I’m 26, 5’8" and 130lbs. I’ve been in and out of doctors’ offices for the past 6 years, mainly due to run-in with stage 1 testicular cancer which is now in remission, but what I’m most currently navigating through the medical system is what I’ve been told is low testosterone.
My symptoms range from severe muscle pain, ear pressure from TMJ (this one is interesting), joint crackling, depression, brain fog, fatigue, and anxiety. Surprisingly, I’ve been able to maintain fairly well in the sexual department. I’ve had to go through the gamut of doctors who have diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, CFS, ADHD, and have spent more than $5k in visits to doctors in a year alone — worrying that it may be MS, ALS, a new cancer, unaligned chakras caused by psychic vampires.
Exhausted from the Adderall and Valtrex that my CFS specialist convoyed for me (latent Epstein Barr angle, here), I went to an endocrinologist and demanded that I check my parathyroid and T levels. Looking back, I find it funny now that I suspected that it was my parathyroid that was causing my elevated calcium (I was supplementing with vitamin D, none of it was getting absorbed) and not low T causing early onset osteopenia. Parathyroid is fine and my labs come back (refer to discovery labs #1 + #2) showing my T was at 350 ng/dl.
I then started seeing a urologist who recommended TRT.
After my first 2 weeks on TRT, I had my dosage upped from 100mg/wk to 150mg/wk and HCG 250IU. Labs with him show that LH and FSH are high, par on course for long-term survivors of testicular cancer who eventually suffer from primary hypogonadism and infertility! Yay! Was on test-cyp for 2 weeks, didn’t notice any difference in body pain, joint pain, and got the order to up the dose to 150mg.
I’m doing .375ml subQ injections twice a week into my abdomen. Haven’t noticed much of anything, besides regular morning wood. I tried going to the gym for the first time in a few months and that was the biggest mistake. All my muscles are sore, joint pain is 10x worse, and I’m basically crawling around the house. I thought that I’d try easing into my normal routine before all the fatigue, joint pain, but it’s proving too difficult.
I don't feel any better. Going back to the doctor today, 6 weeks in. The joint pain is still there 24/7.
He's saying if the joint pain is caused by low T, I would've felt it already.
I did some more labs today, after 6 weeks of TRT, and waiting on the result, but my doctor thinks my pain isnt low-T related.
I'm completely defeated.
What can this be? Is my constant, unrelenting joint pain and fatigue really because of low t / low estrogen?
I've done MRIs, X-Rays, CTs, bloodwork, nothing shows up. Went to rheumatologists, cardiologists, internists, oncologists, psychiatrists, ENTs, endocrinologists, any type of doctor out there. Even got an 'expert medical opinion' by a panel of worldwide doctors who are experts in their field (Advance Medical).
No one has a clear cut answer for me. Most say it's CFS/fibro. I had to fight my way to even get on TRT, as a testicular cancer survivor. The only thing I haven't done is an MRI of the spine to rule out ankylosing spondylitis. I'm desperate at this point. I've been homebound for 18+ months and out of a job, my days spent in complete and neverending physical pain.
first labs before TRT:
labs from 6 weeks ago:
Anyone else feel the same? My life has been completely halted. I'm desperate for any help or answers
My symptoms range from severe muscle pain, ear pressure from TMJ (this one is interesting), joint crackling, depression, brain fog, fatigue, and anxiety. Surprisingly, I’ve been able to maintain fairly well in the sexual department. I’ve had to go through the gamut of doctors who have diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, CFS, ADHD, and have spent more than $5k in visits to doctors in a year alone — worrying that it may be MS, ALS, a new cancer, unaligned chakras caused by psychic vampires.
Exhausted from the Adderall and Valtrex that my CFS specialist convoyed for me (latent Epstein Barr angle, here), I went to an endocrinologist and demanded that I check my parathyroid and T levels. Looking back, I find it funny now that I suspected that it was my parathyroid that was causing my elevated calcium (I was supplementing with vitamin D, none of it was getting absorbed) and not low T causing early onset osteopenia. Parathyroid is fine and my labs come back (refer to discovery labs #1 + #2) showing my T was at 350 ng/dl.
I then started seeing a urologist who recommended TRT.
After my first 2 weeks on TRT, I had my dosage upped from 100mg/wk to 150mg/wk and HCG 250IU. Labs with him show that LH and FSH are high, par on course for long-term survivors of testicular cancer who eventually suffer from primary hypogonadism and infertility! Yay! Was on test-cyp for 2 weeks, didn’t notice any difference in body pain, joint pain, and got the order to up the dose to 150mg.
I’m doing .375ml subQ injections twice a week into my abdomen. Haven’t noticed much of anything, besides regular morning wood. I tried going to the gym for the first time in a few months and that was the biggest mistake. All my muscles are sore, joint pain is 10x worse, and I’m basically crawling around the house. I thought that I’d try easing into my normal routine before all the fatigue, joint pain, but it’s proving too difficult.
I don't feel any better. Going back to the doctor today, 6 weeks in. The joint pain is still there 24/7.
He's saying if the joint pain is caused by low T, I would've felt it already.
I did some more labs today, after 6 weeks of TRT, and waiting on the result, but my doctor thinks my pain isnt low-T related.
I'm completely defeated.
What can this be? Is my constant, unrelenting joint pain and fatigue really because of low t / low estrogen?
I've done MRIs, X-Rays, CTs, bloodwork, nothing shows up. Went to rheumatologists, cardiologists, internists, oncologists, psychiatrists, ENTs, endocrinologists, any type of doctor out there. Even got an 'expert medical opinion' by a panel of worldwide doctors who are experts in their field (Advance Medical).
No one has a clear cut answer for me. Most say it's CFS/fibro. I had to fight my way to even get on TRT, as a testicular cancer survivor. The only thing I haven't done is an MRI of the spine to rule out ankylosing spondylitis. I'm desperate at this point. I've been homebound for 18+ months and out of a job, my days spent in complete and neverending physical pain.
first labs before TRT:
labs from 6 weeks ago:
Anyone else feel the same? My life has been completely halted. I'm desperate for any help or answers
