posted Mon, 09/11/2017 - 17:06
7431
Wasted life and shutdown story
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I'm 37 and took steroids in my early to mid 20's. Age 24 I stayed on for year and after coming off developed low t and all symptoms with chronic ed. I became alcoholic. Drs put me on all types of ssris and i finally came off them 7 years ago.
Do you think stopping alcohol abuse, sorting my diet, sleep out will improve my testosterone levels and symptoms or should I just go to a dr and get on trt?
A counsellor, nurse, 3 doctors and 2 other people say that it could come back naturally once I'm off the booze but Its been 12 years so I'm not too sure.
If you were me what would you do? Go on trt or wait it out once sober? I'll be 40 in 3 years. I'm unemployed but have some inheritance money to see a good doc here in UK.
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First of all - you'll need bloodwork. Test, Free test, SHBG, Estradiol, DHEA-S, Thyroid, Prolactin. In the meantime work on your nutrition, more veggies, fruits, enough protein, carbs. Try to get 7-8 hrs of sleep daily. Obviously eliminate the booze! Find something else you enjoy, that doesn't involve drinking. I recommend a swift walk early in the morning. I don't think it'll get better naturally, depending how your overall health is, but endocrinologist should be able to sort it out.
I know this is an older thread but just wanted to let you know that in no way is your life wasted bro. You took a ride and you’re here to learn from it. Get your body and addiction in check. Trt is a last resort. It’s not an ideal or fun lifestyle like the commercials portray. The needles, the lab work, the check ups, and the costs can be a lot to handle at times. Even if you end up needing it though you’re still here taking breaths so nothing is a waste.
Well said on all of this. +1
It's like smoking. Every smoker says, "DON'T START!" The attitude towards TRT is the same, but obviously this is a medical issue. Still, the same idea applies. "Don't start! (If you don't have to!)"
I really hope Sade updates us. Addiction is a dirty bitch, but it's not impossible to overcome. Many of us live with it and have found ways to live with strength in our lives. I hope he does too.
Sade, just checking in on you. Not drinking is the hurdle you must jump. I'm not picking on you. Quite the opposite. I'm walking the path of sobriety with you, whether you're three weeks sober now or relapsed today. Either way, you're not alone, and there are people out there rooting for you, including your eroids comrades. Checking in on you. Fill us in when you have time, please.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2pv45lmmg&t=3s
Thats the guy I'm thinking of seeing.
Seems like he would be willing to help. The addition of HCG is essential. Go for it when the time comes.
Good to hear! Hope it gets better. I just posted a similar thing about my self. Doctors always were so quick to throw me on Saris instead of finding the problem. I would definitely see a doctor to get your test checked and get on some TRT. Good luck bro!!
You need to see an endocrinologist. I have been where you are. I thought nothing was working. I was dead inside. Once I was treated properly, my life returned to me within 48 hours. Forget the booze, it is poison, and get an appointment immediately with an endocrinologist. Tell him everything, he should be concerned for your well being, if not, then go find another one.
Thanks mate I know a lot of bros have tied and help me in this thread. The fact is I'm a 37 year old unemployed guy with no job and still living with his mom.
I don't think I can wait no more.
And (just for thought) most drunks have any problem having kids albeit raising them a whole other story....but man get in. Get your hormones right. It will help with "need" to drink as much. But addiction doesnt really care about hormones i guess. Best wishes. You can do this and have a new life ....or die. Hate addictions. Know em well
You can do this shit!! It's inside you.. seems like you found it. Now put it in drive!
I've been here but at a much younger age.. I have to say a few difficult years ahead but man life is amazing now.. coming up on my 7 years of sobriety soon.... wish you the best
It is your life. You have the right to live well. So, make the choice, and choose to get better. Stop drinking, I know its hard, but the urge goes away after awhile. Get a job, who cares if it is flipping burgers, it is better than being a bum. Exercise. Move out. And most importantly, and first, go see an endocrinologist. Good luck, and be well.
Thanks everyone. Its been a week of sobriety and I'm on naltrexone. No cravings for booze what so ever!
Endo's on the NHS uk are absolutely useless. I'm going private. I'm going to wait it out 3 months of no alcohol what so ever, see where my levels are then go private.
Sounds good. Every decision matters. Stay focused on your goals, and the time will come when they are achieved.
Exactly
Sorry for the late response guys. I've had a week lapse, god this is so difficult. I don't want to carry on living this way.
I started this thread a couple of weeks after my 37th birthday but I still have time to sort everything out.
