[quote]Akaji wrote:
My understanding is that externally introduced testosterone reduces testicle function, which one side effect is testicular ascension [/quote]
My testicles started ascending when I started to show other signs of low T. There’s been no change since I started TRT.
[quote]acuerpado wrote:
Bricknyce, I feel you about guys coming on here and complaining about T levels within normal ranges. Thanks for posting the video and info on Testopel.
Like you, I’m 7 days out from Testopel insertion. No more bleeding, though there is still a tad bit of puss. A small bruise has surfaced just below the incision. The area remains tender to touch. My energy and mood have improved. Although I seem to think about girls more now, libido hasn’t gotten much better.
My endo. did the procedure. Last night I saw my urologist in the gym. He asked about my Testopel so I showed him my butt cut. His eyes got big when he saw the incision site- he didn’t think the procedure should cause that much trauma. I think I’ll give Testopel another try, but this time with my urologist.
Now that I assume my T levels to be higher, I’m still having problems with ascending testicles, especially during sex. When I’m pounding on my lady I continuously have to push my balls down. I’ve read on this site about a connection between HCG and ascending testicles. However, my endo. and urologist haven’t heard this. Any ideas?
[/quote]
My libido came back in drips and drabs and didn’t return to normal until a full year after starting to take Androgel. It can take some time to return. Other things in life interfere with libido and erectile function too. It’s not just a matter of T. Psychological, cardiovascular, and neurological well being are also important. And it’s my OPINION (I don’t KNOW) that many people on here ARE hypochondriacs and think and think and THINK… and worry and worry and WORRY… and talk and talk and TALK about stuff seemingly endlessly. So you might have to wait it out for your libido and erectile function to restore fully or check what is interfering with them.
I have a large black and blue mark on my buttocks, but it’s improving day by day. The thing is I don’t give a shit about MINOR bruising and black and blue marks that heal QUICKLY.
If you have puss, it might indicate you have an infection. (I don’t know.) I have no puss or bleeding, and as I said before, my incision site is the size of a large freckle. It’s the area in which the trocar and needle (for anesthesia) punctured that is bruised and black and blue.
As before, I’m confused by what you write.
You say your libido is weak, but have sex with your woman.
You say your mood and energy have improved (indicating Testopel is working) but want to seek other options after this dose is up.
I don’t understand what you mean by “connection” between HCG and ascension of testicles. HCG is used to restore testicular function. I know that. And it can give some size back to the testis. I don’t know if that helps with ascension. I’m not a urologist, so I don’t know the deal, nor can I diagnose someoen with ascension. That’s actually a serious thing.
What I have experienced AT TIMES (very rarely) is the feeling of my left one being drawn up a bit too much. But this is NOT unbearable. It just feels SLIGHTLY unpleasant. This is not REAL ascension, and it probably feels this way because I have testicular atrophy because of T medication.
My doc uses HCG for hypogonadal men who want children. He does not use it in conjunction with T medication because if one has a good response to HCG, it restores T to normal.
All this is said from what I know. Again: I’m NOT a doctor, and I don’t suggest anything except share experiences and sometimes suggest docs to go to.
You can ahead and start fucking around with other drugs on your own (without doctor’s orders), or tell a doctor your concerned about your testis. I personally feel good and don’t care that SOMETIMES my left testicle draws up a bit too much or that I have some atrophy. I’m in good hands medically.
[quote]
You say your libido is weak, but have sex with your woman.
You say your mood and energy have improved (indicating Testopel is working) but want to seek other options after this dose is up. [/quote]
I have sex, though I only last for 2-3 minutes before finishing. I also need “encouragement” before beginning. Being 29 years old, I consider that weak libido.
I was bleeding from this wound for 5 days. I will be left with a noticeable scar on my left side. That’s why I said above that my next round of Testopel will be inserted by my urologist, who’s actually a surgeon. If Testopel insertion is always this severe, I doubt many people would want to repeat every 3-6 months for a lifetime.
My urologist told me in the gym last night that there’s a company developing a product similar to Androgel, except it’s applied on the underarms in an applicator similar to deodorant. No FDA approval yet.
Count yourself lucky. It takes me at least 15 minutes, usually 30+, to masturbate to completion. I can’t orgasm from sex no matter how much effort, foreplay, experimentation, etc. we try.
