Testosterone injections

[AustinTX]

Had my annual physical this week and everything was perfect. I'm a 61 year old male and my doctor said my testosterone level was borderline low. He wants me to take an injection of Testosterone, small amount, every two weeks, I admit my libdo and energy level isn't what it used to be but I was freaked out to learn that I was going through male menopause.
Has anyone here had to use Testosterone replacement? How long before you noticed a change?
I appreciate any feed back.

 

[Industrialsize]

I'm currently on Androgel..............works great!

 

[Rikter8]

I haven't tried injections yet, but hear that they are not a big deal.

I use androgel and a Compounded forumulation of testosterone rub.
For me, the androgel makes me a bit ragy, and the compounded formula seems to be more suttle. I usually start feeling more energy a few hours later, but for me it isn't this massive energy drink. After about a week I started to feel more normal.

Do you know what your levels were?

 

[AustinTX]

My level was 332, My doctor asked if I was low on energy and had a decreased sex drive. I said all was what I expected for a man that was 61. He gave me several options, a patch, cream. gel or injection. I took the injection because it was cheaper and was only every 2 weeks. Right now, the only side effect is a sore butt cheek. Since this is a steroid, I'm kinda concerned.

 

[suiseki]

I used the Androderm (patch) worked great. My low was 31, I stopped using it at around 350 or so

 

[Rikter8]

My level was 332, My doctor asked if I was low on energy and had a decreased sex drive. I said all was what I expected for a man that was 61. He gave me several options, a patch, cream. gel or injection. I took the injection because it was cheaper and was only every 2 weeks. Right now, the only side effect is a sore butt cheek. Since this is a steroid, I'm kinda concerned.

I'm no doc, but I wouldn't be that concerned. YOur body at that age will naturally start declining testosterone, so your only replacing it to keep your energy, muscle tone and such. The only side effect I saw was a decrease in testicle size, but was well worth the day-to-day energy revival.
My health plus doctor took me off of it saying I didnt need it, even with my T level being at 12.
(frustrating)
Luckily, I switch insurance companies Jan 01 and I can start looking for another doctor. I'm out of the compounded and my androgel is expired.

Was that your Free test, or total?
Is he administering the shots, or does he give them to you to do?
My homeopathic doc had little needles that I could administer myself, but..I just cant do that lol
The other option was a pellet inserted in your butt under your skin, so I opted for the topical cream.

 

[AustinTX]

Gave myself allergy shots for years, so doing it myself is no problem. Hard to reach my butt cheek though so might try my thigh if I can't get a good shot (no pun intended) at my ass. Since I'm doing a shot every 2 weeks, the doctor wants to do follow up blood work in about 6 months. He told me about the possible side effects and would hate to loose my low hangers but hate to have to "work" to shoot a load.
Hope to see some results soon.

 

[Popcorn38]

Been There Done That. Did Androgel for three years, No help. Now on shots for 1 year, WONDERFUL. I feel great.

 

[D_Jasper Dongworth]

I'm on shots. You won't be happy with one shot every two weeks. That will be a rollercoaster.

PM me if you'd like me to point you to good info.

 

[ncj153]

I have been on Androgel for about 6 months so far. I have not had any neg side effects yet. Energy level is somewhat better, sleep much better.

 

[beachboywb]

Been on Androgel myself for about three months last month did the blood work again and levels were still at zero ...so we're upping the dose to a higher strenght....started it around the 20th of Dec. I don't feel any different, but I figure I need more time, biggest thing is always putting it on the same time everyday.......you have to be consistant......

 

[onewatcher]

Was on Androgel and my levels actually dropped. Have been giving myself weekly injections of 100mg. Feel great. No side effects except for the shrinking of the testicles. Small price to pay for avoiding all of the effects of low testosterone. You're lucky your doctor is willing to give you the testosterone. Some won't.

 

[billbob4]

I am a 51 yo male on testosterone injections.

I first learned of my low T about 4 years ago when being evaluated for osteoporosis. My T levels ran 180-200. I was initially placed on a compounded T cream---which failed to increase my levels. I then was started on Androgel, which failed to raise my levels.

