How long after a Bilateral orchiectomy.....

[zeebster (imported)]

Well in my experience with chemical castration, I started with a lower dose of Siterone (generic Androcur) and got the various side effects usually associated with dropping Testosterone levels. When I had my levels checked, it was just at the bottom end of the acceptable range. So I started gradually increasing the dose in an attempt to get to castrate T levels. Each time I increased the Siterone dosage, I got a re-run of the side effects including the hot flashes. Now we're all different as has been mentioned many times but for me, all it took was reducing the T levels, not necessarily getting them "very, very very low".

[Joel9146 (imported)]

I had surgery this morning and it did have some problems. The left side had moved back up inside body and was a little hard to get out.

I am VERY sore and have a fair amount of brusing. It will be OK in a couple days.

My big issue now is how much T do I wsant to take for health reasons.

I would appreckiate commdents on T dosage to maintain health but have LOW libido

[vesal_mas (imported)]

Hi,

Welcom to the zoo, as others may say.

Congrats about your most important decision.

In fact testosterone has a half life time of about 45 minutes. So in a few hours all testosterone that yours two friends have produced is already gone.

But testosterone makes cells function in a male way. It takes several days to see effects of this.

So it can last days to weeks before prostate ejaculation volume diminishes, before one can start feeling hot flushes, before ...

These thIngs vary from person to person. It al depends on your mileage as one famous Andrew once told us. He was right. (just wonder about what he would do right now ... )

Take care and be patient !

Vesal.

[feedback (imported)]

As for how much T to take, I think each person is different and has to find a level they can live with. It not only depends on the level of libido you want but also on how much energy you need to do your work etc. I get by on 1/5 the normal dose of androgel during the winter when I don't have to be very active but need to up it during the summer so I have enough energy and drive to take care of the farm. There are periods when I go without completely and I like it that way but I don't know if that is the best for bones etc.

[Woggler58 (imported)]

In belated support of info by others that blood level of testosterone rapidly crashes following surgical castration, this passage in the 2007 Johns Hopkins White Paper on Prostate Disorders. Digested somewhat, and with my edits in brackets, it reads,

Surgical removal of the testicles, a procedure known as bilateral orchiectomy, is the easiest and oldest way to dampen testosterone’s [nurturing] effects on prostate cancer cells. The operation can be performed in about 20 minutes under spinal or local anesthesia, and the individual can usually go home the same day. Surgical castration involves making a small incision in the scrotum and removing each testicle. Neither the operation nor the recovery is painful. The effect of orchiectomy is almost immediate. Within 12 hours, testosterone levels plummet to what is known as the castrate range [to what the adrenals still make]. Because orchiectomy is so effective, it is the standard to which all other hormone [ie, testosterone suppressing] therapies are compared. Even though surgical castration is the most effective and least expensive form of hormone therapy, only about a quarter of men choose to have the procedure. Men who are psychologically troubled by the idea of orchiectomy can opt for medical [ie, chemical, using drugs] castration.

Pain from T-dependent prostate cancer in bones I understand also diminishes right away, post-orchi. As others have mentioned however, castration’s eventual “side”effects on libido, erections, prostate function, energy level, mental sharpness, bone health, etc., take weeks to months to fully develop after blood T suddenly falls, and it varies from one person and one effect to the next. Injectable forms of T however, when late in the specified period between doses, do seem to leave one feeling let down.

Dosage of replacement testosterone also varies from one person to the next, and is subject to MD-guided experimentation following an estimated initial dose rate, and considers lab test results and how one is experiencing the effects of a particular method and dosage. Bio-identical T in gel form applied on the skin has the about same few hours half-life as the natural stuff, and is taken daily, but I can’t feel any difference if I miss a day. Two years ago I was started on 50 mg of T per day in a 5% gel (50 mg T per gram of gel) and that dose put me in the top 20% of the very broad normal range, right where the doctor intended. Its effects on me are also what the doctor and I wanted. I was in the bottom quarter of normal range for decades on end and got by, and in the bottom 1% for nearly two years before getting on TRT, which was frustratingly too little in “quality of life” terms.

[gandalf (imported)]

I started out on the 50mg dose also but I reacted to that by getting the sex drive like I had as a 15-16 year old. After six months, the Dr. changed mine to 25mg daily which did leave me with SOME sex drive. Now I am on 12.5 mg daily and feel great. The only time I up it is when I have t do yard work and then I go back to the 25mg dose. But with a riding mower, I could probably stay with the 12.5 level. I really would like to be off TRT completely but with all the things I have to do, I usually only try that in the winter when I can be idle.

[Eunuken (imported)]

For me the lack of T after 5 months has not reduced my energy at all. I can ride 20+ miles on my road bike and do a 5.5 % grade at the end. Yes I am tired but it feels great at the end. if I can go the rest of my life with no T I will pleased. Tomorrow I plan on a 50 mile bike ride with the 5.5% grade 1/2 way thru the ride.

Ken

[Joel9146 (imported)]

Well it has been 9 days since my surgery. SOmehow it seems like it has been many MONTHS.

For the first week I was in a fair amount of pain and lived on pain meds for at least 5 days.

I expected the pain, and naturally I expected to wake up and find an empty scrotum. Well the exact opposite occured. I had a significant amount of swelling and my balls are far far larger than they have ever been. They are just enormous!

Well actually the balls are GONE, but look like they are there and each one almost as large as a tennis ball. They feel heavy and I must keep them very well suported or they begin to hurt more and more with each step I take.

I understand this is not unuasual and not a problem, but I was very suprised by it.

Did anyone else experience this swelling after the surgery???? How long does it last????

[DavidB (imported)]

Well it has been 9 days since my surgery. SOmehow it seems like it has been many MONTHS.

For the first week I was in a fair amount of pain and lived on pain meds for at least 5 days.

I expected the pain, and naturally I expected to wake up and find an empty scrotum. Well the exact opposite occured. I had a significant amount of swelling and my balls are far far larger than they have ever been. They are just enormous!

Well actually the balls are GONE, but look like they are there and each one almost as large as a tennis ball. They feel heavy and I must keep them very well suported or they begin to hurt more and more with each step I take.

I understand this is not unuasual and not a problem, but I was very suprised by it.

Did anyone else experience this swelling after the surgery???? How long does it last????

I had my surgery six weeks ago, I had a bit of swelling but not nearly anything like that. Did you finish the round of anti-biotics. If the swelling continues you should have somebody take a look at it. Its not un-common but why not just have it checked out.

[Hash (imported)]

Ken SD,

You are very fortunate, if you've been riding a lot precastration, you're probably in great shape physically. Are you taking anything that might also provide you with a lot of energy? I hope things continue for you and that you stay healthy.