A Call to Arms

[TWMac]

You can count me in, Doc.....considering all that you've done for me, I would be more than happy to help out.

TM

 

[BigRagu]

i may not be the smartest person (but i am learning) in this area but if i can help out some1 with the same problem as me count me in.............

 

[BigPooka]

You may of course add me to your list for the purpose of TRT.
I would be glad to help anyone out who has questions and keep them from feeling like I did.

 

[SWALE]

You guys are the best.

I get emails every day, from guys all over the country, who complain of the symptoms, but are not sure if they want to try TRT. If we can give them a bit of advice, from someone who has gone through it, maybe we can help them.

 

[buck]

I would be more then willing to help. Although there are other members more knowledgeable and articulate then me. HRT is a godsend for me.

bbuck@ziplip.com

 

[DLMCBBB]

Sounds like a great idea! You can count me in.

Dustin

 

[greatgro]

You are defining the group of men who could benefit from TRT. I am defining the group of men who are willing to shut down their hormone system and take over the regualtion of said system via shots, gels, blood tests, dosage titration, etc. The latter is a very small subset of the former, particularly in today's envirnoment which, for the variety of reasons I stated above, is hostile to TRT.

It's a question of means, not ends.

With all due respect, DavidZ, I couldn't disagree wtih you more - on all of your points. The only reason you think 98% of men don't want to shut down their hormones and takes needles, go for bloodwork, etc...is b/c they're uneducated on the subject. If they knew how much better they'd feel and how they'd be enhancing their health, they would be on board just like the rest of us. We were all there at one time. I've dreaded needles all of my life. I hate giving blood (bloodtests) b/c I would usually get sick or pass out. So yeah at first that put me off and made me delay getting help or getting tested for a few years. But once I kept researching and learning I realized no matter my fears it was something I HAD to do. Now after 33 yrs of life - a life where needles and blood was somewhat traumatizing, it isn't even a bother any more. And I stick myself with a huge 1 1/2" needle every week. And I've been going for bloodwork every 5 or 6 weeks now for what seems like a lifetime. But I actually even enjoy it all now to a degree. Because I'm better off b/c of it.

You know, people make the same excuses about everything. Just like nutrition for example. People are always telling me, "I could never eat like that", "I can't eat 6 times a day", "I'm too busy to work out". Well we were ALL there! It took me several years to eat 6 or 7 times every day. It took me longer to learn to eat what I needed and not what I craved. It took longer than that to stop eating junk food at night and to eat more earlier in the day and eat some complete protein at every meal, etc...People act like well I'm in that "2%". No - not true. I was just like everyone else - eating 3 squares a day, eating random foods - whatever I felt like at the moment, overeating, etc...

Same with working out. I've been working out almost 16 full years now. And I don't even count the tinkering I did for 2 yrs before that. B/c really, I've been training about 18 yrs but it took 2 yrs to start working out consistently. Heck a couple of yrs ago, I went from working out in the afternoon or evening (when I enjoy it most) to 5:30 in the morning. EVERY morning. I was NEVER a morning workout person. Hated it my whole life whenever I was forced to get an early workout in. Yet here I am AT LEAST 4 days a week - 5:30am.

It's all about discipline. And when you believe there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, it makes it easier. And when you experience the results from whatever you're doing, it makes it even easier.

As far as the email thing vs the board, emails/PMs really make a difference. I'm on this particular car board and have done a lot of modifications to my vehicle. MANY people PM me on the board and ask me specific questions about my mods and some mods they were thinking about doing. I get several PMs EVERY WEEK from people. (1) Many people are shy or afraid to ask stupid questions or post questions. Although it is anonymous, the responders are also anonymous so some people take advantage and respond in a rude fashion to newbies or questions that they feel are stupid. (2) Many people like asking for advice or holding a discussion "one-on-one". So I think the email idea would be great and very successful.

SWALE - put me on your email list - please. It's the least I can do. Remember if we lose this battle and the many doctors and government officials who know NOTHING about the positives of TRT win, we could someday lose OUR own personal TRT program!

 

[DavidZ]

With all due respect, DavidZ, I couldn't disagree wtih you more...

I agree with all of your points, greatgro, except for your assessment of what most men will tolerate electively.

You can tell us all how wonderful HRT is until the cows come home, but the truth is that you're preaching to the choir.

Six years ago, I was diagnosed with hypogonadism (T = 186). In other words, I wasn't boarderline. All 5 doctors I asked said that I needed to be on TRT. Otherwise, if I had a choice, I probably would have done everything in my power to stay healthy without TRT.

What's your story?

