Just a few days ago, the brain fog, all-over anxiety, and emotional turmoil hit me, and is hitting me hard.

Before then I was doing amazing. The best time in my life. Very productive. Getting better.

I know that some of you will say that I need to patient, but I my focus has gone really bad. My comprehension when reading is practically non-existent, and I have started to find myself mispronouncing words when speaking. I am losing focus just typing this down.

Headaches have started too. My balance is a bit off. And my anxiety has been quite bad. Quasi-crying. Depersonalized.

I don't want to take a small dose of E, as i'm a cisgender guy. And it just doesn't feel right to take that for me. Though, still a part of me is saying I should consider it.

I'm swaying more towards prescribed topical T-gel to get me up just a bit more.

I want to go back to schooling, I need to have focus. Could E help out enough with that?

Can anyone give me some advice on all this please? How long has it taken others to get past this no-T brain fog depression nonsense on no HRT? Do you think I should stick it out a bit longer? I want to be like I was just a fortnight ago.

if you think you're a cis male,the best choice is taking T.T has irreplaceable functions in the male body and psy.It suits you best.E also can do some of them.But, in essence, they are two different things

E is not a female hormone. While it’s true that most females have a lot more E than males, it is a crucial hormone for both, just like T. It’s very possible that you drove your T down too far. You may very well benefit from either low dose T or E.

blackblack (imported) wrote: Tue May 26, 2020 6:34 am if you think you're a cis male,the best choice is taking T.T has irreplaceable functions in the male body and psy.It suits you best.E also can do some of them.But, in essence, they are two different things

I'm aware of this. Others on here have said how taking a small dose of E can eliminate the brain fog, depression, and lack of focus with very low natural T-level. That is why I considered it.

JessicaH (imported) wrote: Tue May 26, 2020 11:02 am E is not a female hormone. While it’s true that most females have a lot more E than males, it is a crucial hormone for both, just like T. It’s very possible that you drove your T down too far. You may very well benefit from either low dose T or E.

I am getting a blood test next week and then soon after will be able to get prescribed T-gel. I'll have bloods done regularly to keep me at a still low level, but high enough to stave off the crap affecting me in the last few days. I need to get myself to that goldilocks zone.

Supranatural (imported) wrote: Tue May 26, 2020 5:30 am Just a few days ago, the brain fog, all-over anxiety, and emotional turmoil hit me, and is hitting me hard.

Before then I was doing amazing. The best time in my life. Very productive. Getting better.

I know that some of you will say that I need to patient, but I my focus has gone really bad. My comprehension when reading is practically non-existent, and I have started to find myself mispronouncing words when speaking. I am losing focus just typing this down.

Headaches have started too. My balance is a bit off. And my anxiety has been quite bad. Quasi-crying. Depersonalized.

I don't want to take a small dose of E, as i'm a cisgender guy. And it just doesn't feel right to take that for me. Though, still a part of me is saying I should consider it.

I'm swaying more towards prescribed topical T-gel to get me up just a bit more.

I want to go back to schooling, I need to have focus. Could E help out enough with that?

Can anyone give me some advice on all this please? How long has it taken others to get past this no-T brain fog depression nonsense on no HRT? Do you think I should stick it out a bit longer? I want to be like I was just a fortnight ago.

Hey @Supranatural,

I am sorry you are feeling so bad. Everything you said sounds as if it could be related to low T. I do have a concern and that is you were doing fine on zero T and then it seems that these symptoms hit you out of the blue.

Please, get a physical. Some of the things you are describing could be related to other causes. Perhaps you've started a new medication (even over the counter)? Or your diet has changed? Also, T and E are only two of dozens of hormones. Thyroid issues can cause the same symptoms you are talking about.

Get the doctor to order some blood work and have them feel about for lumps and bumps (or whatever it is they are poking for).

TopManFL (imported) wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 10:48 am Hey @Supranatural,

I am sorry you are feeling so bad. Everything you said sounds as if it could be related to low T. I do have a concern and that is you were doing fine on zero T and then it seems that these symptoms hit you out of the blue.

Please, get a physical. Some of the things you are describing could be related to other causes. Perhaps you've started a new medication (even over the counter)? Or your diet has changed? Also, T and E are only two of dozens of hormones. Thyroid issues can cause the same symptoms you are talking about.

Get the doctor to order some blood work and have them feel about for lumps and bumps (or whatever it is they are poking for).

Thanks for your concerned reply. It means a lot.

After speaking with the doctor over the phone today, he did say that they want to do bloods to check on everything else being fine, including my organs, and thyroid. I suspect it is. I suspect it is just what others on EA have said about this being transitional. But there is no way I am going months or even just weeks like this.

