cougar14
US Veteran
boosting? Like to know if it's just another hype or if it can be useful.
Anyone looked into or tried testosterone...
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I just don't have the energy to try it.
BJoe
Member
Ask your doctor, not an internet add.
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
I'm on the gel, been on it for almost half a year now. The reason why I started is an odd one - I fell off of my bicycle almost 2 years ago and fractured the head of my radius - that's the bone in your lower arm that's on the wrist side. The break would not heal for over a year, even with a bone growth stimulator. My orthopedic surgeon sent me to another doctor for my back pain (I have arthritis in my spine), and one of the first things he did was to order a bunch of lab work. The studies showed that I was severely deficient in Vitamins B, and D, and my testosterone level was also very low. Come to find out that these three things have a lot to do with calcium deposition, which is a necessary component in healing a fractured bone. Started me on high doses of Vitamin D (orally), Vitamin B (a topical cream), and testosterone (a topical gel). Just for kicks, I also went back on the bone growth stimulator to really try and get the fracture to heal. Well, x-rays don't lie. Within a few months, you could clearly see calcium deposition in the fracture line. After about 6 months, x-rays showed a healed fracture. One year later and you can see a bit of callus on the x-ray at the fracture site. They continue to monitor my testosterone level, but it remains low (sometimes, when you start with a supplemental testosterone, it gives the body a "wake-up call", and it starts manufacturing testosterone again. No such luck for me. I'll have to continue taking it for the rest of my days. Note the testosterone supplement I use (Andro-Gel) is only available by prescription, and it ain't cheap (over $100.00/month - and that's with insurance co-pay). There are also side effects - try acne at age 57. You can get testosterone injections, and they are significantly cheaper than the gel, so that is a viable alternative for those of us that could use it, but may not be able to afford it. To me, it's worth talking with your doctor about the topic. Let him/her order the labs, and then see where you are and go from there.
Best of luck,
Dave
Best of luck,
Dave
my doc tested mine but it came back negative. lee
Mickey D
Member
Tastes great, less filling.
carpriver
US Veteran
I was on it for a while it work well as I did have an increase in energy, improved sex drive. I also had mood swings the worst kind, I got angry and short tempered. I quit it when the PSA came back at a 6. Prostrate cancer in the family. It many men it can be a real help.
model70hunter
Member
I know one fella pretty well who tried it, it didn't make him 18 again but he felt like he did in his 50's rather than his 60's. The problem for him was, if you do not get the shots on time you go thru the hormone shift and have serious trouble sleeping, waking up in the middle of the night not felling well, getting up and going out in the garage to smoke, being tired when you go to work, mood swings and it ended up not being worth the effort.
Like I said I've known this gent all his life and he has not lied to me yet.
Like I said I've known this gent all his life and he has not lied to me yet.
venomballistics
Member
any time you jack with your hormones, your riding the highway to cancer and other complications.
Leave it to God or leave it to your next of kin early
Leave it to God or leave it to your next of kin early
BJoe
Member
If you really want something try Cialis. My Doc gave ma a sample and man oh man. If you even look at a bicycle you get excited. That WILL refill the lead in your pencil...again...and again...and again...
If you really want something try Cialis. My Doc gave ma a sample and man oh man. If you even look at a bicycle you get excited. That WILL refill the lead in your pencil...again...and again...and again...
Thanks BJ!
doc540
Member
two words: side effects
took me a year to get somewhere close to normal again
took me a year to get somewhere close to normal again
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When I first tried it I had to give myself injections. 3" needle in the thigh. I did not notice any extra energy, so I quit taking the injections. After about a year Doc asked me to try the Andro-Jel. I went with it for awhile testosterone went up but I never felt any energy. It might work for you.
LVSteve
Member
I suspect this is just as much hocum as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) often is for women. Yeah, who needs acne in their 50's or their PSA count going through the roof. Mood swings and guns, there's another combo we might want to avoid.
I've known enough women who went loopy on HRT to know that basic hormones should be left alone unless absolutely necessary. Other than the sort of reasons Double-O-Dave gave, I see more drawbacks than benefits.
I've known enough women who went loopy on HRT to know that basic hormones should be left alone unless absolutely necessary. Other than the sort of reasons Double-O-Dave gave, I see more drawbacks than benefits.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
I was on the gel then I found out I had prostate cancer. I was tired all the time before and still am tired too. I've been sick a longtime.
Steely Dan
Member
If able, you can boost your testosterone by weightlifting and maintaining your body.
If your knees can handle it (this is for the young guys), 70 yard sprints will boost your T, naturally. They will also build your thighs and increase your lung capacity.
But, you have to work on it slow and build up.
I don't like putting chemicals in my body, too many side effects.
But, naturally boosting your own T is good.
If your knees can handle it (this is for the young guys), 70 yard sprints will boost your T, naturally. They will also build your thighs and increase your lung capacity.
But, you have to work on it slow and build up.
I don't like putting chemicals in my body, too many side effects.