Man I really really hate to hear this, but get back up &’Carey on & make changes to avoid the same pattern of relapse.
Lack of sleep, poor diet, stress, depression can all be contributors of low T...especially high levels of alcohol. Been on hrt since I was 40 and wished I'd exhausted all efforts before doing so. If you don't have to, don't go down this road. You would be surprised what a decent diet, basic exercise program and reduction in alcohol (elimination would be best) would do for low T...it will also help with mental problems and sleep, which in turn, can also help with low T. Work it out if you can...slow and steady wins the race dude. Good luck!
As an alcoholic, he definitely needs to ELIMINATE all alcohol!!
"The best way to get sober is simple. Don't drink."
I'm starting this post with that elegant statement cuz it was told to me awhile back by a guy who's ten years sober. He's CRUSHING life, and his enthusiasm to be sober and live life to the fullest has inspired me to achieve even greater things in my own life.
However, as simple as "don't drink" sounds, it's not easy. Most simple things in life are hard as hell, despite the fact that they're simple.
How do you build muscle? Simple. MORE. (More sets, more weight, more squeezing as you engage the lift, more reps, progressively building up to the simple concept of MORE.)
How do you lose fat? LESS. Eat less. Simple as that. Less calories. (Ignore people that say "cardio!" or "this diet!" or "this supplement!" etc. Less calories means you burn your stored fat. Nothing complicated about it.)
How do you get sober? Don't drink. Simple as that.
Again, simple doesn't mean easy. It's HARD AS HELL to lift your ass off, day in and day out. It's HARD AS HELL to eat a salad and then drink a lot of water (or tea, or whatever) instead of eating more food. And if you're a drinker like me (us) then it's HARD AS HELL to not have a beer (or twenty). But it's simple.
Lifting, dieting, and sobriety have a few things in common. They're easier with community (aka-accountability). They're attainable with the right mental tools to push our bodies to where we want them to go. And most importantly, ALL THREE OF THOSE GOALS ARE WORTH IT.
@JARHEAD2, you're a good man. Thank you for walking with your eroids brothers on their (our) journey to be sober. I quit drinking a year ago. It was the best decision I ever made. For those contemplating sobriety, it's totally worth it, beyond anything I can ever convey with my limited vocabulary.
We are not alone. If a person takes on a struggle alone, they lose. If they join an army with the same mindset, they win. We walk together, and we dominate together. The struggle gets easier and never goes away, but the benefits are fucking incredible.
@sade, regarding the idea of "hitting the gym" or "getting on TRT," etc, don't worry about any of that shit until you have a handle on the simple concept of "I'm not gonna drink today." The body can only take so much stress at one time. Sobriety will be a huge stress. It's WORTH the anxiety, the fucked up cravings, the lethargy, all of it. It's worth it, all of it, to get sober. You'll know when you're ready for the gym. Don't rush things. One day at a time, one step at a time, you'll be benching before you know it, let alone hitting PR's (Personal Record's) on your lifts. You have a dragon to slay first. Go kill this beast, THEN add the stress of the gym to your life.
Every day of sobriety is a huge victory. Don't down play being at four days sober, or five days sober, then six days, and on and on. You know what a week is. What a month is. What a year is. What a decade is. Time adds up, and the small good decisions you make on a daily basis add up to HUGE victories over the years.
This couldn’t have been said any better my dear brother!! People that want a difference will find accountability & those who don’t will avoid it. An old Proverb says, “A sluggard desireth, but haveth not!”
Thanks for sharing your testimony & God Bless you & yours my friend!!
Jarhead, thank you for the good mojo! I dropped you a PM to share, but I'll share it here too. Without knowing it (cuz I admit, I don't look at calendars too much, and I rarely know what date it is) I discovered that I'm alcohol free for one year and one day, today. FUCKING BOOM!!!
To our brothers (AND SISTERS!) out there who are considering being sober, it is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. By giving up booze, you're not sacrificing anything. NO ONE CARES if you don't drink. In fact, if you ask for help from your loved ones, THEY WILL HELP YOU!!! Accountability is huge, and when you let peeps know that you want to be free of booze, it'll lead you to where you wanna get.
Jarhead, thank you so much for your good mojo, both personally, as well as to our fellow brothers and sisters on this site.
We are all fellow travelers to the grave. May we all live the life we envision for ourselves.
CONGRATULATIONS that’s awesome brother!!!!
