RE: low level of testosterone

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with low testosterone- <18 - hypogonadism since 1999. I was put on two 1% packets of Androgel daily. I was diagnosed with enlarged prostate in 2007. Had a TURP surgery to shave it down. Even after 8 yrs on TRT I never got into normal range. Docs are puzzled. Even spent $12K of my own money @ Mayo clinic they had no solution or recommendation. A wasted trip where I'd hoped I'd get help. They are rated #1 for Endocrinoloy/hormone problems. Hrumph! -MattSent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryFrom: A R Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 18:53:09 -0700 (PDT)< >Subject: low level of testosterone HelloI was diagnosed recently with low testosterone level: 16.4. Normal levels: 31.2-160.9. My doc highly recommends going on TRT (Testosterone replacement therapy) immediately. He says it will improve my sex drive, my mood, energy will be back and it can increase lean muscle mass and bone density. However there is potential risk of prostate enlargement or cancer. Stats: 50yo. VL undetectable/cd4 at 572. Taking atazanavir 300/ritonavir100/abacavir 600. Is anyone in this group on TRT and could give feedback. ThanksAxell Canada Toolbar : Search from anywhere on the web and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now!

[Guest guest]

Hi Axell,

I’ve been on TRT for some time.

Personally I haven’t felt the benefits that most other people

have re libido and energy. However, I’m still continuing the testosterone

replacement due to long-term benefits re bone density and reducing the risk of

fractures as I age.

As for prostate problems, monitor your PSA level regularly. Mine

has stayed very low.

I’ve tried gels, patches, and injections. I’m on the gel now for

convenience of use.

Bob

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of A

R

Sent: Saturday, August 08, 2009 7:53 PM

Subject: low level of testosterone

Hello

I was diagnosed recently with low testosterone level: 16.4. Normal

levels: 31.2-160.9. My doc highly recommends going on TRT

(Testosterone replacement therapy) immediately. He says it will improve

my sex drive, my mood, energy will be back and it can increase lean muscle

mass and bone density. However there is potential risk of prostate

enlargement or cancer.

Stats: 50yo. VL undetectable/cd4 at 572. Taking atazanavir

300/ritonavir100/abacavir 600.

Is anyone in this group on TRT and could give feedback.

Thanks

Axell

Canada Toolbar : Search from anywhere on the web

and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now!

[Guest guest]

Have you tried a 10% gel from any of the compounding pharmacies?

Has your doc measured your estradiol, DHT, and free testosterone periodically to see why you do not respond?

In a message dated 8/10/2009 3:23:51 P.M. Central Daylight Time, upshot4u@... writes:

I was diagnosed with low testosterone- <18 - hypogonadism since 1999. I was put on two 1% packets of Androgel daily. I was diagnosed with enlarged prostate in 2007. Had a TURP surgery to shave it down. Even after 8 yrs on TRT I never got into normal range. Docs are puzzled. Even spent $12K of my own money @ Mayo clinic they had no solution or recommendation. A wasted trip where I'd hoped I'd get help. They are rated #1 for Endocrinoloy/hormone problems. Hrumph! -Matt Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

From: A R Date: Sat, 8 Aug 2009 18:53:09 -0700 (PDT)< >Subject: low level of testosterone

Hello

I was diagnosed recently with low testosterone level: 16.4. Normal levels: 31.2-160.9. My doc highly recommends going on TRT (Testosterone replacement therapy) immediately. He says it will improve my sex drive, my mood, energy will be back and it can increase lean muscle mass and bone density. However there is potential risk of prostate enlargement or cancer.

Stats: 50yo. VL undetectable/cd4 at 572. Taking atazanavir 300/ritonavir100/abacavir 600.

Is anyone in this group on TRT and could give feedback. Thanks

Axell

Canada Toolbar : Search from anywhere on the web and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now!

[Guest guest]

Enlarged prostrate is something that can be treated without surgery, if you catch it early. Their are both over the counter and prescription treatments that will bring it down. You are not the first person I have spoken with that did not have a good solution from the shaving down approach. I know someone else who had this and he developed scar tissue as a result. Unfortunately he is now quite miserable.

Best thing is to start treatment early. There are certain foods and plants that are clinically proven to reduce prostrate size (hyperplasia).

Don

low level of testosterone

Hello

I was diagnosed recently with low testosterone level: 16.4. Normal levels: 31.2-160.9. My doc highly recommends going on TRT (Testosterone replacement therapy) immediately. He says it will improve my sex drive, my mood, energy will be back and it can increase lean muscle mass and bone density. However there is potential risk of prostate enlargement or cancer.

Stats: 50yo. VL undetectable/cd4 at 572. Taking atazanavir 300/ritonavir100/abacavir 600.

Is anyone in this group on TRT and could give feedback. Thanks

Axell

Canada Toolbar : Search from anywhere on the web and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now!

[Guest guest]

Enlarged prostrate is something that can be treated without surgery, if you catch it early. Their are both over the counter and prescription treatments that will bring it down. You are not the first person I have spoken with that did not have a good solution from the shaving down approach. I know someone else who had this and he developed scar tissue as a result. Unfortunately he is now quite miserable.

Best thing is to start treatment early. There are certain foods and plants that are clinically proven to reduce prostrate size (hyperplasia).

Don

low level of testosterone

Hello

I was diagnosed recently with low testosterone level: 16.4. Normal levels: 31.2-160.9. My doc highly recommends going on TRT (Testosterone replacement therapy) immediately. He says it will improve my sex drive, my mood, energy will be back and it can increase lean muscle mass and bone density. However there is potential risk of prostate enlargement or cancer.