 

[mranak]

The story for most of us is that we have negative consequences due to low testosterone. Appropriate TRT carries some cost and a bit of trouble, but it is well worth it in order to feel normal.

...and if I change my mind ... that is, I wish to have fatigue, depression and erectile dysfunction again ... then I can always discontinue my TRT. No surprise, I haven't decided to do that.

 

[DavidZ]

The story for most of us is that we have negative consequences due to low testosterone.

Yes, but we all have come through many different paths to get to where we are.

I had no choice medically. My T was below 200. My only choice was which variation of TRT to choose.

Appropriate TRT carries some cost and a bit of trouble, but it is well worth it in order to feel normal.

That's your assessment of your situation.

If a man's T is, say 400, then that's a different story. It would depend upon his symptoms, their severity and his tolerance for the tedium of TRT. Every situation is different. And every man must assess his situation.

...and if I change my mind ... that is, I wish to have fatigue, depression and erectile dysfunction again ... then I can always discontinue my TRT. No surprise, I haven't decided to do that.

Exactly. TRT is a lifelong burdon. Every man should understand that fully before he embarks.

 

[thefantom1]

Swale... feel free to put me on your list... I have been on these boards for 5 years and Mod at a few.... TRT has changed my life...and only for the better... I learn more each day about hypogonadism and it is simply fascinating ... if we can get more men the medical attention they need but are afraid to seek because of bad media (the testosterne bashing) or simply afraid to admit sexual problems...then Im all for it... Its a shame that our society has no problem with estrogen replacement therapy....but kind of balks at testosterone.

thefantom1@elitefitness.com

 

[mranak]

TRT is a lifelong burdon. Every man should understand that fully before he embarks.

I wouldn't call it a burden but instead I call it a choice. And the choice isn't necessarily lifelong. I can always change my mind and likely revert back to my pre-TRT state. That said, some guys using hCG might be able to discontinue TRT and return to normal levels instead of low levels.

 

[SWALE]

I do not know where this idea that you cannot return to baseline comes from, but it is nonsense. I have seen it happen many times. Of course, it was in my own patients, so they were on appropriate TRT.

 

[SWALE]

I am wondering if maybe DavidZ would not be such a good ambassador for TRT?

 

[DavidZ]

I do not know where this idea that you cannot return to baseline comes from, but it is nonsense. I have seen it happen many times. Of course, it was in my own patients, so they were on appropriate TRT.

That's true. I was thinking more of people like me whose baseline T is about 200. For me it's a lifetime thing. No choice here.

I am wondering if maybe DavidZ would not be such a good ambassador for TRT?

I don't mean to sound down on TRT, but I felt I needed to inject some realism into the conversation.

I'm a strong proponent of TRT and have helped many men over the last 5 years. Before jioning this group I was very active in a couple of other internet groups. I wrote and posted a series of TRT primer articles 5 years ago that were very well recieved. My primer articles and online support have brought me many thanks from men from all over the world.

 

[SWALE]

I am a bit confused as to why you call TRT a "burden". I should think living at 200ng/dL would be a "burden".

Let's see some of those articles!

 

[Weatherlite]

SWALE, I'll sign up for this list. But use my alternate email address of fingandfang@gmail.com please!

Great idea BTW!

 

[DavidZ]

I am a bit confused as to why you call TRT a "burden".

The injections, particularly when I have to travel with a freezer pack, remebering to take my various dosages, feeling crappy when I forget to take my dosages, hastling with insurance companies over coverages and claims, going for blood tests, analyzing and interpretting blood tests, etc.

I long for the days when I was more carefree. I sometimes feel like I'm on a leash.

I should think living at 200ng/dL would be a "burden".

I completely agree. No question, TRT is WAY better than the alternative. Not even close. At least for me.

Let's see some of those articles!

I'll put them together and start a new thread.

 

[DavidZ]

Let's see some of those articles!

I tried starting a new thread and attaching my updated primer on TRT, HCG and E2, but it said that a Word Document is an invalid format. I emailed the adminstrator, but I haven't heard back yet. Does anyone know what I need to do to post this? It's about 18 pages with a color graphics table of T levels at the end, so I don't want to post it as text in a thread.

 

[Arnold73]

David you really sound negative about TRT and it is really not helping here, if your against it thats fine. Not everybody likes to eat right and workout everyday either, but alot do it anyways cause they know its good for them. All Swale was asking for was some help from the positive Bros that are "for" TRT, you dont sound interested in doing that. Theres a time and a place for everything.


I would say add me the email list Swale but Im a student of this myself, absorbing and learning all the time here. Im pro HRT!