Low testosterone count 2 years after PC sugury

the last response on post op radiation from jazzinjay...not jeff

OMG Lisa!!!!

Oh, would we ever get along!!! Poor guys wouldn't have a prayer eh? LOLOLOL. Hamper heck...only if you'll show Paul where the coat hooks are. He has to walk right past the hooks...which happen to be next to the door...who'd a thunk....... to hang his coat over the kitchen chairs! The kids know what time dinner is ready when the coat's been moved!

Have a great one,

Swim

Jeff,

I hope you'll take Swim's advise and consider a second opinion.  Radiation soft tissue necrosis is one of the possible side effects and it's definetly one of uglier ones to endure and treat. 

Research your options, be pro-active in your health care program and THEN decide with your doctor which option(s) might be available to you.  If it turns out radiation IS the right choice, then at least you'll KNOW it, can make an informed, educated decision and won't be left feeling "What if...If I'd only...would've, should've, could've".

A little "doctor" story for ya.. Once upon a time, I was caring for a young horse (5 yrs old) that was exhibiting symptoms of Cushing's Disease.  Cushing's in horses is considered to be a more common condition in the "geriatric" horse - not unlike the PC problem in older men attitude, "Most of them will eventually get it" 

Anyway, I had the vet come out, told him what I knew and requested he draw blood to confirm my dx. (no, I'm not a vet).  He argued all the points - horse too young, never see Cushings @ this age, might be this, might be that.... "Humor me, will you doc?  Just pull a couple vials and sent them off to Cornell, ok?" 

When the blood work came back positive for insulin resistance, you better believe that vet was absolutely floored!  But to his credit, he sucked in the "Dr." ego and said "Thank you!  Sometimes I get "tunnel vision" and set on a certain path, not seeing or LISTENING to the caregivers who know my patients so well".  He then proceeded to prescribe pergolide mesylate, a common treatment option for the condition. Already having done my research, my immediate reaction was to wait.  I told him, "No, I 'm going to change his feed program - strict diet of beet pulp, (no grains) orchard grass/timothy hay (no alphalfa allowed), no carrots, cookies, treats of any kind.  Let's re-test in 6-8 weeks and see if his glucose/cortisol levels come down".  They did (but you knew that!) and 2 years later this horse is thriving and leading a wonderful life as a police mount! 

The moral of the story; be a skeptic, get informed, weigh your options and then make your choice - in the end that's what it is...your choice.

Stay strong!

Jim, I just read your post about treating older patients differently. I hope you don't take my last post wrong! When I said If I were your age I wouldn't be messing with testosterone, I should have said, at your age having your Gleason score and only having surgery last year! Thats my problem with writing on these dam PCs, I leave half out! I hope I didn't offend you! If I did, I'm sorry.

Your friend, Pete  

I just wanted to give everyone an update on the "Testasterone Kid." I've been using a product called Tetim which is a alcahol based jell that you rub on your shoulders, upper arms, and chest evrery morning. I started noticing changes the 1st week I started. The 1st thing I noticed was I started having X rated dreams and wake up with an erection. I'd also wake in the AM with one. This wasn't happened to me since before my surgery 3 1/2 years ago! Then I started getting real horny durring the day and started noticing girls agan like all men should and do! Sorry Lisa, just looking! No toutching. My head is so much clearer now, It's much easier to do my job in which I have to remember thousands of details every day. My depression is also not nearly as bad as it was, I can't say it's completely gone yet but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I just received the results of my 1st blood test taken at 1 month. My T-level was 653 up from 250. My Doc told me to cut my dose in half because he said he doesn't want me over 500. One negative side effect I noticed, I am getting angry and agravated at small things that I didn't before. I have less patiants with the stupidity I face every day at work, over 100 electricians making mistakes and venders I use sending wrong or late orders. I'm a purchasing agent fo a larger commercial electrical. I'm even noticing more road rage in the horable seasonal traffic here in S.Fla. I used to just laugh at people who cut me off daily. I've been able to controle my anger so far and hopefully cutting my T-dose in 1/2 might help this unwanted side effect. I guess like anything else, you have to weigh the good and the bad and so far the good results far out weigh the bad!
Thanks for you support!
As alway, your friend,
Pete

Swim, If you don't mind me asking, what level is Paul happy at? What does he shoot for? I know everyone is different, I'm just curious.
Pete

Pete,

Paul's body requires a bit higher level to feel good. His total T was 810 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer so jis system doesn't like lower. Kinda like suspended in a mode I suppose. His last draw was a while ago, before raising his dose and it was only 410. Guessing...he's probably between 450 and 600.

swim

Hi Jim,

Well, Pete has been cancer free for over 3 years and his quality of life was suffering terribly. He and Paul had similar stats.

Paul was just 38 when he was first diagnosed with TCa and 48 with PCa. Paul's PSA's have been <.005 since surgery which is a good indicator that it was indeed confined. His risk of recurrence is estimated to be about 3%. Weighing his statistics and pathology against 30-40 more years of hypogonadism...which would be more of a risk to his health and well being? It is a matter of weighing the risks and making an informed decision.

 

Any time Pete! We're just a bunch of peeps trying to get along in dis ole world. Glad we found each other! 

Biker?

Uh..butted in? Of course you didn't. You just wanted to know stuff!!!!

  PETE and LISA...how ya'll been? Been missin you!

WAY TOO MUCH information....LOL! Happy Birthday! Hey, thanks for moving the post for the guys.
Good idea.

It's cold here but it's Michigan. It is supposed to be cold this time of year. I am scolding Chris as we speak because there is snow to clear and he's putzin around. School's out probably more for the high winds and wind chill than for the drifting snow. We got a moderate amount...6, maybe 8 inches. Hard to tell. 4 foot drifts everywhere though.

Navy eh? Well good for young Pete. I am among the very unpopular on the subject of military service. I believe in the draft and serving. Not even against manditory service like so many other countries have. We need to be strong if we're going to continue being the world leaders. Not even a....choking on the word... Republican.... and I support the Middle East action. No comment necessary :>) I know how unpopular my opinion is. Poor Chris begged and pleaded with military offices to consider him for some sort of duty. He spent an entire school year schmoozing every branch. He had to try I guess. Glad to see you have 2 boys who have such a strong sense of country. Hard to be anything but extremely proud of both your boys Pete.


My breast stroker is doing fine...if he lives to see one more day that is...grrrr! He's left the darned door wide open 3 times today already. He and Paul have to be related...LOL! Gotta go. Heat bill's already hit 400 this time of year. Don't need to heat the outside too.

Be well, Swim

Mama Bluebird,
I truly appologize for not writing much lately. Our computer has been up and down and we finally descided to just chunk it and get a new one. Then Lisa had to work on it for a while "to get it right." Work has been crazy without much time to write from there plus I've been doing 50+hr weeks and 20+hrs commuting, it's really wearing me out. I get home and thats all she wrote. I really want to join y'all in the chat room one of these days though.
Again SORRY! I'll try to stay in touch, I owe it to everyone there who helped me so much to try and help the other newbee's!!!!
Love,
Pete