Stats: 50yo. VL undetectable/cd4 at 572. Taking atazanavir 300/ritonavir100/abacavir 600.

Is anyone in this group on TRT and could give feedback. Thanks

Axell

Canada Toolbar : Search from anywhere on the web and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now!

[Guest guest]

What are PSA levels?

Don

RE: low level of testosterone

Hi Axell,

I’ve been on TRT for some time.

Personally I haven’t felt the benefits that most other people have re libido and energy. However, I’m still continuing the testosterone replacement due to long-term benefits re bone density and reducing the risk of fractures as I age.

As for prostate problems, monitor your PSA level regularly. Mine has stayed very low.

I’ve tried gels, patches, and injections. I’m on the gel now for convenience of use.

Bob

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of A RSent: Saturday, August 08, 2009 7:53 PM Subject: low level of testosterone

Hello

I was diagnosed recently with low testosterone level: 16.4. Normal levels: 31.2-160.9. My doc highly recommends going on TRT (Testosterone replacement therapy) immediately. He says it will improve my sex drive, my mood, energy will be back and it can increase lean muscle mass and bone density. However there is potential risk of prostate enlargement or cancer.

Stats: 50yo. VL undetectable/cd4 at 572. Taking atazanavir 300/ritonavir100/abacavir 600.

Is anyone in this group on TRT and could give feedback. Thanks

Axell

Canada Toolbar : Search from anywhere on the web and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now!

[Guest guest]

Sorry! PSA is “prostate specific antigen” This is from National

Cancer Institute web page at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/PSA

which has more info.

Bob

1.

What is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

test?

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein

produced by cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA

in the blood. The doctor takes a blood sample, and the amount of PSA is

measured in a laboratory. Because PSA is produced by the body and can be used

to detect disease, it is sometimes called a biological marker or a tumor marker.

It is normal for men to have a low level of PSA in

their blood; however, prostate cancer or benign (not cancerous) conditions can increase

a man’s PSA level. As men age, both benign prostate conditions and prostate

cancer become more common. The most frequent benign prostate conditions are prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (enlargement of the prostate). There is

no evidence that prostatitis or BPH causes cancer, but it is possible for a man

to have one or both of these conditions and to develop prostate cancer as well.

A man’s PSA level alone does not give doctors

enough information to distinguish between benign prostate conditions and

cancer. However, the doctor will take the result of the PSA test into account

when deciding whether to check further for signs of prostate cancer.

2.

Why is the PSA test performed?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has

approved the use of the PSA test along with a digital rectal exam (DRE) to help detect prostate cancer in men 50

years of age or older. During a DRE, a doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate gland through

the rectal wall to check for bumps or abnormal areas. Doctors often use the PSA test

and DRE as prostate cancer screening tests; together, these tests can help

doctors detect prostate cancer in men who have no symptoms of the disease.

The FDA has also approved the use of the PSA test

to monitor patients who have a history of prostate cancer to see if the cancer

has recurred (come back). If a man’s PSA level begins to rise, it may be the

first sign of recurrence. Such a “biochemical relapse” typically precedes

clinical signs and symptoms of a relapse by months or years. However, a single

elevated PSA measurement in a patient with a history of prostate cancer does

not always mean the cancer has come back. A man who has been treated for prostate

cancer should discuss an elevated PSA level with his doctor. The doctor may

recommend repeating the PSA test or performing other tests to check for

evidence of a recurrence. The doctor may look for a trend of rising PSA

measurements over time rather than a single elevated PSA level.

It is important to note that a man who is receiving

hormone therapy for prostate cancer may have a

low PSA level during, or immediately after, treatment. The low level may not be

a true measure of the man’s PSA level. Men receiving hormone therapy should

talk with their doctor, who may advise them to wait a few months after hormone treatment before having a PSA test.

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Whiting

Sent: Monday, August 10, 2009 3:19 PM

'A R'; ; Bob Munk

Subject: Re: low level of testosterone

What

are PSA levels?

Don

-----

Original Message -----

From: Bob Munk

'A R' ;

Sent: Sunday, August 09,

2009 5:29 AM

Subject: RE: low

level of testosterone

Hi Axell,

I’ve been on TRT for some time.

Personally I haven’t felt the benefits

that most other people have re libido and energy. However, I’m still continuing

the testosterone replacement due to long-term benefits re bone density and

reducing the risk of fractures as I age.

As for prostate problems, monitor your

PSA level regularly. Mine has stayed very low.

I’ve tried gels, patches, and

injections. I’m on the gel now for convenience of use.

Bob

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of A

R

Sent: Saturday, August 08, 2009 7:53 PM

Subject: low level of testosterone

Hello

I was diagnosed recently with low testosterone level: 16.4. Normal

levels: 31.2-160.9. My doc highly recommends going on TRT

(Testosterone replacement therapy) immediately. He says it will improve

my sex drive, my mood, energy will be back and it can increase lean muscle

mass and bone density. However there is potential risk of prostate

enlargement or cancer.

Stats: 50yo. VL undetectable/cd4 at 572. Taking atazanavir

300/ritonavir100/abacavir 600.

Is anyone in this group on TRT and could give feedback.

Thanks

Axell

Canada Toolbar : Search from anywhere on the web

and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now!

[Guest guest]

"What are PSA levels?"Prostate specific antigen. Levels of this protein may be elevated in prostate cancer, but can also be elevated because of benign hypertrophy or even infection.It is used to some degree as a screening test for prostate cancer, but it is a very imperfect test.JB

[Guest guest]

HI Axell

I say do it!!!

It has helped me a great deat. However, you need to remember

that you must also exercise(lifting weights) in order to increase your

lean muscle mass.

Neal