Need an opinion

[Mike93082]

actually brought my drive back to normal and maybe a little more than that

I forgot to add that it only lasted for a few months. Then went back to no drive.

 

[Mountain Man]

I ha



What you are saying is blunt, but that is ok.

It's hard to have a relationship when you are depressed and don't really care about sex at all. Celexa and wellbutrin were prescribed. The wellbutrin actually brought my drive back to normal and maybe a little more than that.

My relationship with my wife is solid. We have been married 13 years and together 16 years. We have a 13 year old daughter who has a good attitude and does well in school. We don't make a lot of money. But at the same time we have no mortgage/rent, no loans/credit cards, no car notes. We have a nice emergency fund and investments So relationship and money are ok.

My weight has been steadily climbing over the last 7-8 years. Years before that, I maintained a good weight without much thought. I am at 270. I look at food and the scale jumps. I don't eat perfect, but I don't eat much. One of the odd symptoms over the last few years is that I don't really feel the hunger sensations. I hear people say what's for supper? I am starving over here...bi might eat a small plate but feel no joy from it. I will even get asked is that all you are going to eat?!??!

Of all the meds you are on, Celexa is most likely the one causing low sex drive. Wellbutrin is often prescribed to people that want an anti depressant that does not kill sex drive. In your 30s, maintaining a good weight is difficult. Exercise is something that I ask all my clients that are depressed to do, even is it in brief, 10 minute walks throughout the day. Exercise, especially walking, is the most under prescribed anti depressant there is.

Do yourself a favor and ask a doctor to get you off the Celexa and evaluate where the libido is in about 3 to 6 weeks.

 

[Mike93082]

Of all the meds you are on, Celexa is most likely the one causing low sex drive. Wellbutrin is often prescribed to people that want an anti depressant that does not kill sex drive. In your 30s, maintaining a good weight is difficult. Exercise is something that I ask all my clients that are depressed to do, even is it in brief, 10 minute walks throughout the day. Exercise, especially walking, is the most under prescribed anti depressant there is.

Do yourself a favor and ask a doctor to get you off the Celexa and evaluate where the libido is in about 3 to 6 weeks.

I just got done with my appointment. I showed the doc my test results.

He said that is really low for being 38. He said he looks at numbers and symptoms. I got a 200mg injection in the office. He said be patient and you will feel something around Sunday.

I am not going to start yelling in excitement. I am just really optimistic about how this will help me

 

[Systemlord]

I got a 200mg injection in the office. He said be patient and you will feel something around Sunday.

None of this sounds good, TRT is a marathon, not a sprint. A large 200mg injection infrequently usually causes side effects and can make you feel worse than pre-treatment.

If you doctors has you on 200mg every other week, I'm would expect you to feel worse than you do now in a couple of weeks.

The comment about you feeling better around Sunday, it's a red flag this doctor doesn't have any clue and is just talking out of his....

Also I can't believe your doctor gave you TRT without ceasing the Celexa and maybe trying something else and see if your testosterone recovers.

 

[madman]

I just got done with my appointment. I showed the doc my test results.

He said that is really low for being 38. He said he looks at numbers and symptoms. I got a 200mg injection in the office. He said be patient and you will feel something around Sunday.

I am not going to start yelling in excitement. I am just really optimistic about how this will help me

Of course, your TT is horribly low which would mean that your FT is absurdly low!

Unfortunately, you made the mistake of jumping on a cookie-cutter protocol seeing as your idiotic doctor is starting you off on high dosed T (200 mg/week) which will have your TT/FT/e2 levels through the roof not to mention drive up your hemoglobin/hematocrit.

Even then he has absolutely no idea where your SHBG sits?

As I stated earlier although TT is important to know FT is what truly matters let alone many other areas need to be looked into regarding (thyroid/adrenal) function.

Sure your T levels are dismal and anyone hovering at such levels would experience low-t symptoms.

Regardless full blood work is needed before jumping in headfirst.

Where is the full set of lab work which should include FT, estradiol, SHBG, DHT, Prolactin, LH/FSH, PSA, full thyroid panel, cortisol (4 point saliva), Vit D, Lipids, CMP, CBC (which includes hemoglobin/hematocrit)?

 

[madman]

I ha



What you are saying is blunt, but that is ok.

It's hard to have a relationship when you are depressed and don't really care about sex at all. Celexa and wellbutrin were prescribed. The wellbutrin actually brought my drive back to normal and maybe a little more than that.

My relationship with my wife is solid. We have been married 13 years and together 16 years. We have a 13 year old daughter who has a good attitude and does well in school. We don't make a lot of money. But at the same time we have no mortgage/rent, no loans/credit cards, no car notes. We have a nice emergency fund and investments So relationship and money are ok.

