First Time Advice

[ojibwajohn]

This is my first post. I am a 54 year old male who has been feeling very tired for a couple of years. I have tried every test, and finally went to a HRT specialist in Tucson last summer. My testesterone was 198, free testerone was 23.5 and my glucose was 100.My cortisol was 14.3 and my IGF-I was 112. He has me on testosterone cream and 15MGs of oral hydrocortisone for about 7 weeks now. I am feeling slightly better, but not anywhere I want to be. Should I give this more time?..I'm not a body builder, just a guy who wants to enjoy life, play some golf, and feel like getting out of bed in the morning. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

[zaggahamma]

When are you supposed to be re-tested....the test cream might not have your levels up enough to get you feeling better....i am completely unfamiliar with hydrocortisone in an hrt treatment...i know what you mean...you don't have to be a body builder to benefit from TRT....what areas have you noticed improvement already?

[comradebillyboy]

This is my first post. I am a 54 year old male who has been feeling very tired for a couple of years. I have tried every test, and finally went to a HRT specialist in Tucson last summer. My testosterone was 198, free testosterone was 23.5 and my glucose was 100.My cortisol was 14.3 and my IGF-I was 112. He has me on testosterone cream and 15MGs of oral hydrocortisone for about 7 weeks now. I am feeling slightly better, but not anywhere I want to be. Should I give this more time?..I'm not a body builder, just a guy who wants to enjoy life, play some golf, and feel like getting out of bed in the morning. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Your estrogen levels may also be elevated. At your age you may be getting too much conversion of testosterone to estrogen and you may want a product such as aeromiasin that blocks conversion of test to est in addition to your testosterone cream. I was on a cream for several months with no noticeable result. I switched to weekly injections an feel great now.

[zaggahamma]

agree...retest asap and include estradial on the bloodwork...mucho importante

[ojibwajohn]

I did get my estradiol tested...it was 24...I don't think that's too high, is it?

[zaggahamma]

I did get my estradiol tested...it was 24...I don't think that's too high, is it?

no, that's quite ideal....well i also felt slightly better with test gel
(androgel 5-15mg ED) but feel much better on test cyp injections...and many that post here prefer inject that i've seen...wish u the best

[fbcoach]

Oji....did your doc put you on the hydrocortisone for adrenal insuficiency or fatigue? Did you have any other symptoms?
fbcoach

[ojibwajohn]

I believe that is why...he said it would augment the testosterone cream...fatigue (big time) is my major symptom.

[vermin]

24 e is OK...but that was with low test. Even with the gel, your e might be twice that now. If you are reluctant to go to test injections I'd say try 1mg a-dex 3X week. Your doc may want to see your e levels before prescribing it, but bascially there is virtually no way that your OK (15-20 max would be "ideal") e levels are now the same with the addition of exogenous test.

[ojibwajohn]

Thanks Vermin...don't understand everything you said, but my doc had my bloodwork done again this week and I think he will put me on weekly shots once he gets the results...said he wants my testosterone around 6-700......shots are fine with me...but what "shots" are normal and can I expect results pretty soon?...and how do I find out how I give them to me by myself?

p.s. thanks to everybody for the support and info.

[ojibwajohn]

I just had my bloodwork done...(was taking the testosterone cream) my test was 438, Estradiol was 20, free test was 93, and DHT was 122...Dr. says he wants test up to around 7-800, estradiol is good and free test is too low and DHT is too high...I started weekly shots today...they are .75 ml of test cyp each...am still also taking 15mgs of hydrocortisone pills daily...how long should I wait for this stuff to "kick in"?...I am still pretty tired most of the time...am I on the right track?

vr/ojibwajohn

[zaggahamma]

you're numbers are improving and your doc wants your levels up even more...sound like his advice is worth heading....best of luck

[ojibwajohn]

I have been taking test cyp injections for 7 weeks now....75 cc's the first 4 and 1cc from week 5...don't feel a whole lot better yet...my doctor is puzzled...says he won't raise my dose...what do you more experienced users think?...need more time?...?...am thinking of trying the Mayo Clinic in Scotsdale to find out why I'm so tired...(I live in Arizona)...any advice is welcome, and if anyone has any recommendations for Drs or clinics in Tucson or Phoenix, much appreciated.

[zaggahamma]

is the fatigue the only remaining negative symptom you are experiencing? are you showing improvements elsewhere

i have been battling with fatigue of late as well but it could be due to poor sleep and i really don't expect the testosterone to eliminate that problem

[fbcoach]

Before the test can do its job, you have to have the adrenals and thyroid functioning properly.

Adrenals= 4 part saliva test for cortisol
Thyroid= check TSH, T3, & T4
Estrogen= get (male sensitive) test; The ratio between test and E2s are very important as well as between E2s and SHGB levels

All hormones have to be in balance to work optimally. I am going to be going to one of the best HRT Docs in the country in a few weeks. I will post a thread and detail the experience.