low T at 26!!!!

[skydivr]

Actually, not boneheaded at all. Some docs do combine a small amount of T with progest creams for women, with all the associated benefits of T (women need it too!), so I asked not being sure if it was indeed true or a typo.

Something you/she may want to research and discuss with the doc.



All good!

You seem to have some knowledge in this subject.

Mine has been pretty low for a long time (low 200's even 116 one time), even with Androgel 1% 2 packets every day. I've also experienced the exhaustion/lack of energy/weight gain associated with it (I'm 52). Any additional advice you could give?

[WillBrink]

You seem to have some knowledge in this subject.

Mine has been pretty low for a long time (low 200's even 116 one time), even with Androgel 1% 2 packets every day. I've also experienced the exhaustion/lack of energy/weight gain associated with it (I'm 52). Any additional advice you could give?

Discuss with your doc and or find a new doc if the one you have is not helping you. It's simply an issue of a doc willing to work with you to get your levels where they need to be and you feel better. Take a look at the link I posted in this thread which takes you to a vid and multiple articles to read that will give you some much needed intel on the topic.

Low 200s while on Androgel simply means that's possibly not the right route of admin for you, dose needs adjusting, something else needs looking at by a qualified medical professional*

* = not easy to find when it comes to male HRT/TRT

[Smedley]

WillBrink is giving good info...
I'm 53 and went to see a local "Anti Aging" endocrinologist a couple years ago. .. I originally went to see him for fatigue, just not feeling 100%, etc. .. I told him I was interested in the testosterone replacement therapy that's heavily marketed these days (Androgel, Testim, ect). .. Had the whole blood panel done and I was really pretty normal for my age group, around 700 level out of a "normal" range of something like 300 to 1100. After much discussion he agreed to let me try the stuff out (Testosterone Cypionate Sub-Q). .. After the first shot I felt like I was 25 yrs old again, incredible feeling! .. I got a few more shots over the next couple of weeks and continued to feel marvelous, just like in the ads. .. What they don't tell you in the ads is that it shuts down a guys natural production of testosterone, possibly permanently via The hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, WTH!?!.. I discontinued immediately and I'm now back to where I started, whew! .. In other words regardless of your baseline "T" levels if you start administration of Exogenous testosterone your natural production of "T" is eventually going to slow down or stop completely. Again, I've yet to see this mentioned in any of the commercial advertising. .. If you start HRT you may end up on it for life.. I was lucky I found a good Endocrinologist and I believe there's no substitute for finding a medical professional highly skilled in this subject.
Oh, and the "Ageless Male" commercials make me LOL. ..

It helps, but I'm just resigned myself to getting OLD

I've come to the same conclusion...

[WillBrink]

WillBrink is giving good info...
I'm 53 and went to see a local "Anti Aging" endocrinologist a couple years ago. .. I originally went to see him for fatigue, just not feeling 100%, etc. .. I told him I was interested in the testosterone replacement therapy that's heavily marketed these days (Androgel, Testim, ect). .. Had the whole blood panel done and I was really pretty normal for my age group, around 700 level out of a "normal" range of something like 300 to 1100. After much discussion he agreed to let me try the stuff out (Testosterone Cypionate Sub-Q). .. After the first shot I felt like I was 25 yrs old again, incredible feeling! .. I got a few more shots over the next couple of weeks and continued to feel marvelous, just like in the ads. .. What they don't tell you in the ads is that it shuts down a guys natural production of testosterone, possibly permanently via The hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, WTH!?!..

I think you're missing the essential point of what Hormone Replacement Therapy is: The replacement of a hormone you are not producing in adequate amounts of for what ever reasons. For those who produce adequate levels of T (as you were...), adding additional T will potentially be a negative as it will shut down T production due to HPTA suppression. That's not an issue for those in actual need of HRT who already have some form of HPTA dysfunction or other reasons they no longer produce adequate T.

If one starts HRT/TRT, because they have a medical need for it, obviously, they should expect to be on it for life, but that depends on some factors, such a why they are on it in the first place and why it's important to work with qualified and experienced medical professionals who deal with male HRT/TRT.

What you did was add T to a system not in need of it and suppressed natural production. As long as the dose was moderate and length of time not too long, HPTA will rebound and there will be no long term problems. Those who have been on high doses for long periods (such as bbers and other athletes) may require HRT/TRT for life as their HPTA often does not rebound to normal production for them after long term high dose AAS usage.

[Smedley]

Any experience is very welcome.

Thanks for listening to my crybaby post.