My weight has been steadily climbing over the last 7-8 years. Years before that, I maintained a good weight without much thought. I am at 270. I look at food and the scale jumps. I don't eat perfect, but I don't eat much. One of the odd symptoms over the last few years is that I don't really feel the hunger sensations. I hear people say what's for supper? I am starving over here...bi might eat a small plate but feel no joy from it. I will even get asked is that all you are going to eat?!??!

270 lbs and I would bet you are carrying a fair amount of body fat.

Be prepared for a world of hurt jumping on 200 mg T/week as it is a given that your estradiol will skyrocket!

I would be getting a full thyroid panel done not to mention the numerous tests I mentioned in the post above.

This amateur protocol you have been put on may turn out to be a real s**t show!

 

[Mike93082]

270 lbs and I would bet you are carrying a fair amount of body fat.

Be prepared for a world of hurt jumping on 200 mg T/week as it is a given that your estradiol will skyrocket!

I would be getting a full thyroid panel done not to mention the numerous tests I mentioned in the post above.

This amateur protocol you have been put on may turn out to be a real s**t show!

Wow, some angry replies.

I showed him all my blood work and described my symptoms. He has been doing this for over 20 years. He said the 200 dose was a loading dose. Said he has seen a lot of good results with this method.

I did ask him about SSRI meds. He said they typically do cause some drop in testosterone. But not enough to need trt therapy. He highly doubted dropping the ssri would raise t levels much. He also said that I would lose the benefit of the ssri and would feel worse.

He did order a full blood test including thyroid. He is also screening for prostate cancer and checked my prostate.

He seemed like a very knowledgeable doctor in a well established practice. He listened and said he has seen what that level of testosterone does.

As far as a couple of days. He said the first benefits of testosterone are increased energy.

For a forum on seeking help with testosterone. You guys act as if getting actual testosterone is a stupid idea. I look forward to seeing what this will do for me. He said don't expect us to get you in the 1,000 range. But for your age, I would like to see around 600 and I should feel like a new person.

 

[madman]

Wow, some angry replies.

I showed him all my blood work and described my symptoms. He has been doing this for over 20 years. He said the 200 dose was a loading dose. Said he has seen a lot of good results with this method.

I did ask him about SSRI meds. He said they typically do cause some drop in testosterone. But not enough to need trt therapy. He highly doubted dropping the ssri would raise t levels much. He also said that I would lose the benefit of the ssri and would feel worse.

He did order a full blood test including thyroid. He is also screening for prostate cancer and checked my prostate.

He seemed like a very knowledgeable doctor in a well established practice. He listened and said he has seen what that level of testosterone does.

As far as a couple of days. He said the first benefits of testosterone are increased energy.

For a forum on seeking help with testosterone. You guys act as if getting actual testosterone is a stupid idea. I look forward to seeing what this will do for me. He said don't expect us to get you in the 1,000 range. But for your age, I would like to see around 600 and I should feel like a new person.

No one is angry here we are trying to hammer in what is involved when it comes to taking exogenous testosterone and you definitely did not do your homework.

You need to understand how this works.

Most in the know would tell you to start low and go slow!

Front-loading plays no part in trt and is in no way needed.

Read over post#23 numerous times as you may very well be in for a wake-up call if you are dead set that jacking up T levels off the hop are needed to experience the beneficial effects let alone a cure-all!


post#23

Good TRT doctors in Australia, UK, Canada and other countries

I am seeing a TRT specialist in Edmonton that seems to be helping. Had an Endo who was not doing all the tests and kept increasing my Testo until problems arose. So the TRT specialist has been pretty helpful at getting better. Right on! That's really good. For me so far I've had 3 weeks of...

www.excelmale.com

 

[JA Battle]

It appears he came here to narrate his current life circumstance, not so much as to receive the perspective that is trying to be bestowed upon him at no cost.

It’s ok though; some people take time to orient themselves in this bulging world of scientific material. They have to trade problems for more problems and work their way to where they want to be.

However, They could save months or years of trial and error in a process that takes some men a lifetime, if they would just listen and get on the knowledge train that exists here at this forum.

With some, it’s like a wild animal that is upset with you while you are trying to remove a grocery bag from its neck.

 

[Systemlord]

He said the 200 dose was a loading dose.

T is injected and if the same dosage is maintained for 6 weeks when taking into account for the half-life of T-cypionate, your testosterone and estrogen stabilize. Treatment begins when you are consistent for at least 6 weeks and if at any time the frequency or dosage is altered, the 6 weeks to a stable state starts all over.

So you see loading dosages have no place in TRT and does literally nothing except delay the time until your hormones levels reach homeostasis. Some of these guys giving you advice are way more knowledge than some doctors and I would open up to the possibility that maybe your doctor has become complacent and has fallen out of touch with regards to TRT and treatment protocols that continues to evolve.

