Re: Please help me gather some information for my husband...

[Guest guest]

That is a high start good for you Vickie you knew better. Sounds like all is

great and this is great.

Co-Moderator

Phil

> > >

> > > >Hello,

> > > >

> > > >I just joined this group today looking for

> information to help

> my

> > > >husband. We are both so overwhelmed and

> having a difficult time

> > > >lately.

> > >

> > > You have come to the right place. The good news

> is T shots and

> > proper

> > > treatment will fix all of this. There are also

> readily available

> > ways

> > > to keep his fertility (assuming he is secondary

> hypogonadic- that

> is

> > > that his testicles still work but are not getting

> the necessary

> > > signals from the pituitary. The low FSH and LH

> suggest that is the

> > > case.The bad news is you have to work to get the

> proper

> treatment.

> > The

> > > condition is rare enough that most doctors are

> not up to speed on

> > the

> > > state of the art treatment and are doing cook

> book treatment from

> > the

> > > 70s. Even endocrinologists (or especially

> endocrinologists) are

> not

> > > good at treating this condition. They work mostly

> with diabetes,

> > > women's issues and thyroid issues. They are

> mostly relying on

> their

> > > old textbook knowledge when treating low T - and

> its woefully out

> of

> > > date.

> > >

> > > You are going to have to get educated some to be

> able to get the

> > > treatment he needs and deserves.

> > >

> > > A simple read on some of the issues is

> > > Dr. Shippen's book :

> > > The Testosterone Syndrome

> > > http://www.amazon. com/Testosterone -Syndrome-

> Critical-

> Sexuality-

> > Reversing-Menopause /dp/087131858X/ ref=sr_1_ 1?

> > ie=UTF8 & s=books & qid=1216752025 & sr=8-1

> > >

> > > This will clue you in to what behaviors are due

> to your husband's

> > low

> > > T. One of the major problems is that low T

> diminishes your drive

> to

> > do

> > > things. It also takes away your caring about

> things. It can make

> > you a

> > > couch potato or slug. This means he likely will

> not have the

> energy

> > > and drive to seek the change he needs. But he is

> already on shots

> so

> > > you've likely gotten past a lot of that.

> > >

> > > Start with the AACE treatment guidelines:

> > > http://www.aace. com/pub/pdf/ guidelines/

> hypogonadism. pdf

> > > These are slightly out of date - they don't

> look at

> > estrogen/estradiol

> > > issues much. But they are a huge help in learning

> what your doctor

> > > should do.

> > >

> > > There is also the endo society treatment guide:

> > > http://www.endo- society.org/ guidelines/

> Current-Clinical -

> Practice-

> > Guidelines.cfm

> > >

> > > Testosterone Therapy in

> > > Adult Men with

> > > Androgen Deficiency Syndromes:

> > > (I note this was updated in 2006!)

> > >

> > >

> > > For starters note they say injections should be

> every 7 to 10

> days

> > to

> > > avoid the high peaks and low valleys of the two

> week cycle with

> it's

> > > roller coaster mood swings.

> > >

> > > You should note your husband needed a prolactin

> test. Did they do

> > one?

> > > One of the principle causes of secondary low T is

> small adenomas

> on

> > > the pituitary. These are virtually always not

> cancerous - and

> > benign.

> > > But it's scary to hear that tumor word. Most

> good docs will do an

> > MRI

> > > or cat scan if you have insurance to rule out

> their presence and

> see

> > > if there are other anomalies to the pituitary.

> (Mine for example

> has

> > > been knocked out of its bone " saddle " )

> All the treatment in the

> > world

> > > will not help his mood and energy if he has high

> prolactin. If he

> > has

> > > it, it usually responds to medication and T gets

> back to normal

> > > without shots, etc. Occasionally surgery is used.

> > >

> > > Also he definitely needs a estradiol test.

> Estradiol is the

> > strongest

> > > of the estrogens- known as E2. In men T is

> converted to E2 by an

> > > enzyme (aromatase). If mens levels of this get

> high they lose some

> > > erection ability, some libido. They get weepy,

> lethargic,

> emotional,

> > > and more. It is in many ways like low T and just

> as debilitating.

