NaturalBullDurham
New Member
Hey guys, I'm 29 and new to the site, came via the Facebook group. I don't want to throw too much at you but I could really use your feedback.
I was diagnosed with testicular cancer Nov. 2013, underwent chemo and multiple surgeries. Been cancer free for 2 years but had (and still have) many low T symptoms (barely any sex drive & function, constant fatigue, moodswings, trouble focusing, abdominal weight gain -- you name it).
I'm 6' 5" and 230 lbs. I work out at least 3x a week, depending on my energy levels, and I've put on some muscle over the past year but more belly fat than I've ever been used to, too.
My latest test for Total T on July 29 was 12.3 nmol/L or 355ng/dl. It's been declining from -- and never been higher than -- 13.0 and has been as low as 10.2 in the past.
My cancer team has always told me it wasn't low T and that it's all in my head, because I'm technically in the normal range or "low-normal". I talked to my surgeons and a psychologist trained in sexual therapy and they constantly reiterated I didn't have low-T and I should decrease my stress (which I have... same symptoms). Their solution was Viagra since "there are guys with lower T levels than you that are fine"... which I refused to accept.
Pissed off, I went to my GP who, after we talked about an endocrinologist, referred me back to my urologist who prescribed me 2 pumps of Androgel a day for 10ish weeks. In my follow-up appt he said that my Total T was "up to normal range now" and that I could stop using Androgel if I wanted to. Curious, I asked the receptionist after for a print out of my test result and it showed 11.3 nmol/L or around 326 ng/dl.
After that appointment, I was doing 4 pumps of Androgel a day for a little over a month before I stopped. That was this past June (maybe late-May actually), and I haven't done anything TRT-wise since then. The whole time I was Androgel I noticed a bit of improvement with my mood and occasional morning wood but nothing drastic enough to pay the money and continue using it.
On top of the current symptoms, I'm concerned with everything I've read about how low T increases your risk of serious health issues. So, I wanted to ask you guys:
1. Will natural ways to increase T actually make enough of a difference? My next blood test is end of November and I've thought about making radical changes until then and see the results... but I'm not sure if it's even worth it.
2. Or should I look at more effective TRT methods like injectables? I'm nervous about the stuff I've read about countering injectable T with HCG because I'm tested for HCG every 3 months since it's a tumor marker for my cancer.
Thanks in advance, everybody -- really appreciate it.
Other numbers that might help:
Bioavailable T: 2.02 ng/ml (7.0 nmol/L... for a year now)
SHBG: 23 nmol/L (gradual decline from 34 in Nov. '14)
LH: 3.1 IU/L
FSH: 5.2 IU/L
I was diagnosed with testicular cancer Nov. 2013, underwent chemo and multiple surgeries. Been cancer free for 2 years but had (and still have) many low T symptoms (barely any sex drive & function, constant fatigue, moodswings, trouble focusing, abdominal weight gain -- you name it).
I'm 6' 5" and 230 lbs. I work out at least 3x a week, depending on my energy levels, and I've put on some muscle over the past year but more belly fat than I've ever been used to, too.
My latest test for Total T on July 29 was 12.3 nmol/L or 355ng/dl. It's been declining from -- and never been higher than -- 13.0 and has been as low as 10.2 in the past.
My cancer team has always told me it wasn't low T and that it's all in my head, because I'm technically in the normal range or "low-normal". I talked to my surgeons and a psychologist trained in sexual therapy and they constantly reiterated I didn't have low-T and I should decrease my stress (which I have... same symptoms). Their solution was Viagra since "there are guys with lower T levels than you that are fine"... which I refused to accept.
Pissed off, I went to my GP who, after we talked about an endocrinologist, referred me back to my urologist who prescribed me 2 pumps of Androgel a day for 10ish weeks. In my follow-up appt he said that my Total T was "up to normal range now" and that I could stop using Androgel if I wanted to. Curious, I asked the receptionist after for a print out of my test result and it showed 11.3 nmol/L or around 326 ng/dl.
After that appointment, I was doing 4 pumps of Androgel a day for a little over a month before I stopped. That was this past June (maybe late-May actually), and I haven't done anything TRT-wise since then. The whole time I was Androgel I noticed a bit of improvement with my mood and occasional morning wood but nothing drastic enough to pay the money and continue using it.
On top of the current symptoms, I'm concerned with everything I've read about how low T increases your risk of serious health issues. So, I wanted to ask you guys:
1. Will natural ways to increase T actually make enough of a difference? My next blood test is end of November and I've thought about making radical changes until then and see the results... but I'm not sure if it's even worth it.
2. Or should I look at more effective TRT methods like injectables? I'm nervous about the stuff I've read about countering injectable T with HCG because I'm tested for HCG every 3 months since it's a tumor marker for my cancer.
Thanks in advance, everybody -- really appreciate it.
Other numbers that might help:
Bioavailable T: 2.02 ng/ml (7.0 nmol/L... for a year now)
SHBG: 23 nmol/L (gradual decline from 34 in Nov. '14)
LH: 3.1 IU/L
FSH: 5.2 IU/L
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