Bioidentical Hormone Therapy is Cheaper than a Heart Attack
I am 51 years old and I’ve struggled with my weight my entire life. Looking back, it was largely because of my diet. I had blood work done about a year ago and my testosterone levels were very low. I know my dad had a problem with erectile dysfunction and doctors also attributed his condition to diet. I started researching testosterone deficiencies on the internet and found BodyLogicMD. I waited a few months before making a decision, because I don't like spending money on non-urgent health issues.
As time went on, I continued to feel worse and worse. I knew I had to get help. I felt like I was dying. Most food I ate was pulling me down. I woke up tired, my calve muscles would spasm at night and wake me up, my vision was getting worse and worse, I was craving water more and more, I was craving sugar, I was hungry most of the time. I was starting to get scared because my health deteriorating so quickly. The week my symptoms started to peak was the same week I was scheduled to see Dr. Travis Deuson of BodyLogicMD of Encino. I felt hopeful because I knew he could help me. I have become a diabetic because of my poor diet. He prescribed six supplements. I have never been one to take pills, but I was in dire need and more than willing to do whatever it takes to get my health back on track.
He also suggested that I read The Perfect 10 Diet by Dr. Michael Aziz. This book is the key to making this process work. It educated me on how food effects the production of hormones in our body. I went out and bought it immediately. I changed my diet that day. Within two days I already had more energy. Within four days I felt like a new person. I had tons of energy, I woke up feeling alive. I did not crave sugar and was not hungry, the leg cramps stopped, I felt like living and enjoying life again. My vision continued to be blurry and was poor. Dr. Deuson suggested checking my blood sugar. Sure enough it was 285, should be about 110. I went to another local doctor and obtained another prescription to help lower this reading. For now I will need glasses. I joined a gym to help lower my blood sugar levels naturally though exercise. It takes a few weeks to adjust our diet and take the supplements, but if we are determined to get well, we can. This is cheaper that a heart attack, plus I feel great!
I also appreciate the knowledge of Dr. Deuson.
Thank you very much,
Brian B., Santa Barbara, CA
Want to lose weight, build muscle and kick start your sex drive? It’s possible with bioidentical hormone therapy.
Learn more about how Bioidentical Hormones could help YOU - Attend a FREE Andropause Seminar in a city near you
Learn how bioidentical hormone therapy has helped thousands of men find relief from symptoms of andropause - the male menopause. With the help of BodyLogicMD customized wellness programs, it's possible for men to lose weight, build muscle mass, kick start libido and start feeling better than they did in thier 20's and 30's. Attend a FREE local seminar in your area and discover how a highly trained bioidentical hormones expert can help you balance your hormones and optimize your overall health, using a combination of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and customized nutrition and fitness regimens.
Upcoming Seminars:
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Tuesday - September 14, 2010
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Wednesday - September 15, 2010
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Thursday - September 16, 2010
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Monday - September 27, 2010
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BodyLogicMD physicians offer FREE monthly Andropause Seminars in 26 states, including Puerto Rico. For a complete list of upcoming seminars in your area, go to: Local Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Seminars
It is amazing how much better and how much younger I feel now!
I decided to go see an urologist to get checked out. I was concerned about my libido, which seems to be how every male measures how he is aging. I was reading online about the hormone testing. My results came back as low-normal. As a result, the urologist gave me a shot of pure testosterone 400 DL. It worked well and I was happy again. I had to go back 30 days later to get another shot. He then put me on androgel, which is when things took a turn for the worse. He said it could possibly be stress, which I found to be strange because I had always taken good care of myself.
I went to a vitamin shop and discussed the testosterone shots I was taking with some of the bodybuilders there (who in my opinion, are experts at balancing their hormones). They kept asking me about my estrogen levels, as they said my Estrogen is probably high - and I wasn’t sure what the answer was. It made sense that there had to be a balance between the two!
I couldn’t believe that a Western doctor would blindly prescribe testosterone without taking into consideration my estrogen! And after asking around I found that most Western doctors will not consider testing estrogen levels in men. Instead they’ll just treat the result of the testosterone tests – which does not treat the whole situation.
