Low testosterone

[xx99xx]

toohuge said:

Good news you've got a scan coming up, I was thinking, gosh that was quick! Then realised it's private.

I too have a head injury, however my pituitary gland is functioning ok apparently. There's another blood test they do to confirm 100% that the gland is functioning. I can't recall (poor memory ) the medication you're meant to take, but you take some medication at a certain time and they measure the reaction of the gland. When I had this, I felt awful the next day and could barely drive! So watch out if you do that test..

Hope you get some answers soon op

I had one of those many years ago, I think.

Had blood taken, then got injected with some drug which instantly made me feel sick, then 15 mins later got blood taken again. Felt fine soon after though.

Worst part was that it was a Dr doing the blood draw and they are not quite so skilled at it as nurses!

[toddler]

FNG said:

With thanks to someone on here who made comments about low-T in another thread on another matter, I was diagnosed with low testosterone about a week ago. I've been referred to endochinology (sp?) and have an appointment at the end of June.

Symptoms:
- basically dog tired, not helped by sleeping badly, and up for the loo in the night once or twice
- lacking energy, enthusiasm, drive, motivation, pizzaz, whatever
- weight gain and hair loss apparently, so I've had it since my early 20s then
- very short tempered and irritable, and in a fairly constant state of stress which I had just put down to work / kids / skint / crap car / 20 more years to retirement

As a result of quite a few concussions over my life, I was diagnosed with post concussive syndrome a few years back, had cognitive assessment, helped me understand my brain shortfalls and had counselling to work around those as best I can. However it has potentially masked some of the low-T symptoms like tiring easily, lacking motivation, depressive symptoms. So I'm not sure what to expect a new me could look like if low-T can be treated (my PCS can't be, really).

I've also got a gastric problem, stomach acid and a touch of Barrett's around the oesophagus (checked every 5 years, next one in July). I take esomeprazole which seems to counter the acid production and I have no real issues with my stomach apart from the fact it's growing quickly at the moment but the reason I raise it is that I'm having two bowel movements per day at the moment, which never used to be the case. Frequently am aware of my stomach and often feels like I'm an hour away from another poo, even if I've not long been.

Got the doc to also do bloods to check for prostate, come back negative. (also checked vitamins, cholesterol, diabetes, basic blood count - all ok).

So the concern I guess is that I am a bit suspicious about the prostate and the multiple stools, frequent urination. Can the low-T result be masking another issue with the prostate? Would it normally cause increase in bowel movements? And if there's any doubt around the prostate, does that preclude low-T treatment as I read somewhere?

Anyone had low-T treatment? What did it consist of? How soon did you feel any benefit? Any hilarious side effects?

I've lost both my bks to cancer so totally reliant on TRT for my testosterone needs. I've been using Testogel since I lost my second nut in 2007. Even on T gel, I've had all the symptoms you listed (except hair loss), and a few more besides e.g. hot flushes and night sweats. But by far the worst is the brain fog. The feeling that your head is constantly full of cotton wool, totally unable to think clearly, incapable of making a decision, and terrible memory. After more than 10 years of suffering I had a total melt down in December 2018. Long story short I ended up on antidepressants which have literally been a life saver. I will need the TRT forever - to stop my bones and muscles wasting away if nothing else - but it's the ADs that make life worth living.

[pidsy]

Results back from my second bloods.

Confirmed Low T.

Next step consultation.

[pidsy]

Update:

Had my consultation on Saturday morning. 40 mins with a dr that put me totally at ease.

Discussed various treatments, pros/cons etc and the elevated risks I have with a couple of congenital heart issues.

Raft of documents received on Monday with various options - decided to go with exactly what I was happiest with and paid for everything.
Due here tomorrow.

Have a video call booked with their nurse to take me through the sub cutaneous injection process.

Start to finish in 3 months.

Huge thanks to those on this thread who made me realise that this could in fact be the root of the issues I’ve been having for years.

[cjs 28]

Great news and don’t worry about the injections , first few times are nerve racking but it quickly becomes a normal activity like having a shave .
I always warm up my ampules under the tap while I’m preparing the needles , find it helps with the viscosity and then very rarely get pain afterwards.

