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HT Overlap?

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Posted 1/10/2017 1:32 PM (GMT -5)
I've read that Ht stays in your system for a few months post HT. I just had my 3rd HT shot and the last 4 or 5 days have felt very fatigued and all my SE's have increased. Woke up this morning feeling overwhelmed and emotional. My work load is piling up and my production is going down. Can't take a break as I don't make money if I don't work. I'm on ant-depessents and am going to see my councelor tonight . I can't even think to spell correctly. I feel like a mess. I haven't felt this way since back when I got my first injection ........I'm crying over spilt milk as Calijr would say!!

So was just wondering about the overlap thing.

Battle on.... Mark
Posted 1/10/2017 3:27 PM (GMT -5)
Well, one thing that helped me was merely the knowledge that many of the issues were not ME, but the medicinal SE.

Mel
Posted 1/10/2017 3:34 PM (GMT -5)
Most of the ADT drugs have a half-life of what the shot duration was. So it takes several months or even a year for enough to wash out of your system to see a positive recovery. But every man is a bit different.

Generally, the older the age and longer one is on HT, the slower the recovery. I was on for three years and used six month shots. It took me nearly 18 months to feel like I had recovered. On the other hand another member only took a few months to see improvement. Since you are on a four month duration you can expect a faster recovery than I experienced.

As to coping, this is also very individual. I had absolutely no depression, but another friend suffered terribly when on HT. I understand that diet, exercise and stress relief activities are most helpful. When I was at my busiest physically, I felt better. But when I was more sedentary the symptoms were the worst. I also found it helpful to reduce alcohol and caffeine intake and increase water and green tea.

It is more than spilt milk, but there is an end in sight for you and some great things you can do to better manage the symptoms. Best wishes.
Posted 1/10/2017 3:51 PM (GMT -5)
JNF and I have walked this road together a long time!

I was on 6 month shots for about 18 months, then went on 4 month shots. My last shot "expired" in March 2016. By 6 months, my testosterone barely tagged the bottom of normal. By 9 months, it's definitely in the low end of normal, and finally it seems the hot flashes are abating. There's hope after HT is done, but it's extremely variable.

To your question about overlap, I don't think that's a factor. If your testosterone is in the "castrate" range (hate that term!), below 50 or so, then you get all of the wonderful side effects you're describing. It can only go so low, so as long as the HT is controlling your testosterone, having more of it won't do anything more. It's very unlikely that your testosterone recovered at the end of your shot's effectiveness period, at least not to have made you feel any different.

For me, I was definitely more emotional on HT. I can feel the difference now, though I'm still more emotional than I've been before all of this. It doesn't seem surprising that being diagnosed with a serious disease would cause one to be emotionally fragile. The daily reminders of living on HT don't help.

As one with cancer, it seems the sky over our life suddenly becomes overcast and dark, most of the time. Once in a while we look out the window to see only the clouds again, reminding us of what we're facing. Other times we shelter inside, closing the blinds with work, hobbies, distractions. Anti-depressives can help us see breaks in those clouds, maybe brightening the day even if the skies aren't clear.

Your experience is, dare I say, pretty normal for living without testosterone. There are terms for that situation that I don't really like, but some do find peace in this new normal. Some even desire it voluntarily. Studies seem to show that it's attitude that makes the difference. Those who achieve this condition voluntarily are pleased with it when it happens, while those upon whom it's forced are upset by it. Same condition, two very different responses!

I told my wife that it was interesting visiting her planet, Venus. But we Martians don't adapt to Venus's conditions very quickly. Oddly enough, after 2+ years on HT, I finally kind of understood why women like movies that make them cry. Exploring that end of the emotional spectrum sometimes felt good!

Recovering from HT now, that effect has largely dissipated. However, the gain setting on my emotional state is still higher than it used to be. Highs are higher, lows are lower. That may be a permanent side effect.
Posted 1/10/2017 3:59 PM (GMT -5)
I will soon be starting my 3rd session with HT.

My first vacation lasted 9 months. During that vacation, it took about 3 months, but I recovered just about completely.

My next vacation will end up being 14 months. I recovered quite a bit, but then some symptoms actually returned.
In toto, I am about 85% recovered. The only aspect that did not recover (well, it did, but then the issues returned) was my short term memory. My T recovered but then dropped below normal level. Dr. Lam thinks it is age-related.

Mel
Posted 1/10/2017 4:44 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you all. It's been awhile since I've experienced this big of an emotional down. One of the things that is hard for me is how much this effects my work and my wife. I need both. I'm screwed if I can't keep up as my business is in my house. Work=house/house=work. Can't keep both without being able to do my work. My wife is my rock and I try to be her's. I'm not quite able to be as strong for her and I see how it effects her..

Winged One...your responses are one reason why you are such an inspiration to me.....

JNF... the "spilt milk" thing was an inside joke for jr about a much earlier response he gave me....something about being a newbie. He probably doesn't remember LOL

I'm glad to hear that once I'm at castrate level (MAN I hate that term also!) it won't get any worse. I was afraid that I would go through this every 4 months!

The things I talk about now. Oh ....and by the way my mustache and goatee are slowly dropping away along with the rest of my body hair....soon to be as smooth as a "babies butt"


The Artistic One - Mark
Posted 1/10/2017 10:12 PM (GMT -5)
Not much hair left on my body these days. A friend who was on HT joked that he would cry when a squirrel fell out of a tree. I think some of us are more prone to depression than others. I have to be real careful what I say to others late in the afternoon. Sometimes my apologies aren't taken, and it is a cold night in the house.
Michael
Posted 1/11/2017 6:43 AM (GMT -5)
Last 6 moth hit of Eligard was Oct 2014. Testosterone is still way low though body hair is regrowing. Testicles have not returned to normal size or function. Had hot flashes and a nausea attack last week, no libido at all, though 8 of the 16 pounds weight gain has left over the last 2 years. smile

So for me 2 years later, 1st round chemo (Luprolide) is the gift that just keeps giving side effects.
Posted 1/11/2017 8:11 AM (GMT -5)

Artist Mark said...
...I just had my 3rd HT shot and the last 4 or 5 days have felt very fatigued and all my SE's have increased. Woke up this morning feeling overwhelmed and emotional.....

Yup, like the guys said, it's not you, it's the drug. Besides the hot flashes and either being cold or sweating, I hated what Lupron did to my emotional state. I was up and down, I would feel optimistic and interested in doing things, and then later I would feel a bit depressed and just didn't care about anything.

With low T, you are going to feel tired but hang in there. Consider talking with your oncologist or urologist about your SEs, they might be able prescribe something to help. My RO gave me Effexor which really helped mitigate the hot flashes.
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