I did a lot of research and found Dr. Schultz who tested all of my hormone levels. It turned out that my testosterone was three times over the normal level and my estrogen was four times over the normal level. She took the time to explain to me that the testosterone had to go somewhere and about the cascade effect which I was experiencing. She decided to put me on arimidex and eventually weaned me off androgel.
Estrogen levels in men are extremely important but are so often overlooked. Too much estrogen is not healthy in men. I’ve done a lot of research now in order to understand hormones. I still can’t believe that there are doctors are out there who don’t take into consideration estrogen levels in men. This approach absolutely worked wonders.
Most traditional doctors don’t really look at what is going on with your hormones and treat symptoms with pharmaceuticals. What I’m trying to do, however, is treat a deficiency. If my hormones are low, I’m replacing them because your body doesn’t function properly without hormones. By naturally balancing your hormones, I find that I don’t need pharmaceuticals anymore.
After starting the bioidentical hormone therapy everything went back to normal and my libido is back! I look better and feel better! It is amazing how much better and how much younger I feel now!
Thank you Dr. Schultz!
Jim M.
Patient of Naperville bioidentical hormones expert, Dr. Michelle Schultz
The Medical Minute with Fort Lauderdale Bioidentical Hormones Expert Dr. Jeffrey Thackrey
High Testosterone Levels in Men Linked to Heart Disease
Testosterone is an anabolic steroid – a hormone that regulates protein retention in the body, to improve muscle mass and bone density. The male sex hormone is synthesized by cholesterol and is produced by the testes. Testosterone levels typically peak in a man’s late 20’s, early 30’s, and gradually decline at an average rate of 2 percent each year. The primary concern for men experiencing symptoms of andropause – the male menopause - is waning levels of testosterone. For most men, testosterone declines naturally with age; however, in some cases, Low-T isn’t the issue. Most middle-aged men using bioidentical hormones are doing so to kick start testosterone production; on the flipside, bioidentical hormone therapy may also help men with abnormally high levels of testosterone.
Studies suggest that men over the age of 65 with too much testosterone have an increased risk of heart disease. Other risks associated with excess testosterone include:
- Low sperm count
- Impotence
- Liver disease
- Aggressive behavior
- Shrinking testicles
- Heart muscle damage
- Insomnia
- Acne
Testosterone is a critical component of a man’s overall health. It’s important for men to know where their levels are at, especially for men over the age of 45. Hormone testing is the only way to know for sure if hormone levels are balanced. If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of testosterone imbalance, such as low libido, fatigue, sleep difficulty, weight gain, muscle loss, erectile dysfunction and impotence, it would be in your best interest to have your hormone levels evaluated by a physician.
Interested in learning more about testosterone and men's health?
Any men living in the South Florida area are welcome to attend my FREE seminar on bioidentical hormone therapy. I will discuss testosterone how a combination of bioidentical hormones and customized nutrition and fitness regimens can relieve symptoms of andropause and help men get their edge back. Click here for more information on this event or find a local bioidentical hormone therapy seminar in your area.
About Fort Lauderdale Bioidentical Hormones Expert, Jeffrey Thackrey, M.D.
The Medical Minute with Texas Bioidentical Hormones Expert Dr. Wade Huey
Should 'Male Menopause' be treated?
I recently read an article published by CNN Health, discussing how one man – a 46-year-old insurance agent from Alabama – was able to overcome the ‘male menopause’ or andropause.
Treatments aimed at helping women overcome symptoms of menopause vary from over-the-counter, herbal hot flash remedies to custom compounded bioidentical hormones. But what about men? It’s no secret that men experience hormonal decline, oftentimes around the same age women do. According to the article, it is currently estimated that 25 percent of all men experience symptoms of ‘male menopause’ or ‘MANopause.’
Symptoms of hormonal imbalance in men include:
- Low sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- Impotence
- Weight gain / Loss of muscle mass
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Gynecomastia (“man-boobs”)
- Irritability
- Hot flashes / Night sweats
Dr. Alvin Matsimoto, a professor of geriatric medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, says that, like women, hormones decline as men age. He adds that while the change is natural, it certainly doesn’t mean that the physiological effects aren’t as debilitating as those experienced by women during menopause.
Dr. David Zahaluk, a family medicine physician at Baylor Medical Center, recommends that a testosterone assessment be a part of an annual physical – especially for men in their forties and older.
