I have heard of this. Let's face it ... now that's a commitment to wanting sex.
I believe there are also the equivalent of air bladders to accomplish hoisting the mainsail.
Where I am currently at, I think that I can say that if I do not see or feel very distinct results on the sexual side of things, I don't believe I will continue the therapy long term.
Although if I can get back the physique I had at 32, I probably will
Deejo, can I ask if you have had any bad side affects your treatment?
Still early Star, I'm only 20 days in.
But from what I understand there are plenty of possible side effects. Simply a matter of determining which is less unpleasant, the effects of low test, or the side effects of test therapy.
Whether or not your husband is suffering from the symptoms is what matters.
By all accounts that I have observed, a ballpark healthy average for a man in his 40's would be in the 600's ng/dl total T.
One author claims that the issue with the 'normal' range is that it actually makes no distinction in terms of age. The data comprising the range was taken from men in their teens to men in their 90's.
1) 20 days in is still pretty soon to make a judgement. I'd say 60 days will be a leveling off point. Reserve judgemnt till then.
2) Some effects may be placebo (as in simply mind games), but that is fine. It is irrelebant if it is due to actual test levels or simply a confidence from knwoing your taking test.
3) Normal test levels are not a across the board deal. I have seen guys at 200 and look/feel great, and seen guys at 800 and feel/look like crap. It is all a personal deal, thats why it takes a few months to figure out what your body needs. Also each body reacts different to the test, some need a little and some need alot. My system is so stressed from the years of Anabolic abuse that I need a pretty good dose to acheive the desired results.
4) PLEASE keep in mind test/anabolics are not a miracle drug and not a excuse to not change other bad health habits in your life. If your looking to get into great shape, diet is numero uno... PERIOD. Workout programs and second and the drugs are third. I can take a guy, get him on a proper diet, workout program, and a minimal dose of test and he will blow away a guy that doesnt eat right but takes a boat load of drugs. I will also say that low test therapy and getting into great shape are almost unrelated. One is over coming basic blood levels, and the other is taking the body to extreme's. I hope that isnt confusing.
It is most important to find a doc that understands Hormone Therapy, most docs are completely ignorant to this as it's new medicine and not the same old same old.
1) Possible side effects are:
* Increased RBC count (red blood cells)
* Prostate enlargement
* Liver function
All of these are pretty uncommon with dosages under 600 mgs of test a week. Blood work twice a year keeps you on top of this.
2) As far as ranges, I'd bet a guy at 40 years old would be between 200-600, on a scale of 200 to 1000. Very atheletic, inshape, life long athelete's tend to keep thier levels higher longer than the average couch potato.
1) 20 days in is still pretty soon to make a judgement. I'd say 60 days will be a leveling off point. Reserve judgemnt till then.
2) Some effects may be placebo (as in simply mind games), but that is fine. It is irrelebant if it is due to actual test levels or simply a confidence from knwoing your taking test.
3) Normal test levels are not a across the board deal. I have seen guys at 200 and look/feel great, and seen guys at 800 and feel/look like crap. It is all a personal deal, thats why it takes a few months to figure out what your body needs. Also each body reacts different to the test, some need a little and some need alot. My system is so stressed from the years of Anabolic abuse that I need a pretty good dose to acheive the desired results.
4) PLEASE keep in mind test/anabolics are not a miracle drug and not a excuse to not change other bad health habits in your life. If your looking to get into great shape, diet is numero uno... PERIOD. Workout programs and second and the drugs are third. I can take a guy, get him on a proper diet, workout program, and a minimal dose of test and he will blow away a guy that doesnt eat right but takes a boat load of drugs. I will also say that low test therapy and getting into great shape are almost unrelated. One is over coming basic blood levels, and the other is taking the body to extreme's. I hope that isnt confusing.
It is most important to find a doc that understands Hormone Therapy, most docs are completely ignorant to this as it's new medicine and not the same old same old.
Good luck, glad you feel better.
I made the fitness comments as a life-long hard-gainer.
Recovery has become the primary issue over the past few years. Joint pain, particularly in my hips and elbows had become the bane of my existence. I exercised body parts once a week. Felt like I needed that long for recovery. On the upside, I am not currently experiencing any joint pain at all. However, I am not training nearly as intensely as I would normally.
My average diet is good. When I'm in training mode, I journal. I have never gotten the kind of results from my training that I had hoped for. I have a small bone structure, very narrow wrists and ankles. For where I'm at now, I am satisfied with 'fit looking' as much as I would enjoy having an additional 15 pounds of muscle on my frame.
Well, not to take this in another direction, but in regards to your comments:
1) It's about training smarter not harder as we age. It's really just as simple as tearing down muscle fibers enough to force regrowth. The regrowth period is what you call recovery.
2) An example, I float around 260-265 at 8% year. I used to train like a mad man, bench 405 for 15 reps, deadlift over 600, squat low 700's, trained very hard. Now it was real fun at the time, but really distroyed my body (joint and painwise). I now train lighter stuff, but still get just as sore. Again, smarter not harder. Why would I want to bench 400, when benching 200 will do. I guess takes age and wisdom to see this. Point is, I was only about 10lbs bigger at my strongest, didnt loose much size, and my body feels alot better.
3) Most important dietary suppliments:
* Fish oils caps
* Digestive enzymes
* Multi Vitamine
* Glutamine
* Liv 52 (liver support)
4) Most important Diet items:
* Eat 5 to 6 times a day, equal meals
* High protein, mid/high fat, lower carb.
* 25g's carb prior to training and after
* Water at 1 gallon a day
* NO sugar or Dairy at all, its the devil...
* Consistancy, its not about eating right for a week or month, but for a life time.
* Eat clean 6 days a week, one cheat day.
* Basic foods: Chicken/beef/Egg whites, brown rice/raw oats, any green vege's. THATS it.
Sorry to digress, but fitness and training are my passions in life.
Fitness, and the kind of input you could provide is probably deserving of it's own thread. Think I'll put one up a little later on.
I am not currently in 'discipline' mode. I definitely need to clean up my dietary house.
Overall, I have always believed that how you treat and perceive your body will translate into the dynamic of our relationships. So, in that regard I certainly think it's relevant.
does anyone know what these levels should be for a man in his early 40's?
The Encronologist I took my husband to told me for a 45 yr old , "normal" average levels are between 500-600. My husbands 9 tested morning results ranged from the lowest being 323 - to the highest being 503, once his free test was below normal... ... she told me his results were "normal" for a 60 yr old man, which really upset me , I was a worrying mess for awhile about this comment.
But I kept reading and came to learn that SOME men are natually just lower most of their life -and they can handle these lower numbers better than someone who was originally higher & took a huge dive in their numbers ---so again, it REALLY does all come down to SYMPTOMS.
300-500 area is a pure GRAY area for men. SOme truly need treatment, some don't.
She told me she "expects" my husband will probably need treatment in his future, I now take that with a grain of salt. She also told me weight lifting is worthless & starting on things such as Tribulus terrestris -would only hurt him, but many others say it works for them.
I have heard from other Low T sufferers (on Health boards) that Encronologists are the absolute worse Doctors to go to for Treatment as they generally tend to look only at the #'s -and this often speaks treatment or no treatment in thier practice, telling you to come back in another 6 months or so to see if you fall below thier LAB guidelines. Really a shame.
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Re: Dealing with Low Testosterone - Hypogonadism 
