Any other post-op women taking testosterone?

[Stormy Weather]

Hello all, first post here on Susan's and apologies in advance if it's a little lengthy.

So I was just wondering if anyone who is post-op is taking a little testosterone to get them through life... the reason I ask is that it's now 14 months after surgery and I feel lousy, absolutely awful.

My doctors have messed round with my estrogen levels, added natural progesterone but I honestly feel that I've had a personality transplant since surgery; always irritable, black moods, spontaneous weeping, lack of concentration. This is starting to seriously affect my relationships with colleagues and friends as I'm on either on the verge of tearing someone's head off, about to throw a complete hissy-fit or break down sobbing.

I've lost any interest in sex, have stopped caring about my appearance, can't stop thinking of walking off my job which I used to love, feeling like I can't cope... it's not good.

I do have my first appointment with an endocrinologist in about three weeks time but wanted to sound a few people out here just to do a little research first. The last time my T levels were measured, they were declared 'unmeasurable' by my GP so being a bit desperate about the current situation, I'm starting to zero in on this as a possible cause or factor.

Your thoughts?

Thanks
Stormy

[DawnL]

Firstly, welcome to Susan's.

I'm not and I don't think I'll need to.  Sorry to hear things are not going so well for you.

Dawn

[victoriavictoria]

do hope you are feeling  better  now, concerning  your  mood and your hormones,  i am a post op ts 54 yrs  had operation in the late seventies  i am now researching  the  best  bio idenical  hormones to  take  in what amonuts,   get your   base line   known  via a  saliva  test,   please post   your findings we can help  each other ...  victoria

[Stormy Weather]

Sorry to wait a while before replying and thanks for the welcome.

Saw my endocrinologist last week and apart from the stern lecture I received about the evils of taking natural progesterone, he suggested that low testosterone could be a factor as my levels were far below a genetic women's average levels so he took some blood samples and results should be back in a week or two. If this turned out to be the problem, he would recommend the use of a prescription gel with about one-third to one-quarter of the measure used for testosterone-deficient men; a regime he reported to have used with success with other post-op women who had come to him with similar problems.

On the progesterone thing, he seemed unaware of the differences between natural progesterone and progestins and kept on referring to studies indicating adverse reactions that were based on the use of progestins. This didn't fill me with a great deal of confidence in his familiarity with much current thinking in the field, I must admit. However, I'm also wary of thinking I know better than a specialist...

Endocrinologists do things by numbers. Based on my experience with this one, they remind me of people who will judge a painting by an analysis of the pigments... when the results come back, I'm tempted to source a second opinion. Regardless, I shall post the outcome here.

[Sarra]

From what I've read about hormones, you need a small amount of T in your body for normal function, and mental health.

After SRS, usually the adrenals produce a small amount of T, it should be enough to keep your body at a normal T level compared to a GG. If your level is not in the normale range for a GG, you will need to either take T, or take a T blocker (if you're above the range).

Good luck, and yes, progestins can and will stop or slow the production of T.