T level update

I suppose it depends on what you hope or he hopes an increased T level will do for him or you! about 2 years after robotic prostatectomy I  requested a T level due to reading all the posts here about low T effects. Mine came back at 176, normal low is 340. Due to fear of recurring prostate cancer from taking T I waited almost 2 years later before asking a doctor about maybe getting T for depression, lethargy, no sex drive. The first thing my internist did was do a bone scan and found I had early osteoporosis, meaning my T level had been low for a long time and I was losing bone mass. But he refused to give me T saying it was too risky for someone who had had prostate cancer. I wasn't satisifed with that answer and went to my operating surgeon who said it was ok, then I got a local uro who said it was ok, and I was still nervous and so I went to the best endocrinologist in town who said with my early osteo and stable psa taking T would be a good idea. So I started 8 months ago, first with the gels, until my new insurance denied paying for it due to the endo doctor not taking a total T value when we started the treatment! So currently I am back on the T shots cause my insurance won't pay for the gels.

I feel supplemental T has decreased my depression, increased my mental alertness, and increased my sex drive compared to before. I am due for a repeate bone mass scan this month. My last T level was around 400, up from 176, no change in psa. I am satisifed with that level.  On a scale of 1-10 I'd give it a 4. I don't know what issues you think increased T would help your husband with but I would say it helps me function daily in my job.. I'll keep taking it unless my psa starts to rise.

Just TELL him to try it for a couple of months to see if he gets "more pep in his step" as my URO calls it.

I'm 12 to 14 months into taking T meds. Like mspt98, I'd give it about a 4 on a 1 to 10 scale.

8 pumps is a lot. Is that the 1% gel or the 1.67% gel?

I might be switching to shots since the gel hasn't been too effective. I went from 176'ish and hoovered around 450'ish for a while. Hit 725'ish then back down to 400....

mspt98 - United Health quit paying for Androgel back in January...But they will pay for Testim. Might want to check that out.

Susan, I also have/had low T post surgery. Since my cancer was contained within the prostate and all of my post-surgery PSAs had come back at zero, my surgeon was comfortable enough for me to start treatment for low T. He insisted on monthly PSA and Testosterone tests for the first three months to ensure there was no recurrence. I'm using Axiron - which is applied under your arm(s) once a day. The increased T levels have given me additional energy and lifted my mood. So far, I'm still scoring zeros on my PSA tests. I'm sure if my cancer had not been fully contained, my surgeon would not have allowed the T treatments.

BEAMS


HUGS!!! Happiness!!

Bud

My URO/surgeon assured me he wouldn't let me touch T Meds if he didn't think I'd be OK... AND, my PSA was <.01 for three years.

To be on the safe side, he is doing blood tests every three months.