philip1 (imported) wrote: Sun Jul 30, 2006 6:13 pm mind has gotten much more raunchy since I am outside the male/female sexual theatre

sometime next year I will be trying a low dose of HRT (I have little choice it either hrt or pile of dust)

Hi Phil -- fellow Kimmel classmate from the week of April 4-8, 2005,

Could you explain the statement above about your mind getting more raunchy? Just don't understand what you mean.

With regard to HRT: You and I have been pretty firm HRT-holdouts so far. It's a tough road. People around us don't know how to deal with easy tears and emotions. Our constitutions don't hold up as well. When you mentioned you were considering HRT, I almost got some tears. I know how important it's been to you to not have T-induced agression/anger. Hope it goes well for you, that you find just the right amount for your body. I hope to have some HRT of a different sort in a few months.

Wish you well,

Terri

philip1 (imported) wrote: Sun Jul 30, 2006 6:13 pm summertime and I'm sweating my balls.........................oh yah

well I'm sweating profusely anytime its over 80f I'm not sure if its because I'm a eunuch or the 60+% humidity. it seems that anytime i do any strenuous work I am suddenly drenched.

ok here's a list of my experiences since castration:

emotional instability (MASSIVE MOOD SWINGS)

loss of strength (slow but noticeable)

loss of interest in anything sexual (didn't have much to begin with)

mind has gotten much more raunchy since I am outside the male/female sexual theatre

Physical stamina has dropped to near nothing

joints have stiffened muscles are sore alot

cry more easilly

when I do get mad it is a throttled anger that is very focussed at the one thing making me angry instead of the old vague explosion.

sometime next year I will be trying a low dose of HRT (I have little choice it either hrt or pile of dust)

Hi Phil. When I had low testosterone I had concerns that HRT was going to make me one of those "roid rage" type people. It didn't. Everyone who knows me says I'm kinder and thats one big plus. I'll admit I felt very different on a healthy dose of hormones but I also have to say I feel 1000x better. The energy thing you mentioned. I used to drag myself out of bed and just felt like crawling back in. Zero energy. My mood was just 24/7 dark and moody. I had all sorts of anxiety issues and emotions? When the On Star commercials bring you to tears well.... It was time for testosterone. It gave me back all those things but in particular I had problems reading books. Now, I'm back to soaking up a few books a week. I've got energy and no more anxiety. I don't tear up over On Star commericals either.

Having a sex drive was probably the most dramatic thing. Looking back at me pre HRT I feel confidant that having one is better than not. And sex has gone from "nice" to so good I can't discribe it.

This is just my experience. Of course HRT is not without problems. For me testicular atrophy is a problem. One you can't have btw! Anyhow, I hope you find a good doctor and find a level thats healthy for you and makes your life better. Good luck!

Some of my own experience:

I use HRT on a minimal and sporadic basis. I maintain just enough to be a bare minimum (about 5 days per month, 5 grams Androgel each of those days). Lately, I haven’t even been doing that – just not using any. Doctor dead set against it, but I’m the one who has the choice.

When it gets this miserably hot, I will always sweat my ass off (sorry, the balls are gone) 101 degrees F today, dew points and humidity in mid 60s to low 70s. Those kinds of days, T-levels don’t matter, just hide out anywhere there is AC. At this point, however, I am pretty much past the hot flashes and sweats (not completely, just mostly).

I do a lot of strenuous work. I seem able to handle it most of the time. Strength seems to be OK (have had bad times in past, but seems to have passed – seems like time tells). As long as I keep it up, I seem able to maintain. But I definitely do get a bit more moist than I used to, but no longer soaked. I have more trouble from smoking cigarettes….

My moods are relatively stable. On the other hand I am bipolar, so medicines work their wonders in keeping me on an even keel. Even still, I cry a lot easier (hate movies and such that make me cry, cuz I will), am much less aggressive, less likely to get angry, maintain a much more even level… When I am ON T I can perceptively see and feel my aggression levels rise, and see it on the road in my driving.

Sex drive is negligible, though I definitely do notice cute boys; regardless….it is like appreciating fine art…. My mind has always been raunchy – it is what makes me so endearing to others….hah

My stamina seems OK, but there was a time it sucked. That may have been depression for me. Anyway, doing much better now. On the other hand, joints are definitely stiff, and muscles do get painful – definitely an under-reported phenomenon, I think.

