I have been prescribed testosterone.

[Invisible Evil]

Just kinda concerned.. Dr. mainly filled me in with side effects but not actually if anything will happen physically.

Has anyone had to take this before..?

Essentially I went to the DR. as I was just having issues feeling sluggish and not having much of a sex drive which is not normal for me.

I am active, in good shape... I just thought I was fatigued, I work 12 hours a day and just thought I was worn out.

Dr. did a blood test and showed me I had very low testosterone levels.

So here I am, the medicine is a gel I rub on my shoulders and arms.

Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Malfeas]

I'm surprised he didn't try clomid or nolvadex treatment first. But if it came to T replacement I would rather have the injections than the gel.

 

[Smoove910]

So what happens if you rub the gel on your member? Just wondering...

 

[kinev]

Careful..."Low T" has become the ailment of the day. Humans have a natural hormonal cycle. We "power down" as we get older. All you have to do is look at female HRT and see how it was widely accepted at one point, too.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be on it, but if you have a family history of prostate cancer (or even hypertrophy), heart attacks, or strokes...I wouldn't be on it just for "sluggishness". If your doctor didn't get a PSA or at least do a DRE, I'd find a new doctor.

Just F.Y.I., the incidence of prostrate cancer in men is 100% (given enough time). If you don't die of something else first, you will develop prostate cancer.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

It seems pretty drastic to me that after one doc visit for fatigue and one blood test to start T replacement. It's possible low T could be a symptom along with, and not the cause of, your other symptoms. How old are you?

 

[Invisible Evil]

That is very interesting and thank you for the input... can I ask where the information you gave came from?

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Careful..."Low T" has become the ailment of the day. Humans have a natural hormonal cycle. We "power down" as we get older. All you have to do is look at female HRT and see how it was widely accepted at one point, too.

Female HRT still is, for menopause. It's not indicated now for most women because of the risk of ovarian/breast cancer, but it helps with women who have really bad menopause symptoms or for women who go into menopause early (to protect from osteoporosis mainly, from what I understand).

Just F.Y.I., the incidence of prostrate cancer in men is 100% (given enough time). If you don't die of something else first, you will develop prostate cancer.

I should add a caveat that even in men actually diagnosed with prostate cancer, a major treatment is doing nothing, because it progresses so slowly that it's not worth the risk of removing it (urinary incontinence, impotence, etc. - there are a lot of important ducts, vessels, and nerves down there), and most people probably won't live long enough for it to cause any major harm anyway. Last time I looked, there was some debate about DRE and PSA screening for prostate cancer for any age group, because of the inconvenience involved compared with the DALYs gained by actually finding a prostate cancer that should and could be treated.

It seems pretty drastic to me that after one doc visit for fatigue and one blood test to start T replacement. It's possible low T could be a symptom along with, and not the cause of, your other symptoms. How old are you?

I agree. This just seems like treating the symptom, not the cause. If your testosterone is abnormally low (which your doctor wouldn't know unless he did a blood testosterone sometime in the past during your adult life), then it would probably be due to some other process. Your testes do not just start deciding one day they'll produce less testosterone.

 

[Invisible Evil]

I am 31.

He did a blood test on me and showed me the counts. I obviously had no idea about this stuff. You normally do what a DR. you have been seeing since 17 years old tells you.

But I am glad I asked. Now I have more info to go to him with.

Appreciate it.

 

[Zen0]

Just kinda concerned.. Dr. mainly filled me in with side effects but not actually if anything will happen physically.

Has anyone had to take this before..?

Essentially I went to the DR. as I was just having issues feeling sluggish and not having much of a sex drive which is not normal for me.

I am active, in good shape... I just thought I was fatigued, I work 12 hours a day and just thought I was worn out.

Dr. did a blood test and showed me I had very low testosterone levels.

So here I am, the medicine is a gel I rub on my shoulders and arms.

Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Damn, my condolences man.

 

[surfsatwerk]

I would opt for the injections because the gel can rub off of you onto other things and from there effect other people it comes into contact with. Not a big deal if you live alone, but if there are children or a wife doing your laundry it could be an issue.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I would opt for the injections because the gel can rub off of you onto other things and from there effect other people it comes into contact with. Not a big deal if you live alone, but if there are children or a wife doing your laundry it could be an issue.

This is a serious consideration to take into mind. Also, listen to your physician. People on the internet are telling you not to take a medication that can improve your condition? That's silly. Honestly, you'll likely feel a lot better. Keep in mind, if the side effects do bother you (some actually don't ever get side effects), you can always just stop the treatment. I'd say at least try it out. It could increase your quality of life quite a bit.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

I'm not one to underestimate the bad advice that can come from random people on the internet, but I sure wouldn't take advice as good just because it comes from a doctor either. Get informed and make your own decisions, you care a lot more about your health and well-being than anyone else. Also, I think coming off T replacement is more convoluted than just stopping. Natural production will be suppressed further and it likely won't just bounce back. Hence my view this being sort of drastic as an initial treatment.

