ED from ED

[Midagemoobs2]

No need to concern myself with morning wood any longer.  (Bilateral orchiectomy) I have come to understand that my body likes to turn testosterone to estrogen via aromatase. With 4 conditions that promulgate calcium loss and bone density reduction the new focus for me is preventing osteoporosis. Health care providers have united with my encouragement towards being proactive in preventing this. Since T is not a good choice due to many factors ( age, BP, history of cancer) a low dose estrogen patch is in play. After 6+ weeks on this the estrogen levels are still not registering on the blood work. But I do feel the effects. Performance and endurance in the gym are increasing .
To Dudewithboobs point there’s a high degree of individuality and an immense difference small changes make in our bodies. It’s an amazing machine and it’s a long journey to understand how it works. We all must remain vigilant about our health especially in the face of our devolving health care system.
Kudos to all here who share their knowledge and experience for the betterment of us all. I have explored some pathways mentioned here that were found to be irrelevant to me but in doing so I learned things that focused my attention towards what was important. It clarified a confusing clinical picture that took 4 years to solve, it even baffled the doctors. There is a tunnel vision that has developed in modern medical education.
As an aside the pathology report came back with a no cancer verdict.

Great news on the no cancer!  BTW thanks for sharing your journey.

[WPW717]

You welcome. And the journey is not over.

Feeling great, unknown if the cause is the estrogen patches or the jettisoning of infarcted tissue. Not interested in why at this point. The docs now want to explore this further, I have agreed to go to get genetic counseling and a more extensive work up ( blood draw; last time was only 14 genes tested). 
Currently researching the markers for medullary thyroid cancer as this can be a sequel to MEN type 2. I will attempt to direct the exploration on my timetable as this group has trouble with timing events necessary for good health care.
Hope this isn’t TMI. Did I mention I feel great ? !!!!🤠

[Johndoe1]

I am glad to hear you are feeling much better now. Are you experiencing different moods now like feeling more calm or looking at things in a different light? Have you noticed any physical changes?

[WPW717]

JD1, re moods, 2 years ago I could sense the drop in T. Docs wouldn’t test it because you’re getting old and it’s normal . Then breast buds in  6 months, followed by rapid onset gynecomastia. This was when I sensed the serene and calm feelings. Then the blood work was done and consistently measured at 1-12 free T. Docs still scratching heads at this point. Breasts still growing too. Puzzled I dig deeper and begin to suspect MEN 2 syndrome despite the genetic evidence saying nope. Then the discussion of VUS ( variation of unknown significance) became more important to them. Ergo, the recent ‘let’s do more genetic testing ‘ came about. It was about April I wondered if I would have the eunuch calm after the orchiectomy. I came to the conclusion of probably not as I was an uncut eunuch for the previous year. Post op I felt great, like no background inflammation was going on. Prednisone tapering was sped up for the rheumatic arthritis and no changes to mood or affect, spouse says if any thing is different I am more lighthearted.
Physical changes:
My breasts are not hurting at all anymore. They don’t seem to be getting bigger I have stopped growing at the D-DD level.
I am more accepting of life and it’s situations, so yes , there have been 
big changes in me. Many of them have been discussed by others here in many of the topics. Happy with the outcome of the orchiectomy and the ending of 4 years of medical mystery.

[Johndoe1]

Bob, that's quite the ride. I am glad you have had a positive outcome and you are satisfied with the outcome. My curiosity stemmed from as my breasts have increased over the years to their current DD/DDD size,  I too have noticed a change in personality and a calming even though I have not had any of the issues you have had. My last hormone panel showed reduced T at the lower limits for males and E at a level well beyond male max but not as high as women. I am glad they have found a solution for you. And thank you for sharing. 

[WPW717]

I, too, am glad that the ride is nearly over. I have learned that many of the changes we experience are not linear. 
Having an engineering background I explore life through that lens. I switched to healthcare 50 years ago and that is a decision that has probably saved my life more than once. So, mathematically, I did periodic calculations of the T/E ratio. For a AMAB it should be 30-50 to 1. While I was aromatizing my T the E held steady and then climbed up into the clouds for a male. Like you, not anywhere near female levels but the T/E ratio went into reverse. At peak I was 10-1 Estrogen. Tada, gynecomastia bloomed. All the while my docs poo pooed this data as not relevant as there is no ‘ standard’ in the medical field for this specific situation. Plug in individual genetics and your event horizon becomes massive and unpredictable.
Not a logarithmic increase but definitely not a linear increase. Each individual is uniquely sensitive to it.
That’s my reasoning and I am sticking to it.

[gotgyne]

Toys are basically the only option. 🙄

The same with me. I really envy my cousin who is much older (77) and has terrific sex with his 62 year old wife without any pills or toys. At least he told me this. I didn't answer.

This thread is nine months old, but my cousin was such honest to confess to me that he is not able anymore to fulfill the sexual desires of his wife, who is 15 years younger. I didn't suggest him to use a strap-on dildo, since I don't know how he or she may react. C'est la vie.

[taxmapper]

I have the opposite problem...   its ice cold and i am hot as a butter knife.   


this is not fun!

[WPW717]

Understood re the hot flashes 

Until I got some proper hormone therapy I was frequently shorting out my hearing aid batteries and changing clothes frequently 

My sympathies to the hot butter knife 

Before the docs got on board with what was happening to me I found that Pueraria Mirifica ( an herb ) helped quite a bit. Also Justagirl was able to use flaxseed to quell his flashes, it helped me some but the PM was more helpful. The PM downside is it is a phytoestrogen but it occupies the E2 receptor in place of the normal estrogen molecule, which is stronger.
It quelled the hat flashes to a significant degree for me.
Of note, a rapid drop or low T will give the same flashing behavior.

[Evolver]

Of note, a rapid drop or low T will give the same flashing behavior.

Yep. It is because there is a commensurate drop in E due to the aromatization process. 

Men and women experience hot flashes from exactly the same cause! You only need a comparatively small amount of E onboard to quell them, whether it is sourced from phytoestrogen or not. That's the way I understand it anyway.