> In

> > > some men just controlling high E2 brings their T

> levels back up as

> > > much as 200 to 300 points. (Your husbands numbers

> are so low this

> is

> > > unlikely to be enough for him). Also when T is as

> super low as

> your

> > > husbands it is possible that E2 is actually low

> before T therapy,

> as

> > > there is not enough T to convert to E2 in

> meaningful amounts.

> > >

> > > When he started on T his body converts a certain

> amount of it to

> E2.

> > > It's very common to produce too much E2. This

> is especially so on

> > the

> > > gels, and on longer shot cycles like the two

> weeks. The higher

> the T

> > > dose the more " spill over " there is

> into E2. SO if you're husband

> > is

> > > still feeling down, has some libido and erection

> issues he's

> almost

> > > certainly converting enough to have E2 levels

> that are too high.

> E2

> > > also out competes T for numerous bonding sites in

> the body and

> brain

> > > and thus robs the body of the full benefit of T

> therapy.

> > >

> > > He definitely needs an E2 test. Once you get a

> number people can

> > talk

> > > with you about how to reduce it if it is high.

> There is a common

> > > medication that is extremely effective (though

> hard to get some

> > > doctors to prescribe) and also a supplement that

> can reduce milder

> > > cases into an acceptable range.

> > >

> > > It is true that T therapy can reduce fertility.

> This is easily

> > fixable

> > > in secondary cases with supplementation with HCG

> > > (http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Human_chorionic_

> gonadotropin)

> > > HCG mimics LH output from the pituitary and

> signals the testes to

> > make

> > > more sperm. Many men mix small doses of this

> several times a week

> > > with their T therapy.

> > >

> > > High cortisol levels also sometimes drive T

> levels down and

> should

> > be

> > > tested.

> > >

> > > Keep in touch here. It's a tough ride, but he

> will get better and

> > > soon. Faster if you get good advice here to help

> you evaluate the

> > > doctor's knowledge and plans. (Probably 80%

> of us had doctors add

> to

> > > our suffering rather than help initially.)

> > >

> > > Your husband may be down and unmotivated with

> high E2 or

> prolactin.

> > > You will need to supply the energy in that case.

> It's not easy.

> And

> > > you're dealing with his

> " masculinity " sex drive and ability and

> the

> > > rest. (Be aware when he gets well and gets T up

> and E2 down he

> will

> > be

> > > chasing you around the house like a teenager.

> You'll have

> different

> > > issues then!)

> > >

> > > There are some women who have come through here

> before. Vickie

> comes

> > > to mind. Search the messages via the web site for

> " husband " and

> you

> > > can find e-mails for women who have come through

> seeking help. You

> > > could likely e-mail them directly and get the

> benefit of their

> > > experience. (They stop posting and visiting when

> things get

> better,

> > so

> > > personal e-mails will likely do better.) Hang in

> there. It will

> get

> > > better. And so will he. It just takes a bit of

> work. It can come

> > > together quickly with the right tests and

> therapy. A few weeks and

> > > he'll be good as new or better.

> > >

> > > It can put strains on a relationship. You need to

> work on that a

> lot

> > > till you come out the other side. Getting well

> presents issues

> too.

> > > For me it was a tough go. I was sick for years

> before they found

> it,

> > > and so there was a lot of baggage to overcome. My

> wife thought I

> was

> > > lazy, depressed, or otherwise a problem. When I

> got well I wanted

> > > everything fixed right away - all that new energy

> - and that

> meant

> > her

> > > too. It was a struggle but we're better and

> stronger for it.

> Married

> > > 28 years now. SO hang tough. The fact you're

> here for him says a

> lot

> > > about you.

> > >

> > > He's lucky to have you in his corner.

> He's going to need it.

> > >

> > > >About a year ago my then 30 year old husband

> started feeling

> > > >more fatigued when training for a triathalon.

> He was always a

> > > >healthy, active person but started noticing

> that it took him

> > longer

> > > >to recover from workouts. Around the same

> time he started losing

> > > >interest in sex and had difficulty sexually.

