technomentor
New Member
New member looking for advice on whether TRT would help me. My post content is based on Nelson Vergel's post -- so I read up first. I'll spilt in to two separate posts due to length.
Health & Quality of Life Information
- 53 YO Male, 5'-11", 180 lbs
- Waist size: 36"
- Lost/gained weight: no
- Last complete physical: multiple in past year as I work to diagnose my unsatisfactory health status
- Prostate exam (DRE): yes, 9-2017
- PSA check: yes, 0.6 ng/mL (Roche ECLIA) RR: 0.0-4.0
- T treatment: no, never in the past
- Urinate ok (fully void): yes
- Nighttime urination: 1-2 times, used to be 3-4, now watch when I drink last
- Painful urination: no
- Blood in urine: no (confirmed via urinalysis and occasional test strips)
- UTI/Prostatitis: UTI's yes, diagnosed with epididymitis 7-2016; completed (3) rounds of antibiotics from PCP and then Uristatin & Phytogen from my Naturopath to finally get rid of it
- Acne history: moderate case as a teenager, took prescription meds (tetracycline) for awhile
- Cold intolerance: "no," but I really dislike cold showers and in particular cold pools (had a bad experience as a kid in summer camp)
- Bruise easily: no
Symptoms / Sleep / Mental
- Low libido, Fatigue, Lethargy, Brain fog - yes to all
- Panic attacks (3 major last year ended up in ER; 2 smaller this year, but know how to manage now and feeling less anxious through mindfulness)
- Decreased sexual potency (erection quality): erections fine
- Do you have morning erections? Infrequent
If yes, how many times per week (estimate)? 1-2
- Testicles size: definitely smaller
- Sleep disturbances: Unrestful sleep (listen to guided meditation to help get to sleep (thanks Alexa), but can't stay asleep)
- Generalized muscle aches and pains: nothing notable not related to exercise or activity
- Joint pain: left hip, right knee <-- pretty sure I know causes
- Diabetes: no, test results all normal; does run in family on mother's side
- Previous heart attack: no; but father died of MI at age 40 -- been paranoid it would happen to me
- Previous clotting issues: no
- Leg/ankle swelling: no
- Sensitive or swollen nipples: no
- Lumps around your nipples: no
- Are you losing your hair: yes, faster in last 6-9 months
- Have you ever taken Propecia or Proscar (finasteride): no
- Traumatic head injury: yes, knocked unconscious with baseball bad in elementary school; left temple
- Have you taken pain killers (opiates) for several months: no
- Stress levels: significant in previous years going back to 2004; led large organizations (100+ people) or held global position; leader allowed me to change roles this year due to health issues. Stress levels mostly self-induced - high performing, perfectionist (or at least I used to be)
Sleep
- Have you ever been diagnosed with sleep apnea via a sleep study? No, but have had a sleep study done
- Take frequent naps: no, because I know it messes with circadian rhythm (seriously want to nap mid-day though)
- Do you feel refreshed when you wake up in the morning: no
- Average hours of sleep per night: target: 7, typical 5-6
- Do you usually go to bed after 10 pm: Did for MANY years (claimed I was a night owl), now I try and go off grid about 8:30 PM, prep for sleep, meditate, and in bed by 10 PM
Diet and Exercise
- Exercise: walking 10,000 steps per day; about to start weight training and cardio again but motivation is lacking
- Diet: switched to a healthy diet following my scare in 2017 (the ER visits). By healthy I mean - stopped sodas, refined sugars/junk food; little to no processed foods, try and cook fresh foods -- approx. 40% carbs, 30% protein, 30% fats
Fluids: 1-2 L/day; just can't do 3L (90 oz.) as recommended cause I have to pee all day
Medications
Self-prescribed based on research on ExcelMale and PeakTestosterone
- DHEA (25 mg), qd - to boost level from 320.9 in to mid 350-500 range
- Pregnenolone (100 mcg), qd - to boost level from 18 to 125-175 range
- Started DHEA based on Gene Devine's DHEA Supplementation thread as presented by Dr. Neal Rouzier M.D., plus a few other posts/websites
- Started pregnenolone since mine is very low, and it along with DHEA are are two of the hormone pathways -- or so I have read
- Both meds started 5-28-2018
Supplements
- Multi-Vitamin: 2-Per Day, bid
- Vitamin D3 (4000 IU): included in 2-Per Day <-- I was deficient last year, < 30, now at 50
- CoQ10: (100mg), bid - heart health
- Turmeric/curcumin (450mg), bid - 95% standardized version - reduce inflammation, cancer fighting
- Fish Oil (EPA: 800 mg/DHA: 600 mg), bid - Dr. Tobias, heart health
- Magnesium Citrate (300 mg morning, 100 mg evening) - heart health, blood pressure
- Vitamin K2 (100 mcg as MK7), qd - balance D3 intake
- Pomegranate (500 mg), qd - heart health, reverses plaque build-up
