I think I've taken my last "T" shot.

[crankshaft (imported)]

is your vitamin D level, ended up with a new doc who seems pretty well informed on things, he makes it a point to check D levels, he says that low D will make you tired, bones actually will hurt ect, well, did the blood test, results came back of being very low, got put on a prescription dose of D for a short term to get levels back up ,you only take this stuff twice a week, only been on it for 2 weeks so far, getting a little bit more energy, so far, will see how this plays out,

[mrt (imported)]

I'm glad people are talking about this. Hairless I think that switching to vitamines for your desired sex in the future makes sense. I think as a castrate you MUST include two tabs of Calcium and I think it important that you get a bone scan and keep up on that. It could be very serious if you don't. But talk to your GP about this. Mine said that post Orchi we have to keep an eye on the bone issues... And without HRT of some sort its even more vital...

I was curious about DHEA and my GP started adding it to my regular testing. It was really in the tank. Clinically low and she put me on 50mg tablets (That I bought over the counter) This made some changes in how I slept. I started dreaming and I think it was doing things for me. My Estrodiol started going through the roof and I read at least one paper that suggested that men taking tablet forms of DHEA get spikes in Estrodiol and women doing the same thing get spikes in Testosterone. So... I laid off the DHEA. I've read some info that says that transdermal DHEA works as it should and you don't get this reverse hormone surge. Is it fact? I dunno... But I tossed the tablets and I'm trying a small amount of transdermal DHEA because I like being able to remember my dreams and I think there are some good studies saying that DHEA is important for health reasons.

Yes, the shots do seem to stay stable for a week at around 100mg per week. A little more for some a little less for others. Erections? If your not suffering ED/Impotence you will get them in the morning. This is just male plumbing. If you dial the Estrodiol way up or the testosterone way down they do go away... I have (cough) medical problems in that area so I don't have them unless I was dosed with the Vitamin V the night before... its odd enough that it wakes me up. So what others hate I wish they could ship out the cure to me.

Arimidex is interesting but it and all things male site are kind of iffy (my opinion / my GPs also) Arimidex has never been given and study in males so while it seems to work who knows how safe it is? Ditto some of the other things suggested that I've seen on that site. Clomid and HCG for keeping Testicles from Atrophy and used for long periods is (According to three doctors I've spoken to) not so good an idea. They suggest its possible it will damage the part of the brain that controls the regulation of hormones. And its only really tested for 6 months runs on males and on that not probably very complete. When I asked about it I got some strong words. Ditto Arimidex. But now post op I have no need to plump up my testicles... Store bought ones don't atrophy!

Hormones play a big part in our energy and how we feel overall, although some people are a lot more sensitive to these effects of hormones than others. Even if you are exercising and eating right and even taking supplemnents, you might not be feeling so great if your hormones are off and you are one of those susceptible to changes in energy as a result of that.

There are a few hormone related supplements that might actually help, one of the big ones being DHEA. Earlier this year I had heard they were going to make it a controlled substance, so I backed off on getting attached to it. But don't know whatever happened to that, so it might be an option to consider. I might even consider it to see if it gives me a subtle boost in T.

If you are willing go with E, it should give you some of your energy back, although probably not as much as you had with the T. Both E and T have somewhat similar effects as far as energy and well-being are concerned.

Not everyone gets hot flashes at all - I went up to 3 months with no hormones and never had a single one. Possibly not long enough, but most I have heard from seem to start having them before then.

[Batman (imported)]

Arimidex is interesting but it and all things male site are kind of iffy (my opinion / my GPs also) Arimidex has never been given and study in males so while it seems to work who knows how safe it is? Ditto some of the other things suggested that I've seen on that site. Clomid and HCG for keeping Testicles from Atrophy and used for long periods is (According to three doctors I've spoken to) not so good an idea. They suggest its possible it will damage the part of the brain that controls the regulation of hormones. And its only really tested for 6 months runs on males and on that not probably very complete. When I asked about it I got some strong words. Ditto Arimidex. But now post op I have no need to plump up my testicles... Store bought ones don't atrophy!

I have to admit I've thought about trying HCG, but the tesicles size isn't much of a big deal for me, I'm more interestied in my overall health. My endo prescribed the arimidex so in my case it didn't come from the allthingsmale site, and I don't think (hopefully) that the small does I am taking (less than 1mg per week which is less than one tablet) is likely to hurt me. And according to my last bloodwork it brought the E2 down to where it should be.

Unfortunately there isn't a enough research on the whole for male HRT like there is for women, and I'm not sure there has been enough for women really either with the synthetic estrogens they're given.

Batman

[mrt (imported)]

Hi Batman.

Well I have to admit that I'm very tempted to try Arimidex on my own. My E2 is over 50 and I'm not happy about dealing with Gynocomastia. Also I think males with high E2 have some serious heath issues to worry about.

How do you know your getting Armimidex and not sheet rock in a tablet form? Also does your GP know and what does she/he say?

My wife is at the age where we are having to deal with Menopause. I agree very strongly about the horse synthetics. Very poor... I sure wish there were more time spent studying the safety of bio identical hormones rather then limiting the tests to bizaare synthetic variations on estrogen.

I also think that very often women are treated by simply sending them home with a one dose fits all HRT treatment plan. I have labs every 6 months. I have to juggle the dose to get it "right" I don't think many women doctors even measure it to see if there is a lack.