Hello Bro, Knocking drink on the head will help every facet of your life. It will take time and alot of pain but I hope you get there. There's is .lots of free help available in the UK. No need to pay for anything.
Has your doctor prescribed anything to help you come off alcohol?
Best of luck in your journey
Thanks guys. I'm going on nearly 4 weeks minus those 2 slips but have resetted the number of days counter after that last slip.
Appetite still down and sleep is very poor but that is expected. I'm eating healthy when I do eat. Joining a gym soon.
Check this out as well!!
https://www.eroids.com/forum/general/off-topic/the-recovery-lounge....na...
Alcohol abuse is a slippery slope & always a downward spiral. Your problem seems to be self empathy & you’re desire to drink & forget life is stronger than your desire to stop. King Solomon said, “Life is a few days & full of trouble!” This is true in all lives. Our lives are full of ups & downs. Everyone has problems brother. We have problems that we can do nothing about, & we have problems that we have control over. Please sit down & discern between the two in your life & prioritize accordingly. Perspective has absolutely everything to with how things turn out & whither you defeat the demons in your life. I’m sending a friend request... please accept. You can pm me anytime for anything, but know this my friend,
I WILL HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE
Now, stop feeling sorry for yourself & being so selfish & kick this demon in the head!! I’ve been where your at & from experience I can tell you if you want to stop you most certainly can!!
Sade, there are lots of podcasts and online resources to help you with your recovery from alcohol as well. Please feel free to PM me as well if you'd ever like to chat about sobriety and mental strategies to not drink.
Regarding lifting, low testosterone, diet, and "health" in general, you'll never wake up one day and say, "I wish I was putting ethanol into my system." Your body isn't a motor like a car. Your body runs best on fat, protein and carbs, along with all of the other micronutrients found in veggies & pasture raised meat, eggs & dairy. Corn fed meat is cheap, but it's nutritional garbage compared to grass fed, ESPECIALLY mob raised (also called "holistic raised" or "rotational grazed") beef. I could chat for hours about livestock health, but that's a different discussion.
Right now, you simply gotta take it one day at a time. You can do this.
If you can change your mindset to embrace the fact that YOU ARE ON THE ROAD TO A HEALTHIER, BETTER LIFE as opposed to "saying goodbye to a better life," you'll be radically more successful in your sobriety.
I tell my friends, "if life is too easy, go get drunk. It'll make life hard again." It's funny, cuz it's true. Life isn't "easy" when you're sober, but it's "easier," no doubt. It takes time, but you can do this. Please reach out if you ever wanna chat, Sade, and check out the link that Jarhead2 put above to the Recovery Lounge.
You're not alone. None of us are. That's eroids. We're in this together. Don't give up.
AMEN BROTHER!!
+1 brother.
Sade, I'm requesting an update with your adventures. Are you three weeks sober at this point? (I'm guessing not, but I'm hoping I'm wrong. Booze is a tough beast to slay.) Fill us in when you have a moment, please.
I've had two slips the past three weeks but am being prescribed naltrexone for the cravings.
My appetite hasn't been great but am usually skipping breakfast and eating at least two meals a day consisting of steak, fish, chicken, mixed veg (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, peas), potatoes, bacon, sausage, wholemeal bread, fruit. Salt, black pepper, gravy, hot chocolate (malted and unmalted) and chocolate or strawberry milkshakes.
Vitamins I take are Thiamine (300mg a day), Vitamin B Compound (two a day), vitamin d (5000iu daily), Vitamin C (3000mg daily, Vitamin A (5000iu daily),vitamin e (400iu daily ) Zinc Picolinate (37mg daily), copper (2mg daily) selenium (200mcg daily) Magnesium ( 750mg daily), boron (300mg daily), Kelp (45mg daily), fish oil (2000iu daily), 2-3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil daily).
I feel less depressed but energy and motivation aren't there. All my effort is focusing on not drinking.
I'm not exercising at the minute, will join a gym soon.
Other than just feel less drained but most symptoms of low t are still there. I know its going to take time.
My sleep is also very poor. I'm getting around 3 sometimes 4 hours a night.
Sade thanks for yodating us. Stay strong man.
Regarding test, there have been a couple of pists you might find really interesting. Simple supplementatiin that might help
1. Raise your test a notch
2. Bind up your high SHBG a notch to free up more existing test and anymore that might be released.
I will edit this post in a mo with the links....
