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new to the forum, been married for over 24 years, love my wife dearly. about 5 years ago had a nasty bankruptcy, then starting having anxiety and panicy attacks. now they say i have depression also, i have been on numerous anti depressants, they didn't help. i went to the doctor last week to make sure there wasn't anything wrong with my throid, he ask me some questions about how i was feeling, so i told him. i have no drive, I'm tired all the time, i have no libido, I'm over weight. i use to love to lift weights and archery, just have no desire, i can cry like a baby with really no reason, i get anxiety if that is what IT is. well i got my blood work back, my thyroid was fine, but my testosterone was low, very low. they used a scale of 2.5-8.0, mine was 1.6, now they say i could have anopause, like a woman going thru the change of life. so i had to do some more blood work to get a baseline for my psa levels so i can start testosterone gel. this has me worried, is this normal, can anyone give me some words of advice? please keep me in your prayers, I'm not sure where to go or what to do. is this a normal thing or should i go to another doctor to do some more investigation on this. thanks for your time

Hi brother,  I too need the testosterone replacement therapy.  Mine is caused by an unexplained spinal cord lesion killing my body's ability to produce testosterone.  Relax, do not get too worked up over it.  I've met many men with the problem, some not knowing the cause. First thing is, if you have been put on Androgel 1%; that is very expensive, a 40-day supply at Sam's Club with a business membership was $540!  I found that there are what are called "compounding pharmacies" who can save you a bunch of money. I had to have my doctor write a new prescription for the compounding pharmacy and for a 90-day supply, it cost me $157.50.  My Medicare Advantage plan hit the donut hole is why I had to do so much checking for this.  One other matter, I have to also use Cialis though my main problem was not ED, but libido as you experienced. Cialis at my local pharmacy was $20/pill!  Again, there is a way around this.  My last pills I bought online, the generic, answering health questions to their on-site physician.  But, be cautious on this, research the web site, call their 800 number, look for responses from other customers.  I paid $170 for 75 generic pills online, and they DO work.  I will share one other personal matter. Because of the nature of my injury, my inner male organs do not work properly, numbness, etc.; so the testosterone gives me a high sex drive now, but difficulty in satisfying it.     That is very frustrating at times since I always had a grand and strong libido.  Since I am anonymous here, I will share more.  I thought I was having a lot of depression over this entire thing also, but, after seeing a psychologist for 3 visits, he pointed out I was not so much in depresssion as I was suffering grief.  I was in grieving for that major part of me that has so suddenly gone shipwreck. I will close by saying, the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), did help with libido and some parts of my thinking, but the grief I still battle.  I do not know if any of this helps since your low-T maybe caused by other reasons.  But, keep looking forward, and to the Savior, and do not let yourself stay in too much.  Be with others, not alone or just with the wife.  God bless....

Jon

doc wants to start on a new testosterone gel called fortesta, its a 10% gel, rub on thighs. i have this anxiety/depression feelings all the time, like i could cry. i can't handle any stress like i use to. i use to be the person people could go to about there problems, not anymore. yesterday i bumped my daughters arm and spilt coffey on her, i started crying like a baby, is this part of being low on testosterone, or what is it. thye say its depresssion, but i dont feel depressed. is this like a lady going thru the change of life?

I would imagine low-T affects individual males differently, depending on other circumstances involved. You mentioned a stress from bankruptcy, I had a stress from another area, and then the SCI.  My SCI prompted me to retire earlier than I had planned and my testosterone was dropping during a period I was in great elation, selling my home, moving to a retirement home in Florida, etc. I did not notice anything until one day I realized sex and other matters that I always had interest in just seemed to fade away. I had found the retirement condo and bought it, then noticed all this coming on me. I thankfully have a great doctor here who, as with you, did blood work and saw I had low-T.  I'm surely not an expert on the mind and body, but if I were you I'd do some Internet google searching on "grief".  I found a lot there to explain some things in my life.  The problem is, there is not an instant remedy for grief or the grieving process. It takes time and you just need to ride it out.  I was blessed in that the love of my life, who enjoyed sex as much as I, is a most kind and loving person; a true 'saint'. I did find some comfort discussing this with my new Pastor and in The Lutheran Handbook that he gave me, is a page on Grief and Loss. This book includes crying as one outlet with grief, so that may not be at all unusual.  I would cautiously guess the loss in bankruptcy plus the Low-T could give you a battle with grief. Check into it.