> I thought it was

> > > >because I was pregnant and that the stress of

> becoming soon-to-

> be

> > new

> > > >parents and my physical changes were

> difficult for him. It took

> > us

> > > >over two years and a surgery for a varicocele

> and an IUI to get

> > > >pregnant, by the way. The reasons for

> infertility were thought

> to

> > be

> > > >difficulties with his sperm morphology and my

> hypothyroidism.

> > >

> > >

> > > >Anyhow, we finally got him to a urologist in

> January and they

> > checked

> > > >some levels... LH was 0.7 (low), FSH was 0.6

> (low) and

> > testosterone

> > > >was 24 L (very low - reference was 225-972).

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > >Anyway, my husband,

> > > >bless his heart, hates talking about this

> stuff and I know very

> > > >little about all of this. At one point this

> spring his liver

> > numbers

> > > >were also high (even before starting

> androgel) but now they are

> > > >lower. Anyway, he did not like the gel or the

> patch and is

> > currently

> > > >on week 3 1/2 of the shots (getting 200

> injected every 2 weeks).

> > He

> > > >is an emotional rollercoaster, poor guy, and

> it has been very

> > tough

> > > >on us all. I want to help him so badly but

> don't know how.

> > >

> > > > Another

> > > >issue is his appetite. He goes on these

> eating binges has

> > difficulty

> > > >stopping. He has lost interest in almost

> everything and is so

> > down.

> > > >I recently read online that testosterone

> replacement therapy can

> > > >cause men to become sterile? Is this true?

> Also, has anyone else

> > > >had experience with binge eating issues? I

> have read once or

> > twice

> > > >where testosterone can affect appetite. Any

> help and support

> > would

> > > >be appreciated! !! Thank you!

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

OK, so I just looked at the bottle and it is 100mg per shot. We do it

ourselves, he bends over and I give it to him. Testosterone

Cypionate. It is cheap, especially when insurance won't have any

thing to do with T!!!!

> > > >

> > > > >Hello,

> > > > >

> > > > >I just joined this group today looking for

> > information to help

> > my

> > > > >husband. We are both so overwhelmed and

> > having a difficult time

> > > > >lately.

> > > >

> > > > You have come to the right place. The good news

> > is T shots and

> > > proper

> > > > treatment will fix all of this. There are also

> > readily available

> > > ways

> > > > to keep his fertility (assuming he is secondary

> > hypogonadic- that

> > is

> > > > that his testicles still work but are not getting

> > the necessary

> > > > signals from the pituitary. The low FSH and LH

> > suggest that is the

> > > > case.The bad news is you have to work to get the

> > proper

> > treatment.

> > > The

> > > > condition is rare enough that most doctors are

> > not up to speed on

> > > the

> > > > state of the art treatment and are doing cook

> > book treatment from

> > > the

> > > > 70s. Even endocrinologists (or especially

> > endocrinologists) are

> > not

> > > > good at treating this condition. They work mostly

> > with diabetes,

> > > > women's issues and thyroid issues. They are

> > mostly relying on

> > their

> > > > old textbook knowledge when treating low T - and

> > its woefully out

> > of

> > > > date.

> > > >

> > > > You are going to have to get educated some to be

> > able to get the

> > > > treatment he needs and deserves.

> > > >

> > > > A simple read on some of the issues is

> > > > Dr. Shippen's book :

> > > > The Testosterone Syndrome

> > > > http://www.amazon. com/Testosterone -Syndrome-

> > Critical-

> > Sexuality-

> > > Reversing-Menopause /dp/087131858X/ ref=sr_1_ 1?

> > > ie=UTF8 & s=books & qid=1216752025 & sr=8-1

> > > >

> > > > This will clue you in to what behaviors are due

> > to your husband's

> > > low

> > > > T. One of the major problems is that low T

> > diminishes your drive

> > to

> > > do

> > > > things. It also takes away your caring about

> > things. It can make

> > > you a

> > > > couch potato or slug. This means he likely will

> > not have the

> > energy

> > > > and drive to seek the change he needs. But he is

> > already on shots

> > so

> > > > you've likely gotten past a lot of that.

