Anyone have a hard time getting back to normal after ADT?

@lacraig1 Yup, hormones can do that too…

@narus Is the gel more expensive than going to your doctor for a shot every 2 weeks? Or do they let you self-inject at home? I understand initial blood work is more frequent to see how your T and PSA respond.

@narus

My testosterone only recovered to 111 at 12 months after 4 months of Lupron treatment. I was given only 5 mg/2 weeks starting 8 weeks ago. Within a week my Lupron side effects went away, and I had several soft erections, but after 6 weeks all arousals went away possibly because I got Covid. Covid is now over so I will see if arousals start again. I will be testosterone tested again in 4 weeks to see if dosage needs changing.

16 months and Lupron effects are still awful. I do not know of anyone who has had full recovery from Lupron, especially at my age of 84. I have heard some people say that men over 75 should never get Lupron since it is a life sentence of low testosterone and all its side effects.

@pesquallie
I know of lots of people that have had either full recovery or significant recovery after you being on ADT. Yes, if you are older, it can be more difficult. I’m 78 and have no major problems with Lupron. In my case, at 77, I stopped taking ADT and in eight months my PSA rose to 50, Going up 25% a month at that point. That was after being on ADT for seven years. I did have to go back on ADT because of my aggressive case. I don’t think it’s slowed me down at all.

@chippydoo I have always self injected the first time the nurse supervised my injection. Honestly I learned more watching the youtube video about giving an IM injection. Every time I fill the prescription I get 10ml of test and a dozen 1" 23 gauge syringes. When I first started taking testosterone I was doing a PSA test every three months. Initially my PSA jumped .2 but slowly dropped down to what it was. The gel gives you a more stable dose but it is expensive and having to apply the gel every day. The Gel price is about $175 for a 30 day supply and injectable is like $90 for a 3 month supply

@pesquallie I never had a testosterone test before Lupron treatment. I am on TRT and my tests come back usually about 700 but my sex drive is not what it was before prostate cancer

@narus

My testosterone was only about 280 for the 10 years before prostate treatments and after treatment only recovered to 122 from which it continued to drop to 111 over the next 9 months. I was diagnosed as hypogonadal both before and after prostate cancer radiation and Lupron, so my urologist prescribed 5 mg every 2 weeks. In 3 weeks, I will find out if this low level of testosterone is adequate or not. I have read that 25 mg every 2 weeks is common for hypogonadal men. No firm erections with the 5 mg dosage but my Lupron side effects went away in the first week of TRT.

@narus hello. It will be 6 months on Halloween since my 6 month Lupron shot. I completed 5 SBRT a month ago. I’ll get a PSA & testosterone test mid November & my RO late November.

After experiencing ADT, I’ll never (I know brave words now) go on ADT again. I plan to ask my RO to prescribe testosterone but I anticipate he will say “not yet”. I’ve read enough to be danderous.

I will not allow up to another 6 months to regain testosterone levels somewhere near normal for my age of 76. At this point TIME & its quality is more on my mind than longevity (ADT based). I don’t trust my thoughts, ache all the time, night sweats, brain fog(damage😂) I’m scared of bone and muscle loss. Only thing I know works is regular weight lifting heavy weights with less reps.

My long winded question to you is what would you suggest I look into regarding getting on testosterone supplement?

@narus 90 for a 3 month is surprising. Is your PSA back to undetectable?