I have to admit I've thought about trying HCG, but the tesicles size isn't much of a big deal for me, I'm more interestied in my overall health. My endo prescribed the arimidex so in my case it didn't come from the allthingsmale site, and I don't think (hopefully) that the small does I am taking (less than 1mg per week which is less than one tablet) is likely to hurt me. And according to my last bloodwork it brought the E2 down to where it should be.

Unfortunately there isn't a enough research on the whole for male HRT like there is for women, and I'm not sure there has been enough for women really either with the synthetic estrogens they're given.

Batman

[Batman (imported)]

Hi Batman.

How do you know your getting Armimidex and not sheet rock in a tablet form? Also does your GP know and what does she/he say?

That one is easy...I have a prescription from my endocrinologist. So I just get it filled at the pharmacy and have the 1mg pills quartered. My GP was fine with it as far as I know. He leaves those kinds of things to my Endo. I don't know too much about which mail order places are good or bad I'm afraid.

Batman

[Danya (imported)]

Just wanted to say I really appreciate all the open and honest postings on this topic. As a 'eunuch in waiting' who doesn't want to go with no hormones and is concerned about health issues, including osteoporosis I'm finding all of this information extremely useful. Since I started Androcur just 15 days ago, I've improved my diet, nearly eliminated alcohol and am exercising more. I attribute this to finally facing up to my gender issues and taking action (gender therapist) to deal with them.

[Hairless (imported)]

Just wanted to say I really appreciate all the open and honest postings on this topic. As a 'eunuch in waiting' who doesn't want to go with no hormones and is concerned about health issues, including osteoporosis I'm finding all of this information extremely useful. Since I started Androcur just 15 days ago, I've improved my diet, nearly eliminated alcohol and am exercising more. I attribute this to finally facing up to my gender issues and taking action (gender therapist) to deal with them.

If your lucky, you are just body dysphoric and not gender dysphoric. Unless we are now calling being a eunuch a gender. Being body dysphoric, you can get by with riding yourself of the parts that you can't stand. I was hoping that getting rid of my balls and scrotum would solve my problems, but being gender dysphoric I lean toward needing to be a women. A whole body change is a little more traumatic. Good luck in finding yourself. It sounds like your on the right road. A gender therapist is the right way to go. I've suggested that to others seeking castration. Unfortunately gender therapists are not always easy to find, especially in smaller towns. It would be good, if your therapist helps you achieve your goals, you could encourage others to follow your path.

[Danya (imported)]

Hi Hairless,

Actually, at the University of Minnesota, where I see my gender therapist, they do not look at gender as simply male or female but more of a continuum, as we now view sexuality (i.e., 100% straight through various intermediate stages to 100% gay). Jesus, one of the scholars (anthropologist) on the Archive and an author of several papers on eunuchs, says the Univ of Minnesota is one of the top centers in the world for gender issues. I'm extremely fortunate to have them in my backyard. At my appointment yesterday, my therapist said her diagnosis is GID (Gender Identity Disorder). Their clinic is working to have the 'disorder' part removed from the definition, BTW. They are open to the idea of eunuch as being a gender space somewhere in this continuum. I've accepted that what 'eunuch' winds up looking like for me is open for discussion. What it certainly involves is my not feeling male. I haven't been in a relationship since my 20-year marriage ended in 1995. I came out as gay at that point. My point here is that there is no 'significant other' to consider in all this. I don't think I can see myself living entirely without hormones for health reasons. BTW, one of the other things I gave up when I started Androcur was banding my balls. This wasn't the first time in my life that I've tried to damage my balls and it isn't something that I've ever found especially erotic. Although it has provided a kind of emotional release. With the excessive drinking and self-harm, I knew I needed professional help before I became an alcoholic and did real damage to my balls. If I will be castrated, I want it to be the result of really clear thinking with full knowledge of the implications and possible complications. This is crucial for my own mental health down the road.

I wish you the best with your own struggles.

-todd

[mrt (imported)]

Hi Bat:

Sorry If I had read your post I would have understood that your Arimidex is prescribed. I appreciate hearing that your taking this. My GP said this is stuff she is not familiar with and the prescribing info for Arimidex doesn't suggest any use for males or a dose etc. She did suggest I speak to an Endo but.... I had two uros that were SURE they knew what was best for me and one turned out to be a real flake. The other just seemed focused on Golf and I don't see me turning my care over to this weeks nutcase...

Maybe I should check out an Endo however. This gynocomastia thing is getting worse and I'm not cool with it

[plix (imported)]

Hi Bat:

Sorry If I had read your post I would have understood that your Arimidex is prescribed. I appreciate hearing that your taking this. My GP said this is stuff she is not familiar with and the prescribing info for Arimidex doesn't suggest any use for males or a dose etc. She did suggest I speak to an Endo but.... I had two uros that were SURE they knew what was best for me and one turned out to be a real flake. The other just seemed focused on Golf and I don't see me turning my care over to this weeks nutcase...

Maybe I should check out an Endo however. This gynocomastia thing is getting worse and I'm not cool with it

The rule when it comes to doctors is that most doctors suck. Every now and then you come across a good one. Doctors tend to believe that what they learned in medical school 30 plus years ago is all they ever need to know. They fail to keep up-to-date on new and innovative treatments like Arimidex for gyno. Arimidex is being used by a lot of doctors these days to keep E levels down in men, and it is also commonly used by bodybuilders to reduce E conversion and prevent gyno.

All you can do is bring in paperwork for your doctor on Arimidex and try to educate her. If that doesn't work, you can try finding a doctor who will listen. If you can't, then those who are comfortable and willing have the option of using Arimidex on their own. But you don't need much of it - a month's worth will last you a long time, making the cost not as bad as it seems.