Anyway, how often are you having sex? If you’re having sex every day or twice a day, of course you’re going to need encouragement - you’re not a 16 year old, your libido’s going to need a day off to recover to the point of you being really horny (most of the time).
Is the encouragement just to get you up, or just to get you interested? If you need encouragement to get up, but you’re horny anyway, that may be ED, not low libido.
[quote]acuerpado wrote:
If I recall correctly, the roll-on gel Axiron has been approved by the FDA (could be mistaken).
I agree - get it done by the urologist. Mine does a lot of surgeries.
There’s also another gel named Fortesta, to be applied to the upper and inner thigh, that’s coming out soon.
As I wrote, you might have to be patient with the libido returning to normal. Like I said, I was 22 when I was diagnosed as hypogonadal, and it took a full year until everythign was back to normal. My libido is perfectly fine now - at times crazy!
Brick is definitely getting bitchy, his estradiol may be getting the better part of his discretion.
It is not my job to direct guys to doctors, Brick does otherwise.
We see guys suffering from elevated E2 levels. Those who can get that treated should have an objective in mind because most doctors do not have one.
Most guys cannot find a TRT compentent doctor. They can all see Brick’s androlists.
This is all very off topic. Brick should start his own rant thread.
That pellet insertion video is disturbing. The needle for the topical anesthetic is being bent and moved in such a way to maximize tissue cutting by the end of the needle. [This damage does go into SC layers, not muscle.] I think that slightly altered technique could easily reduce tissue injury and bleeding/bruising.
Had my second round of 10 pellets on 11/30. Very little pain this time and the soreness didn’t last too long. So after two months my recent total testosterone came back at 804ng/dL per Quest Diagnostics.
Workouts feel great. Have a normal sex life. Maintaining good fat loss. NO NEED FOR AI’s or HCG or BMG and rectal temps or doody analysis. I guess I may be one of the lucky guys.
Hope this helps those who may try this route. Again I’m 39, always at 300-500 test levels since age 30. Workouts were def lagging and zero drive. Thanks to my Doctor who has helped me to this point.
[quote]christopher36 wrote:
Had my second round of 10 pellets on 11/30. Very little pain this time and the soreness didn’t last too long. So after two months my recent total testosterone came back at 804ng/dL per Quest Diagnostics.
Workouts feel great. Have a normal sex life. Maintaining good fat loss. NO NEED FOR AI’s or HCG or BMG and rectal temps or doody analysis. I guess I may be one of the lucky guys.
Hope this helps those who may try this route. Again I’m 39, always at 300-500 test levels since age 30. Workouts were def lagging and zero drive. Thanks to my Doctor who has helped me to this point. [/quote]
I’m on the same plan as you at this time. Got my pellets one and half weeks ago from Dr. M.
Pain and bruising are totally gone.
Dr. Mel has been very helpful. Still have to see him regarding my ED. Only can perform w Levitra. If I don’t use it or have stimulation I never get erections. I can def attribute it worsening the last few months to my work schedule switching. I work all night now and days off it’s hard too sleep normally.
So TRT has def helped my workouts but not my ED. As far as my drive it’s there and w the pill I’m good to go. And my blood test was done after working a full 12 hour night w no sleep. So the Test is nice and high but zero, I mean zero erections. Nothing.
And yes the boys are high and getting much smaller but I still have a normal ejaculation response.
Brick how are you in this area?
[quote]christopher36 wrote:
Dr. Mel has been very helpful. Still have to see him regarding my ED. Only can perform w Levitra. If I don’t use it or have stimulation I never get erections. I can def attribute it worsening the last few months to my work schedule switching. I work all night now and days off it’s hard too sleep normally.
So TRT has def helped my workouts but not my ED. As far as my drive it’s there and w the pill I’m good to go. And my blood test was done after working a full 12 hour night w no sleep. So the Test is nice and high but zero, I mean zero erections. Nothing.
And yes the boys are high and getting much smaller but I still have a normal ejaculation response.
Brick how are you in this area?[/quote]
My boys are not high at all. But as I’ve said many times, there has been some testicular atrophy for the past eight years. They are about 15 grams instead of the average 20 grams.
christopher36: What are your LH and FSH lab results, with ranges? Also need FT, E2 with ranges.
