This forum has been very helpful as I try to educate myself on testosterone and whether it has been an issue with me. It has been a very long road so I apologize if this is too much info.
Background
- happily married 55 years old, 180 pounds (trying to lose 10)
- love biking and raced for 5 years up until 2014
- in 2014 went through chemo for Hodgkin's lymphoma (successful)
- at the same time they found that I had an enlarged ascending aorta and tachaccardia. Cardiologist says I can ride but no more racing or working out at high HR or lifting as that raises blood pressure
- prior to 2014 I would have considered myself very fit and healthy
In 2013 I had my annual physical and the doc did a test for low testosterone for the first time and I came in borderline low (346; > 350 range) and free T 196; > 225 range. I also had an elevated PSA (have for years) so went to my urologist who gave me a sample of Axiron to try and did a confirming blood test.
I knew nothing about T but started the Axiron for 3 days before getting a call from urologist that my testosterone was fine and I should discontinue Axiron which I did (I wasn't thrilled with being on T because I was worried I might be drug tested at a bike race even though I was in the lowest category). Test was 475; >225 range, free was 6.8; >5 range, SHBG was 57.6; up to 65 was range. PSA was confirmed elevated a bit but only very slightly above prior year so not a worry (I had a clean biopsy in 2007). In the 7 years working with this urologist, he never tested nor mentioned testosterone but had me try every erection med available - none of which were particularly effective with my long term ED issues.
After getting through cancer and heart issues I have been spending more time understanding health issues and so started to read up on testosterone and it convinced me to switch urologists.
I began last summer with my new doc and it has been great to have someone actually listen. I saw my first urologist when I was in my mid 20's about erection issues (don't think he did any blood tests) but because I could sometimes get a nocturnal erection, it was all in my head. Went to shrink for a few sessions and got no where other than depressed because I now had mental AND physical issues apparently. He spent over 45 minutes with me going over my history - a totally different experience than 5 minutes including a DRE with my prior doc.
He ordered some more tests.
T - 395 >300 range
LH - 3.6 - 1.7 - 11.2
E - 28.6 - 20 - 75
SHBG - 41; 10 - 50
Analog Free T; .99; >5
PSA 5 (was in 4's last year)
blood flow ultrasound after the shot in penis (Man that hurt!) showed inflow is fine, bad leakage out
had my prostate biopsy and waiting on my results
He suggested either implant (said I was a good candidate given the leakage) or pellets since I wasn't trilled with self injecting when I have my teenage boys in the home and not wanting to have that conversation with dad injecting "steroids". I said I would rather try the testosterone first to see if it addresses the ED issues.
I am excited but also anxious about the pellets if they really help. I can identify with some of the other Low T symtoms but not sure it just some sort of hypochondriac response.
I find myself wondering whether I have been somewhat low free T since I was a teenager vs some sort of gradual age based decline. I was never a high sex drive guy. I never had significant morning or other wood though it is significantly worse now than it was in my 20's with extremely rare ability to have intercourse.
I have read posts of guys that have very pronounced changes, but has anyone had a long term low-grade issue that TRT helped with?
Assuming my biopsy is negative, I will start pellets in a couple of weeks.
Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences.
Background
- happily married 55 years old, 180 pounds (trying to lose 10)
- love biking and raced for 5 years up until 2014
- in 2014 went through chemo for Hodgkin's lymphoma (successful)
- at the same time they found that I had an enlarged ascending aorta and tachaccardia. Cardiologist says I can ride but no more racing or working out at high HR or lifting as that raises blood pressure
- prior to 2014 I would have considered myself very fit and healthy
In 2013 I had my annual physical and the doc did a test for low testosterone for the first time and I came in borderline low (346; > 350 range) and free T 196; > 225 range. I also had an elevated PSA (have for years) so went to my urologist who gave me a sample of Axiron to try and did a confirming blood test.
I knew nothing about T but started the Axiron for 3 days before getting a call from urologist that my testosterone was fine and I should discontinue Axiron which I did (I wasn't thrilled with being on T because I was worried I might be drug tested at a bike race even though I was in the lowest category). Test was 475; >225 range, free was 6.8; >5 range, SHBG was 57.6; up to 65 was range. PSA was confirmed elevated a bit but only very slightly above prior year so not a worry (I had a clean biopsy in 2007). In the 7 years working with this urologist, he never tested nor mentioned testosterone but had me try every erection med available - none of which were particularly effective with my long term ED issues.
After getting through cancer and heart issues I have been spending more time understanding health issues and so started to read up on testosterone and it convinced me to switch urologists.
I began last summer with my new doc and it has been great to have someone actually listen. I saw my first urologist when I was in my mid 20's about erection issues (don't think he did any blood tests) but because I could sometimes get a nocturnal erection, it was all in my head. Went to shrink for a few sessions and got no where other than depressed because I now had mental AND physical issues apparently. He spent over 45 minutes with me going over my history - a totally different experience than 5 minutes including a DRE with my prior doc.
He ordered some more tests.
T - 395 >300 range
LH - 3.6 - 1.7 - 11.2
E - 28.6 - 20 - 75
SHBG - 41; 10 - 50
Analog Free T; .99; >5
PSA 5 (was in 4's last year)
blood flow ultrasound after the shot in penis (Man that hurt!) showed inflow is fine, bad leakage out
had my prostate biopsy and waiting on my results
He suggested either implant (said I was a good candidate given the leakage) or pellets since I wasn't trilled with self injecting when I have my teenage boys in the home and not wanting to have that conversation with dad injecting "steroids". I said I would rather try the testosterone first to see if it addresses the ED issues.
I am excited but also anxious about the pellets if they really help. I can identify with some of the other Low T symtoms but not sure it just some sort of hypochondriac response.
I find myself wondering whether I have been somewhat low free T since I was a teenager vs some sort of gradual age based decline. I was never a high sex drive guy. I never had significant morning or other wood though it is significantly worse now than it was in my 20's with extremely rare ability to have intercourse.
I have read posts of guys that have very pronounced changes, but has anyone had a long term low-grade issue that TRT helped with?
Assuming my biopsy is negative, I will start pellets in a couple of weeks.
Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences.