See ClassyChassi's post on Magnesium Citrate for SHBG binding: https://www.eroids.com/forum/general/general-talk/magnesium-and-lowering-shbg-affinity
My post on raising testo. Reference the herb I talk about and aldo DfromPhilly's suggestion in comments below main post ( i will update today with D's info on main post) : https://www.eroids.com/forum/general/over-40-trt/trt-or-borderline-how-about-a-200-ngdl-increase-in-test-levels-naturally
So that is a total of 3 supplements to buy and start taking immediately, presuming they do not interfere with any meds you are currently taking (call your doc).
Youve only 2 months to go so if this can help you feel better in general before you kick off rehab, its worth trying properly
+1. Great info here.
I'm on day 2 of no booze, no major symptoms just anxiety. Do you think I should do a power pct or low dose clomid protocol? Unfortunately the health professionals have no idea what a pct is?
I think you should focus on not drinking and listen to giardap below and talk to a doc about staying safe/sober during a possible withdraw period, then worry about your test after you're out of the woods.
It's not going to happen over night. When you're in a comfortable spot of staying sober and have a good streak under your belt, try some fadogia or DAA if you want a safe way to try and speed up your test recovery. But that's not the important recovery at the moment (not that this one should ever take a back seat).
I don't think you should be messing with PCT drugs right now. If anything that's a hail mary WAY down the line when it's looking like you may have to go the TRT route.
keep up the good work.
Excellent advice from both of you! Thanks.
The advice from D is great.
My 2 cents....Go get some real help fella. This post is ridiculous. I doubt anonymous internet forums are saying anything new to you that your friends/family/nurse/doctor/councillors havent said, whom you clearly arent listening to even though they know you better and give more of a damn than anyone online will do.
Reality check: get your fkn shit together and MTFU. Addiction is a MOTHERFUCKER and will own you forever if you do not devote your entire effort to fixing it. Listen to the pro's NOW and stop ignoring them
Best wishes.
Why before the end of the month? why not now? you'll never stop if you put it off. it'll always be "I'll stop by the end of the month" then you'll have a drink on the 2nd and say "the end of this month". How about TODAY? All you have to do is not drink today. When you wake up, that's all you have to do. I know it's hard, but it truly is one day at a time. Start tomorrow, if you've already started drinking today. If you haven't started yet today, start today. Not the end of the month. Do this under a doctor supervision if you can. Read on alcohol detox. I'm not sure how much you've been drinking and how bad it is, but alcohol withdraw can get dicey and I'm not well versed in it. From my understanding you need to be pretty bad to get into trouble with the withdraw though.
As far as high e2 and SHBG. Alcohol raises aromatise, which raises e2. High e2 raises SHBG and lowers Testosterone. It's not suprising. It's expected, and you should wait more than 3 months. When you come off the booze it should raise back up over time, if it doesn't then you have a real medical condition and would need the trt. Try whatever you can before giving up though.
Try natural ways to boost when you come off the booze. Diet can help, along with some natural supps. But you need to wait more than 3 months before giving up. You've been boozing for 12 years. 3 months more then likely isn't enough time to fix everything.
Good luck man.
Thanks mate, very good advice. I'll keep you guys updated.
Please do. I'm routing for ya, boss.
No homo?
I have to 100 % agree with this advice! Cant go wrong. +1
Thanks mate, very good advice. I'll keep you guys updated.
Let's see,...... listen to 4 medical professionals who have personal seen me or an internet forum that gives out free advice ???? That is a tough one.....
Have you thought of asking anyone of the many sources here what you should do ???
Drunk forum posting are something you should try and avoid.
Yes but those health professionals aren't steroid experts and don't have a clue that one of the main symtoms is having a limp cock.
I'm tapering down my alcohol consumption. I'm on a waiting list but its 3 months and I can't wait that long. I'm not taking ssri's anymore.
I'm going to stop the booze before the end of the month, give it 3-4 months then go on trt if my numbers don't improve. I also have high oestradiol and shbg.
Yea it sounds like your still an alcoholic and you are taking ssri's as well . No wonder you have ED . A common side effect of serotonin reuptake inhibitors is erectile dysfunction and your increasing the effectiveness of whatever ssri you are on with alcohol
"Once sober"... Are you sober now? Or back on the gargle?
1 step at a time either way...
You had chronic erectile dysfunction so the dr put you on ssri's?
Congrats on getting and staying clean. No comment on your test situation but just thought I would wish you good luck and remind you your life is not wasted. I got clean several years ago when I was around your age and the years are only getting better. Look at anything from your past as a learning experience. Our lives aren't over, only getting better.