[pidsy]

Thanks.

I’ve got with the US Hikma cypionate over the Spanish.

[craigjm]

OP my first thought when you said you dont sleep well, up to the loo a couple of times in the night and are always tired plus your weight is that you may have sleep apnea and you might want to get a test. This can also lower your testosterone level and give you pretty much all the symptoms you talk about. If your neck is over 17 inches then its even more likely.

[popeyewhite]

cjs 28 said:

Great news and don’t worry about the injections , first few times are nerve racking but it quickly becomes a normal activity like having a shave .
I always warm up my ampules under the tap while I’m preparing the needles, find it helps with the viscosity and then very rarely get pain afterwards.

Won't he be using short needles for sub q jabs?

[pidsy]

popeyewhite said:

cjs 28 said:

Great news and don’t worry about the injections , first few times are nerve racking but it quickly becomes a normal activity like having a shave .
I always warm up my ampules under the tap while I’m preparing the needles, find it helps with the viscosity and then very rarely get pain afterwards.

Won't he be using short needles for sub q jabs?

They’re the tiny 30g ones - I’m still not great with needles but they are tiny. Everything arrived today.

[FNG]

craigjm said:

OP my first thought when you said you dont sleep well, up to the loo a couple of times in the night and are always tired plus your weight is that you may have sleep apnea and you might want to get a test. This can also lower your testosterone level and give you pretty much all the symptoms you talk about. If your neck is over 17 inches then its even more likely.

Thank you, you're not the first person to mention sleep apnoea.

It's something I've been aware of for years and has never seemed to fit my sleep patterns. That said, it's only in the last year that my sleeping has got so bad (although it's been worsening for a few years which I put down to having 2 young children).

My wife doesn't think my sleeping fits the sleep apnoea range of symptoms either.

I'm now about 3 weeks away from the consultation, so the plan remains the same for the moment: get treatment underway, and see which symptoms are resolved as a result. I'm a great fan of not changing everything, and as I have a few medical issues ongoing I want to try to unpick them logically, even if it takes a fair bit of time, so that I know what the symptoms are for each. That way I have a better chance of knowing if a treatment isn't working as well as it used to, for example, or if it's no longer needed in due course.

If, once low-T treatment has taken effect, I'm still sleeping like I have one eye on the phone then I'll be straight back to the doctors talking sleep apnoea to him.

[craigjm]

FNG said:

Thank you, you're not the first person to mention sleep apnoea.

It's something I've been aware of for years and has never seemed to fit my sleep patterns. That said, it's only in the last year that my sleeping has got so bad (although it's been worsening for a few years which I put down to having 2 young children).

My wife doesn't think my sleeping fits the sleep apnoea range of symptoms either.

I'm now about 3 weeks away from the consultation, so the plan remains the same for the moment: get treatment underway, and see which symptoms are resolved as a result. I'm a great fan of not changing everything, and as I have a few medical issues ongoing I want to try to unpick them logically, even if it takes a fair bit of time, so that I know what the symptoms are for each. That way I have a better chance of knowing if a treatment isn't working as well as it used to, for example, or if it's no longer needed in due course.

If, once low-T treatment has taken effect, I'm still sleeping like I have one eye on the phone then I'll be straight back to the doctors talking sleep apnoea to him.

If you do suspect sleep apnea get a test done and treatment privately its not expensive and it wont go on your record. Uncontrolled sleep apnea can cause issues with driving licences etc so the less your doctor knows the better

[xx99xx]

Had my annual (ish) blood test this week.

My T came back at 5.1nmol (5.2 being bottom of reference range). My T was 11.5 in Jan 2020. They never did SHBG this time but last year it was 9.3nmol (13.3 being bottom of reference range).

I use Testogel daily (ish) and hadn't used it the day prior or the day of this latest blood test which probably explains the low reading. Although to be honest my T and SHBG are pretty similar and consistent with what they've been like for the last 20 years, even before testogel.

