My journey so far with low testosterone.

CSI007 · Sep 17, 2017

Hope this thread is still interesting to people. Just another quick update before I get more labs done which I am now focusing on my hematacrit.

9 days later since my last post.

Still feeling great. Perhaps as good as I have in years. All issues have resolved for the most part except the past few days my memory has not been fantastic. Have been reaching for words again. Not sure if this is hormone related or something else.

So, since reducing HCG my acne has resolved itself. Libido still great. ED seems to be completely gone. Sensitivity is still about 90% Testicles have not changed in size with the 200iu twice per week.

Have a great week!

meanbreen · Sep 17, 2017

So just reducing HCG made a huge difference for you? Just because of lower E2 you think?

CSI007 · Oct 18, 2017

meanbreen said:
So just reducing HCG made a huge difference for you? Just because of lower E2 you think?

Sorry for the long delay in replying. Been super busy.

Yes, I think it did. But I will be confirming with a blood test next week. Acne was/is greatly diminished which was really my biggest issues there for a while.

I just got a CBC today to check hematicrit again. I think it's still high. I have an appointment on Friday to get a therapeutic phlebotomy done at a local hospital. It's been hell trying to find a place reasonable close that will do it with my script.

My numbness in fingers and toes has gotten worse the past few days as well as penile numbness. I am wondering if it's because of this. I should know in the next couple of days where it's at and if the procedure makes a difference.

CSI007 · Oct 20, 2017

Had the bloo draw today. Went well. Hematocrit was 51.7 - Not sure of the ranges though. Will update soon if I see any positive benefit from it (regarding numbness)

CSI007 · Dec 28, 2017

Have not had a chance to post my latest blood tests results but everything is still looking good. My E2 is down to 48 in the trough from a high of 61. My total T is in the mid 700's.

I will post the complete results when I get a chance. Wanted to ask a quick question as I am very frustrated about this part of my goals. Energy level, great. Mood great. Libido great. ED - fair to plain sucks. Using compounded tadalafil (upped my dose to 21mg) still mixed results - mostly poor. I can quickly get it up but then it fades within minutes. I have some feeling but as I go through the motions I begin to lose sensation and it begins to go limp

If I take a break for a few minutes it gets better but back to the same thing. Orgasms can be (not always) incredibly hard to achieve.

So, should I move on to viagra (this scares me because of the potential eye side effects) or do I need to try a NO stack for a while?

Should I be looking at the nerve side of things more so then the vascular side? I feel like I am spinning my wheels and going no where.

Maybe I still need to try to get the E2 down further? I am doing 200iu 2x/week of HCG down from 400iu 2x/week and this reduced it for sure but I can't go any lower or I might as well just stop the HCG and I like the other benefits it is having (like my testicles not shrinking up and keeping my loads pre-TRT)

CSI007 · Dec 29, 2017

Any ideas on this?

CSI007 · Dec 29, 2017

Latest lab results as of 12/5/2017

CSI007 · Dec 29, 2017

A couple of points I see on my latest labs.

#1) My cholesterol is up. Never had this before on any of my blood tests since doing low carb.
#2) PSA continues to "creep" up from .8 to .9
#3) Thyroid is looking better or at least OK?

Vince · Dec 29, 2017

With that high of triglycerides 116, I find it very hard to believe you are low carb. PSA looks good. I have no fear of Viagra and I don't think you should either unless in the past you had bad side effects. For me ed meds are great for my prostate and of course sex. Like you said all of your labs are good except for your HCT. Have you had to donate blood?

CSI007 · Dec 29, 2017

I have not been doing low carb for the past 3 months or so. I wanted to go back to a carb rich diet to see if that had any affect on my ED. Sadly, it didn't. I have also put on more weight in the process LOL. So, the cholesterol is no surprise I guess.

What about penile sensitivity? Is that an issue with other guys with ED? I am wondering...Is it my slightly elevated BG, is the E2 (maybe just a bit too high for me?) I swear I had a period of time as my T climbed (as did the E2) that I had better sensitivity and better erections. It only lasted a month and then was gone. No drugs needed an everything was almost back to normal.

The only thing that tadalafil does to me is cause some headaches and acid indigestion and maybe some tinitus but I have always had that so maybe not. No back aches or eye issues.

I "donated" (to the incinerator) blood about 10 weeks ago. This blood draw was just shy of 8 weeks after a pint was taken.

Vince · Dec 29, 2017

This is how I just feel personally. I like my testosterone level to be over a thousand, that's when I feel my best. But fortunately I've never had any problems with estradiol and never had to use an AI. I know many men like lower testosterone levels to avoid using and AI, but I do not know if that's the best way to go about it. I'm a strong believer in low carbs, I use low carbs for my heart health and for me it does work. When I first started using Cialis I did have many issues but I continue to use it and all my issues like congestion and sore back eventually went away.

CSI007 · Dec 29, 2017

Well,
I can certainly see things from that point of view, but I have never tried to get my levels up to that amount because I feel good where I am at except for the ED issues. I would be willing to increase dosage if that would resolve but I am not sure that is part of the problem (i simply don't know the answer). Obviously if I did increase dosage I would then have to deal with HCT and E2 more aggressively.

