I tend to agree with you. At this point, I’d much rather tweak my hormones than mess with my brain chemistry. Doctors, unfortunately, aren’t as amenable to this concept.
Good to see you’re getting some positive results. I take it the Axiron is helping.
I think it’s having an effect. Since I started it, I’ve been getting up at 7 or 8am and applying it around that time.
Yesterday morning, I slept in and didn’t get up until 11. When I got out of bed, I had this very strange feeling of well-being. I wasn’t depressed, or sad, but just felt that life was empty and that’s how things were just supposed to be. It was a very odd sensation. I applied the Axiron and soon felt better - but it was a subtle transition, not an instantaneous jolt.
I’m also looking at nutritional supplements to improve mitochondrial activity. Hopefully there’s some useful information on this board so it’s time to search.
I got a couple of lab results back from the urologist. This was from the 9/19 draw, which was taken just before I started Axiron. Both were done at LabCorp:
Estradiol #140244 <3 pg/mL [3-70 for men >15 yrs]
Vit D, 25-OH #081950 65.6 ng/mL [30-100]
… interesting that a different lab posted E2 reading of 24 (see 13 posts up), and this one comes back with less than 3!
A couple of updates…
After dropping off Lexapro completely, I started to feel like shit again. The anxiety reared its ugly head. I had a lot of trouble sleeping, and had a dull, aching, pressing pain in my abdomen. I had no desire to eat, even though I knew I needed to eat. It was a pretty classic case of depression/anxiety. At my GF’s request, I went back on 10mg of Lexapro and those problems went away within a day. Sex drive is a little impaired, but not as bad as it was at 20mg.
Still been taking Axiron daily, about 30-35mg per pump under each armpit… so that’s around 60-70mg total testosterone daily. Went to the endocrinologist on Thursday and had some blood drawn for more labs. He said he’s going to look at Total T, T4, TSH and IGF.
I was pressing him on root causes. He said that it could be something as “minor” as a 2-3mm growth on the pituitary. I asked him what treatment there is for that, and he said none. Masses that small are untreatable, so people have to live with it and manage; however that can only get determined with a brain MRI. He said that if my IGF numbers are poor, that would be 2 pituitary hormones that are not working, and therefore a brain MRI is necessary.
My FSH numbers were also low, so you could say I already have two.
Let’s see how these labs turn out… I definitely feel better with the T supplements.
How much Adderall do you take daily ? Is it IR or XR ?
Adderall XR 15mg q.d.
I started on Ritalin in Feb this year - the non-XR version. It gave me a strong response early in the day, but the effects tapered off very gradually starting at 2-3pm. By 7pm my mind was going in a million different directions.
So my shrink agreed to try Adderall in the XR version at 5mg. I kept saying that the effect was beneficial but still had attention problems. She wants to keep boosting the dosage, but I’m resisting because that doesn’t seem like the right fix.
Yesterday I was researching pituitary tumors, and came across an online video of surgeons in Philly removing a large pituitary adenoma from a patient by going through his nose. It was pretty crazy cool how they were able to use precision instruments to cut a small hole in the sella bone, and go in to suck the tumor out.
I have taken Adderall xr 15-30mg and IR 10 20 30, and Vyvanse 30 40 60, and broke down the Vyvanse 60’s to 20 at 8am 20 at 12 and 20 at 3pm. I have a high metabolism and the stuff just flies through me.
I can tell you, Addreal XR is crap, Adderall IR is a little better, but it leaves me feeling strange, introverted and paranoid after a few days. Vyvanse is a little better, cleaner if you will, but the overall feeling I get form it is that is puts me in an unnatural state. I maintain my script for it, but I only use it now when I just cannot get going, daily use was pretty bad in my experience.
Getting on TRT (androgel) & an AI helped some, but just switched to injections about a month ago and I feel much more focused, genuine and under my own power…It is the thing that made it possible to drop the daily ADD meds.
Good Luck.
Ritalin IR did work well but only in the morning. Once the mid-afternoon hit, I started spacing out. Now I’m a little better.
Another update - the endo called me earlier and left me a v-mail. He said that my IGF numbers were “okay” but didn’t elaborate… but he did say that my Total T was now up to 392, and he’s happy with that.
I, on the other hand, still have my concerns…
So to recap the Total T numbers…
7/27 220 ng/dL [250-1100]
8/23 307 ng/dL [348-1197]
335 ng/dL [348-1197]
9/12 337 ng/dL [250-1100]
10/11 382 ng/dL [200-1600} → Taken 1 month after 60mg Axiron.