Finally, 2 years ago, I switched to an anti-aging medicine doctor who prescribed Testosterone Cypionate injection, 200 mg a week. Within 2-3 days I began feeling increased energy, physically and sexually.

My levels have increased to the low 1000s on 200 mg/week, or 800s on 100 mg/week. Quality of erection and flaccid hang is great. I am horny all the time. I have lost 38 lbs. of body fat over 2 years, with minimal excercise. My only complaint being on T replacement is I flare with acne breakouts 48 hours after injection, and am very frustrated that no matter what I try to resolve this problem, fails to work, other than laying off the T. So apparently I want to be on T, I will have to accept this problem.

Good luck and hope my experience provides some inisght.

 

[FuzzyKen]

OK,

There are some problems here. I am 58 and I am also on testosterone replacement.
I have had both injections and creams. I side with the injections, but, there is a catch.

Most MD's do not do this one right. One shot every two weeks is a terrible treatment regimen. The average MD prescribes Testosterone Cypionate which is under the trade name of Depo Testosterone. The injection you take if it is injected properly as an I.M. will have peak levels on the third day. What this means is that if you inject on Monday you will be at peak on Wednesday and you will begin to have that level fall to where you are down in the cellar again by Friday.

Also, there are multiple tests that should have been run and I can virtually guarantee that they were not. In order to do an Rx right the MD needed to have your serology levels on Serum Testosterone, Free Floating, DHT, FSH, Estrogen and Prolactin.

Estrogen will compete for the same receptor sites and if the Estrogen levels are elevated which happens with aging you will have a great percentage of the effect lost. In some cases an anti-estrogen is also needed with the testosterone to get the balance correct.

The FSH tells the qualified MD if the problems are in the testicles and liver or if they are in the pituitary. If you have a low FSH level the testicles are not the problem.

BillBob is getting better treatment here. You want your T level well above the 600 to 800 area because your receptor sites are not going to be as sensitive as you age either.

The other thing where most MD's fail is that you should have a rotation on this. Every 90 days you should have one week of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin injections to maintain the testicular function that you have. If the Depo injections go on for a long time then the testicles atrophy and the problem is made worse which requires increased testosterone supplementation which causes more testicular atrophy etc. etc.

The smartest MD's are balancing the system and the smartest ones are not using Depo Testosterone. As we age what we need more is not the anabolic effects. What we need is the androgenic side. Creams are effective when the base of the cream is dihydrotestosterone. DHT has been made a bad guy when there is zero truth to that statement.

Testosterone replacement therapy is a lifesaver and I mean that literally. But to prevent other problems the balance must be maintained and sometimes other drugs are required to do that. If you don't you get the following:

Gynecomastia (male breast development) because Depo has a portion that aromatizes.
and is converted to Estrogen easily in the male body.

Acne (as has already been mentioned)

Female fat patterns if aromatization takes place

Mood swings as levels fluctuate between the highs and lows on the Depo

Testicular atrophy and permanent additional damage to the pituitary axis

Abnormalities in RBC and abnormalities in platelets.

I absolutely 100 percent endorse and recommend testosterone replacement for all males needing it. If it is done right the difference in how you feel will be astounding. It ended depression for me completely.

Now, the hard part is finding an MD that will do it right!

Good Luck!

 

[baldyboy8000]

Had my annual physical this week and everything was perfect. I'm a 61 year old male and my doctor said my testosterone level was borderline low. He wants me to take an injection of Testosterone, small amount, every two weeks, I admit my libdo and energy level isn't what it used to be but I was freaked out to learn that I was going through male menopause.
Has anyone here had to use Testosterone replacement? How long before you noticed a change?
I appreciate any feed back.

When my Dr. discovered my T was on the low side, he told me he was giving me an injection to boost it. Then he gave me a script for the patch. Recenty I had to swith to the gel for insurance purposes. I like it better. The patch itched sometime and I always had to clean the glue off me. Another problem with the patch, you have to put it on bare skin, no hair and I have very little places without hair. GOOD LUCK

 

[Diabloii]

I was diagnosed early last year with low T (244), after my wife complained.

