Sherry (imported) wrote: Tue May 14, 2002 5:49 pm My goodness, only one in three persons castrated escape the hot flashes, and that's from a sample of prostate patients, meaning older men. I had my castration at age 31, much younger than the average prostate patient, and I am also among the leaner types. If all of this is correct, my chances of hot flashes would have been rated much higher than two in three. I never realized how lucky I was.

And would you believe that Dr. Spector kept trying to tell me that I would never have hot flashes?

I just stumbled over this "ancient" entry, and decided to contribute my experiences.

I had my castration at age 28, and - like Sherry - I am also one of the leaner types. I went for one year without HRT, just to find out what it feels like. Ca. 3 weeks after surgery, I had the first incident of a "wave of hotness"; this repeatedly occurred for about three months, but never really serious, with red flushing or sweating or the like. It was never really unpleasant, but rather curious.

Now, perhaps I was just lucky, but perhaps just by incidence something in my lifestyle helped. I do a lot of work-out and fitness training, and regularly eat very hot and spicy stuff. So perhaps my body was just better trained to cope with thermoregulation?

It would be interesting to know if others would make similar experiences...

bestofboth (imported) wrote: Mon May 30, 2011 12:19 am I just stumbled over this "ancient" entry, and decided to contribute my experiences.

I had my castration at age 28, and - like Sherry - I am also one of the leaner types. I went for one year without HRT, just to find out what it feels like. Ca. 3 weeks after surgery, I had the first incident of a "wave of hotness"; this repeatedly occurred for about three months, but never really serious, with red flushing or sweating or the like. It was never really unpleasant, but rather curious.

Now, perhaps I was just lucky, but perhaps just by incidence something in my lifestyle helped. I do a lot of work-out and fitness training, and regularly eat very hot and spicy stuff. So perhaps my body was just better trained to cope with thermoregulation?

It would be interesting to know if others would make similar experiences...

I havent had a full physical castration, I was on siterone for over 2 years, brought my level down to about 50, which is castrate level. From month 3-6 I got pretty bad hot flashes, mostly at night. After being on the drugs for 2 years I stopped. was off them for six month, went back on them for a year and during that time the flashes came back for a little while. Stopped the drugs again and my T level never went back above 70. Left guy got atrophied so it was removed, (asked them to do both, but they wouldnt, said it might come back) after surgery had flashes agian but only for a couple of weeks. Think that was just a mind trick though. Level has never gone above 70 since the surgery and usual is around 55-60. So I am full time Eunuch with one non-working testicle just hanging there, bugging the hell out of me.

My experience was similar to what bestofboth described. My hot flashes kicked in within a few days and they weren't too bad...though I'd get some real bed-drenching night sweats. I'm also the "lean" type as he would put it.

graylayer02 (imported) wrote: Mon May 30, 2011 7:04 am ...though I'd get some real bed-drenching night sweats. I'm also the "lean" type as he would put it.

Can you be sure that the night sweats are caused by hot flashes as a consequence of castration?

Night sweats are also a classic symptom of tuberculosis and other diseases.

I had these sweats, real bed drenchers too, although they were quite pleasant. However they were upping the laundry bill so I went to a doctor and it turned out to be lymphoma. A course of chemo did the trick though and I have been clear for 17 years now. The oncologist can't quite bring himself to say 'cured.'

I am pretty sure that they were caused by my castration. (cough cough)

graylayer02 (imported) wrote: Mon May 30, 2011 12:35 pm I am pretty sure that they were caused by my castration. (cough cough)

Don't know about that grey, you weren't looking too great the last time I saw you. Good thing I kept my distance

Well, there is a version of e.coli going around Germany. It's spread by fresh vegetables, so I'm safe.

I wonder if e.coli is evolving immunity to antibiotics. Serious question.

When I used Siterone I went through a full blown case of testosterone withdrawal syndrome (aka: andropause). Weak, unable to focus or concentrate, lack of interest in anything, night sweats, the whole nine yards. Very unpleasant.

I stopped taking Siterone not because of the side effects of testosterone withdrawal, but because of 1) the cost and 2) potential liver damage.

Then this year I discovered alcohol injection into balls and tried it.

It worked, balls now dead which is the best part. I was relieved that I did not go through testosterone withdrawal again.

T levels went down on Siterone, then back up again after awhile, then down again after injections. A real roller coaster ride. Perhaps using androgel while doing testicle injections helped prevent a repeat of andropause effects. Once I "weaned" myself to a low maintenance dose of androgel I avoided negative side effects.

For me I think the sudden loss of testosterone is traumatic.

When one is surgically or chemically castrated it might be worth trying taking androgel replacement during the process to keep T levels up, and then s l o w l y lower the dose and withdraw from testosterone very slowly. Quickly eliminating testosterone seemed to be like a withdrawal one might go through if they stop smoking suddenly (different effects, but withdrawal is withdrawal,). If you stop drinking water, you go through a painful withdrawal. Lots of drugs, if stopped suddenly, cause you to go through a withdrawal. So I think testosterone is similar in that regard. Go slow.