Ugh....Low T

Would save me a lot of hassle...

 

There are SO many myths and just plain bullshit stories out there. Everyone has some hearsay story about that one dude to was on the juice and died. But yet there has never been a single death directly caused by steroids. Sure, there have been a few cases where someone had a major underlying condition, AND used extremely hyperphysical levels of juice, and ultimately had some health issues. But in all of those cases (that i have read about), the health issues likely would have shown themselves regardless; it was just a matter of time.

On the flip side, the negative impacts of low T are widely reported. Reduced brain function, reduction in bone mass, muscle loss, loss of energy and libido, even organ issues have been reported from low T.

My advice, do your own research and look for unbiased, factual reports and studies that aren't twisted by the media to fit a narrative. If you do, you will be surprised at just how healthy TRT is. With that being said, I would also suggest having regular blood work performed while doing it.

 

Instead of the doctors from Google and YouTube Universities, here is info from a real medical organization.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-...th/in-depth/testosterone-therapy/art-20045728

 

There's a lot of good info posted here. I have been researching this issue for about 5 years but never pulled the trigger. Everyone has a different life philosophy, long and short of it, I don't feel I'm there YET. Ask me in 10 years and I'll probably feel differently. A couple things worth mentioning or reinforcing-

Your low T can often be a symptom of something else going on. Repeated head trauma is cumulative, even from when you fell out of a tree when you were 10. Even being exposed to continuous gunfire without hearing protection can cause it. At some point your T will drop like a stone and you could be diagnosed with PTSD.

We don't know your age or your weight / general health / fitness level. If you're mostly sedentary, overweight, not eating or sleeping well, this is more a result of your overall life right now rather than the cause. I only say that because at work I see guys in thier mid 50's who are on it and are well overweight, don't exercise or eat right, but are taking injections because they have low T, and they still look and feel like shit. We don't know if you are feeling like shit because you're 50 and overweight, or you're 35 and mad you can't put up 400lbs anymore?

The body is a system and one number means very little. My T is in the 550 range, but my SHBG is high so my free T is likely lower. I made sure all of my other numbers were in line and I try to maximize my health in every other way before I will go to the needle. Like I said, everyone has different goals. But it's like the guy who is 100lb overweight buying carbon fiber wheels for his bike and expecting lap times to drop. Not gonna matter much.

Assuming diet and sleep are ok, the best way you can raise it naturally is to make sure your vitamin levels (esp. vitamin D and Zinc) are good, avoid plastics as much as possible (BPA's are big T killers), don't take NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, etc.) on a regular basis (like daily), and do as much exercise that activates your legs as you can. Whenever I do a leg workout, even a good run or bike ride, and get a good night's sleep, Mother Nature will let me know in the morning that my T is just fine.

I would stay away from the pellet if you can. We have a good friend who was diagnosed with cancer, they would not operate until the pellet was removed, and it couldn't be removed because at some point it becomes part of you. T doesn't just cause muscle and tendon growth, everything grows and that includes cancers. So you want to be able to stop if medically necessary.

Stopping T is a whole other subject.

Best of luck!

 

I just realized that I neglected to mention in my previous thread but another trace mineral to look into supplementing is Boron. I take 9mg a day divided into 3 doses. There's been studies it both helps boost T levels a bit as well as lowering SHBG, win/win.

https://crazybulk.com/blogs/supplements/boron-testosterone

 

While youre bestowing your knowledge on us, what vitamin pack/supplement do you recommend?

Ive had a good run with GNC mega men. Is there something better rather than take that and supplement boron, ashwahganda and such?

 

Ive always taken this for years and years and years (admittedly its not for everyone, it's 11 pills I think): https://www.animalpak.com/packs/animal-pak

With a couple of breaks to try this in between (basically what's above ground up into a flavored powder to add to liquid): https://www.animalpak.com/animal-pak-powder

 

Ok. Thats still king. Ill go back to them. Thanks Kaz!