- Saw Palmetto (320 mcg), qd - DHT level ok, understand that SP inhibits conversion of T --> DHT; recently read SP may not be a great idea
Health & Quality of Life Information
- 53 YO Male, 5'-11", 180 lbs
- Waist size: 36"
- Lost/gained weight: no
- Last complete physical: multiple in past year as I work to diagnose my unsatisfactory health status
- Prostate exam (DRE): yes, 9-2017
- PSA check: yes, 0.6 ng/mL (Roche ECLIA) RR: 0.0-4.0
- T treatment: no, never in the past
- Urinate ok (fully void): yes
- Nighttime urination: 1-2 times, used to be 3-4, now watch when I drink last
- Painful urination: no
- Blood in urine: no (confirmed via urinalysis and occasional test strips)
- UTI/Prostatitis: UTI's yes, diagnosed with epididymitis 7-2016; completed (3) rounds of antibiotics from PCP and then Uristatin & Phytogen from my Naturopath to finally get rid of it
- Acne history: moderate case as a teenager, took prescription meds (tetracycline) for awhile
- Cold intolerance: "no," but I really dislike cold showers and in particular cold pools (had a bad experience as a kid in summer camp)
- Bruise easily: no
Symptoms / Sleep / Mental
- Low libido, Fatigue, Lethargy, Brain fog - yes to all
- Panic attacks (3 major last year ended up in ER; 2 smaller this year, but know how to manage now and feeling less anxious through mindfulness)
- Decreased sexual potency (erection quality): erections fine
- Do you have morning erections? Infrequent
If yes, how many times per week (estimate)? 1-2
- Testicles size: definitely smaller
- Sleep disturbances: Unrestful sleep (listen to guided meditation to help get to sleep (thanks Alexa), but can't stay asleep)
- Generalized muscle aches and pains: nothing notable not related to exercise or activity
- Joint pain: left hip, right knee <-- pretty sure I know causes
- Diabetes: no, test results all normal; does run in family on mother's side
- Previous heart attack: no; but father died of MI at age 40 -- been paranoid it would happen to me
- Previous clotting issues: no
- Leg/ankle swelling: no
- Sensitive or swollen nipples: no
- Lumps around your nipples: no
- Are you losing your hair: yes, faster in last 6-9 months
- Have you ever taken Propecia or Proscar (finasteride): no
- Traumatic head injury: yes, knocked unconscious with baseball bad in elementary school; left temple
- Have you taken pain killers (opiates) for several months: no
- Stress levels: significant in previous years going back to 2004; led large organizations (100+ people) or held global position; leader allowed me to change roles this year due to health issues. Stress levels mostly self-induced - high performing, perfectionist (or at least I used to be)
Sleep
- Have you ever been diagnosed with sleep apnea via a sleep study? No, but have had a sleep study done
- Take frequent naps: no, because I know it messes with circadian rhythm (seriously want to nap mid-day though)
- Do you feel refreshed when you wake up in the morning: no
- Average hours of sleep per night: target: 7, typical 5-6
- Do you usually go to bed after 10 pm: Did for MANY years (claimed I was a night owl), now I try and go off grid about 8:30 PM, prep for sleep, meditate, and in bed by 10 PM
Diet and Exercise
- Exercise: walking 10,000 steps per day; about to start weight training and cardio again but motivation is lacking
- Diet: switched to a healthy diet following my scare in 2017 (the ER visits). By healthy I mean - stopped sodas, refined sugars/junk food; little to no processed foods, try and cook fresh foods -- approx. 40% carbs, 30% protein, 30% fats
Fluids: 1-2 L/day; just can't do 3L (90 oz.) as recommended cause I have to pee all day
Medications
Self-prescribed based on research on ExcelMale and PeakTestosterone
- DHEA (25 mg), qd - to boost level from 320.9 in to mid 350-500 range
- Pregnenolone (100 mcg), qd - to boost level from 18 to 125-175 range
- Started DHEA based on Gene Devine's DHEA Supplementation thread as presented by Dr. Neal Rouzier M.D., plus a few other posts/websites
- Started pregnenolone since mine is very low, and it along with DHEA are are two of the hormone pathways -- or so I have read
- Both meds started 5-28-2018
Supplements
- Multi-Vitamin: 2-Per Day, bid
- Vitamin D3 (4000 IU): included in 2-Per Day <-- I was deficient last year, < 30, now at 50
- CoQ10: (100mg), bid - heart health
- Turmeric/curcumin (450mg), bid - 95% standardized version - reduce inflammation, cancer fighting
- Fish Oil (EPA: 800 mg/DHA: 600 mg), bid - Dr. Tobias, heart health
- Magnesium Citrate (300 mg morning, 100 mg evening) - heart health, blood pressure
- Vitamin K2 (100 mcg as MK7), qd - balance D3 intake
- Pomegranate (500 mg), qd - heart health, reverses plaque build-up
- Saw Palmetto (320 mcg), qd - DHT level ok, understand that SP inhibits conversion of T --> DHT; recently read SP may not be a great idea
