That’s key. I went through the same thing. Often physical issues are replaced by mental issues in that area. As soon as you, and your partner, stop caring so much about the outcome and just enjoy intimacy in whatever form it takes, the stress, frustration and embarrassment go away. When those go away and you can relax, everything starts working better.
I was dealing with this not too long ago. I thought TRT was going to solve the problem, but it turns out a low T problem turned into a performance anxiety problem. Forcing it, obsessing about the failures and putting a ridiculous amount of weight on the need for success. It was a nightmare.
But, once I was able to explain to my wife what was happening in my brain (the anxiety loop) and convince her (it took a while…) to just relax with me and remove the pressure of outcome, everything started to bounce back. Now things seem to be back to the good old days. So, hang in there, be patient and relax. The mind is a powerful thing.
This is key. It’s been a struggle at times. I used to get so pissed off/embarrassed/whatever you want to call it that it made her paranoid that I was going to have issues which made her less into it which circled around and made my issues worse because she wasn’t as into it and I could tell she was worried about my issues… and when you’re half numb you need the other person to be into it because that’s a large % of what you’re getting out of it.
Anyways. It’s been a lot better lately. It’s kind of scary switching back to shots right now but I know I’ll bounce back again after. I was going to actually overlap cream/injections in the beginning to try to keep my levels up but I’ve gone through the last of the cream faster than I expected so not sure that’s going to be psosible
At least after I switch I can leave things alone for the long term and not have to worry about getting it on her
I feel your pain, man. My wife didn’t understand at all at first and took it very personally. Reacted in ways that felt very cruel to me at the time. I was embarrassed and lashed out when she didn’t respond the way I would like. Thankfully I was finally able to explain what I was going through and what I needed from her if we were going to get past it. Since then, she has been amazing and help the healing process. It’s even made her feel more sexy that she could help me through it.
If I could give any advice I would say to be really patient. If it is mental as much as the lack of sensation, then success won’t be a straight line (it never is). For me, in the transition between complete failure to complete success was a process that took a few months. I remember I had a good weekend where everything worked. I got my hopes up and then was very disappointed when I “got in my head” again the next time… and the next time.
Once we accepted that it could happen any time and that we would enjoy each other anyway, things started to improve pretty rapidly. At first nothing for me, but good for her. Then good for her, followed by good for me (after she got hers, I would relax enough to get there myself), then all of a sudden, all was well in the world!
I have noticed a decent increase in sensitivity since being on TRT, so I’m sure that played a roll as well.
good luck sir! You got this!
Also, I’m on season 4 of Dexter, @dextermorgan Pretty good show so far
You’re doing the right thing. Don’t want to go fucking her shit up too. Good luck brother. I’ll keep you in my prayers.
As an aside it’s starting to piss me off that we’re all just left to fend for ourselves on this. If Low-T was a life threatening condition, I’m convinced we would all be dead.
Started back on shots last Wednesday, 60mg on Mon, Wed & Fri (so, 180mg a week). I also used a small amount of cream for a few days but ran out Friday or Saturday.
Not doing terrible but feel a little down. I don’t know if it’s placebo or not but I’ve lost 5lbs, don’t have the crazy veins popping out anymore, haven’t had morning wood in a few days etc. My skin doesn’t feel as oily either. So I feel like I’ve gone downhill some but obviously I just started so that’s to be expected. Sensitivity has gone down some but not terribly so. Still OK for every other day or so, so far anyways.
Not much else to report. I’m just going to continue on as-is for a while and see if this is the right dosage for me. Last time I was on shots I was doing 150mg/week so I did go a little higher this time. I was thinking since the cream had my levels really high that I didn’t want to have a huge drop off (though, I’m sure I still will have a big DHT drop off)
So far I don’t feel bad, just don’t feel great either… may just be a coincidence, not really sure yet. We’ll see in a few weeks I guess
Sorry if the information is already somewhere - are you continuing with the same frequency as you injected before moving to cream? And if yes, how did you feel before?
What were you trying to solve with cream the injections weren’t helping?
What landed you on your new frequency and dose?
It’s all in the thread, most of it literally in the last post.
Cream was 2x a day… so no, not injecting 2x a day.
I’m doing shallow IM 3x a week, mon/wed/fri. 60mg/injection, so 180mg/week.
