(I am) Starting testosterone replacement therapy

2nd injection yesterday. I notice that my physical endurance is way better already. Worked at tree trimming and yard cleanup over 8 hours yesterday. And sex……..way better….first time I have enjoyed it like I did in over a year. Sexual desire returned, in about a week after first shot. While on ADT I tried to maintain sexual health per Dr. Mulhall protocol. But it was just going through the motions. No desire at all. But it looks like my work at maintaining sexual health has been successful….for now.

Following. How low was your T when you started? Gleason and grade at diagnosis? Thanks.

@chippydoo old green is gunn ho, let him go at his goal- you ain’t gonna change his mind- he s got all the answers. The world is full of these type of people.

I personally have gone through all of the "flavors" - oral gel, needles - but it got to the point where the arthritis in my hands eventually made me fumble too much with the syringes, resulting in a bloody mess.

My endocrinologist then fought hard to appeal the insurance's denial for an alternative, but finally approved the Xyosted auto-injecting pens (4 in a box/once weekly). What an easy way to apply! When doing my labs every 3-4 months, I have to remember to draw blood in the middle of the last injection so levels do not show up as too high or too low on my results panel.

@chippydoo Welcome aboard! I keep a log of both psa and testosterone going back to original diagnosis in 2011. Biopsy showed one core of 8 at Gleason 4+3 re-evaluated by Bostwick labs as 3+4. Log starts December 12, 2013. First psa was I think .37. I was biopsied because a FAA required flight physical DRE revealed a lump. Testosterone averaged about 400 for all those years. Psa trended more sharply upward in last two years, and peaked at 6.2, at which point a COE performed an mri/ultrasound guided fusion biopsy. And hit “the spot” perfectly. One core out of 15 at Gleason 4+4. So this I think is Grade Group 4. My Staging however was low, due to “undetectable lump” and small single tumor. I opted for beam radiation at this COE. The COE oncologist talked about using ADT for 6-12 months. The stand alone prostate oncologist that watched me on Active Surveillance for 15 years told me 4 months was enough. I split the difference and did 5 months. Testosterone became undetectable one month after starting ADT and remained that way until 7 months after last Firmagon injection when I was up to 18. Way below the low threshold of 300. PSA was undetectable right after radiation, and has remained that way 9 months after radiation. So my stand alone oncologist said TRT was OK to use. I am now 10 days into it, and I can tell it is making a positive difference. First bloodwork is in mid December, and dosage maybe adjusted at that time. Any more ? Please ask.

@danilo1m Very useful information. My first blood draw is in December, and using your tip I will plan it for 4 days after injection. I was not aware of the injection pens. I as a child was always getting Stuck with a needle, and have had a life-long affinity for all things needles. But the Physician Assistant went through the self injection process and I am doing OK with it. Arthritis has me in the grips also. Thanks for your comment. This is all about helping others.