There is a lot of compelling evidence that suggests that although the severity may vary, most men will experience some symptoms of hormonal imbalance. If you’ve been experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above or just have been feeling “off” lately and think your hormones might be to blame, I would highly recommend having your hormone levels tested to determine if an imbalance or deficiency is to blame.
Read the full CNN article here: Should ‘male menopause’ be treated?
Am I going through the male menopause?
I have read and heard about these chemicals that have a feminizing effect on men. I also am really concerned about the fact that the meat industry pumps cows and chickens full of antibiotics and hormones that have also been proven to have negative effects on us, because as most of us know, over-usage of antibiotics creates even more microbes that later attack the organism. Then there's our "typical American lifestyle," whereby we walk nowhere -- just drive and get out of the car, over and over, all day long. The chemicals, the polluted meat and dairy industries, and the lifestyle are just slow paths to illness and death. I have been having trouble, which started about ten years ago. I am now 67, and most people think I'm in my 40s, so I've been a bit lucky (probably because I always took supplements, since my 30s, and for years, I did a lot of things outdoors -- hiked, skied, etc.). But I had to stop all that and start taking care of my mother when she became terminally ill.
For over six years I was under extreme stress and was a full-time nurse. My mother became totally disabled and blind. Then, when she died in 2001, I had all the responsibilities of settling all "final things." Her burial was across the country, and there was just a ton of financial and other paperwork to attend to. From 2001 until the present, I just "went downhill."
I attribute a lot of my trouble to living in the Phoenix area, from 2000 until now. I think the hot desert, full of particulate and ozone pollution as well as nasty molds and entities like "Valley fever," it's a terrible environment to try to live in -- six months of temps over 100; often 110 and more; not enough moisture in the air ("dry heat" does one thing big-time--it dehydrates us).
At any rate, I somehow kept gaining weight, when all my life I'd been skinny. I tried to go outdoors to take long walks or to run, but I developed asthma from the poor air quality. My blood-pressure went up and up and up. Pills I was taking to lower it caused other problems. Libido died. Isolation set in big-time, as I wasn't motivated to go out, except for the essentials. I gained almost 60 lbs., most of which accumulated around the gut. That caused me to feel more depressed.
I believe we do need a means to reverse all the ill-effects of our lifestyles, stress, and bad food choices. I don't want to be around on the planet living like an invalid. If HGH and testosterone therapies work, I say I'll do them. I have only recently been getting detailed information on these.
Fingers crossed
Okay, okay. So my wife won the argument regarding hormones. I finally made an appointment to see a bioidentical hormone doctor. They will be sending me a saliva kit by mail; which sounds anything but pleasant; like anyone about to take a saliva test, I did some Googling and they actually have a video on how to do it! From what I have read saliva tests are actually very accurate for testing levels of hormones, which blood testing can’t accomplish. I guess this is all part of the benefit of going to a bioidentical hormones specialist; my annual exams have never included a saliva test, makes you wonder.
My appointment is practically a month from now, giving me plenty of time to continue my research. I have already done some preliminary research and it seems that balancing male hormones isn’t all that difficult. It is actually easier to deal with men and their hormones than women; but who doubted that? Men are simple and women well, they are women. I might actually be getting excited at the idea that I could return to some version of my former self. It would be very nice to have the energy to do something that doesn’t involve just sitting behind my computer screen.
I want to be more active in my son’s life and enjoy the time with my wife. It seems that lately I don’t enjoy much of anything at all.
-Rudy
And it begins…
I've been on the fence about using bioidentical hormones for a few months now - ever since I read about them in a NY Times article earlier this year. I recently had a consultation with a doctor who specializes in bioidentical hormone therapy here in Arizona. It was a bit of a drive, but well worth it. I feel like, even if I don't get the results I'm looking for, I still learned a lot about how the body works and what I can be doing to make myself healthier.
My doctor discussed how diet and excercise - or lack thereof - can affect hormones and recommended that I make some changes now, to spare myself a lot of health issues later on in life. I've been searching for a way to reinvent myself and I think I've found in with my new doctor. In addition to the bioidentical hormones, I'm also taking supplements now - I always thought that vitamins were for kids, but apparently they work wonders for adults too.
