Testim 1%

[dtwarren1942]

Finally went to the Urologist two weeks ago. His first question was why are you here. I said I have had diabetes for 17 years and my ED has progressed significantly over the past 15 years. His response was "and you are just coming in now?" I than went on to explain that my Endocrinologist has been prescribing Viagra in increasing doses starting with 25 mg and building up to 100 mg. I also advised that I also need a pump and a constriction band in order to achieve an erection capable of penetration. After some standard back and forth, he took a blood test and said he would phone me with the results. He called last Wednesday and said my T level was 330, which he said was in the normal range but on the low side. He sent my pharmacy a prescription for Testim gel which I started using on Wednesday night.

On Friday morning, I was able to achieve a 90% erection by using just Maxidus, an over the counter male enhancement, and a constriction band. I was able to hold the erection for twenty minutes until I removed the constriction and was able to maintain an un-assisted 80% erection for another 15 minutes. My first non Viagra assisted erection in many years.

My questions are:

Is it normal to see improvement from HRT in two days or was this just a psychological/placebo effect?

Once I start using Testim, will my normal testosterone production begin to wane and I will need to continue HRT for the rest of my life?

Are there any negative side effects I should be prepared to accept?

I also suffer from secondary hypogonadism (below average size genetalia). Will HRT provide any additional growth (I'm 68)?

[jackpTenn]

dt

I am 68 also and have been on TRT for over 15 years.

Testim will give you a boost in erections for a short period. This is true of Androgel and the shots also. Sorry to say the effect on ED will be only tempoary.

Once starting on TRT you will be on it for life. Your normal T will decreese and you may see some shrinkage in your testicles.

The positives of TRT are many. Increased sex drive, more energy, easier weight control, better muscle mass just to name a few.

One other side effect of TRT is your blood may become thicher than normal and your iron level will go above normal. The best way to control this is give blood as often as you can.

My testosterone level dropped to 120 which is way below normal. I am now on injections every 10 days and that works well for me. My last blood work had my total T at 805 with a range of 250-1100.
Total Testosterone is not the most important reading. A doctor that only test total T is not doing you a favor you also want these levels. testosterone free, testosterone bioavailable, SHBG and albumin serum. Your Free and Bioabailable should be at about 65% of your lab range for best results.

Hope this helps.


Jack

[dtwarren1942]

Thanks, Jack. Most helpful. However, I am not clear on what Free T should be 65% of of lab range means.

[jackpTenn]

Warren

The range for Testosterone Free on my last blood work was 46.0-224.0, My Free T was 132.4 which is about 60% of the top range. Slightly low but OK.

The range for Testosterone Bioavailabe was 110.0-575.0. My Bio was 260.7 which is about 45% of the top range. For me that is low.

The range for SHBG was 17-54. My SHBG was 30 which is about 55% of the top range.

The range for Testosterone Total (which is what most doctors use) was 250-1100. My Total was 805 which is about 73% of the top range.

You see why Testosterone Total does not tell the whole story. You have to look at all the levels. This blood work was 2 weeks after my last injection. That is why my Free and Bio are a little low.

For some reason my body goes through testosterone quickly. At 3 weeks like a lot of urologist like to use my total would have dropped to 250 or below.

To keep my testosterone level up my injections are 600mg every 10 days. That means I get 300mg in each hip because you can not put that much T in one shot.

By the way I have my PSA checked every 6 months also. This time it was 1.6 with anything below 4.0 considered normal.

Jack