Coping with loss of testosterone.

[ColinJ]

I was going to add early on that we are all different, our bodies are not necessarily equivalent and we will grow old differently. Comparison is not always helpful unless it is just RR who is feeling that way and everyone else is doing 40 miles a day commutes and s*3gg&6g 5 times a night (shoot, I hope not). Indeed some people may not wish to.

I'd be the first to admit that I've been very lucky with my health. Most of my family live into their mid-eighties or even into their nineties, so we must have some good genes.

As for 5 times a night... I probably couldn't have managed that even in my teens, not that ever I got the chance to find out . I would happily settle for 5 times a month now!

What I was trying to do was to get RR to stop thinking that feeling bad was an inevitable consequence of middle-age - for a lot of people it isn't. Okay, it's unfortunately true that for some unlucky people health problems are unavoidable, and perhaps unfixable. For the rest of us, good health and fitness are possible by having a good varied diet, not abusing drink and drugs, avoiding stress, and taking regular exercise plus - if necessary, as it may be in RR's case - getting the right medical support.

Colin, in the nicest possible way, if you mix with people who do 200km audaxes they aren't going to be slouches. However I will take a pinch of your positive outlook on my cornflakes any day.

Birds of a feather, and all that !

 

[Globalti]

Well thanks for all your support and suggestions. I seldom drink and I eat sensibly, I still have a resting HR of 52 and I'm still one of the faster riders in my club up hills. You have to remember that by most people's standards this constitutes astonishing athleticism for a 52 y.o.!

I guess my post was prompted more by the general deterioration I have seen in the last couple of years, which becomes evident in day-to-day life and especially when doing DIY around the house.

I will make an appointment to see my GP and get the testosterone and the thyroid checked out as some of you have suggested .

 

[summerdays]

This has been an interesting and enlightening thread ... I didn't really appreciate that men have an aging process too (other than growing wrinkly and saggy).

I doubt the Channel 4 program "Embarrassing Illnesses" will cover it tonight ... but you never know its on "men's problems" tonight.

 

[ColinJ]

Thinking about it, there are signs of ageing that I've noticed in myself... The obvious ones - greying hair, bald patch, older skin. More annoying is the fact that my memory is nothing like as good as it once was. It is a bit disturbing to find oneself standing in the middle of a room holding a screwdriver and wondering what on earth one was going to do with it !

One thing about fitness - I was never particularly fit when I was young so my cycling is making me fitter now than I ever was before. If I'd been really fit aged 20, I obviously wouldn't be capable of doing the same things now. If you look at older pro cyclists such as Malcolm Elliot, however, you can see that the decline with age doesn't need to be anywhere near as steep as some people think it does. The expression 'Use it or Lose it' springs to mind (not aimed at you RR, you say that you are still 'using it').

 

[Fab Foodie]

I guess my post was prompted more by the general deterioration I have seen in the last couple of years, which becomes evident in day-to-day life and especially when doing DIY around the house.

I suffered a similar decline until the point I seemed to be walking through treacle all the time. Went to the Doc's many times, had Blood tests, told to rest, seek strees reduction therapies. Got to the point that I ws doing very little around the house and barely functioning at work. Cycling just waqsn't working either. Recall having a blazing row with Mrs FF about the whole situation. Week later, massive angina attack, some weeks after that emergency angioplasty.

May or may-not be the case with you, but maybe worth asking.

 

[Maz]

Week later, massive angina attack, some weeks after that emergency angioplasty.

That sounds awful. I hope you feel ok now.
How does that affect your cycling? Do you have to just take it steady or something like that?

 

[Night Train]

I am fortunate that at 41 I can still be mistaken for someone 10 years younger. Sadly I don't make the same mistake of myself. I see all my grey hairs, middle age spread and lessening physical activity. That is one reason I want to cycle more. As a pre driving licence youngster I would cycle many dozens of miles a day for fun and think nothing of it, now I get puffed out just thinking of cycling many miles. I did manage a decent drinking weekend with a woman 6 years younger then me but all I got out of it was a throat infection.

RR, go to your GP. He/she will know much more about the options and if HRT is the right thing for you then so be it. Good on you for having the courage to say something though.

 

[Globalti]

Hmmmm.... I've always assumed that impending heart problems would manifest themselves as pain or some abnormality on exercising.

Ha ha, that reminds me of the time about 10 years ago when my employer sent a few of us for one of those expensive "well man" checkups. The nurse stuck a bunch of wires on my chest then made me get on a static bike and do some cycling. I remember thinking how easy it was and seeing the nurse peering at the HR monitor then coming over and screwing down the friction, going back and then returning to screw it down some more with some comment about "we don't see many as fit as you". My employer paid about £250 and got a report, which said "Mr RR is an extremely fit gentleman...."

 

[col]

Well thanks for all your support and suggestions. I seldom drink and I eat sensibly, I still have a resting HR of 52 and I'm still one of the faster riders in my club up hills. You have to remember that by most people's standards this constitutes astonishing athleticism for a 52 y.o.!

