Testosterone replacement therapy

Medical issues, doctors, dentists, opticians and hospitals in Hua Hin and Thailand.
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hhfarang
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

Post by hhfarang »

Ok, this has turned into a how to lose weight forum, and I agree with Sarge and his results as well as most of what sand_dancer says. The only point I would like to make to that is that I believe some people cannot, for some reason, acclimate to this oppressive heat and humidity.

Yes, now I live in air conditioning pretty much all the time, but when I first arrived here ten years ago and realized how miserable it was after a couple of months, my builder told me to stop using air conditioning and my body would get used to it, i.e., acclimatize. I lived with fans only except for sleeping (thermostat set to 25) and was outdoors most of the time during the day for two years after that and at the end of those two years I was sweating just as much and was just as miserable so I decided it was not possible for me to acclimatize.

Even then when I was in a group of people, even in a mildly air conditioned environment, perspiration was pouring down my face burning my eyes and I was constantly wiping my face with a handkerchief, while nobody else was sweating at all. I've been walking down Phetkasem road before completely soaked like I had walked out of the ocean and had Thai people sympathetically say to me, "mister sooo hot!". I sweat like a pig while shopping in Tesco. They probably keep their thermostat at 25 or 26 and even that is not tolerable for me.

So, before this goes further into that direction, I've tried all that before. The fact is that I don't belong in the tropics and have been looking (financially) for a way out that will keep both me and my wife happy.

At any rate, symptoms being shared by many ailments and confusing, I started doing research and had my blood tested because of other symptoms and then found among low testosterone symptoms "weight gain". My exercise and eating/drinking habits have been pretty much the same for the last 7 years but I suddenly gained 15 pounds (between 6 and 7 kilos) in a two to three month period.

That, along with the blood test and at least 3 other symptoms that fit made me start to think about trying the therapy. If I have to go to a hospital, then I may have to but I was hoping that I could get the advice of a specialist (endocrinologist) in an office or clinic environment. I've never liked hospitals and have only ever been to one (before moving here) for major surgery or emergency room visits. I have been used to seeing doctors (both primary care and specialists) in their private offices or small clinics all my life. I even had several minor surgeries in an office environment. However, Thailand and Hua Hin being what they are, I'm doubting that possibility here. In fact, to see an endocrinologist I will probably have to go to Bangkok as I doubt that even the hospitals here have one on staff.

Until I started looking into my testosterone levels because of the other symptoms, I didn't even know weight gain was one of them, but as I said that's a two headed snake as being overweight can cause the problem and the problem can cause weight gain. Chicken or egg? :? :? :? ...and excessive sweating can also be a hormonal problem. :|
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

Post by sand_dancer »

HHF
So, before this goes further into that direction, I've tried all that before. The fact is that I don't belong in the tropics and have been looking (financially) for a way out that will keep both me and my wife happy.
I was not aware that you had tried all the above before......

So.... Good luck in your hunt for Testosterone replacement therapy.....

I hope it works for you......

:cheers:
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

Post by hhfarang »

^ Thanks, and thanks for all your advice.
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

Post by Dr Mike »

hhfarang
Have you had a thyroid study done as part of your blood work. An overactive thyroid can produce an intolerance to heat, although that is usually associated with wt loss.
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

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^ I did have those tests once a couple of years ago and all was normal.
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

Post by MrPlum »

HHF

Have a look at what others have tried. There may be something there for you... http://earthclinic.com/CURES/sweat.html
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

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Thanks MrP, some interesting info there. I subscribe to a Hyperhydrosis Society web site and e-news letter for people with excessive sweating problems and have never read many of these on there... surprised me. The remark about excessive head sweating due to blood pressure meds resonated with me too as I have been taking daily blood pressure medicine for nearly 30 years and one of my biggest problems is excessive head and face/neck sweating. Is that activated charcoal or the thick natural honey they mention available here?

