How long post chemo and 2nd I/O did it take to get your T right?

[tripletmom]

We were wondering how long it took all of you to get your T levels adjusted post chemo and the 2nd I/O. What about muscle strength and feeling of well being. Doug's last day of BEP treatment is tomorrow. And then the journey to recovery!!! We have asked to be referred to physical therapy - has anyone else done that? We feel like he has a lot of ground to make up. Thanks in advance for any advice. Last 2 T levels were 4 and 205 by the way. He is doing the shots every two weeks. He absolutely HATED the taste and smell of the patches and gels- maybe this is a chemo period thing? He is scheduled to do pellets when his counts come back up. Gina

[DoubleZero]

I think I was quite lucky; I started TRT two days after my second I/O and have _never_ felt any real difference between pre-and-post operations

After my 3xBEP it took a while (2/3 months) before I started to feel reasonably fit again (and probably closer to 6 months) before I would classify myself as back to normal. Whilst I didn't really gain/loose weight I did loose a lot of muscle tone and strength.

I did have a couple of conversations with my onc over how/when it would be appropriate to start pushing myself "hard" again, and whilst he suggested a (conservative) 12 months, I kind of settled for listening to my body and now (apart from my lower ab scars) look/act no different to my previous "healthy" self.

[tripletmom]

I think you are so right that recovery has to be slow and easy, Doug didn't gain or lose either during treatment. At 51 years old he is trim (180 lbs) and has been strong and I am sure that will come back. Did you get implants? (Only on this forum could you ask that!) Doug is upset with how he looks and we are really irked he wasn't offered the implants at the time of the second I/O- now that will just have to wait. I think the main thing for him is going to be T level- he has seemed to have lost no only libido (which is understanable) but it seems he has lost alot of the affect that makes him him- ya know what I mean? I am praying that with the right treatment he will start to feel more joie de vivre . Thanks for listening. G

[DoubleZero]

Well what a question for a lady to ask!!

But, yes I have two implants - both done at the time of the operations. And I am very happy with them; I know they're not real and everything else, but I like the way they look, I like the way they feel (it's always good to have a bit of "weight down there", my missus likes the way they look, my "young" kids don't know about any differences and as I swim a lot I like the fact that I look "normal" in speedos. So all in all I think they've helped my self esteem more than I give them credit for.

As for fitness, well I was 42 when I had my BEP treatment and a very fit 154lb. I'm quite happy to say that whilst I (apparently) tolerated the treatment very well (so my notes say) it really did knock me sideways/backwards... Thankfully that's just a distant memory now.

As for TRT, I know I am really lucky in that (so far) I've had no obvious problems. Others on this site (have a look around) have had all sorts of "fun and games" getting a level of T that is right for them (in fact that's one of my reasons for not changing from Testogel as it works, and works well for me).

Good luck, he'll get through it. And I hope you get a pair of implants (if that's your wishes) because I think they'll help on the physiological front.

[tripletmom]

Thanks so much for sharing about the implants. We think Doug will be much happier with his the way he looks if he gets them. And like you we have 2 nine year old boys and although they understand what their dad is going thru I think it is another thing to see it, if you know what I mean. No sense in creating anxiety for them.

On the Testosterone front- good news finally. I gave him the 1ml shot on Thursday and things are looking up today!!!! If you know what I mean. That is the first time since before his surgery. What a smile he woke up with this morning. Yipee for me too. Maybe too much sharing, but we are encouraged that TRT will help us resume our lives.

G

[DoubleZero]

Yes indeed too much information! But that's good and worth shouting about (and no better place than here, because most of us will have been through similar issues - it took me a good while before I really felt that I wanted to do "things"),so good for you and Doug!!

As I said earlier on, I have been really lucky - my T levels (and feelings) don't seem any different now to what they were 2+ years ago. Just make sure Doug sticks to his regime and that he has regular T-oriented blood tests (mine are 6 monthly).

[Kiwi]

Hey for me it did take some months to get back to normal, but looking back I have had low T for at least a couple of years so after being on T and back to my "normal" I progressed further with heaps of energy --- you do forget what "normal" is.

With all the T in me I found that running helped use the energy I had, thats moved on and I am back in teh gym after quite a number of years, but in a strange way the x2 TC has been positive, I am now lighter, faster, stronger, smaller waist than I have been for way over 20 years. how good is that!!! (sonds like the Bionic Man - for real!!)

But at the start of the x2 journey I was smashed, not a great life experience and I kow wher you might be at right now BUT there can be positive outcomes but they will take time so hang in there.

Cheers

Kiwi