Testosterone And Energy Levels

[Zufrieden]

Testosterone is a powerful drug. Ordinary men with low testosterone report having low energy and low libido. Without testosterone you don't feel like getting up in the morning and killing a mastodon. MTF's usually have to take a testosterone blocker to stamp out its effects.

Estrogen, in contrast, is a weak drug. FTM's, as far as I know, don't have to do anything to reduce their estrogen.

So you would expect that when you are on a T-blocker that your energy level would go down.

My energy level has actually gone up which indicates that happiness is a stronger drug than testosterone.

Jeez, that sounds a bit dipsy-doodle, but I'll have to let it stand.

Anybody have any related experiences?

Z.

[Guest Rach]

Testosterone is a powerful drug. Ordinary men with low testosterone report having low energy and low libido. Without testosterone you don't feel like getting up in the morning and killing a mastodon. MTF's usually have to take a testosterone blocker to stamp out its effects.

Estrogen, in contrast, is a weak drug. FTM's, as far as I know, don't have to do anything to reduce their estrogen.

So you would expect that when you are on a T-blocker that your energy level would go down.

My energy level has actually gone up which indicates that happiness is a stronger drug than testosterone.

Jeez, that sounds a bit dipsy-doodle, but I'll have to let it stand.

Anybody have any related experiences?

Z.

Being my first post, I really hope I can keep from breaking any rules by my response to this. So, I will try to keep it simple.

My HRT consists of both an androgen blocker, and estrogens. I recently had blood tests done as part of my yearly exam, and my testosterone levels were completely off the chart. I have a copy of the results here with me. My testosterone levels are:

Total: 13 ng/dl

Free: 0.5 pg/dl

And my doctors side notes on the results state: Testosterone is esentially 100% supressed.

What does this mean for me? The levels have been at this range for a long time now. I'm pretty used to the effects by now. The best part is that since there is really no testosterone to get in the way, the estrogens can do their thing without being bothered by the 'bad' hormones. And that alone makes such a huge difference in my estrogen's overall effectivenes, and I really like that :-). As for a sex drive, my response would have to be: Whats that? Its disappeared years ago. And I really don't miss it, not even one tiny bit.

Now the bad news: Some days I have really no energy at all. Its a chore to get out of bed and get myself going for the day. It can take me a few hours before I feel as though I have the energy I need to even get dressed, not to mention being able to do my daily tasks, like my housework, cleaning, laundry, cooking, errands, and so on (I'm a homemaker, and a full time nail technician - which is my main passion in life. I love what I do). And even shopping (which I have such a passion for! Its great therapy in itself) is many times a strain on me, though I still do it :-)

So, in my case at least, my extremely low T levels are responsible for my frequent lack of energy and motivation. But once I get moving (finally!), I am OK for the rest of the day. I have no choice but to deal with it the best I can. But as I said, it is far from anything new for me as I have been on HRT for so very long now. It won't be long before my SRS, yay! I've been approved, and ready for my SRS like years ago, but I have not been able to come up with all the money for it. I'm almost there financially though. So very, very close. And I am so very thankful for that fact.

[Zufrieden]

Hi Rach:

Welcome to the forums.

Getting rid of that poison testosterone lets the estrogen full reign.

I'm sorry to hear that your energy levels are in a slump sometimes. What has your doctor said about this? Sometimes even women get prescribed testosterone. And then there's everything else like thyroid, etc.

I'm happy to hear that you've almost managed it and SRS is finally within your sights.

I'm only a beginner with 8 months of HRT, but my energy levels have really gone up. I like my job, too. I'm often siinging as I go to work and I'm the only employee who always appears on the dot. No, I'm not "little Miss Sunshine", that people want to smack upside the head for being too cheerful at 8:45. Although they do make fun of me (in a nice way) because I'm always "chomping at the bit" to be doing something at work. Yes, my energy levels do have their ups and downs. Sometimes there is an initial reluctance to do some chore, but not much. Once I get started, I'm a tornado.

Z.

[Guest Rach]

Hi Rach:

Welcome to the forums.

Getting rid of that poison testosterone lets the estrogen full reign.

I'm sorry to hear that your energy levels are in a slump sometimes. What has your doctor said about this? Sometimes even women get prescribed testosterone. And then there's everything else like thyroid, etc.

I'm happy to hear that you've almost managed it and SRS is finally within your sights.

I'm only a beginner with 8 months of HRT, but my energy levels have really gone up. I like my job, too. I'm often siinging as I go to work and I'm the only employee who always appears on the dot. No, I'm not "little Miss Sunshine", that people want to smack upside the head for being too cheerful at 8:45. Although they do make fun of me (in a nice way) because I'm always "chomping at the bit" to be doing something at work. Yes, my energy levels do have their ups and downs. Sometimes there is an initial reluctance to do some chore, but not much. Once I get started, I'm a tornado.

Z.

Hi Zufrieden!

Thank you for the welcome! I appreciate it.

You asked about my doctor, and what he thinks about my energy levels being so low at times. Well, he doesn't seem too concerned with it, and has mentioned that this is common when T-levels are almost non-existent, as it is with me. He is, and has been, more concerned with the possibility of my developing osteoporosis (Sp?). As a result, I have gone through bone density testing (whatever the technical name is for that I have no clue). And so far, so good. But, I am getting older and this is a thing which could happen anyway. I hope it doesn't, but I can only hope for the best. One doesn't have much control over things like this, except to maybe take preventitive measures like lots of vitamin d and calcium.

Its kind of odd though, because I felt a lot like you do some number of years ago. Maybe its just age related. But I remember a time when I used to have so much energy that I didn't know what to do with it all! And the same thing used to happen to me - co-workers used to want to beat me over the head for being so cheerful at such an early hour, such as 8 or 9 a.m.!!! But, I was just being myself, I guess. I really never cared much for the idea of putting up false fronts for the sake of others. And I have ben guilty of doing just that - when I was much younger though, meaning that I presented myself in a way that I thought would gain the 'approval' of others, or maybe they would like me more? However, experience has taught me to be myself - my true self, in all ways, at all times - and that has proven to be the single, most effective method of attaining true happiness. Well, for me its worked well.

Rach

[Zufrieden]

Hi Rach:

Yes, being true to yourself is the important thing. To be able to say, well, I don't care in the least what I am, I'm me.

I like what you were saying about being so cheerful in the morning and your co-workers response. When I get to work on time (that means about 40 seconds early +- 20 seconds, literally, it takes me exactly 25 minutes to walk to work and I leave punctually) the place is empty. Since there are nice acoustics there, I often sing full voiced. When the others start straggling in, I give them a friendly, but not over the top, good morning. One person I have to give even more subdued a greeting. Strange as it may seem, I'm not one for early morning chit-chat. The first hour of the day we've got the most routine work to do. I believe in just getting it done.

I've no idea what my bone density is now, it can't have changed in so short a time, but it is one of my long term concerns. I eat /drink non-fat milk, cheese and tons of leafy greens (spinach, kale, collards).

I don't know, maybe your doctor isn't concerned about your energy levels, but if it will make life better for you, maybe you should be.

Z.