Just like on the other site that I subscribe to most of the comments are about underarm sweating and odor or excessive sweating of hands and feet, which, oddly enough, I have no problems with. My problem is head, face, neck and trunk (body trunk! No I'm not an elephant! :D ). My underarms are the one place that I rarely have a sweating problem and don't even use deodorant or antiperspirant as I am allergic to the aluminum based active ingredient they use and it actually makes me sweat more and gives me a rash. The only thing I ever use for underarms is the crystal rock thingy that I discovered since moving here and I sweat very little there. Maybe I should just rub the crystal over my entire body! :shock:
Last edited by hhfarang on Sun Oct 13, 2013 9:14 am, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

Post by J.J.B. »

A colleague of mine had a bilateral orchiectomy (both testicles removed) due to testicular cancer in his twenties. He takes testosterone replacement therapy in the form of a patch, which may be a viable alternative to the injections you don't want.

Testosterone levels decrease as you get older, from a peak somewhere in your thirties, by around 1% per year and being overweight is a problem since body fat plays a role in converting testosterone into oestrogen, so no wonder you're eying-up the shoes and handbags in MV!
:duck:
I'm with Dr Mike that the problem could be elsewhere and hypothyroidism (the under-activity of the thyroid gland) can also cause weight gain, tiredness, lethargy and more. You may well sweat a lot because you don't do much exercise and because you put your body through extremes of environment very rapidly (from aircon chill to Hua hell, as you call it, and back again) and it's a dramatic reaction that your body makes as a result.

Perhaps a gradual change in lifestyle or environment is called for and the risk is that trying to fix just one parameter - testosterone - won't make a big difference. I'd certainly invest the time and effort in seeing either an endocrinologist or urologist if you think the problem is testosterone-related as there is nothing worse than a series of mis-diagnoses and subsequent failures in treatment.

Good luck and keep us posted.
:cheers:
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

Post by MrPlum »

J.J.B. wrote:... the risk is that trying to fix just one parameter - testosterone - won't make a big difference.
Good point. In my observation One symptom = One drug rarely works on chronic or degenerative disorders, although I would say I have seen good old apple cider vinegar resolve high blood pressure, indigestion and high cholesterol. There's a previous thread on this somewhere.
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

Post by sargeant »

I am pretty sure HHF has done ACV already he did a thread on it :shock: :shock: :shock:
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

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^ Yes, I put that to a very diligent study for two or three months if I remember correctly as it was purported to solve nearly all of my lifelong ailments... didn't work at all for me, however, I did not try it in combination with the thick honey mentioned on that web site listed above.

I believe I used the ACV as directed on another site you (MrP) pointed me to at the time to help with my blood pressure, cholesterol, and possibly even my asthma. I forsook all my (4) daily medications for those chronic ailments and did the ACV regimen religiously for a extended period which resulted in all three of my conditions worsening.

While I don't doubt it works wonders for some people, it did not help me. That last web site you pointed me to mentioned mixing it with some natural thick honey to help with excessive sweating. I may actually try that if I can find the honey they are writing about as it seems not to be your garden variety but some wild, thick honey. That test will not require me to stop any prescribed medications so I don't think it would do any harm to try it. :cheers:

But while I would welcome anything that would help me perspire less in this climate, that does not claim to help with the problem that was the subject of this thread.
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

Post by MrPlum »

I wasn't suggesting using ACV for this particular problem and just as in conventional approaches there is no single remedy that will work for everyone.
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

Post by sargeant »

HHF my advise is go to see a doctor and a particular Dr

Dr Polpat of the Hua Hin Heart Clinic

His policy of prescribing the minimum required for your health is a good policy
His empathetic Treatment and encouragement is second to none

It maybe that the High blood pressure meds are too strong he will trim them
He maybe can encourage you to do more exercise and then will be able to trim them even more

Please give him a try dont dabble in the BS i saw what happened when you tried the ACV and trust me it was not pretty

As i say best of luck
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Re: Testosterone replacement therapy

Post by richard »

IMO for what it's worth is exercise and healthy food is the answer.

Went on a detox program some years back with my doctor allowing me to cease all medication for the duration. He examined me afterwards and pronounced me fit and not in need of any medication.

Came away from the detox program feeling 20 years younger but soon lapsed into my old lifestyle and consequently had to resume my medication. Occasionally I take time out to practice the detox lifestyle again but soon get bored and lapse back into my usual ways.
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