Lifetime commitment?

[dobe1000]

11 months ago TT: 58. FT: 9.6. Now, 752 and 152.7 -- after injecting .5ml (100mg) per week. Endo never figured out why my #'s were so low. I talked to Endo recently and he said I would need trt for the rest of my life -- which hopefully is a long time. I'm 55.

He also said that since we don't know why my #'s were so low I could try and stop the trt. However, he said it would take 3-6 months for my body to start producing T on it's own. He said that a drug called clomiphene can be used to try to "jump start" the body's natural production of testosterone after stopping trt. It would be given for 3 months, then T would be rechecked to see my response.

I'm very happy my low T is being treated. I guess I should be happy that I can be treated for the rest of my life. I can't imagine going though a 3-6 month crash while my body -- maybe -- starts producing T on its own. But it's kind of scary that I may be injecting myself when I'm 80+.

I guess my question is does everyone who's on trt for a year or more need to use it for the rest of their lives? Are you all convinced that the benefits of trt as we age outweigh the risks? Doing this for another 30 years seems daunting but stopping doesn't seem to be an option.

Thanks.

[bullshark99]

dobe, your points and concerns are all well made. Many here feel or have felt the same. My 2 cents, you need to come to peace with the fact THAT YOU ARE T DEFICEINT AND ALWAYS WILL BE UNLESS YOU REPLACE. I'm not thrilled with the prospect of having to pin for the next 30 years either but beats the alternative??? You were non-existent with T T, hope you are feeling much better, now you are totally shut down, restart, I highly doubt is possible, even so, restart to what 58??? Sorry, do not see why you would even want to go back there, glad modern medicine can help, 20 years ago, who knows??? Remember, much worse things than pinning once a week, right? Not like you have cancer, be at peace and enjoy!!! Saftey long term, time will tell, but none of us are promised tommorow....

[powerlifterty16]

since when is 752 tt and 153 ft low???
Your before numbers werent low either. im assuming that would be 580 total and 96 free because the measurements are different?

[Trific]

since when is 752 tt and 153 ft low???
Your before numbers werent low either. im assuming that would be 580 total and 96 free because the measurements are different?

Hah...This might be a perfect example of what they say about "assuming".

[Trific]

I guess I should be happy that I can be treated for the rest of my life.

Yep!

[ctenosaura]

I said this once before on another post: At 47 I began loosing my good eyesight and started needing reading glasses. Are the reading glasses temporary until my eyesight comes back to where it was? No. In matter a fact my eyesight will continue to diminish with age, and so will your testosterone . The T-cyp or enanth are now your "reading glasses" for your current testosterone levels which will never return to the levels of your youth. So load that syringe and be happy

[HRTstudent]

I guess my question is does everyone who's on trt for a year or more need to use it for the rest of their lives? Are you all convinced that the benefits of trt as we age outweigh the risks? Doing this for another 30 years seems daunting but stopping doesn't seem to be an option.

I think that as we age, TRT becomes proportionally better. I can only imagine being 75 and on TRT compared to not... it seems like it must be better. The reality is our bodies break down over time... TRT is a small way to keep away from the Old Folks home.

If TRT improves your life right now, then why not continue? But if TRT is not definitely improving your life, I must ask, is it worth continuing? I am at a similar crossroads to be frank. I cannot say unequivocally that TRT has made my life better. I am not entirely opposed to trying life off TRT. I know a lot more about my own body now; and I have no doubt that some basic mineral and vitamin deficiencies were impairing my health.

[clarkster]

I think that as we age, TRT becomes proportionally better. I can only imagine being 75 and on TRT compared to not... it seems like it must be better. The reality is our bodies break down over time... TRT is a small way to keep away from the Old Folks home.

If TRT improves your life right now, then why not continue? But if TRT is not definitely improving your life, I must ask, is it worth continuing? I am at a similar crossroads to be frank. I cannot say unequivocally that TRT has made my life better. I am not entirely opposed to trying life off TRT. I know a lot more about my own body now; and I have no doubt that some basic mineral and vitamin deficiencies were impairing my health.

HRTstudent- Could you tell us a little more about your TRT journey and how long you've been on it?
And I've only been on TRT for almost a year and my answer is yes right now. I think TRT out weighs the risks. It sounds like you are doing great with your TRT. Congrats.

[APIs]

I said this once before on another post: At 47 I began loosing my good eyesight and started needing reading glasses. Are the reading glasses temporary until my eyesight comes back to where it was? No. In matter a fact my eyesight will continue to diminish with age, and so will your testosterone . The T-cyp or enanth are now your "reading glasses" for your current testosterone levels which will never return to the levels of your youth. So load that syringe and be happy

Good analogy IMO. I need reading glasses too @ almost 47. Need to address this ;-(

[Vettester]

11 months ago TT: 58. FT: 9.6. Now, 752 and 152.7 -- after injecting .5ml (100mg) per week. Endo never figured out why my #'s were so low. I talked to Endo recently and he said I would need trt for the rest of my life -- which hopefully is a long time. I'm 55.

He also said that since we don't know why my #'s were so low I could try and stop the trt. However, he said it would take 3-6 months for my body to start producing T on it's own. He said that a drug called clomiphene can be used to try to "jump start" the body's natural production of testosterone after stopping trt. It would be given for 3 months, then T would be rechecked to see my response.

I'm very happy my low T is being treated. I guess I should be happy that I can be treated for the rest of my life. I can't imagine going though a 3-6 month crash while my body -- maybe -- starts producing T on its own. But it's kind of scary that I may be injecting myself when I'm 80+.

I guess my question is does everyone who's on trt for a year or more need to use it for the rest of their lives? Are you all convinced that the benefits of trt as we age outweigh the risks? Doing this for another 30 years seems daunting but stopping doesn't seem to be an option.

Thanks.

I'm really hoping in the very begining of all of this, somebody also took the time to run your LH & FSH labs?? This would almost tell us immediately if Clomid is a possible option.

Here's my take ... Seems more times than not, when a patient is diagnosed with secondary hypogonadism, his serum numbers are in the 200ng-325ng/dl range. This isn't scientific, but it just seems more times than not that a patient is primary when his baseline numbers are below 100ng/dl. Primary meaning the failure is at the testicular level.

So, if you have a testicular issue, problems with the leydigs, or some other complication that isn't realted to the pituitary, the Clomid would just be a complete waste. Clomid would generate GNrH--LH/FSH, which would signal the testicles for endogenous production. If your baseline labs show an increased amount of LH & FSH, then you will know that those hormones are not having any success with your testicles.

[VTX1800]

Very helpful post vet