But, naturally boosting your own T is good.
Cdog
Member
I use the Andro-Gel.
Nothing to do with lead in the pencil, I simply felt rundown.
My energy level was waning more everyday, so I decided for me it would be foolish not to give it a whirl.
After a few months I can say I feel more like myself again. The only real side effect that's obvious for me is some acne, especially near the application area.
Nothing to do with lead in the pencil, I simply felt rundown.
My energy level was waning more everyday, so I decided for me it would be foolish not to give it a whirl.
After a few months I can say I feel more like myself again. The only real side effect that's obvious for me is some acne, especially near the application area.
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
Doesn't that shrink your do dads???
Mcwsky09
Member
I guess I haven't hit manopause yet.
In the one commercial where they suggest I should talk to my doctor, millions of men already have, it makes me think, no wonder it is so hard to get an appointment if millions of men are talking to my doctor.
The other one that makes me laugh is when they say, ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex. Who does that? I suppose I may have a different opinion in 20 or 30 years - but seriously, how many guys out there (who haven't already had heart surgery or a pacemaker perhaps) stop and say to themselves, hmm I am going to have sex tonight, better give the doc a call and see if its okay?
In the one commercial where they suggest I should talk to my doctor, millions of men already have, it makes me think, no wonder it is so hard to get an appointment if millions of men are talking to my doctor.
The other one that makes me laugh is when they say, ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex. Who does that? I suppose I may have a different opinion in 20 or 30 years - but seriously, how many guys out there (who haven't already had heart surgery or a pacemaker perhaps) stop and say to themselves, hmm I am going to have sex tonight, better give the doc a call and see if its okay?
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JFootin
Member
Read about the risks and side effects, and talk to your doctor. One thing they say in the ads is that it increases the risk of prostate cancer. Another thing that is not mentioned is that it thickens the blood. I have cardiovascular disease and have had three heart attacks. I was getting the monthly injections when I had my last heart attack in December, 2008, and found this out through my own research afterward. I think it might have contributed to my having that heart attack. So I have not tried to supplement my T since then.
I agree with others who have posted in saying not to mess with your hormones. There's still a lot more that doctors don't know about the body, and some of what they think they do know is wrong. I do my own research and often say no to suggested additional drugs, as doctors are all too quick to recommend.
I take a regimen of vitamins and supplements, a prescription med to control my blood pressure and I take an 81 grain aspirin every day. My heart has been doing fine.
I agree with others who have posted in saying not to mess with your hormones. There's still a lot more that doctors don't know about the body, and some of what they think they do know is wrong. I do my own research and often say no to suggested additional drugs, as doctors are all too quick to recommend.
I take a regimen of vitamins and supplements, a prescription med to control my blood pressure and I take an 81 grain aspirin every day. My heart has been doing fine.
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I believe "Arnold" had that problem back in the 70's.
Mickey D
Member
If it does then I'm all for it.
Lugging these around for the last 48 years is wearing me out....
.
Delos
Member
Serious comedy here
This is serious stuff. Remember the Canadian Olympic Athlete that got caught for hormones (maybe 15 years ago?). The article said they catch them two ways. One is that they find the chemical in their system. The other is that it suppresses your own hormone production (rumor says do dads shrink also). I would ask Sylvester Stallone if his shrunk but he might instantly turn into Rocky Balboa again.
Back in the 1980s there was some conversation about female hormones given to dairy cows and coming through to people in the milk. I was chatting with a dairy worker at the casino one day. He said one dairy he worked at dumped the hormones in the feed by the powdered bag full. He said you do not dare breath that stuff because there were rumors of workers growing breasts.
I figure if I start growing breasts I would change the brand of milk I am drinking.
This is serious stuff. Remember the Canadian Olympic Athlete that got caught for hormones (maybe 15 years ago?). The article said they catch them two ways. One is that they find the chemical in their system. The other is that it suppresses your own hormone production (rumor says do dads shrink also). I would ask Sylvester Stallone if his shrunk but he might instantly turn into Rocky Balboa again.
Back in the 1980s there was some conversation about female hormones given to dairy cows and coming through to people in the milk. I was chatting with a dairy worker at the casino one day. He said one dairy he worked at dumped the hormones in the feed by the powdered bag full. He said you do not dare breath that stuff because there were rumors of workers growing breasts.
I figure if I start growing breasts I would change the brand of milk I am drinking.
Porterb123
Member
I asked my GP this the other day. I have been on gel for about a year and a half. His answer was no to shrinking the boys, but it does reduce your sperm count.
My problem was lagging labido and lack of energy. I work out 2 to 3 times a week. My T level was on the very low side of normal. It has helped with desire and energy levels! No acne. YMMV
kozmic
Member
"I figure if I start growing breasts I would change the brand of milk I am drinking."
Well heck, that's just cutting out the middle woman, so to speak. Could save you a lot of money and aggravation.
Well heck, that's just cutting out the middle woman, so to speak. Could save you a lot of money and aggravation.