Labs taken when prior pellets are wearing out may be deceptive. Your TT, FT and E2 levels are not steady state.
You glowing report does not fit with your ED issues.
[quote]KSman wrote:
christopher36: What are your LH and FSH lab results, with ranges? Also need FT, E2 with ranges.
Labs taken when prior pellets are wearing out may be deceptive. Your TT, FT and E2 levels are not steady state.
You glowing report does not fit with your ED issues.[/quote]
I don’t have tests for those. We only did a CBC and Total Test. Again I def attribute much of the prob to working night shifts. It’s a horrible way to work but the pay is much better. My sex life has improved with the pellets, no doubt. But not without the pill. I noticed a few times the next day after taking a DIM tablet non stop erections. I will talk to my Doctor and see what he feels is best. Thanks.
[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
[quote]christopher36 wrote:
Dr. Mel has been very helpful. Still have to see him regarding my ED. Only can perform w Levitra. If I don’t use it or have stimulation I never get erections. I can def attribute it worsening the last few months to my work schedule switching. I work all night now and days off it’s hard too sleep normally.
So TRT has def helped my workouts but not my ED. As far as my drive it’s there and w the pill I’m good to go. And my blood test was done after working a full 12 hour night w no sleep. So the Test is nice and high but zero, I mean zero erections. Nothing.
And yes the boys are high and getting much smaller but I still have a normal ejaculation response.
Brick how are you in this area?[/quote]
My boys are not high at all. But as I’ve said many times, there has been some testicular atrophy for the past eight years. They are about 15 grams instead of the average 20 grams. [/quote]
Thanks Brick. I will ask Dr. Mel. I don’t mind the tighter look. Hated when they hung and swung. It gets annoying and to be honest I don’t want children so I’m not over concerned. But def some atrophy no doubt.
Chris/Brick - have either of you ever checked your cortisol levels? If so, what were the results? just curious.
[quote]PureChance wrote:
Chris/Brick - have either of you ever checked your cortisol levels? If so, what were the results? just curious.[/quote]
I never have.
[quote]PureChance wrote:
Chris/Brick - have either of you ever checked your cortisol levels? If so, what were the results? just curious.[/quote]
Cortisol 6.7 (1/21/2011)
Range: 2.3 - 11.9
[quote]Bricknyce wrote:
[quote]PureChance wrote:
Chris/Brick - have either of you ever checked your cortisol levels? If so, what were the results? just curious.[/quote]
Cortisol 6.7 (1/21/2011)
Range: 2.3 - 11.9[/quote]
Your lab uses an odd range (most seem to do something like 4.0-22.0 mcg/dL). Was that taken in the morning or afternoon? Are the units mcg/dL? I wonder if they use a different test than most.
They use ug/dL. I don’t have any signs of adrenal insufficiency, so I’m not worried.
TSH is 2.34 uIU/mL
Range: 0.27 - 4.20
No symptoms of hypothyroidism either. I don’t have discoloration of the skin, coarse hair, brittle and cold skin, or sensitivity to the cold or heat. If anything I sweat a lot; always have.
My total T came back after one week on pellets at 442 and free T came out at 19 ng/dL (range is 9-30 ng/dL). However, this blood test was NOT done by my urologist and was done only after ONE week after implantation. It was done by my PCP because I scheduled a physical a week after I saw my urologist because I hadn’t gotten one in years.
I’m getting another blood test from my urologist in two and a half months to see where I’m at. If it’s where I do best (600 to 800), then he’s keeping it at 10 pellets. If he doesn’t like where I’m at, he’ll go up to 12.
I feel good so far. I wake up with a morning erection nearly everyday. Mental well being is fine.
I’ve been meaning to ask a question regarding this (not for you, but in general) - what does the presence of morning wood indicate? I’ve been waking up with morning wood pretty much every day since I turned ~15 or 16, but I also have a number of issues - very low TT (153 @ 8 AM), very low FT/BioT, high E2 (55 @ 8:45 AM), worrisome thyroid (TSH @ 2.99 at highest, but fluctuates between 1.5 and 2.99), very low cortisol (6.1 mcg/dL @ 8:45 AM), etc.