Hypogonadic

[Michael T]

I'm a new member and I need some advice from all of the experienced
people here regarding hrt. I was diagnosed as primary hypogonadic last Novvember, but my testicles did manufacture some testosterone. My Dr has me on 2 tubes of Testim which seem to be doing ok. My last bloodwork
gave me a level of 426 total T. My libido is getting better and morning
erections are better. I have lost about 50 % of my muscle strength which is
seems to be returning very slowly. I have always wanted to have some muscle, but have always been extremely skinny. I am 44 years old and I would like to get my levels higher, but I don't know if my Dr really wants to up my dosage of Testim. I tried Androgel and my skin would not absorb it that well. I have lost about 1/2 inch in total heighth and I am also being tested for ostearthiritis and osteoporosis. I've had all neccessary bloodwork for hrt and I have been told that my total levels should be between 650 - 800 for my age. I would like to know if taking tribulus would mimic hcg and make my testicles start producing a little testosterone on their own? Or do some hormone Dr's prescribe 3 tubes of Testim? Or can an injection be added along with the transdermal? My Dr also has me taking cialis every other day to keep my T levels stable ,which does make me feel better. I am also on Arimidex 1 pill a week. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Michael T,

 

[pmgamer18]

Michael I am not a Dr. so all I can tell you is what happened to me. I was doing good on shots but it was 2 1/2 yrs. ago I was doing them. My Dr. had me on 200 mgs. every 2 weeks. My levels on this were over 800 total T. When the Gels came out andorgel my Dr. talked me into trying them so I did but as time went on my levels would not get over 550 Total T and I was getting sore joints and muscles. My Dr. checked me for Osteoarthritis and I was OK. He put me on Vioxx and no help. I posted at the Hypogoadism2 group and one of my old posters friends got back to me telling me that he had to stop the gels because of sore joints and muscles. I remembered that if I got an infection when I was on shots that my levels would go down and my joints and muscles would get sore. I told my Dr. about this and he looked back in my chart and added a 200 mg. shot to the 10 grams of Testim I was doing and my sore joints and muscles started getting better but this drove up my E2 levels. So I got my Dr. to let me try dropping the shots and upping the Testim to 3 grams hell this drove up my E2 faster then the shots he added my E2 was going nuts. I get panic attacks when my E2 is to high. It took some time to get my Dr. to let me do shots only and I started on 100 mgs. per week after 4 weeks my blood test came back low and the 2 days before my next shot I was feeling down. So he upped the shots to 150 mgs. and after showing him SWALE's Protocol my Dr. put me on Hcg 500 IU's 3x's a week. I am doing a blood test after my 15th Hcg shot this Wed. and will know how my T levels are doing in two weeks.
I am going on Vacation for a week. I feel the best I have ever felt on TRT in the last 21 yrs. In the last 8 weeks I have lost 23 lbs. I am walking one hour a day and I feel very little pain.
When I was doing just 10 grams of Testim my Total T levels were 650 still to low and your lower.
Phil

 

[James]

My Dr also has me taking cialis every other day to keep my T levels stable ,which does make me feel better. I am also on Arimidex 1 pill a week.

I'm not sure why others haven't jumped on this -- Cialis isn't "keeping your T levels stable." It's just making it easier for you to get an erection via inhibiting some enzymes that keep you flaccid. It sounds very foolish to me for him to have you take it every other day. It was designed to be an "as needed" drug, not something of which you'd like to keep a constant level of in your blood.

1mg of Arimidex per week sounds fine, except that it shouldn't be taken all at once. He should have you dividing that 1mg. to take throughout the week.

 

[Michael T]

Reply about Dr's protocol

My Dr has me on 1/2 pill twice a week to be spread out. He also said that
the Cialis has been reported to give a better sense of well being when an
individual is only on hrt, not just only for erections. I know from my own experience that I actualy do feel better when I take it.

Michael T,

 

[pmgamer18]

I have been on TRT for over 21 yrs. and in the last 10 of these yrs. I have had ED and trouble reaching an orgasm. I found out 2 yrs. ago it was my high E2 that caused this. When I got my E2 down my ED got 80% better and I could have sex with my wife and reach an orgasm. My Dr. put me on Cialis 20 mgs. every 72 hrs to make up for the lost 20%. I have not seen anything in taking Cialis that made my levels stable. My Dr. did tell me to do 3 grams of Fish Oil to keep me from using up my T meds so fast. If you are taking 20 mgs. of Cialis every other day you need to check you BP it can make your BP go to low. I know for a fact the taking Cialis will do nothing for T levels or Libido.
Phil