Low testosterone and RLS

rfishburn · Post by **rfishburn** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 5:00 pm

Got my first shot on tuesday and tuesday night I slept thru the night and had energy most of wednesday. The effects started to putter out toward the evening and I did not sleep well last night. I know it will take a while to get a steady level...even one night of uninterrupted sleep is keeping me going pretty well though.

FidgetBoy · Post by **FidgetBoy** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:06 pm

yeah- I noticed the same pattern-- the night of and the next day after my shot- my legs are much better. As the week wears on, the symptoms worsen. Overall, though, my symptoms are definitely better with hormone supplementation.

rfishburn · Post by **rfishburn** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 8:39 pm

I wonder if the gel wouldn't provide a closer pattern to what our bodies naturally do. Testosterone cypionate has anywhere from a 8 to 14 day half life so it seems like unless you were to inject every 4 days or so that you would experience the down side of it...
I hear one doctor talk about breaking the shot into twice a week, so the typical dose is 100mg a week, split that into 50 on monday and thursday and maybe there would be less of a drop at the end of the shot. Just thinking out loud I guess but the experience the day of and after would be great to keep consistantly. Maybe I will try the gel on my next follow up visit and report back..

rfishburn · Post by **rfishburn** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:48 pm

I have been fighting thru the doctors since my last post...just a big a mess as rls to treat low testosterone. A fertility doctor cut me off completely to treat the fertility problems and let me feel like hell for 3 months despite my objections, so he told me either take his treatment or leave...I left. My primary doc felt bad and gave me shots again till I could get to a specialist. The specialist would not continue shots and will only give 2 pumps of the gel per day(which gives me a rash), so I am going backward again 100mg a week to just under 30 of the gel which absorbs even less so who knows how much is really being delivered...Sorry for the rant but my legs never stop bothering me now, just tired and cranky I guess.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:14 am

Guess I'd be tired and cranky, too

. Sometimes I really dislike doctors.

rfishburn · Post by **rfishburn** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:30 pm

Atleast my neurologist is good...he was just in 5280 magazine out here in Denver, had an article about sleep.

ray · Post by **ray** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:52 pm

This is great info. I see the Dr. today and will ask for a test to check my levels. How's everyone been?

rfishburn · Post by **rfishburn** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 3:16 pm

I see my doc tuesday...hopefully will be back on testosterone. I really could use some sleep. I drifted off just as the sun came up and then the alarm clock went off :cry:

rfishburn · Post by **rfishburn** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:48 pm

Ray- Let me know how that goes. It can be every bit the nightmare rls is.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:46 pm

Hey, Ray, good to see you back. I was thinking about you the other day and hoping all was well.

rfishburn · Post by **rfishburn** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:24 pm

I have had a lot of replies about hormone replacement therapy on another board and strangely enough they guys with testosterone problems in a lot of cases seem to be on pain meds for rls type pain. If anyone is interested I might type up some stuff from both boards and post it both places. Strage how pain meds go some much further when my testosterone is high..anyways.

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 10:01 pm

Interestingly, I finally sought medical attention for RLS (which I've had since childhood) because my symptoms had worsened considereably, and fairly suddenly. I had been found to be testosterone deficient at about this time, and started on testosterone gel, which brought my levels up nicely. I actually wondered if my worsening RLS was DUE to the testosterone. Haven't found any data to support that. I have noticed a great improvement in energy, and 28 pound weight loss since being on testosterone, and have stayed on it. At the time of my work up I was also found to be iron deficient, and I wondered if that may be related to the testosterone (which increases iron utilization by stimulating Red Blood Cell formation)--and that this caused an imbalance between my intake and utilization of iron. The low iron could have explained my worsening symptoms. I have not seen any improvement with iron alone and am currently on requip, and am struggling with augmentation.

I am 60, and the testosterone puts me at greater risk for prostate cancer--as a physician, I want to warn older members, that if they are on testosterone, they should monitor PSA levels regularly, and possibly with increased frequency than is recommended for the average male.

Post by **ViewsAskew** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 10:19 pm

Alan, thank you so much for that info. Very important.

How are you handling your struggle with augmentation?

rfishburn · Post by **rfishburn** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 2:33 am

My doctor showed me a few studies that seem to say testosterone does not increase the risk of prostate problems. I was worried about that statment and did some research and it appears that estrogen is starting to look like the culprit, one double blind study had the testosterone group come out with less effect on prostate than the placebo group. I am sure data can be manuplited to show it either way, just something to think about. My psa was the same as before I started testosterone but I guess only time will tell.
Once on testosterone my ultram went a lot further, hopefully the doctor has all of the testing he needs so I can go back on it.

P.S. the nausea and vommiting and fainting stopped after my ambien was discontinued for a few weeks, Not sure I posted about that or not.

kneestrangler · Post by **kneestrangler** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:05 am

Just wondering..
since RLS can start in childhood, would a quick way to check for testosterone level be by mesuring the index & ring finger length ratio.
I am no expert, just a nat geo fan...

most males ring finger is longer than their index finger. A longer index finger indicates that that the baby was exposed to lesser amounts of testosterone in the womb.

mine are equal in length, which means I was exposed to slightly less testosterone in the womb :oops:

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Discussion Board

Low testosterone and RLS

Long rant

index middle finger ratio