Did you suffer with sensitivity issues before starting TRT that were resolved with a higher dose?

Vince · Dec 29, 2017

CSI007 said:
Well,
I can certainly see things from that point of view, but I have never tried to get my levels up to that amount because I feel good where I am at except for the ED issues. I would be willing to increase dosage if that would resolve but I am not sure that is part of the problem (i simply don't know the answer). Obviously if I did increase dosage I would then have to deal with HCT and E2 more aggressively.

Did you suffer with sensitivity issues before starting TRT that were resolved with a higher dose?

No I never had sensitivity issues, I just use a higher dose because it increases my energy level. In all honesty since I've gone to daily injections I can really feel a difference. I felt good before but I even feel better now.

CSI007 · Dec 29, 2017

Yeah, my energy is OK. Before I put on weight from high carb again I was feeling pretty fantastic. And because of the delayed ejaculation because of the sensitivity lose I easily could go over an hour with little problems - and it was pretty hard core too. Sorry not to be graphic. But before TRT (without the ED issues) I was lucky to go 10 minutes before I felt like I as going to keel over and die because I was exhausted. LOL Now, that part is not a problem - I honestly feel like I am in my late teens again energy level wise.

I just feel like I am missing something here. 1 piece of the puzzle I have left in the box. Everything I read points towards nerve damage though which scares the heck out of me because I likely won't recover from that which means my only alternative will be an implant and my wife refuses to let me put myself through that.

CSI007 · Dec 29, 2017

If I decided to try to reduce my E2 levels a bit what dosage do you think would be sufficient without tanking it?

FeelingLost · Dec 29, 2017

Hi CSI, You have been at this longer than me I can't really offer any advice from experience. I did want to comment that it looks like you are getting your TRT numbers in line and you have identified your lipid issues and you know how to fix that.

On your climax issue I wonder if it just might take more time with your hormones now at a therapeutic lvl for your body to heal?
My ED, and libido healing has been very slow but I see enough progress to give me hope. I am experiencing something similar to what you are discribing.
Anyway I just wanted to comment and let you know I'm rooting for you. I hope to post bloods in a couple weeks I hope my numbers are as good as yours.

CSI007 · Dec 29, 2017

FeelingLost said:
Hi CSI, You have been at this longer than me I can't really offer any advice from experience. I did want to comment that it looks like you are getting your TRT numbers in line and you have identified your lipid issues and you know how to fix that.

On your climax issue I wonder if it just might take more time with your hormones now at a therapeutic lvl for your body to heal?
My ED, and libido healing has been very slow but I see enough progress to give me hope. I am experiencing something similar to what you are discribing.
Anyway I just wanted to comment and let you know I'm rooting for you. I hope to post bloods in a couple weeks I hope my numbers are as good as yours.

Thanks! I have been following your journey as well.

I felt like 6 months in that I had made a breakthrough on the ED and sensitivity but it was fleeting.

The funny thing is, for me the libido kicked in to over drive almost immediately after injecting T. About 4 days. And now, while it's not as crazy strong as it was (I would have liked to hump the kitchen table - OK not really LOL) it still is getting me in to the bed room more often then before.

At this point without any ED meds in my system for a few weeks I still wake up with good erections. I get excited thinking about sex and my erections at times can be a solid 10/10 but they fade as quickly as they came on. Another thing I guess I could try is completely abstaining for a month or two, I tried that 2 weeks ago and I made it exactly 1 week.

Oddly enough though climax was easier but the erection (with no ED drugs) was about a 6/10.

Good luck to you too! I am sure you are going to have some great results on the labs!

meanbreen · Dec 30, 2017

Some people have an issue with TSH being that close to 3. Your FT3 is not bad at 3.1 but for me personally I only feel right when it is above 4. But clinically yes, thyroid is fine.

CSI007 · Jan 8, 2018

Hey Guys,
Had my "1 year" checkup. Going to be changing some things for the new year. In an effort to get my E2 down into the upper 20s or low 30s I am reducing the amount of T I am taking by a tiny amount. If thi does not work I will be increasing the dosage back up and then start an AI. (.5mg twice a week or less) I am hoping that the decrease will be satisfactory and also help reduce my PSA and hematocrit too. We'll see.

I have managed to maintain my T levels in the mid 700s for almost a year.

Also, I am going to give metformin a try and see if I can get some benefits from it. Starting out on 500mg once a day before bed. Doc thinks that perhaps my chemo induced neuropathy s not being helped by the slightly elevated blood sugar. We'll see if it helps with my ED. I am going to give it 6 months to a year if I can tolerate it (GI issues) If it helps with the ED then I will continue. If not, then I will probably discontinue it's use.

Started Low carb again lasts Tuesday and lost about 4lbs in a week. Just getting over the keto flu symptoms the past day or so. Fat intake is through the roof.

FeelingLost · Jan 8, 2018

Hi CSI happy new year. How low do you plan on taking your TT? Congrats on getting back on keto. I look forward to reading about your progress.

I draw bloods in a week(post flu) so 10 days after I hope to have something to post. It will be 7 weeks on T cyp and a full thyroid panel.