I guess my post was prompted more by the general deterioration I have seen in the last couple of years, which becomes evident in day-to-day life and especially when doing DIY around the house.

I will make an appointment to see my GP and get the testosterone and the thyroid checked out as some of you have suggested .

good luck RR,im sure its just being tired and needing a holiday to fix.

 

[Fab Foodie]

That sounds awful. I hope you feel ok now.
How does that affect your cycling? Do you have to just take it steady or something like that?

Hi Maz
It's a couple of years ago now, but it was a bit scary at the time. The operation is amazing, big respect to the guys and gals at the JR Oxford.
The effect is instant. Just like unblocking a drain, all of a sudden my cheeks were pink when they'd been white and pale for months.

You have to take it easy to allow the stent to bed-in at first. Then they started me on 'Cardiac Rehab" at the gym. I even started running which I'd never done (albeit more shuffling than running).
I have to take Beta-blockers, Aspirin and Statins. The Blockers IIRC suppress the effect of adrenaline and keep the heart ticking more slowly. I was advised to have a 120 bpm limit during excercise, however this has crept-up with time, 130 to 140 seems to be OK if I get there gently. Have hit 160 on the odd occasion. 130 bpm seems good for 20mph on the flat which is about my limit to be honest. At my cycling club I get a minutes head-start to let my heart gets up to speed gently, I then jump-in the pack when it comes by! I get to guide all the slower guys and gals rond and many of the newbies which is fun. Cover 22 flat miles in 1 hr 07 on a good day!
I do find certain things difficult, climbing stairs, the blood seems to disappear very quickly from mylegs and I also loose strength in my arms very quickly...I can't hand-whisk batter for yorkie-puds for instance...my arms lock-up! Cycling and running seem OK because the action seems to aid return of blood to the heart.

Mostly it's OK, before my emergency OP I couldn't lay down without having attacks. The drugs slow you down and make you feel sleepy however. It's the price to pay for my earlier wild life!

 

[col]

Hi Maz
It's a couple of years ago now, but it was a bit scary at the time. The operation is amazing, big respect to the guys and gals at the JR Oxford.
The effect is instant. Just like unblocking a drain, all of a sudden my cheeks were pink when they'd been white and pale for months.

You have to take it easy to allow the stent to bed-in at first. Then they started me on 'Cardiac Rehab" at the gym. I even started running which I'd never done (albeit more shuffling than running).
I have to take Beta-blockers, Aspirin and Statins. The Blockers IIRC suppress the effect of adrenaline and keep the heart ticking more slowly. I was advised to have a 120 bpm limit during excercise, however this has crept-up with time, 130 to 140 seems to be OK if I get there gently. Have hit 160 on the odd occasion. 130 bpm seems good for 20mph on the flat which is about my limit to be honest. At my cycling club I get a minutes head-start to let my heart gets up to speed gently, I then jump-in the pack when it comes by! I get to guide all the slower guys and gals rond and many of the newbies which is fun. Cover 22 flat miles in 1 hr 07 on a good day!
I do find certain things difficult, climbing stairs, the blood seems to disappear very quickly from mylegs and I also loose strength in my arms very quickly...I can't hand-whisk batter for yorkie-puds for instance...my arms lock-up! Cycling and running seem OK because the action seems to aid return of blood to the heart.

Mostly it's OK, before my emergency OP I couldn't lay down without having attacks. The drugs slow you down and make you feel sleepy however. It's the price to pay for my earlier wild life!

Blimey,glad to see you well FF.

 

[yoyo]

RR,
I would recommend a homeopath / naturopath. Like you, I do not drink or smoke, eat sensibly (mostly) and exercise by cycling and dogwalking. I am now 48 but noticed that I was permanently tired, totally unable to lose weight in spite of trying and had 'ladies probs'. My positive test of hypothyroidism was responded to as too mild to assist. In sheer despair I went to a naturopath. I have been on natural thryoid / kelp and recommended to eat a vegetarian diet as this suits my blood type. Even though blood type diets are laughed at by all and sundry, I definitely am a new woman. Colleagues and clients have commented on my weight loss and how well I look. Those who know me better describe me as more relaxed - purely because I am sleeping better. Mr Yoyo, who thought it was all quackery, after four months is admitting that there is no doubt it all suits me. With some of these chronic, low-level, hard to put your finger on illnesses the natural route seems to lead to a longer term, more effective and healthier solution. I hope you feel better soon.

Yoyo

 

[buggi]

i wouldn't take not being able to get it up as a sign of getting old or reach for the testosterone yet. all sorts of thinks can cause lack of erection including hardening of the arteries and 52 is still quite young. get your ass to the docs and don't be embarrassed about it, because it could be a sign of something a little more serious (don't want to worry you but better to be safe than sorry). anyway, the doc can check it out and if nothing is wrong with your health (including your heart) then he can prescribe you some viagra. cheaper and you won't be risking your health by buying stuff of t'internet