Thanks Will, and I agree with you. .. I kinda deviated away from the OP, but he was looking for others experiences with it, and thus my input. Just like guns, and cars, and chicks, and etc, there's a lot of misinformation on the internet. This thread here is one of the most concise I've yet seen on this subject. .. What I was partially trying to convey is when you see the Androgel commercials (which seem to be the most prevalent) they don't seem targeted towards hypo-gonadal individuals, or those with underlying medical conditions, but rather those of us who just want to spike our levels back to days of yore. .. That's why I think it's misleading for them not to mention the side-effects. .. That's all I was saying...

[WillBrink]

Thanks Will, and I agree with you. .. I kinda deviated away from the OP, but he was looking for others experiences with it, and thus my input. Just like guns, and cars, and chicks, and etc, there's a lot of misinformation on the internet.

Word.

This thread here is one of the most concise I've yet seen on this subject. .. What I was partially trying to convey is when you see the Androgel commercials (which seem to be the most prevalent) they don't seem targeted towards hypo-gonadal individuals, or those with underlying medical conditions, but rather those of us who just want to spike our levels back to days of yore. ..

True, but their job is to sell you sh&%. They do in fact say it's for men with "low T" but that's about it. It's your doctors job to explain what that actually means in real/medical terms, and decide if the person is a candidate for it. I'm not a fan of drug companies advertising on TV as it causes exactly that problem.

But, car commercials do their best to convince your youth with be back and all problems solved by running out and getting the car, and that's bullshit too.

However, for men with low T levels, getting them back into that high "normal" range can and does make a huge difference in their general well being, mood, etc, per some of the info provided in this thread, and for those who wanna get granular on the topic, an excellent article by one of my regular authors, Monica M here:

Testosterone Replacement Therapy – why is it so controversial?

[TMS951]

What are some natural ways to keep testosterone up? While not terribly low, it is lower than average. Not something to treat medically, but still


I have heard about things like lots of Olive Oil in the diet, that and other good fats? Is this true, what about other similar things?

I eat fairly healthy, and exercise 2 days a week. I am 30 years old, 6'4" 180 lbs. Run a mile in 6min40sec.

Thanks

[skydivr]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. It's my GP Doctor, not a specialist who is scripting this. I personally don't think he takes enough interest in it.

And, it if wasn't for insurance, who the heck could afford this stuff? I've got a friend without insurance, who pays his doctor $25 every two weeks for a shot. While regular low-dosage may be better, the shot is a LOT cheaper...

[jc75754]

WillBrink is giving good info...
I'm 53 and went to see a local "Anti Aging" endocrinologist a couple years ago. .. I originally went to see him for fatigue, just not feeling 100%, etc. .. I told him I was interested in the testosterone replacement therapy that's heavily marketed these days (Androgel, Testim, ect). .. Had the whole blood panel done and I was really pretty normal for my age group, around 700 level out of a "normal" range of something like 300 to 1100. After much discussion he agreed to let me try the stuff out (Testosterone Cypionate Sub-Q). .. After the first shot I felt like I was 25 yrs old again, incredible feeling! .. I got a few more shots over the next couple of weeks and continued to feel marvelous, just like in the ads. .. What they don't tell you in the ads is that it shuts down a guys natural production of testosterone, possibly permanently via The hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, WTH!?!.. I discontinued immediately and I'm now back to where I started, whew! .. In other words regardless of your baseline "T" levels if you start administration of Exogenous testosterone your natural production of "T" is eventually going to slow down or stop completely. Again, I've yet to see this mentioned in any of the commercial advertising. .. If you start HRT you may end up on it for life.. I was lucky I found a good Endocrinologist and I believe there's no substitute for finding a medical professional highly skilled in this subject.
Oh, and the "Ageless Male" commercials make me LOL. ..

I've come to the same conclusion...

Correct me if i am wrong, but there are drugs that will stimulate the testies and help produce natural test and keep the natural appearance. Hcg is one.

Also most people want to treat the symptoms not the cause. I am fairly confident that this is a genitic problem i inherited from my father. I do not think this stems from a thyriod or other similar disorder.

I also have an appointment on the 15 th and will share the test results and other relative info that could help others.

[Doc Safari]

Correct me if i am wrong, but there are drugs that will stimulate the testies and help produce natural test and keep the natural appearance. Hcg is one.

What is Hcg?

I know WillBrink will have a shit fit if I post this but I do believe there are some herbal remedies that offer a mild Testosterone boost. I know he will say they actually boost other things, but I have noticed increases in the same things that Testosterone is supposed to improve: more energy and stamina, libido, etc.

Catuaba: best taken at night IMHO
Tribulus Terrestris: works great, if you take several capsules, but I noticed a definite increase in aggessiveness

My favorite is Fenugreek: it seems to to the job without having to "babysit" how it's taken or anything. I would say don't take it with beer or in high doses because that gives me diahrrea.