 

Please move this if this should be it's own thread.. I'm 62, was married for 32 years, found out she cheated on me through most of it (thanks to the divorce thread I got through this) and divorced about 5 years ago. For about four months, I have been seeing a woman who teaches at the same school as me, she's 47. First relationship since divorce. I told my doc that little lazlo was not working. He prescribed Viagra. That worked slightly, maybe for one or two times, then little lazlo falls off a cliff. Girlfriend is great, understanding. I've been seeing her long enough that newness or anxiety over a new relationship is not a factor.

In the last year, I lost 20-25 pounds. Total cholesterol 205, down from 230. High cholesterol caused by my diet due to food allergies. LDL improved to 147, HDL improved to 47, triglyceride improved to 53. Thyroid is normal. Iron level normal. Blood count good. Prostate cancer level (%) is good.
I don't know my vitamin levels, but I take B12, D3, C, multivitamin religiously due to my diet. Last time vitamin levels checked, all were within ranges.

Testosterone, Total, LC/MS is 517.8 ng/dl range is 264.0-916.0
Testosterone, Free 16.52 ng/dl range is 5.00-21.00
% free Testosterone is 3.19% range is 1.5-4.20

Doc tells me today this is all normal....I don't expect to be 16 again, but little lazlo is not even in the game here.
I know I need to stress to my doc that little lazlo is not working, but then what? Do I ask for a referral, and to what kind of doc? My doc is youngish, had him a long time, great doc and we speak frankly. Not sure what my next step is.

Edit: I'm 6' tall, 170-175 pounds, down from 198. I take Welbutrin twice a day. I take Ambien to fall asleep every night. Insomnia has been a lifelong problem, Ambien the only drug that works, been taking it over 12 years.

 

ambien is linked to erectile dysfunction

A massive dose of Ketamine has been shown to reset circadian rhythm and cures depression for long periods of time. It’s a common therapy with psychotherapists nowadays

 

Agree with the SPL on the multi pill - multi vitamin (except for the brand preference, but is a personal issue from the past with UN / AP brand ).
Personally never believed proper dosages of the vits and mins could be fit into a single multi pill.

I alternate between https://myogenix.com/products/myovite and https://allmaxnutrition.com/product/vitastack-powder/
Still 8 tablets per Myovite pack and I only take 1 daily instead of the recommended 2.

 

Timely thread - thanks all, much appreciated....

I recently had my yearly physical and they tried telling me what a 'normal range' is for my age.

I call BS - these ranges haven't changed since they first developed the testing - probably during WWII. Not much applicability to how we live today. Or how we want to live today....

 

Someone once posted, in one of my threads, that this place will flog any topic to death. I'm just impressed at the cajones it took for the OP to share this personal issue with the rest of us.

 

Exactly.

Like when my dad’s doctor told him “That’s normal for a 55 year old”.

I’m like “Fuck that. Who gives a shit what is normal for a 55 year old. You should tell him you want what is normal for a 20 year old”.

 

Is your dad 20?

 

Nope.

But why accept feeling 55?

Why be ok with bone and muscle loss, libido loss, slower reflexes, sore joints, drastically extended recovery times, weaker tendons and ligaments, loose skin, mental deterioration (reduction in T is also related to reduced brain capacity/function), so on and so forth?

If you think about it, testosterone reduction over time IS what makes us grow old. It isn’t simply having more years on Earth. It is the reduction (and almost elimination) of the one master hormone that causes deterioration of EVERYTHING, including muscles, connective tissues, organs, and bones.

Fuck growing old gracefully.

 

Jumping in this discussion. Where does one get tested? And what do I need to ask for?

 

Google ‘hormone therapy near me’
Walk in the joint and tell the doc you read this thread. Be candid with them, speak frankly, they’ll take blood for labs and you’ll start the journey. You’ll find there’s way more people doing it than you ever thought and likely none of think it sucks.

 

How do you make a hormone?
Don't pay her.

One of the science teachers in my HS used to tell that one to every class when he covered the subject.
Probably wouldn't go over real big these days.

Our standard reply joke became
"How do you make a class moan?
Tell that stupid joke one more time".
Not to his face, of course.

Now back to the discussion of Reluctant Weiner Syndrome, causes and cures.