Sleep Apnea and Low T for Men

Paralel wrote:For those of you with Low T, consider getting your Vit D level checked. The latest research in endocrinology publications indicates that there may be a link between low Vit D and low T.

This is standard for initial bloodwork. Vitamin D is certainly something that is important to good endocrine balance, but the clinically low levels of T being discussed here would not likely resolve with vitamin supplements.

I can't slog my way through 8 pages of testosterone talk, sorry...but if you have XM/Sirius satellite radio and can get the Dr. Harry Fisch show on Howard 101, (I THINK the show is Wed around 4pm Eastern?). He's a urologist on the east coast. He's talked a LOT about low T in men. First question he'll ask is if the caller is overweight. If yes, he suggests losing weight BEFORE TRYING THERAPY. He says that testosterone CAN be boosted by getting enough sleep. Many callers sleep 4-5 hours per night, and that's just not enough. So weight AND sleep should be under control before trying shots, pills, whatever is out there. Let your body rest and recharge efficiently, and the levels should balance to whatever your body can produce. THEN think about creams or whatever...

Tatooed Lady wrote:I can't slog my way through 8 pages of testosterone talk, sorry...but if you have XM/Sirius satellite radio and can get the Dr. Harry Fisch show on Howard 101, (I THINK the show is Wed around 4pm Eastern?). He's a urologist on the east coast. He's talked a LOT about low T in men. First question he'll ask is if the caller is overweight. If yes, he suggests losing weight BEFORE TRYING THERAPY. He says that testosterone CAN be boosted by getting enough sleep. Many callers sleep 4-5 hours per night, and that's just not enough. So weight AND sleep should be under control before trying shots, pills, whatever is out there. Let your body rest and recharge efficiently, and the levels should balance to whatever your body can produce. THEN think about creams or whatever...

I think the same advise could be given to patients with sleep apnea. Just lose some weight before trying therapy, and try to get a better night's sleep.

Without a doubt the factors suggested here have been shown to improve T-levels, but clinical hypogonadism being discussed here are rarely resolved solely through weight loss, better sleep hygiene or vitamin D. Also, there is some evidence that the weight gain, sleeplessness and other problems may be related to the precedent hormone deficit. I don't recall anyone here complaining of marginally low T-levels which might be responsive to the advice of Dr. Fisch.

Sleeprider wrote:

Tatooed Lady wrote:I can't slog my way through 8 pages of testosterone talk, sorry...but if you have XM/Sirius satellite radio and can get the Dr. Harry Fisch show on Howard 101, (I THINK the show is Wed around 4pm Eastern?). He's a urologist on the east coast. He's talked a LOT about low T in men. First question he'll ask is if the caller is overweight. If yes, he suggests losing weight BEFORE TRYING THERAPY. He says that testosterone CAN be boosted by getting enough sleep. Many callers sleep 4-5 hours per night, and that's just not enough. So weight AND sleep should be under control before trying shots, pills, whatever is out there. Let your body rest and recharge efficiently, and the levels should balance to whatever your body can produce. THEN think about creams or whatever...

I think the same advise could be given to patients with sleep apnea. Just lose some weight before trying therapy, and try to get a better night's sleep.

Without a doubt the factors suggested here have been shown to improve T-levels, but clinical hypogonadism being discussed here are rarely resolved solely through weight loss, better sleep hygiene or vitamin D. Also, there is some evidence that the weight gain, sleeplessness and other problems may be related to the precedent hormone deficit. I don't recall anyone here complaining of marginally low T-levels which might be responsive to the advice of Dr. Fisch.

Unlikely that trying to lose weight before getting tested for cpap will do anything for the apnea. The major problem with sleep apnea is that it is anatomical/genetic rather than "simple" obesity. Losing weight may help lower the AHI, but unless the apnea was marginal at the start it is probable you will still have sleep apnea after losing weight. Obesity messes big time with the hormones, so losing weight is going to help those. Low T will be helped if you are overweight. Not so much if you are normal weight.

Trying to resolve sleep problems can be a long battle. I've tried sleep aids even melotonin and it gives me that spaced out feeling the next day. Hard to measure how much sleep you really get when you toss and turn a lot.

tlewis....

Been about 11 days or so since you started 4 pumps Adrogel...

Wondering if you have noticed any major difference yet????

2 weeks today and I feel alittle better but still have brain fog. I don't have the sickly feeling so much as I did. My fear is that my level will come up but not enough to get rid of the fog. I have to use the product for another 2 weeks before I can do labs again. Someone here had mentioned its a very gradual process.

Malibu,
I'm going for labs next week to see what levels are now. I do feel a bit better but not where I need to be.
I am sleeping better now with continued cpap and Androgel treatment.
I really hope I don't need shots.

Tatooed Lady wrote:I can't slog my way through 8 pages of testosterone talk, sorry...but if you have XM/Sirius satellite radio and can get the Dr. Harry Fisch show on Howard 101, (I THINK the show is Wed around 4pm Eastern?). He's a urologist on the east coast. He's talked a LOT about low T in men. First question he'll ask is if the caller is overweight. If yes, he suggests losing weight BEFORE TRYING THERAPY. He says that testosterone CAN be boosted by getting enough sleep. Many callers sleep 4-5 hours per night, and that's just not enough. So weight AND sleep should be under control before trying shots, pills, whatever is out there. Let your body rest and recharge efficiently, and the levels should balance to whatever your body can produce. THEN think about creams or whatever...

Much like the "lose weight and you'll improve your OSA" suggestion from docs, this advice doesn't account for the fact that many men with low T can't lose weight, due to the low T. In my case, T therapy made my OSA significantly worse. For me, the "fix" was to get the OSA treated, then my T rebounded to a reasonable level (still on the low side, but not in the 200's). From that point, I was able to lose weight, when I watched what I ate and exercised.

I'm about 40lbs over what I need to be at. Until I can control some of the fatigue from low T its hard to stay motivated to workout.
Cutting sugar would be the best and quickest way to drop the weight. But love that bread....tough...

SleepyToo2 wrote: Unlikely that trying to lose weight before getting tested for cpap will do anything for the apnea. The major problem with sleep apnea is that it is anatomical/genetic rather than "simple" obesity. Losing weight may help lower the AHI, but unless the apnea was marginal at the start it is probable you will still have sleep apnea after losing weight. Obesity messes big time with the hormones, so losing weight is going to help those. Low T will be helped if you are overweight. Not so much if you are normal weight.

As a person who may be on the cusp of being able to stop CPAP treatment due to weight loss (untreated AHI of 57 a year ago is down to an untreated AHI of 10 after losing 50+ lbs and I still have 40 to lose), I'll take your comment a step further. If you have AHI and are fortunate enough to have weight be a major contributor, losing weight may mean that you get to a point where you don't need treatment, but you are NEVER "cured" of OSA. If your weight goes back up, you'll need treatment.

I think my initial AHI was around 12-15 and is now under 1 with cpap treatment who knows if I drop the weight OSA may be reduced to a point that I don't need cpap. That would be great.

So labs are back, Free T is now 671 when using 2 pumps each side per day. Still have brain fog but do feel a bit more energy.
Sleeping better too.

What is the total T number??? I remember you started around 243 and jumped to 287 with two pumps....

I can't remember if you did 3 for awhile or just went to 4....so if I am reading your post correctly is that 4 pumps did the trick as far as the numbers go?

4 pumps for 30 days got me to 671 total and 18.6 for free T. Both numbers are right in the middle of the range.
I have to use 2 bottles a month to keep levels up, better then shots. I just hope my head clears, give it another month and ask Endo to check my other levels via labs.