I find very low doses of HRT effective at keeping down weight gain, gynecomastia, lots of the sweats (NOT all), etc, but then I don’t like it. I have had six years to adjust to substantially lower T levels, though, so I suppose I am past most of the tough stuff.

Hang in there, Phil

K

Phil,

Try a bit of magnesium in pill form for the sore muscles. It's a natural relaxer.

Depression and moodiness can be easily cured by eating a Hershey 60% Dark cocoa bar, with fruit/nuts in it. They are to die for...almost literally! Lots of flavinols, too.

Hang in there.

You and this thread are a great asset to all of us!

I found this eerily apropos to my life over the last 15 months

Cancer

June 21 - July 21

Change is your mantra these days, dear Cancer. You've been growing and changing at a mind-numbing pace, and if you look back to this time last year, you'll realize what a different person you are today than you were back then. And it's not over yet! Lest this sound intimidating, look around you. You will see change everywhere, in the lives of all your friends, too. Would you want to be left out of all the excitement?

I am taking lots of pills these days just to maintain so semblenceof normal (whatever that is)

1500mg of calcium, 400iu of Vitimin D, 500mg magnesium, 100mg DHEA, 82mg aspirin. I take these every day (when I remember).

One thing about changing hormones is that you really do get a chance to see yourself as different. I've had puberty twice. The first time was pretty embaressing the second time I had the benifit of having been there and done that once before. If you do opt for Testosterone I hope you have an easy time on the second run.

BTW I had me DHEA tested and my doc said it was a tad low so I started taking 25s daily to get it back to normal range. I have to admit I didn't like the effect. It made me kind of jumpy or what I'm not sure how to discribe it. Anyway, I've used up the tablets. I'll try for a while without and if I do go back on DHEA I'll go with the gel. I've read that hormones don't work well by taking them as tablets.

Krister, I was pleased to read your observation and I agree one can appreciate beauty as art with great admiration and it is just as nice if you can enjoy beauty without arousal. Nicer infact, because that arousal was just a wasted spontaneous energy loss.

Phil, It's August 1st and the weather appears to be cooling here in the UK. We've had a heatwave since June 2nd here - one of the hottest ever. This morning the air is cooler and my outside thermometer reads 17C (62F) at 09.20. Comfort at last, we are in for at least a few cooler days which makes some things easier.

I had mixed feelings about it being so very hot. Dry heat eases my backpain just a shade but then the bed is just a pool of perspiration and I am on fire at nightimes. Time marches on and although the weather never exactly matches the patterns it ought to, the general direction by mid September should be easier for most of us Northern Hemispherer's (if I can say that).

Hang on in there, it will get easier:)

life as a eunuch at 16 months post-op

its pretty good actually....

I have a good paying job and someone who loves me and I love. Yah there are drawbacks but the benefits for me are worth it. I am battling weight issues but that is minor compaired to the big things I've already been through.

I like being a eunuch its nice to notice a pretty lady because she's pretty not because the bulge in my pants noticed her (no bulge). I am more relaxed, more confident, and more sociable.

Some folks have posted that they have had adhesion problems following surgery performed by Dr. Kimmel but every single one of them did not do the one thing that Dr. kimmel said to do......... STAY OFF YOUR FEET FOR 48 HOURS second there was the post op procedures that were not followed, oops did they gloss over that? So blaming the surgeon for your own stupidity is well stupid. I am 16 months and 2 days post op I followed the procedures religeously and I have NO adhesions. Before throwing rocks at Dr. Kimmel or ANY OTHER DOCTOR make DAMN sure you followed the post op procedures to the letter or the adhesion might just be...YOUR OWN DAMN FAULT!!!!!!!

ok I'm getting off my soapbox now

philip1 (imported) wrote: Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:20 pm life as a eunuch at 16 months post-op

its pretty good actually....

I have a good paying job and someone who loves me and I love. Yah there are drawbacks but the benefits for me are worth it. I am battling weight issues but that is minor compaired to the big things I've already been through.

I like being a eunuch its nice to notice a pretty lady because she's pretty not because the bulge in my pants noticed her (no bulge). I am more relaxed, more confident, and more sociable.

Hi Philip!

Excuse me for being stupid but how do one feel and so on seeing a beutiful and perfect girl after castration? I as still wannabe have some problems thinking how it is afterwards. Do you still look at girls and wish something or how is it? I have a tendency from time to time to look at those girls who are "tenpointers" as beutiful living statues that I can look at but just as a piece of art.

Greetings

John