> > > >

> > > > Start with the AACE treatment guidelines:

> > > > http://www.aace. com/pub/pdf/ guidelines/

> > hypogonadism. pdf

> > > > These are slightly out of date - they don't

> > look at

> > > estrogen/estradiol

> > > > issues much. But they are a huge help in learning

> > what your doctor

> > > > should do.

> > > >

> > > > There is also the endo society treatment guide:

> > > > http://www.endo- society.org/ guidelines/

> > Current-Clinical -

> > Practice-

> > > Guidelines.cfm

> > > >

> > > > Testosterone Therapy in

> > > > Adult Men with

> > > > Androgen Deficiency Syndromes:

> > > > (I note this was updated in 2006!)

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > For starters note they say injections should be

> > every 7 to 10

> > days

> > > to

> > > > avoid the high peaks and low valleys of the two

> > week cycle with

> > it's

> > > > roller coaster mood swings.

> > > >

> > > > You should note your husband needed a prolactin

> > test. Did they do

> > > one?

> > > > One of the principle causes of secondary low T is

> > small adenomas

> > on

> > > > the pituitary. These are virtually always not

> > cancerous - and

> > > benign.

> > > > But it's scary to hear that tumor word. Most

> > good docs will do an

> > > MRI

> > > > or cat scan if you have insurance to rule out

> > their presence and

> > see

> > > > if there are other anomalies to the pituitary.

> > (Mine for example

> > has

> > > > been knocked out of its bone " saddle " )

> > All the treatment in the

> > > world

> > > > will not help his mood and energy if he has high

> > prolactin. If he

> > > has

> > > > it, it usually responds to medication and T gets

> > back to normal

> > > > without shots, etc. Occasionally surgery is used.

> > > >

> > > > Also he definitely needs a estradiol test.

> > Estradiol is the

> > > strongest

> > > > of the estrogens- known as E2. In men T is

> > converted to E2 by an

> > > > enzyme (aromatase). If mens levels of this get

> > high they lose some

> > > > erection ability, some libido. They get weepy,

> > lethargic,

> > emotional,

> > > > and more. It is in many ways like low T and just

> > as debilitating.

> > In

> > > > some men just controlling high E2 brings their T

> > levels back up as

> > > > much as 200 to 300 points. (Your husbands numbers

> > are so low this

> > is

> > > > unlikely to be enough for him). Also when T is as

> > super low as

> > your

> > > > husbands it is possible that E2 is actually low

> > before T therapy,

> > as

> > > > there is not enough T to convert to E2 in

> > meaningful amounts.

> > > >

> > > > When he started on T his body converts a certain

> > amount of it to

> > E2.

> > > > It's very common to produce too much E2. This

> > is especially so on

> > > the

> > > > gels, and on longer shot cycles like the two

> > weeks. The higher

> > the T

> > > > dose the more " spill over " there is

> > into E2. SO if you're husband

> > > is

> > > > still feeling down, has some libido and erection

> > issues he's

> > almost

> > > > certainly converting enough to have E2 levels

> > that are too high.

> > E2

> > > > also out competes T for numerous bonding sites in

> > the body and

> > brain

> > > > and thus robs the body of the full benefit of T

> > therapy.

> > > >

> > > > He definitely needs an E2 test. Once you get a

> > number people can

> > > talk

> > > > with you about how to reduce it if it is high.

> > There is a common

> > > > medication that is extremely effective (though

> > hard to get some

> > > > doctors to prescribe) and also a supplement that

> > can reduce milder

> > > > cases into an acceptable range.

> > > >

> > > > It is true that T therapy can reduce fertility.

> > This is easily

> > > fixable

> > > > in secondary cases with supplementation with HCG

> > > > (http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Human_chorionic_

> > gonadotropin)

> > > > HCG mimics LH output from the pituitary and

> > signals the testes to

> > > make

> > > > more sperm. Many men mix small doses of this

> > several times a week

> > > > with their T therapy.

> > > >

> > > > High cortisol levels also sometimes drive T

> > levels down and

> > should

> > > be

> > > > tested.

> > > >

> > > > Keep in touch here. It's a tough ride, but he

> > will get better and

> > > > soon. Faster if you get good advice here to help

> > you evaluate the

> > > > doctor's knowledge and plans. (Probably 80%

> > of us had doctors add

> > to

> > > > our suffering rather than help initially.)