NCTexan
US Veteran
My problem is that I have plenty of ammo... but the range ain't open as much as I like.
Ooops! Maybe I'm on the wrong thread.
Ooops! Maybe I'm on the wrong thread.
dcxplant
Member
After complaining to my doctor about no energy, no sex drive, and feeling "iky" all the time, not sleeping, he ran blood tests. I had the usual for results for middle-aged overweight men, including low T. I am not on any medication, and I really don't want to resort to a lifetime of prescription meds if I can avoid it. So I asked a couple of my (to me at the time) "health nut" friends. One asked me:
"Whatever has happened to the idea of eating right, eating less, and exercising??" He was poking pretty good fun at me as old friends do.
I peaked at 186 pounds (High School 130, Parris Is graduation 136, avg in my 30's of 155 to put that 186 into perspective) a few months ago.
My back hurt, my knees hurt, I had no energy, no sex drive, I felt bad (a bit depressed) drank too much, ate too much and ate really bad food (you know the "good" stuff salty, fatty and sweet).
My buddy was right. I had reached my limit. I had to change. I did some investigating (read Michael Pollan's Omnivor's Dilemma, and In defense of Food) as well as a few other books about food (not diet books).
The industrialization of our food has helped modern man in our ever fast-paced world develop some very bad habits, and I was the worst offender.
There is no majik boolit. It really is simple.
Eat right (lots of veggies; eat them steamed, raw, or sauteed grilled with peanut oil, lean meats, lots of fish, nuts, fruits, and rarely eat starches especially processed starches).
Eat less. I only "need" 1800 calories to maintain, so I count calories with a phone app to stay at or below. I go over on days we eat diner out, or when I hang with the boys with some beers, and I let myself enjoy that and eat a little less the rest of the days to keep the weekly calories the same and work out one extra day.
Exercise. Three times a week I stationary bike for :30, lift weights moderately, ride a mountain bike, hike, swim, and surf).
After three months my bloodwork was perfect. After six months I had gotten to my initial goal weight of 165 pounds.
I sleep better, I feel better, I enjoy my life more, and oh yeah, my wife appreciates the reignited stamina, vim and vigor
One thing I did not expect was that I somehow got "smarter". I forget things now almost never, where before my wife commented that I must be getting early onset Alzheimers because she was so frustrated with my forgetfulness!! My thinking is quicker too. It's pretty amazing.
The hard part of it though, is undoing a lifetime of behavior and habits. You cannot be lazy, and you have to have resolve; take the inevitable backslides as normal, forgive yourself and get back to it. Once you see and feel the amazing changes, you get to the tipping point where you cannot imagine going back to the poor eating and slothful habits of before.
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE!!! Anyone can start making positive changes, at any age. You are either willing, or not willing.
"Whatever has happened to the idea of eating right, eating less, and exercising??" He was poking pretty good fun at me as old friends do.
I peaked at 186 pounds (High School 130, Parris Is graduation 136, avg in my 30's of 155 to put that 186 into perspective) a few months ago.
My back hurt, my knees hurt, I had no energy, no sex drive, I felt bad (a bit depressed) drank too much, ate too much and ate really bad food (you know the "good" stuff salty, fatty and sweet).
My buddy was right. I had reached my limit. I had to change. I did some investigating (read Michael Pollan's Omnivor's Dilemma, and In defense of Food) as well as a few other books about food (not diet books).
The industrialization of our food has helped modern man in our ever fast-paced world develop some very bad habits, and I was the worst offender.
There is no majik boolit. It really is simple.
Eat right (lots of veggies; eat them steamed, raw, or sauteed grilled with peanut oil, lean meats, lots of fish, nuts, fruits, and rarely eat starches especially processed starches).
Eat less. I only "need" 1800 calories to maintain, so I count calories with a phone app to stay at or below. I go over on days we eat diner out, or when I hang with the boys with some beers, and I let myself enjoy that and eat a little less the rest of the days to keep the weekly calories the same and work out one extra day.
Exercise. Three times a week I stationary bike for :30, lift weights moderately, ride a mountain bike, hike, swim, and surf).
After three months my bloodwork was perfect. After six months I had gotten to my initial goal weight of 165 pounds.
I sleep better, I feel better, I enjoy my life more, and oh yeah, my wife appreciates the reignited stamina, vim and vigor
One thing I did not expect was that I somehow got "smarter". I forget things now almost never, where before my wife commented that I must be getting early onset Alzheimers because she was so frustrated with my forgetfulness!! My thinking is quicker too. It's pretty amazing.
The hard part of it though, is undoing a lifetime of behavior and habits. You cannot be lazy, and you have to have resolve; take the inevitable backslides as normal, forgive yourself and get back to it. Once you see and feel the amazing changes, you get to the tipping point where you cannot imagine going back to the poor eating and slothful habits of before.
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE!!! Anyone can start making positive changes, at any age. You are either willing, or not willing.
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