Edit: Do you have access to your test numbers?

 

[JL514]

Wow lucky.

Make sure you hit the gym a lot.

 

[Invisible Evil]

Well, I certainly will not just listen to the advice here and take it at that, but I at least have some more questions.

When he gives you the rx a million questions come to mind but none are worth a damn.


I just mainly wanted ( and received) some at least tips so I can make some educated questions, and on top of that I have been reading alot on medical boards.


I do appreciate the advice.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

This is a serious consideration to take into mind. Also, listen to your physician. People on the internet are telling you not to take a medication that can improve your condition? That's silly. Honestly, you'll likely feel a lot better. Keep in mind, if the side effects do bother you (some actually don't ever get side effects), you can always just stop the treatment. I'd say at least try it out. It could increase your quality of life quite a bit.

It's not silly. As far as we know what has happened to the OP is equivalent to getting prescribed painkillers for necrotizing fasciitis. It may help with the symptoms (we don't even know if it will, because we don't know how low the testosterone is, or even whether it is low relative to when he was well), but it probably won't deal with any underlying pathology.

 

[DougoMan]

I would think you would want to at least get a referral to see an endocrinologist (hormone doctor) before starting on such a serious treatment.

 

[Alone]

I see no reason not to try it. Testosterone in reasonable doses is relatively safe.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

I see no reason not to try it. Testosterone in reasonable doses is relatively safe.

That's not really a concern, IMO.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

It's not silly. As far as we know what has happened to the OP is equivalent to getting prescribed painkillers for necrotizing fasciitis. It may help with the symptoms (we don't even know if it will, because we don't know how low the testosterone is, or even whether it is low relative to when he was well), but it probably won't deal with any underlying pathology.

It is silly, if the physician ran for proper blood levels. I agree that he should get it further looked at and not stop at taking testosterone, but the risk is low for the OP to gain some function back.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

It is silly, if the physician ran for proper blood levels. I agree that he should get it further looked at and not stop at taking testosterone, but the risk is low for the OP to gain some function back.

This is what I'm concerned about: that the physician involved will prescribe some testosterone cream, then forget the OP or decide that it's not within his subspecialty to pursue the subject further, and just drop it.

 

[alkemyst]

Careful..."Low T" has become the ailment of the day. Humans have a natural hormonal cycle. We "power down" as we get older. All you have to do is look at female HRT and see how it was widely accepted at one point, too.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be on it, but if you have a family history of prostate cancer (or even hypertrophy), heart attacks, or strokes...I wouldn't be on it just for "sluggishness". If your doctor didn't get a PSA or at least do a DRE, I'd find a new doctor.

Just F.Y.I., the incidence of prostrate cancer in men is 100% (given enough time). If you don't die of something else first, you will develop prostate cancer.

It's funny when people use abbreviations most will not understand on a general forum. Google copypasta for the win.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

When I first went to an endocrinologist for hypothyroidism I was also showing low testosterone levels, but for that it turned out the base clinic was terrible at testing testosterone levels and my they were fine. Doesn't mean much being just anecdotal, but might want a second opinion.

 

[kinev]

Careful..."Low T" has become the ailment of the day. Humans have a natural hormonal cycle. We "power down" as we get older. All you have to do is look at female HRT and see how it was widely accepted at one point, too.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be on it, but if you have a family history of prostate cancer (or even hypertrophy), heart attacks, or strokes...I wouldn't be on it just for "sluggishness". If your doctor didn't get a PSA or at least do a DRE, I'd find a new doctor.

Just F.Y.I., the incidence of prostrate cancer in men is 100% (given enough time). If you don't die of something else first, you will develop prostate cancer.

It's funny when people use abbreviations most will not understand on a general forum. Google copypasta for the win.

Sorry. I was working under the assumption that readers weren't total dumb-shits.

F.Y.I. stands for For Your Information. Glad I could help.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Sorry. I was working under the assumption that readers weren't total dumb-shits.

F.Y.I. stands for For Your Information. Glad I could help.

*Cough*

/Taps sarcasm meter...

 

[alkemyst]

Sorry. I was working under the assumption that readers weren't total dumb-shits.

F.Y.I. stands for For Your Information. Glad I could help.

They more than likely are not total dumbshits. However; obscure abbreviations that are very specific to a discipline usually are not understood and your reader simply nods their head along making assumptions to what it means.

This is why finding good speakers and writers is not an easy thing. Too many tend to prop themselves up with their academics forgeting not everyone took that same tract.

I studied medicine and pharmacy for several years as well as interning with an engineering firm (my original choice of career was mechanical engineering) for a year. I have a pretty broad understanding of acronyms and abbreviations that most people out there wouldn't have a clue about and more than likely think meant something else.

Take the time to be more specific.