Jon

I don't know if I am allowed to post here since I am not a man, but I know about a really good testosterone supplement. I know someone that uses it and swears by it. He has also told me how older men have benefited from it for reasons other than body building.

Tribestan tribulus terrestris. The best source would come directly from Bulgaria because that's where it grows naturally. It's also legal to order online directly from there and should be fairly inexpensive.

hey doc just called me, psa came back fine, my t count was 231, low is 300-400. i am having an panic attack over this, its like i can't handle stress anymore, is it from no testosterone in my body. i just panic over anything. i use to be in USArmy, paratrooper, loved high stress events, like living in the fast lane as in job performance, i was a go getter, no i cant go anywhere with out getting nervous, or panicy. this is not fun. please keep me and my wife in your prayers as we go on this journey. thanks joe

Hey Joe...  the more you tell of yourself I see you are what we call a "man's man".  Keep in mind, the Low-T did not change that, you still ARE a man's man.  Good to see the psa is good and that is important, I'm sure your doc explained.  Someone mentioned an herbal remedy, so I'll tell you a bit of a funny stunt I pulled concerning this. I decided I was going to fix my Low-T by diet, exericise and herbs/vitamins.  I was even eating a can of smoked oysters a day on Triscuits topped with horseradish mustard with a smashed clove of garlic on top of each. Downing cranberry juice, various things I found online that were supposed to boost natural testosterone.  I had my blood work done and my T-Level fell twice as fast!  I went into the dumper and was really angry, big time angry.  It took a while to get through this and focus more on just listening to my doctor and yes, the TRT does bring the libido and energy back up, so you will begin to feel back to normal pretty soon.  Just remember all you've gone through that you spoke of earlier.  Bro, you've had a rough time of it lately, but you can ride it out. Indeed I'm sure everyone reading will keep you in our prayers.

Jon

i thank u very much for the positive words, my wife is on the way to pharmacy to pick up meds, i just feel like poo, how long before you felt any positive results? they are putting me on a new med called fortesta, its suppose to be good, i have no clue, all i know i hope and pray it gives me some relief from the anxiety and depression, and energy and aches and pains im feeling. man it stinks getting old.

Hi Joe... We'll see if this website stays up for a while now.    My doctor said I would feel the effects of the testosterone in a week. It was a month for me.  I did go on a diet and got my exercise going.  Just do everything you know to do health-wise.  Later....
    Jon

 i was wondering if shots are beeter or the gel?, this gel stuff dont seem safe. i have my wife and 2 girls and this stuff is hazard to there health. i used it today, didnt see much diff today, i will have to be patient.

I have read that the shots are muscle shots and can be painful.  That would involve trips to the doctor as well. I think those warnings about the hormone transferring to those you touch are overblown like so many of those "side effect" warnings they talk about on the TV drug Ads.  Did you have a really thorough physical from your doctor? Do they have any idea why you have Low-T?  Don't worry yourself crazy over this, things will come together.
  Jon

he check my thyroid, also did blood work for thyroid, they came good he said. i see a endocronogisist tomorrow. man i'm nervouse about this. what even makes it worst is the anxiety and depression i have, it seem i blow stuff out of proportion with the anxiety and depression.  the depression is crazy, i just dont feel my self with this. it is a battle for me, everyday is a battle for me. i just can't seem to kick it. if you ever want to talk please call me at 513-314-2442, thanks joe

Hey Joe... I will be stopping my postings here quite soon. I do not like phones, but if you wish to chat and discuss your situation, go to my Profile and see a safe email I can use and drop me an email and we can talk. You may be a help to me also.  Bearing each other's burdens....
  Jon

ok will do