The only thing I was taking over the last few days was Accrete calcium-and-vitamin-D tablets that were supposed to be for my partner, but he said I could have them. I stopped taking them yesterday. It's unlikely it's them causing this, but we'll see over the next few days I guess.

Diet is still the same. I'm drinking a lot of water.

Bloods are taken next week.

If the doctor is cute, he can poke wherever he likes haha. Though, I don't have any lumps. I did have a large growth on the inside of my lip after my second T-injection last year which the dentist thought might well be attributable to the TRT. I stopped taking anymore injections; the lump went away by itself. But I wouldn't get my T-levels anywhere near that high again.

I am on 20mg daily of Fortesta. That is what my prescription calls for. I feel fine with using just one does (10 mg) daily. My last blood test a week and an half ago showed my T level to be 357 which my doctor was pleased with. I started skipping Sat and Sun doses and after the second week, on Sunday I found myself having

a little balance problem. Since i suffer from BPV (benign positional Vertigo. So I will go back to 10 mg daily and see if that happens again. I am thinking of using the trt only six days a week and see if the BPV acts up again.

gandalf (imported) wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 6:22 pm I am on 20mg daily of Fortesta. That is what my prescription calls for. I feel fine with using just one does (10 mg) daily. My last blood test a week and an half ago showed my T level to be 357 which my doctor was pleased with. I started skipping Sat and Sun doses and after the second week, on Sunday I found myself having

a little balance problem. Since i suffer from BPV (benign positional Vertigo. So I will go back to 10 mg daily and see if that happens again. I am thinking of using the trt only six days a week and see if the BPV acts up again.

Around 354 Is what my level was at pre-castration. I am hoping to be between 50-115 as i think that's where my comfortable level will be at.

Hoping your situation improves. Keep us updated.

Supranatural (imported) wrote: Wed May 27, 2020 3:34 pm Thanks for your concerned reply. It means a lot.

After speaking with the doctor over the phone today, he did say that they want to do bloods to check on everything else being fine, including my organs, and thyroid. I suspect it is. I suspect it is just what others on EA have said about this being transitional. But there is no way I am going months or even just weeks like this.

The only thing I was taking over the last few days was Accrete calcium-and-vitamin-D tablets that were supposed to be for my partner, but he said I could have them. I stopped taking them yesterday. It's unlikely it's them causing this, but we'll see over the next few days I guess.

Diet is still the same. I'm drinking a lot of water.

Bloods are taken next week.

If the doctor is cute, he can poke wherever he likes haha. Though, I don't have any lumps. I did have a large growth on the inside of my lip after my second T-injection last year which the dentist thought might well be attributable to the TRT. I stopped taking anymore injections; the lump went away by itself. But I wouldn't get my T-levels anywhere near that high again.

Hey @Supranatural,

Sounds great. Ask the doctor to check thyroid homes (TSH, T4, T3). For most doctors, TSH is the "gold standard" for thyroid hormones. However, the amount of T4 and T3 in your blood is also a good indicator. T4 and T3 are made by the thyroid. TSH is made by the pituitary gland.

Speaking of the pituitary gland. A full sweep of all the hormones the pituitary gland both makes and stores would be a great idea. It is not one of the normal blood tests ordered by a primary care doctor. So, ask for it.

Adrenal hormones should also be checked. Again, most primary care doctors don't order this test.

I agree with you that it is almost certain to be low testosterone that is causing your problems but, I'm not a doctor.

DO THIS! REALLY DO THIS!

Write down your questions on a piece of paper. Use a normal size notebook page. Write about five one-sentence questions. I write my question using a sharpie.

Put the paper on the exam table and sit in one of the chairs not on the exam table. If they ask you to sit on the exam table, put the paper next to you.

Trust me, the doctor will be very happy. It's quick, to the point and you won't lose your nerve to ask certain questions. Also, some people come in with a paper on it with 50 questions and 500 sheets they've printed off the Internet. The doctor will never have time to go through all of that.

The reason I started writing down my top five questions was that even if I had not lost my nerve to ask sensitive questions, the doctor kept interrupting me. Later, I found an article that said the average amount of time it takes for a doctor to interrupt a patient is 15 seconds. With the questions on the paper, the doctor likes it because he can just read it and not have to listen to some long drawn out explanation.

When I had thyroid cancer and had my thyroid removed, I had about 8 questions for the surgeon. We'd never met and he walked in the room, saw the paper, picked it up and answered every question in about 2 minutes. That gave us about 18 minutes for him to do all the talking. He was not paying me for my opinion, I was paying him for his. So, giving him free rein to let me know what he thought was great.

Your health is very important, be your own advocate. If that is a problem, bring a friend or family member with you. Seriously, I've been in the room with family and I'm the one that made sure my family members' issues were addressed. Why it's more difficult for myself, I dunno.