> > > >

> > > > Your husband may be down and unmotivated with

> > high E2 or

> > prolactin.

> > > > You will need to supply the energy in that case.

> > It's not easy.

> > And

> > > > you're dealing with his

> > " masculinity " sex drive and ability and

> > the

> > > > rest. (Be aware when he gets well and gets T up

> > and E2 down he

> > will

> > > be

> > > > chasing you around the house like a teenager.

> > You'll have

> > different

> > > > issues then!)

> > > >

> > > > There are some women who have come through here

> > before. Vickie

> > comes

> > > > to mind. Search the messages via the web site for

> > " husband " and

> > you

> > > > can find e-mails for women who have come through

> > seeking help. You

> > > > could likely e-mail them directly and get the

> > benefit of their

> > > > experience. (They stop posting and visiting when

> > things get

> > better,

> > > so

> > > > personal e-mails will likely do better.) Hang in

> > there. It will

> > get

> > > > better. And so will he. It just takes a bit of

> > work. It can come

> > > > together quickly with the right tests and

> > therapy. A few weeks and

> > > > he'll be good as new or better.

> > > >

> > > > It can put strains on a relationship. You need to

> > work on that a

> > lot

> > > > till you come out the other side. Getting well

> > presents issues

> > too.

> > > > For me it was a tough go. I was sick for years

> > before they found

> > it,

> > > > and so there was a lot of baggage to overcome. My

> > wife thought I

> > was

> > > > lazy, depressed, or otherwise a problem. When I

> > got well I wanted

> > > > everything fixed right away - all that new energy

> > - and that

> > meant

> > > her

> > > > too. It was a struggle but we're better and

> > stronger for it.

> > Married

> > > > 28 years now. SO hang tough. The fact you're

> > here for him says a

> > lot

> > > > about you.

> > > >

> > > > He's lucky to have you in his corner.

> > He's going to need it.

> > > >

> > > > >About a year ago my then 30 year old husband

> > started feeling

> > > > >more fatigued when training for a triathalon.

> > He was always a

> > > > >healthy, active person but started noticing

> > that it took him

> > > longer

> > > > >to recover from workouts. Around the same

> > time he started losing

> > > > >interest in sex and had difficulty sexually.

> > I thought it was

> > > > >because I was pregnant and that the stress of

> > becoming soon-to-

> > be

> > > new

> > > > >parents and my physical changes were

> > difficult for him. It took

> > > us

> > > > >over two years and a surgery for a varicocele

> > and an IUI to get

> > > > >pregnant, by the way. The reasons for

> > infertility were thought

> > to

> > > be

> > > > >difficulties with his sperm morphology and my

> > hypothyroidism.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > >Anyhow, we finally got him to a urologist in

> > January and they

> > > checked

> > > > >some levels... LH was 0.7 (low), FSH was 0.6

> > (low) and

> > > testosterone

> > > > >was 24 L (very low - reference was 225-972).

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > >Anyway, my husband,

> > > > >bless his heart, hates talking about this

> > stuff and I know very

> > > > >little about all of this. At one point this

> > spring his liver

> > > numbers

> > > > >were also high (even before starting

> > androgel) but now they are

> > > > >lower. Anyway, he did not like the gel or the

> > patch and is

> > > currently

> > > > >on week 3 1/2 of the shots (getting 200

> > injected every 2 weeks).

> > > He

> > > > >is an emotional rollercoaster, poor guy, and

> > it has been very

> > > tough

> > > > >on us all. I want to help him so badly but

> > don't know how.

> > > >

> > > > > Another

> > > > >issue is his appetite. He goes on these

> > eating binges has

> > > difficulty

> > > > >stopping. He has lost interest in almost

> > everything and is so

> > > down.

> > > > >I recently read online that testosterone

> > replacement therapy can

> > > > >cause men to become sterile? Is this true?

> > Also, has anyone else

> > > > >had experience with binge eating issues? I

> > have read once or

> > > twice

> > > > >where testosterone can affect appetite. Any

> > help and support

> > > would

> > > > >be appreciated! !! Thank you!

> > > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >