Observations after 1 month HRT

[Prsartist]

Just wanted to share some observations after
Starting HRT about 1 month ago (5 weekly injections of 1cc)

Im 46 y.o. And My previous t levels were

Total 290-301
Free t 7.5-8.1 (range is 10-30)

Things have started to change drastically!

1st thing I "noticed" were morning erections
(that's every morning!) after about 2 weeks of treatment. Didn't  think too much about that.

After 4 weeks my sex drive is "Thru the roof"
Wasn't ready for it to hit me this hard!  Like some guys on here
My low T ruined past relationships to the point where I've had no interest
In sex for the past 5 years so I have no outlet for these urges! And had to " take matters into my own hands"!   Now I think about sex all the time!!!
All day, every day!  (multiple times a day!)
This may be a little much??

I just had my follow up blood work done yesterday and don't have the results back yet.


On the positive side,  I suffered from extreme fatigue, muscle pains and weakness. (which are not  "common" side effects of low T).  The fatigue is remarkably better (so much better I know longer need
Perscription stimulants to make it they the day!

The muscle aches I've had in just about ever major muscle from my legs to my neck
Which started in my back and seemed to spread out from there over time.
Not bad pain, just dull constant aches that never went away
Or got much worse.....
I noticed after. 2 weeks I no longer had the pain in one arm (injection arm!)
So the next 2 weeks I switched arms and guess what??
No pain in that arm!!!
So now I'm injecting in my thighs to hopefully get rid of these aches in my legs.
I'm not gonna lie,  injecting in the leg muscle is quite a bit more painful than in the arm
And I wouldn't recommend that spot unless you have the muscle aches like I do .  If I can get the leg aches to go away, I'll start hip injections to hopefully relieve the back muscles???

The weakness i felt is totally gone!
I don't "feel sick" like I did for the past 5 years! I don't feel like
Superman, but I feel better and stronger than I had in quite a while!

Other observations are:

I'm growing facial hair much faster than before.
I need to shave every day, where as before I could go 2-3 days without shaving.

I'm also much "calmer" than before and mind seems better able to focus. You would think
Raising T levels would make you prone to anger and violence?
But it has had the opposite effect on me. 

This is just my personal expierence with HRT.
Just hoping this post will be of some use to someone in the future.
As I never knew low T could cause a lot more problems
Than just sex drive and function as the TV commercials would have you
Believe!






.

[PeakT]

Lol.  If you are a low testosterone guy with symptoms, testosterone is just plain magical. It is the difference between being a zombie and being "alive".

This is why it's so important for the young guys to protect themselves from all the endocrine disruptors, excitotoxins and other things that damage the Leydig cells, neurotransmitters and hypothalamus.  I hope some of them are reading this...

Hopefully, some of the other guys will relay some of their experiences as well...

Now use your power wisely:  put on muscle, drop any extra weight (if you are overweight) and get a superclean, whole foods diet (if you haven't already) as an insurance policy.

[kcwebguy]

For the record, my response to HRT has been almost identical to yours.

I will add that I have moved to more of a Mediterranean style diet and seen my blood pressure get closer to the normal range on  a daily basis despite being overweight, which I am working on of course.

Thanks for sharing your success with us...

[LowerT51]

You will get used to the increased libido/thoughts/urges, etc.  It does take a bit of time to get "cool" about it though.  For me, on pellets, the transition has been remarkable.  I've been on pellets for nearly two years now so completely used to ALL of the changes for the better!!!   

[FightLowT]

Really great news to hear the OP is doing so well and has experienced such a dramatic improvement in his quality of life. It is encouraging to hear success stories. I am curious if you have suffered from another common ailment of low-t and that is depression along with low motivation and a general lack of enthusiasm for things you used to enjoy. I used to have so many interests, passions, and hobbies in my mid 20's and it's almost as if the slowly faded to the point at when I turned 31 they were non-existent. If you did suffer from common depression symptoms associated with low-t have those areas also improved in the span of your treatment?

[Prsartist]

Yes, depression was a major part of my problems.
I had spent almost 3 years on different Anti depressants
With NO success at all.   The lack of motivation and interests
Led to a near constant desire for sleep (I could have slept at any hour of the day)

Of course the Dr.s recognized that as a problem and had no problem
Prescribing me stimulants to help me make it thru the day.  Even though my low T
Numbers were staring them in the face.  It's trully a miracle that anyone gets help
For this  when so many Dr's are clueless.

My depression and fatigue are noticeably better, but not entitely gone.

[Prsartist]

Just an update, my latest T level was taken last week
(a day before my weekly injection) to check my levels at there lowest point.
And it came back at 940!!!! (was 290-301)

Now As posted elsewhere HRT is no "miracle cure"
For all your problems, nor does it happen overnight.
I was in pretty rough shape, and after 5 weeks of treatment my
Muscle aches & pains are nearly gone..

Hoping these results continue, only time will tell.

[PeakT]

Now As posted elsewhere HRT is no "miracle cure"

Congrats on the improvements!  For some guys it's almost overnight - takes just a few days. 

[Prsartist]

Ugghhhh.....
Latest test results.  Gotta call the Dr.

Testosterone 940 (great)
Free T   3.3 (great)
Estradiol 58.5!!!!!!!  How could the have overlooked this??
(range is 0-40). Pre treatment test was 24....

The know enough to run these tests, why can't  the read them??

Ugghh

[feelgood]

first off congrats on your success in the other areas!

the estradiol should be easy to fix with arimidex, or whichever other estrogen/estradiol reducer he/she recommends.

you'll be all figured out shortly.

[PeakT]

Estradiol 58.5!!!!!!!  How could the have overlooked this??
(range is 0-40). Pre treatment test was 24....

The know enough to run these tests, why can't  the read them??

Well, actually, not many guys have their E2 pulled by their docs.  So at least he did that for you.

So he actually pulled estradiol at the same time as your testosterone draw of 940?

[Prsartist]

Yes, does that surprise you??

[PeakT]

Yes, does that surprise you??

Yes, that's pretty rare.  I've never my estradiol pulled for example.  I recently asked for it and will get it next time.

I'm a "thin to win" guy, but, still, I think you should have that pulled.  No one has ever pulled my prolactin either.

So, no, nothing really surprises me any more. 

Part of the issue is the current insurance environment.  Insurance companies just do not realize that pulling a cheap marker for heart disease or endocrinological issues will save everyone hundreds of thousands of dollars in future health care costs.  I mean if the doctors often do not understand these issues, then how can we expect the insurance companies to, right?  So it's just going to take time.  Give it another decade, eh?

[Prsartist]

Yes, does that surprise you??

Spoke with Dr. Today and expressed my concern with the
Esteadol reading of 58.  He stated that it's normal to see an Increase
Especially when he brought me up that high so fast.
And that it should "settle" down into a normal range
Given another month (don't really believe this).

He stated that he rarely has to prescribe an estradol blocker.
Does anyone have any info on estradol falling that much?

I'm concerned because erections are absolutely impossible
Now, and that the only thing I could think of?

Sex drive is back, this is NOT a good combination
To live with for a month.  I'm more than a little concerned.

[Prsartist]

Peak T

Did you have anything to add in that last post?


Spoke with Dr. today and expressed my concern with the
Esteadol reading of 58.  He stated that it's normal to see an Increase
Especially when he brought me up that high so fast.
And that it should "settle" down into a normal range
Given another month (don't really believe this).

He stated that he rarely has to prescribe an estradol blocker.
Does anyone have any info on estradol falling that much?

I'm concerned because erections are absolutely impossible
Now, and that the only thing I could think of?

Sex drive is back, this is NOT a good combination
To live with for a month.  I'm more than a little concerned.