years ago I sought help through a Dr. regarding my overall feelings. He did full blood work and said everything was normal except for my cholesterol and elevated liver levels, high but not major. Basically he told me I was getting old.

Fast forward to this summer I start feeling VERY lethargic and irritable so I see a new Dr and have full blood work. He tells me the same thing high cholesterol and liver functions...I'm getting old.

Three months ago I started to get really depressed and lethargic. It made it hard to go to work let alone interact with my 4 kids.

So I surfed the web and read about my symptoms. I got a copy of my latest blood work. My testosterone level was 251. I confronted my Dr with the low level. He explained that 241 was actually the low level on the scale and I didn't fall below it. Basically I was 10 points away from the lowest level.

I was feeling more and more devastated and helpless.

I decided to get testo and HGH on my own through the internet and heal myself, but was afraid of the legality and what would be the proper dosage. Also I wanted to make sure I wasn't screwing myself up more.

I told my wife what I wanted to do and she was supportive and a little scared, because although I have gained knowledge on the subject by my investigating... I'm no expert. But on the other hand she wanted her old husband back. I figured 100 mg a week would work at the start and then I'd see how I felt.

Enter my wife and the advice nurse at Multicare. My wife basically started making calls and explaining my situation because I was at the end of my rope and couldn't even explain how I felt anymore.

She and the advice nurse put together a plan for me to see a very good Dr. in the area. On my first visit he ordered a full battery of test and a referral to see an Endocrinologist. Basically this move saved my life...or at least made it worth living.

My Endo also ordered more blood work, checked my prostate (no fun but necessary) and checked the size of my testis’s (Yes, size does matter...small testis’s low testosterone .) (Now I know what they mean by having no balls. sorry couldn't resist.)

The Endo found my Testo level about the range my first Dr did and immediately prescribed 100 mg testo every week. His words were, "yeah your testosterone levels are okay...for an 80 year old."

After my first shot I felt better the very next day. It's so dramatic I believe some of it is in my own head, but I don't care. It's like the fog in my head has been lifted.

Thanks to this board and others I was able to get through the last 3 months by reading of the successes and the struggles of others.

For other men out there going through the fight with the unknowledgeable medical community I feel for you. But don't stop until you find the right Dr. They are out there but you may have to do a little searching.

Take care

[Teabagger]

Good work bro. So many of us here have the same type story...the battle with the medical community. You will continue to learn here and be able to take a more active role in your health care.

[Ufa]

What a cool post! Seems like it's all about hormones. I think most
people like to hear stories like yours. Thanks for sharing.
Good Luck!

[Kale]

Awsome post dude !!!! Its a pity the medical ftraternity dont have a clue what going on here. Test is the Elixer of Youth for men !!!!!!

[ThrottleKing]

Thanks for the responses guys. This site was a great resource over the last few months. Again, great job...

I think the biggest single obstacle is education for men and the medical community at large. Most Dr. don’t understand the significance of the testosterone hormone in the male body.

Even my new Dr, who is a very good Dr and the person who referred me to the Endo Dr, didn’t think the HRT would start to do any good for at least 2 months. But my Endo Dr told me to expect a change relatively soon. In my area he’s works in the only office in Tacoma, WA that treats male hormonal problems. It’s prescribed so little here that the major pharmacy where I left my prescription had to order it and it took three days to get it in.

The part I am just really surprised with is the lifting of the brain fog I had for the last 2 years. It was getting to the point I felt detached from the world.

I’m thinking of starting a support group in the area for men with similar problems. There are literally millions of men who have this condition who chalk it up to getting old. That's a damn shame. There are also millions of men diagnosed with depression and being treated that should probably have their testosterone levels checked.

I feel fortunate to live during an era where this can be treated but feel sorry for the men suffering with this unnecessarily because I can tell you first hand it’s a nightmare.

We need to get the word out that HRT is not some sneaky way to get roids prescribed by your Dr and remove the stigma that taking Testosterone is an illegal act.

We need a revolution for men!

[UpstateNY]

I can relate to how you feel!! It's amazing isn't it? Both the lack of knowledge in the medical field and the results from proper treatment. It's doing me wonders and I'm only 2 wks into this. I'm looking forward to learning more, exploring my options and helping to get the word out as well. I have several friends and family members that are making appointments, reading here, and using me as test subject. They too mirror the effects I and many here have felt and had relieved. Best of luck to you in all endevors. Keep in touch!
R.

[Mobligator]

ThrottleKing,
You did the right thing by seeing another MD. I've been on HRT since 1988 and when I had my first Testosterone check it was 246 and the normal high and low range was 300-1000. Two things I learned about the range, it depends on the lab doing the test and also your age. My range has been changing every few years as I get older. After you take a shot (and 100 mg per wk is the normal maintenance dosage), it takes a couple three days to get into your blood stream but you won't really notice a difference for a few weeks if your blood level has been low for a good while. You will first begin to notice your beard growing faster and you'll start having more morning erections, plus you will have an over all feeling of well being. I get my Test. from the VA, saves a load of money. The half life of cypionate is about 8 days and enanthate 9 days. I always preferred cypionate but the VA only uses enanthate now. Keep a close watch on your PSA. Testosterone doesn't cause PCa but it will make it grow faster if you ever get it. Good luck and keep the Mrs happy.