I’m hoping for a call back from him soon…
In the meantime, can anyone recommend a GOOD doctor to see in the SF Bay Area??
The doc called me back and I confirmed the number was 382 (earlier I posted 392).
I told him that I thought this was still far too low. He responded that it was better than any results I had to date, and he suggested that I try to go to 3 pumps instead of two (total of 90mg).
I also read on a site that it may help if I try shaving my armpit hairs so more of the drug is absorbed… sounds crazy but at this time I’m willing to try anything!
Oh, forgot to mention - I asked the doc about getting a brain MRI just to ensure that there’s no pituitary adenomas. That may happen in the coming weeks.
Updates on the other lab tests the endo faxed back to me:
IGF-1 233 ng/mL [77-323]
fT4 1.45 ng/dL [0.890-1.76]
TSH 1.16 uIU/mL [0.4-4.00]
T Tot 382 ng/dL [200-1600]
Looks like I’m getting a brain scan on Halloween… I’m starting to get a little nervous for it but what can ya do…
Does anyone know a good TRT doc in the SF Bay Area???
Hey master-P. Sorry to hear about your depression?adhd. I can tell you one thing.The ssri’s,ssni’s are a direct consequence of your sexual problem’s.Lack of Libdo,erection problem’s etc.I had an accident and developed panic-Attack’s No fun actually they made me contemplate suicide at one point.
My positive experience was Weight training,and one thing that is really instrumental in anziety relief is some kind of cardiovascular exercise.Rideing the exercise bike for 30-45 minutes every day,or two work.I am off all antidepressant’s and back bodybuilding and instead of medication try (Meditation) it takes getting used to,but it’s wonderful and natural. all the best johnny
Are you getting a regular brain MRI or one focused on the pituitary? I guess there’s a difference.
I’m getting a regular brain MRI today for a (presumably) unrelated issue. Can’t wait to get sucked into that giant tube. Fun fun fun!
As far as Doc recommendations are concerned, I tried to PM a few people for rec’s but they don’t seem to be going through. Not sure what the problem is, but I look into the “Sent” folder and it’s empty.
Cygnus - good point. It’s probably a good idea to call the MRI center and ask them since they do this stuff all day.
If you do find a good doc in the area, please let me know. I heard of one who doesn’t take insurance but he’s all the way in San Francisco, and I live in the south bay. Foe me to see him, it would involve taking an entire morning off work, fighting traffic etc. and then filing paperwork with the insurance company to get reimbursed since he’s out of network. I’ll go through the hassle, but only if I know it’ll be worth it.
Johnny - I’m unsure how to handle getting off these damn things. When I lower the Lexapro, I feel anxious and shitty. I’m thinking there is a pretty clear relation to my T levels. I do want to start exercising, but the hardest part is getting to the gym. Meditation is worth a shot though.
I just called the urologist’s office to get a form for some updated T level testing. They do a comprehensive panel including the Labcorp ultra sensitive E2 test which should tell me what effect the Axiron has on my overall T and E levels.
Update - Cygnus. I just called the MRI center and confirmed they are doing an MRI of just the pituitary.
I hope yours went well.
So I just got a Labcorp order form from the urologists office for some follow up testing.
I am trying to decide what additional tests I should have. The basic T panels are included. I am thinking of adding the following:
E2 - regular or ultra sensitive?? Not sure…
Pregnenolone
Progesterone
IGF BP3
hCG (non serial monitor)
Can you guys think of anything else I should test?
Additionally, ysterday I did a some research on the low transferrin saturation % numbers from my lab work (on the prior page). I think I may want to slightly boost my iron intake to help balance that out.
Get cholesterol up, fish oil, high potency B complex.
read: Redirect Notice
Okay… this morning I took my body temperature about an hour after I waking up (but before I had gotten out of bed)… it was…
95.3 ?!?!?!?!?!
Then I took it again a few minutes later and it was 95.9 ?!?!?!
Metabolic function shuts down at 95.0!!!
Bear in mind, I think my thermometer reads around 1 degree on the low side, but still that is farked up!!!
This morning I added 20 drops of iodine into my tea, which is ~62.5mg. So far I feel quite a bit better. My attention seems good, but strangely enough it now feels really cold!
Anyone else that can use that thermometer to see if it gets 8=98.6 for them? Sounds like it is time to get a new one.