The main issue is my wife had her hormones tested and her T was sky high, like 2x high end of “normal” high so I believe it was getting transferred to her somehow. If not, then she might have something else going on but we can’t be sure what her natural levels are until there’s 0% chance of it being transferred to her, so that’s why I switched back.
Prior to cream I was originally using 150mg/week (mon/wed/fri injections) of T and after 8 weeks most of my issues improved quite a bit. The dose of cream I was taking probably had me a bit higher than that, so I decided to bump the dose up a little bit when I went back to injections vs. starting back where I was the first time.
I have extremely high SHBG so I think I will be fine at 180mg/week
I’m at 220 a week with similar shbg as you. 180 had me a little low. I low key love when I get a bump because I’m pretty I usually gain a little more muscle lol.
I get tested again next Wednesday to see my new levels. Aiming for 26 free.
Awesome, that’s a pretty good dose. I’ll go that high if I need to… we’ll see I guess
Not much new to report. Just still feeling down, less energy, less libido and I feel calmer but not really in a good way. More in like a “I’m too tired to give a shit” kind of way.
It’s only been about a week and a half since I switched so I guess I have a while longer to wait. I didn’t feel perfect before when I was using cream but I felt better than I do now.
I guess we’ll see. I’m sticking with 180mg/week, Mon/Wed/Fri dosing for now. The same protocol (minus a few mg) worked in the beginning of this whole TRT thing so hopefully a little extra works just as well or better this time.
Oh. And I’m cold as shit all the time. Hands and feet are freezing unless I’m doing manual labor for a while. And sex wise I’m back to the first marathon in a while. And no more morning wood, which had gotten to the point of being pretty intense before I switched back to injections.
I have a theory regarding PFS and what is happening here. It seems almost identical to what happened to me, but I didn’t take those drugs (or anything similar).
SHBG can be raised from having higher than normal T3/Free T3, it’s not uncommon to see elevated rt3 also in PFS sufferers. I am willing to bet your Free T4 (and total T4) is on the floor and that is why you feel like crap. I remember reading a few recovery stories of guys who took that poison, and they all benefited (seen libido improvements) from T4 medications like Levothyroixine and Proviron (DHT).
Do you have indepth lab work for thyroid and/or adrenals (cortisol)?
I’ll post what I have free t3/t4 wise when I get to work. Basically my ft4 was upper mid range a year ago and it has gone down since starting TRT. Ft3 has gone up a little bit and is mid range
Do you have any info on t4 being so important? The usual sentiment here is t4 is inactive as there aren’t any t4 receptors so ft3 is all that matters
Here’s a summary of the blood tests I have for all the main things… sorry it’s not super consistent as far as doing the same tests every time but I’m paying out of pocket and had no clue what I was testing esp. in the beginning so it’s a bit all over the place. I have all the lipids, etc. type stuff too but figured those weren’t what you were interested in so I didn’t include all of those.
If those 8/22 results aren’t the craziest ratio of total T to free T anyone has ever seen then I don’t know what is. I thought only total T mattered back then so I didn’t even know anything was wrong…
I don’t have any labs for Cortisol
Same ol. Hoping I start feeling better soon. I’m still doing 60mg mon/wed/fri. Still having numb d issues. It’s manageable if I keep sex to a few times a week max but still frustrating. I am sure my libido is lower now than it was on cream. Not shocking I guess.
Pretty frustrating but just continuing on as is for a while. I’m a little over 2 weeks into my return to injections. 5-6 more to go before hopefully I’m back to 2 minute pound town
It’s likely that time will fix your issues. You’re body is probably all over the place dealing with the new levels. All shit you already know but it’s still good to hear when going through it to put your mind at ease (as much as it can be when going through that).
Thanks, hopefully it‘s just a matter of waiting it out. I started feeling good at 7 weeks last time.
If I was responding to anyone else’s thread I’d be saying the same thing you are. It’s just harder when it’s yourself.
Weird fact. Shrinking balls are in full effect for the first time since starting TRT. Weird feeling. I’m resisting the HCG for now, trying to get to the feel good point first before I start screwing with anything like that.
Yeah I’m on the same boat. About 3 weeks into my protocol with dailies (without changing shit) and I think it’s getting slightly better as time goes on. Went from sleeping all day/shit feeling, to less shitty, to some good times, and now I’m doing alright consistently with coffee in my system. Still 5 weeks left to go. Hopefully I pull a GOOGL and just keep going up.