[Growingpains]

Great post bro! That was pretty uplifting. Ask your doctor for more Test!

Seriously though, good for you man!

GP

[Mighty Joe]

Awesome!!

[UpstateNY]

Thanks for sharing your info guys!! This is helping me out a LOT so it must be helping other who don't let on. I just wish there were more docs that knew what it was all about and how to help. I live in a backwards and an economicaly depressed area. Hard to get a decent doc for almost anything! If it wasn't for this site and the posts, I'd still be in the dark and feeling like crap!

[ThrottleKing]

Thanks for sharing your info guys!! This is helping me out a LOT so it must be helping other who don't let on. I just wish there were more docs that knew what it was all about and how to help. I live in a backwards and an economicaly depressed area. Hard to get a decent doc for almost anything! If it wasn't for this site and the posts, I'd still be in the dark and feeling like crap!

I hear you. My first Dr tried to tell me I had a form of depression and wanted to load me up on anti-depressants. I told him it was more a feeling than an emotion (If that makes sense.) I passed on that because I didn't want to go down that road.

There are a few online resources where you can pay for a saliva swab test of testosterone . You could then use that to find a good Endocrinologist out of town.

I know this all seems even harder in the shi##y feeling condition, but you gotta keep moving forward towards some relief.

It sucks being a man in this respect because the majority of Dr think you're trying to pull a scam for gear if you told them flat out you'd like to try some test.

Keep on trucking brother...

[novicenovicen]

rock on!

[bbitner]

I have to say that this website has put me in a new frame of mind. I am amazed how many similar stories are posted regarding the feeling of depression, lack of energy or motivation to engage in life. I have been in a state of, what I thought to be 'depression' and I have been sitting on the side line of life waiting for a miracle to happen to snap me out of it. I have been reading information on a daily basis from this website for 2 weeks now and I honestly have finally found out what might be going on with my body (hormones). I have been on and off depressants (which sedate or lower the rate to the bodies vital functions) for the past 10 years, which have done nothing but make my quality of life worse. What a way to live. Because of this website I have an appointment with my Dr and I will hopefully be back in the game. What a waste of 10 years! I played college basketball with tons of potential, outgoing, funny and now I sit at home and can't find joy in life! Time to make up for lost time. Thanks for sharing the information, this may change my life again.

[therecanonlybe1]

yeah i hear ya bro...i'm a R.N. for 14 years..which is probably half as long a this little pee on doc has been alive...i work with psychiatry and well aware of medication levels...mg per kg dosing and all that good shit..long story short...my test level was 600....so what i was depressed..low libido...fatigue...pain..blah..blah..the key is one needs to treat how one feels..plain and simple....

[zaggahamma]

I have to say that this website has put me in a new frame of mind. I am amazed how many similar stories are posted regarding the feeling of depression, lack of energy or motivation to engage in life. I have been in a state of, what I thought to be 'depression' and I have been sitting on the side line of life waiting for a miracle to happen to snap me out of it. I have been reading information on a daily basis from this website for 2 weeks now and I honestly have finally found out what might be going on with my body (hormones). I have been on and off depressants (which sedate or lower the rate to the bodies vital functions) for the past 10 years, which have done nothing but make my quality of life worse. What a way to live. Because of this website I have an appointment with my Dr and I will hopefully be back in the game. What a waste of 10 years! I played college basketball with tons of potential, outgoing, funny and now I sit at home and can't find joy in life! Time to make up for lost time. Thanks for sharing the information, this may change my life again.

best of luck bro

welcome

[Throttle Boy]

Throttle King great post,That sound's like my story to a tee. The only difference is I didn't get married till i was 40 to a girl 16 year's younger,I am 46 now but she wanted kids so i knew what was wrong with me but had to stay away from the test. it was driving me insane knowing what it was but not being able to fix it, Nothing was fun anymore not the car's not the bike's least of all sex.Well i just started hrt 2 week's ago and life is starting to get real good again that's all i know. The workouts are picking up the car's are fun again and i can't wait to roll out the zippers thunder wagon. Throttle king how did you get that handle the right hand twist?

[sportyharley1200]

great post dude.. just getting started with hrt, giving something to look forward to....

[Tapout]

great story bro
my levels were 239 and doc put me on gel--do injectables soon myself again and gel to "maintain" during off time

its sad that docs will put you on addictive anti***ressants and pain killers at a drop of a dime but are afraid of testostrone. It can "cure" most of the symptoms that anti***resants and pain killers hide

also women are put on estrogens for their hormonal problems--men should be put on test for theirs

[scottish]

Are there different types of HRT? Or is it just basically test?

[MuscleScience]

Welcome to Ar,

Doctors are so affraid of prescribing test because of the federal goverments steroid witch hunt

[Tapout]

scottish--pretty much test although I have heard of people using deca --unsure how true though

[zaggahamma]

Are there different types of HRT? Or is it just basically test?

growth hormone is also prescribed in some HRT...usually when the pocketbook allows

[scottish]

thanks guys.