ramses (imported) wrote: Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:14 am Welcome, Moth9000. This is a really unique and carfing group. We have some interesting and sometimes heated discussions here sometimes due to the fact we have many passionate personalities from a broad spectrum of backgrounds. In the end though, we are all friends and all benfit from the freeflow of information as long as you have an open mind.

Again, welcome to the EA!!!

Thanks for your kind words and your efforts to make me feel welcome. I appreciate it very much.

Hi moth9000,

Welcome to one of the most friendly, supportive and accepting place on the Internet. You won't come across and better group of people anywhere!

moth9000 (imported) wrote: Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:39 pm In the first year after recovering from the treatment for C, my MD tried me on shots, but I had pains in my liver and they were stopped. Since then i've been prescribed Androderm patches, which didn't do anything, and Androgel, which didn't do a lot. I'm to the point where I don't know that i care anymore and may just go without, which i've done before. But I'll consider and check out the product you mentioned above and think about it--Thanks.

I found that some doctors don't bother to "adjust" the dose and this can cause any form of HRT to be pretty poor to worthless. Are they doing labs of more then just your Testosterone? Are they asking you how its working? Have they every tried to up the dose to see if it helps? With Androgel I went through a number of dose changes before it was right.

I also had to "mow" down all the hair on my Belly and arms to get it to work right and RUB it in. Slathering it on like doing a cake just doesn't work worth a damn. Rub like your doing a massage.

I'd always been pretty reluctant to talk about this, even with my long term MD, which is not to say that I didn't bring it up. T levels were taken and he prescribed dosage. Perhaps I should have been more proactive in my needs, but this is a subject which was hard for me. Now my old MD, whom I had great rapport with has moved on and my new MD, through my HMO, seems arrogant and presuming and I'm not sure how comfortable I feel disclosing anything to him. I've got some decisions to make involving medical care, talking about my sex drive or lack there of with this new guy increases my anxiety levels. I will come to terms with this and am working on it.

moth9000 (imported) wrote: Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:41 am I'd always been pretty reluctant to talk about this, even with my long term MD, which is not to say that I didn't bring it up. T levels were taken and he prescribed dosage. Perhaps I should have been more proactive in my needs, but this is a subject which was hard for me. Now my old MD, whom I had great rapport with has moved on and my new MD, through my HMO, seems arrogant and presuming and I'm not sure how comfortable I feel disclosing anything to him. I've got some decisions to make involving medical care, talking about my sex drive or lack there of with this new guy increases my anxiety levels. I will come to terms with this and am working on it.

If you're uncomfortable with this new guy, go find a new doctor.

However, if the doctor is competent and you're simply nervous about talking to him, then you need to stop that and talk to them. Doctors have heard it all.

I've "fired" two doctors in my life. One because he was borderline refusing to treat me for an easily treatable condition for no other reason than I'm gay, and the other because he was trying to solve a plumbing issue when my actual issue was body chemistry.

If your doctor is incompetent, then you need to find a new one. Otherwise, start talking. They can't help you if they do not know your issues.

As for a MoM attendance by me... I'd be reluctant if I felt that people would be invited that were there to do nothing more than gawk and try to find a way to sneak a peek at what isn't between my legs.

Losethem (imported) wrote: Sun Dec 07, 2008 4:17 pm As for a MoM attendance by me... I'd be reluctant if I felt that people would be invited that were there to do nothing more than gawk and try to find a way to sneak a peek at what isn't between my legs.

Each of the several MoM's I have attended have had only board members and an occasional supportive spouse, they were totally non-judgmental, loads of fun, and there were no inspections that I was ever aware of.

Losethem (imported) wrote: Sun Dec 07, 2008 4:17 pm If you're uncomfortable with this new guy, go find a new doctor.

However, if the doctor is competent and you're simply nervous about talking to him, then you need to stop that and talk to them. Doctors have heard it all.

I've "fired" two doctors in my life. One because he was borderline refusing to treat me for an easily treatable condition for no other reason than I'm gay, and the other because he was trying to solve a plumbing issue when my actual issue was body chemistry.

If your doctor is incompetent, then you need to find a new one. Otherwise, start talking. They can't help you if they do not know your issues.

As for a MoM attendance by me... I'd be reluctant if I felt that people would be invited that were there to do nothing more than gawk and try to find a way to sneak a peek at what isn't between my legs.

I am thinking about looking for another MD, but you're right in suggesting I need to speak up for myself.

I was, however, uncomfortable about the MoM attendance comment if it was directed at me. I hope to be able to get to know others who have dealt with similar issues and know somewhat where I'm coming from. Even If I wasn't personally cut, I certainly am dealing with some of the same emotional and physical side effects I've read that others in this community have been dealing with.

But I don't want to play show and tell with anyone, nor am I interested in having sex with anyone; I don't have sex with anyone.

I sincerely hope to be able to make personal, emotioal connections--friends--with others here. I care about what helps to empower people; I try to offer emotional support where I can. I try to be a loyal and empathic person. I try very hard not to say things or do things that cause others pain. The few things i've said to people, were said with these intents. If I think I have said or done something that might hurt someone, it tears me apart, and I apologize. If I've offended you or anyone else, I apologize. Please talk to me if you or anyone has concerns about me.

If anything, I want/hope to be supportive and hope that others will want to be supportive of me. That is why I'm reaching out to people here.

moth9000 (imported) wrote: Sun Dec 07, 2008 11:41 am I'd always been pretty reluctant to talk about this, even with my long term MD, which is not to say that I didn't bring it up. T levels were taken and he prescribed dosage. Perhaps I should have been more proactive in my needs, but this is a subject which was hard for me. Now my old MD, whom I had great rapport with has moved on and my new MD, through my HMO, seems arrogant and presuming and I'm not sure how comfortable I feel disclosing anything to him. I've got some decisions to make involving medical care, talking about my sex drive or lack there of with this new guy increases my anxiety levels. I will come to terms with this and am working on it.

I think you will find that any good doctor will take everything you say in stride. Trust me they have seen and heard it all and part of the credo of being a doctor is to be "cool" and help the patient - period. If you have no testicles he/she may well ask what happened but its in the context of knowing if you have a history of say testicular cancer and being aware that it might have the potential to cause future issues. NOT just because they want to know so they can go AH HA!

And "if" you do find some sort of idiot that is all wigged out its an easy matter to get up, leave and find a REAL doctor.

As to how to work with one. Always remember that the squeaky wheel gets the grease and when it comes to hormone replacement you need to be proactive and not just sit there feeling miserable. Labs are only a "tool" they are not exact and the Doctor should not rely on them 100% to do his dosage. If you feel "right" at a low dose? Fine. But some men need to be in the upper range to have the right kind of "male" feelings.