I'm never really sure whether to do a blood test before or after applying the gel?

[pidsy]

The issue of Low T actually got a segment on This Morning today.
Bit light on facts but good to see the subject given a mainstream platform.

[272BHP]

xx99xx said:

Had my annual (ish) blood test this week.

My T came back at 5.1nmol (5.2 being bottom of reference range). My T was 11.5 in Jan 2020. They never did SHBG this time but last year it was 9.3nmol (13.3 being bottom of reference range).

I use Testogel daily (ish) and hadn't used it the day prior or the day of this latest blood test which probably explains the low reading. Although to be honest my T and SHBG are pretty similar and consistent with what they've been like for the last 20 years, even before testogel.

I'm never really sure whether to do a blood test before or after applying the gel?

You should do the blood test in the morning before applying the gel. If your levels are that low I would suggest asking for another pump of the gel. With an SHBG that low then not only do you have a low reported level of testosterone but your body is not hanging onto what it does have either.

[Scabutz]

272BHP said:

xx99xx said:

Had my annual (ish) blood test this week.

My T came back at 5.1nmol (5.2 being bottom of reference range). My T was 11.5 in Jan 2020. They never did SHBG this time but last year it was 9.3nmol (13.3 being bottom of reference range).

I use Testogel daily (ish) and hadn't used it the day prior or the day of this latest blood test which probably explains the low reading. Although to be honest my T and SHBG are pretty similar and consistent with what they've been like for the last 20 years, even before testogel.

I'm never really sure whether to do a blood test before or after applying the gel?

You should do the blood test in the morning before applying the gel. If your levels are that low I would suggest asking for another pump of the gel. With an SHBG that low then not only do you have a low reported level of testosterone but your body is not hanging onto what it does have either.

I was told the opposite by my endo. I need to apply the gel at least 2 hours before the blood test. They need to see the levels you are getting with the treatment and adjust accordingly. I cant see them adding a pump to the dose if the blood was done with 2 days of not taking the gel.

[272BHP]

Scabutz said:

I was told the opposite by my endo. I need to apply the gel at least 2 hours before the blood test. They need to see the levels you are getting with the treatment and adjust accordingly. I cant see them adding a pump to the dose if the blood was done with 2 days of not taking the gel.

That is very odd advice from your endo. Manufacturers advice for all the gels I have seen state that blood tests should be done before that days application.

Admittedly it is not worth doing a blood test if a day is missed. At least a week of consistent application is required to reach stable levels.

[xx99xx]

272BHP said:

That is very odd advice from your endo. Manufacturers advice for all the gels I have seen state that blood tests should be done before that days application.

Admittedly it is not worth doing a blood test if a day is missed. At least a week of consistent application is required to reach stable levels.

I can see the logic behind testing after applying the gel as you get to see how much you're absorbing and you can alter the dose accordingly.

When you consider that the T from the gel only stays in your body for barely a day (hence daily application) any blood test done before gel application is just looking at natural T level. I'm not sure how useful that is as natural T is suppressed after a period of TRT.

I've never had my estrogen checked so maybe that is countering my gel as I don't really think my gel is working any more. Usual symptoms are frequent.

[272BHP]

There is some value in measuring peak but not nearly as much as measuring the trough. I don't know many places or individuals that would waste expensive blood tests on a peak level - maybe one time for info but certainly not on regular blood tests.

If your trough level is really low then you need to up the dose. No point in being on TRT if half the time you are at a lower level than you would be if not on medication.

More importantly of course is how you feel, is it working? do you feel good? do you have strong morning erections? if the answer is no then you need to go back and have another discussion with your endo. If your endo is NHS then maybe have a discussion with your bank manager and go private because quite frankly, life is too short.

[CoolHands]

I raised it with my doc once after reading about it on here (I also had low energy etc etc etc). She wouldn’t have it. So I could never even get tested.

[Boosted LS1]

I had similar (without the hair loss) and it was diagnosed as sarcoidosis, I have hypercalcemia and had hypercalciuria which had me peeing a lot during the night. Hope you get sorted OP.