The Doctor originally started me on testosterone patches; it worked reasonably well, but left my skin red and soft to where a vigorous scratch with a nail could cause significant damage. It got rid of my extreme fatigue, but didn't give me my usual energy or desire back. However, after a recheck, my T level had dropped to 133.

The doctor then moved me to *monthly* testosterone (Depo) shots. As noted by FuzzyKen above, the shot peaks after a few days and then there is a long crash until the next shot where you've got nothing and feel like shit again. After the doctor's office refused to give me the third monthly shot from my own testosterone bottle (which my insurance had insisted upon, as opposed to using the office's testosterone bottle which the doctor's office charges you an uplift fee), I was transferred to a local urologist's office to give me the shots from my own testosterone bottle.

The urologist insisted on revisiting the diagnosis and treatment, and I'm glad he did. I've been moved to Androgel, and things have dramatically changed for the better. Low energy levels are a thing of the past, and I've got my old ambition back. Still working on the desire part of the problem, and have been slowly increasing the dosage with the urologist's supervision and approval.

He explained that it takes approximately three months to stabilize at a new level, before you can tell if that level is right for you, so it's a long and frustrating grind until you get the level right. I started at 4 pumps/day of Androgel 1% (which got rid of my extreme fatigue), moved up to 6 pumps/day (feeling better, but no ambition), and then to 8 pumps/day (feel good, ambition back, but still no desire), where I've been for a two months now.

I'll be going back in next month to have my testosterone level rechecked, and to get further counseling on addressing my lack of desire. I suspect part of the problem is carrying around some excess belly fat, which I can finally address now that I've got some ambition and energy back

Don't give up. I realize now that I've had this problem of low energy and desire for the last 7 years. As does everyone else, I wanted a quick fix, but have found that it's a long slow grind until you get there. The Doctor's office didn't help by screwing me around for 8 months until I got transferred to the specialist for correct treatment.

 

[654900]

I just turned 50 and my doctor started me on T injections about 6 months ago. After about 3 weeks I noticed an increased energy level and a definite increase in my sex drive. I feel like a twenysomething again. Unfortunately, my spouse is just the opposite. In fact, she sort of complained about how much longer I am able to last now. Not a bad complaint from my point of view. Now if I could only get more sex.

 

[onewatcher]

It definately is tough to get things balanced. I've done much better on giving myself weekly injections. T has been up around 800. ALSO, remember to get a baseline PSA and keep getting them at regular intervals. Mine has gone up a bit, up around 3.4. Recently it was 8.4, had a repeat test and back down to 3.4. A CBC is also important as T can raise your hematocrit. An endrocrinologist is the best one to keep tabs on you.

 

[deleted556573]

Well, I came on here to post a thread about this issue. I got my test results back and found out that my Testosterone level is at 163. I've got some extreme levels of fatigue and ongoing depression; my doctor seems to think that this, along with a dangerously low Vitamin D level, is contributing to this. I have an appointment set up to go back and discuss treatment options. I'm not particularly pleased at the idea of this, but my low energy level and drop in sex drive (non-existent on both accounts), both of which have been ongoing since my mid 20's,

I thought I was a little young for this kind of problem. Apparently, I'm not.

 

[bigdex]

Supplements can help improve testosterone levels. Zinc along with copper to improve its absorbtion works good. Vitamin C also is important. Being overweight will lower testosterone so if you are overweight you are best to start weight lifting. Running is a bad idea as this can lower it. Try circuit training with fairly heavy weights. Diet is important too. Too much carbs can lower it. Eating red meat, fish and chicken is great for increasing it. Try getting protein with every meal.

The hormone hCG can raise testosterone by signaling the testes to produce testosterone. It can also be used on a very low calorie diet (the hCG diet) to rapidly lose weight. I'm about 30 pounds overweight and I notice a difference in my libido and my energy levels. I'm going to give the hCG diet a try.