I've only been using the bioidenticals for 3 days and I haven't noticed any significant changes, although I'm definitely more optimistic than I was before I started treatment. I feel like now I have something to look forward to. I can't wait to start seeing some progress - I've read other bloggers' accounts of treatment and some have noticed results in the first few weeks!
I'll definitely drop in again soon to give an update.
By the way, this is a great site. It's good for men to talk about this stuff, becuase too many men are in the dark on the whole male menopause issue.
-Jay
Where did my sex drive go?
Let’s face it, as men we can be very stubborn; no matter how many times we are told something we don’t relent. This is why we sometimes refuse to accept that we have male menopause or andropause. We prefer to look at it as the mid-life crisis that has Corvette’s driving of the lot rather rapidly. For those of us who thought we were amazingly lucky to have a younger wife, think again. As you’re going through your changes, living with someone who isn’t at the same point in their lives becomes more difficult.
Yes, I married a woman 13 years younger than me; I am now 45 years old and she is 32 years young. It wasn’t much of a difference when she was 25 and I was 38. It seemed perfectly reasonable at the time; after all I wasn’t going to go through menopause. Here I am only 45 years old with an amazing wife and my libido isn’t kicking in. My wife, I can attest, has a perfectly functional sex drive. I remember when I could not keep my hands off her and now I am staying late at the office to avoid her altogether; it is a blow to my ego when I have to turn her down.
Aside from simply having a low sex drive I am finding it hard to do things. I am feeling extremely tired and run down. I truly feel bad for my wife who as of late has been doing the majority of the parenting. I wish I could be more active in my son’s life but I just can’t get my energy level up. I have tried to do some exercise but it’s impossible to get the energy or the desire to really stick to it. I feel like I am aging too fast.
It is hard to admit that I have lost my interest in going to work, being a lover to my wife, being a parent, getting out of bed and doing much of anything at all. Is this feeling ever going to subside? I tried going to my doctor and he offered me anti-depressants. I have refused to take them because one of the symptoms is low sex drive; I don’t need my sex drive to sink any lower than it already. My wife keeps badgering me to see a hormones doctor but this is where the stubborn part comes in. I don’t want to feel this way but as the man of the family I don’t want to feel like I am letting my family down. I have mixed feelings on the whole issue, however, at this point it seems there is nothing else I can try.
Next time I write I hope that I will be in the process of visiting my new doctor.
-Rudy
Understanding the symptoms of andropause – the male menopause
When it comes to menopause, men too have their own cross to bear and it’s called andropause (the male menopause). Andropause is typified by the gradual decline of the male sex hormone, testosterone. In addition to waning testosterone levels, men also experience lower levels of DHEA and human growth hormone. Although the change in men is more gradual than experienced by women, during menopause, the symptoms can be just as trying.
Here are some of the symptoms that men can expect during andropause:
- Low libido – Low testosterone can cause a lot of problems in the bedroom. In addition to becoming disinterested in sex, men aren’t aroused as easily and oftentimes don’t have sex as frequently as they did in their 20’s and 30’s. It’s also common for men to experience erectile dysfunction (ED) as result of hypogonadism (low testosterone).
- Weight gain/muscle loss – Weight gain is typical in males suffering from hormonal imbalance. Excess cortisol can negatively impact the body’s metabolism and make it increasingly difficult to shed those unwanted pounds. It’s estimated that men who lead sedentary lifestyles will lose approximately 10 percent of his muscle mass, each decade.
- Fatigue – As men age, cortisol levels increase and testosterone levels plummet, oftentimes overworking the adrenals and causing a condition known as adrenal fatigue.
- Sleep problems – Hormonal imbalance is at the root of everything from sleep apnea to insomnia. It’s common for men to have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night.
- Low self-confidence – Being that andropause can be physically and emotionally draining, men sometimes feel as if they’ve lost their youthful edge. Lack of confidence can bring on bouts of depression and lead to anxiety.
If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of andropause, it would be wise to contact your primary care physician and request to have your hormone levels tested. If a hormonal imbalance is found, it’s important to find the treatment plan that works best for you.
-Denver bioidentical hormones expert Joseph Agnello, M.D.