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Posted 1/25/2010 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hey All!

It's been a while since I've posted....and am 3 years free of PSA detection (long live DaVinci Robotic surgery).  I have been noticing however, and my Dr has confirm through tests that my testosterone level has dropped drastically in the past 3 years.  My last test was several weeks ago and is at 166.  I've put off the replacement therapy because I'm only 45 and thought maybe it would rebound a bit.  All of the symptoms are present: lack of energy, lack of sex drive, fat distribution issues, memory loss, etc.


Has anyone else found this to be the case and if so...what did you do?

Thanks!

Posted 1/25/2010 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
arb....wow! not posted since June, 07. You last posted just as I was beginning my journey, having been told my PSA had risen. Glad to hear you are still doing good, sorry you have to come back with issues relating to it. I can't advise anything on your situation and question, but there's several guys here who are having the same problems and questions as you.
Posted 1/25/2010 10:07 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Arb........I have similar issues, although I'm not as far out as you. As you can see by my signature, tomorrow is my 1-year anniversary from surgery. I had libido for a couple of months after surgery, and then it sort of dropped off the table. Same symptoms that you mention, I'm experiencing. Foggy thinking, memory loss, belly fat distribution, drop off in strength, and of course, libido diminishing. My urologist is reticent to supplement due to the standard argument of not feeding PC it's food. My levels have ranged from 263 to     439 to back to 371. Not below lab standards, but in the low range. More importantly, low for me. But because I never had issues, I have no baseline for T-level. I've consulted a medical oncologist, who immediately got me an appt with an endocrinologist (appt tomorrow) to do a complete workup. I'm hopeful that there may be related functions of pituatary, hypothalamus, etc., that is preventing my body from stepping up the natural production. Artificial supplementation is the last resort where you weigh risk versus QOL issues.---------so I'll keep you posted on what I find out. There are other guys here who are experiencing this, and it differs from the standard ED questions. In fact, I continue to see improvment there, and feel I'm on track to a good % of recovery.

Arnie in DE

Posted 1/25/2010 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Arnie,

Great news for you and your 1 year anniversary! My libido is shot but I do have the random erections. I also use Cialis as the Viagra made me dizzy. Sounds like the same symptoms regarding testosterone. My weight hasn't increased much--maybe 4 lbs--but my stomach looks like I've been drinking large amounts of beer all my life. The fogginess has gotten worse and I find myself forgetting even the smallest things. Going to have 1 more blood test in 2 weeks to see where it's at. Wondering if natural supplements actually work.

Aaron
Posted 1/25/2010 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
Aaron,

The going on three years of zero psa post surgery has to feel good, particularly at your young age. Sorry about your other issues. Haven't experienced what you are feeling and going through at this point, good luck, and please post more often!

David in SC
Posted 1/25/2010 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
Look guys, even without PC, you are just getting older. yeah

Welcome to the getting older club.

Seriously, I think this could be the culprit. Something we lost with the prostate.

dihydrotestosterone
Posted 1/26/2010 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Arb, I'm 50, and have had low t-levels since about 6 months before my prostate surgery. I have all of the same symptoms as you. Some folks here might blame it on age, but I don't buy it, at least not at 40-50. My surgeon/urologist wants me to get to around 500. I have been all over the map with the gel - as high as 800 and as low as 135 (my last blood test). She is fed up with the variation and just called me in to have testopel. This is a number of testosterone pellets about the size of rice injected with a large hypodermic under the skin (local numbing) near your rear pants pocket location on your butt. I am looking forward to not having to use the gel everyday (it is a real hassle, and smells a bit), and also to hopefully regulating my t-levels better.

Of course, increasing T-levels is always a concern after PCa, but I am willing to take the risk to try to realize the benefits (of getting away from the symptoms you describe), at least until there is any rise in my PSA.

Hope your doc gets you on a regimen that helps. I'll try to post after a month or two on the testopel to say how it's going. I assume the doc will continue monitoring my t-levels and PSA every 2 months like she has been doing.
Posted 1/26/2010 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
I was on testosterone replacement therapy for 10 - 12 years prior to PCa. After surgery my uro took me off TRT and my T level dropped to 48 from a little over 500 where the shots had kept me for years. I had all the symptoms and the worst was a deep depression. I changed urologists and went back on 1 ml shots once a week. They keep me at about 500 and I feel fine.

I was 4 months post surgery when I went back on shots. My PSA has remained zero since surgery about 3 1/2 years ago. I get PSA tests once a year now.

If I had normal T levels and say I was at 500 prior to surgery then was at 500 after surgery then that seems to be the same as having TRT keep me there. There is vast differences of opinion among uros on this issue. I couldn't live with the low T levels.

Jim
Posted 1/26/2010 7:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Aaron,
Welcome back. Good news with the PSA levels you have strung together. Sorry about the drop in T levels. I know that feeling too as I am hoping to naturally restore my T levels back to normal soon. If not we will begin TRT. i think it's not unnatural to have a drop in T levels as we age, I just recently found out my brother did and had to go on TRT. For me the cause was ablation therapy to treat my cancer. It seems to have worked so again I look forward to normal levels again sometime soon.

Good to see you and I hope all else is well...

Tony
Posted 1/26/2010 11:38 AM (GMT 0)
I know how you feel, almost like run over by kenworth, two months out of surgery and mt t level dropped to 248. Struggling to function but doc says no replacment at this time. Two month psa <.1 . Guess I will have to tough it out for a while but it makes life tough. I even get nervous with hands shaking. Always been a real gung ho person so this is hard to get use to. Good Luck with psa.
Posted 2/4/2010 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Ok, so here's the latest:
Testosterone level (protein bound) has dropped to 140. Dr isn't happy but going on gel to get it back up to at least 280. He said it is most likely caused from the removal of the prostate. Hopefully it will help with all of the symptoms.

Hmmm.....gel in the morning on the arms and cialis on the weekends! Can life get any better? :)

Aaron
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