Curious, do you know your doctors plan moving forward as far as your continuing protocol (dosage/injection frequency) after the loading dosage?

 

[Mountain Man]

I agree that this protocol is dangerous and I have to question where you live. The doctor giving the psychotropics is not providing you good care and now the doctor prescribing testosterone initiates a dangerous protocol.

OP. Good luck. Your blindly following this advice from these doctors is a set up for failure. There are so many red flags in your story- you are being treated for anxiety, depression, ADHD, and sleep issues. You are overweight by a lot, and don’t seem willing to put in the work to get better, rather you are looking for the magic potion that is going to fix everything for you. You are very defensive with the suggestions given here and appear very entrenched in the belief that your situation is somehow different and unique. I have to wonder if the origins of your problems are psychological more than physical. Plenty of guys with low testosterone function well sexually and many on TRT still need viagra or cialis to function. You’re being treated for mental health issues, so that something you need to get honest about. You also need to be willing to do the work, physical and emotional. Think about this, because what you are doing is not helping, and starting out with that dose of testosterone will make you feel better, but only for a while. The prescriber of the psychotropics should have told you the same thing

Bottom line on meds is this. Psychotropics work great at first, then diminish if a person is not doing the behavioral work needed and the same is true of testosterone. There will be a honeymoon period, but that will fade. I am concerned that you will then set off in search of the next medical fix, rather than do the grunt work needed.

I’m out. Hope you get what you need.

 

[madman]

I agree that this protocol is dangerous and I have to question where you live. The doctor giving the psychotropics is not providing you good care and now the doctor prescribing testosterone initiates a dangerous protocol.

OP. Good luck. Your blindly following this advice from these doctors is a set up for failure. There are so many red flags in your story- you are being treated for anxiety, depression, ADHD, and sleep issues. You are overweight by a lot, and don’t seem willing to put in the work to get better, rather you are looking for the magic potion that is going to fix everything for you. You are very defensive with the suggestions given here and appear very entrenched in the belief that your situation is somehow different and unique. I have to wonder if the origins of your problems are psychological more than physical. Plenty of guys with low testosterone function well sexually and many on TRT still need viagra or cialis to function. You’re being treated for mental health issues, so that something you need to get honest about. You also need to be willing to do the work, physical and emotional. Think about this, because what you are doing is not helping, and starting out with that dose of testosterone will make you feel better, but only for a while. The prescriber of the psychotropics should have told you the same thing

Bottom line on meds is this. Psychotropics work great at first, then diminish if a person is not doing the behavioral work needed and the same is true of testosterone. There will be a honeymoon period, but that will fade. I am concerned that you will then set off in search of the next medical fix, rather than do the grunt work needed.

I’m out. Hope you get what you need.

Well said MM!

 

[Bigdog197o]

That is pretty much how I feel.

I am alive. But I feel dead at the same time. I have setup an appointment with a new urologist on Friday. I just have a feeling it will be another one of those. Well you are in the normal range.

I guess getting older just sucks lol

 

[Bigdog197o]

Im not sure who you have for a Doctor but i was tested 2 times last month my first test was 142 and then a week later it was 158 they immediately refereed me to a urologist. Anything under 300 period is low! So you should definitly talk to your doctor and start testosterone treatment i started mine. Good luck.

 

[Mike93082]

Im not sure who you have for a Doctor but i was tested 2 times last month my first test was 142 and then a week later it was 158 they immediately refereed me to a urologist. Anything under 300 period is low! So you should definitly talk to your doctor and start testosterone treatment i started mine. Good luck.

I just got my second injection on Friday. It's hard to say exactly how I feel at the moment because I am battling a sinus infection.

I didn't feel any difference for about a week with the first injection. After about a week I noticed that I felt more of an urge in the sex department. I also noticed I felt more calm. I am also sleeping better at night without the use of ambien.

I did talk to the urologist about some of the concerns mentioned on this forum. He told me that he would be doing regular blood work to monitor estrogen, free and total testosterone. Also red blood cell count, psa (I believe), and other numbers.

He informed me to be very careful about getting advice from internet forum warrior doctors . He said most of them don't seem to understand that no two people are alike. One will find a treatment plan that works for them. Then they will tell everyone they need that same treatment or the doctor is a quack. He also told me that he reads online testosterone forums and is floored by the horrible advice. He said many of the members are just looking to get large doses of testosterone for bodybuilding.

He told me that living with low testosterone is very difficult and will affect men in many different ways. He said that if I stick with the treatment, I will see a great improvement in my quality of life. I told him I plan to soon start working out and losing weight. I was already down 3 lbs which could of been just water weight, who knows?

But he assured me that he will be monitoring my blood work. He is also going to let me start doing my own injections during the next visit.... He did tell me to feel free to ask anything. He also welcomed me to get a second opinion if I had any doubts. I told him I plan to stick with his plan.