Methadone and testosterone

[skroe]

Methadone and no testosterone.

I recently asked if they could test my blood for low testosterone, while having a blood test for some other things, Over the last few years, say 5 or more years, have had no interest what's so ever in sex, they say a men think about sex every 15mins or something, but i just don't think about it full stop, I've never had a high libido at all really, but this is different its nothing there.
Its not just that, its the lack of go, drive, a complete lack of concentration, memory, no energy, I'll start work, but it takes me ages to get motivated to continue or complete it, I've put on loads of weight, though my diet is not what I would call healthy, I rarely eat fried food, like chips, eggs,  fast food, burgers, red meats, etc..
I know people who eat twice as much as me, and are skinnier, When I was using I was 9stone, I'm easy 15 + now. I don't get about as much mind due to this damn arthritis, That makes you feel crap and diabetes leaves me tired, though I have difficulty in sleeping, I feel crap, on edge, manic in a way too its werid.. I have anxiety all the time, I utterly dislike  being in social situations with people, say if I was invited to a meal with people, Even close friends and family, that would be just horrific, I'd be blushing, anxious, puking. I've pulled my landline phone out of the plug, because i don't like to have phone calls with people, and my mobile I only answer it to my closet friends and family, ( that's another worry I've got, I tell you about that in another question) I just feel if I'm just existing, but there's nothing!!!.. its hard to explain, my muscles hurt, aching, its like having flu 24/7..
I could go on, and on..

Anyway I was asked to do the Testosterone test again, Then I seen the doctor the other day, he told me that my body is not producing hardly any testosterone, thus a lot of  the symptoms i've got, I knew it was something different, to just depression.

I was wondering if methadone can cause this?
I don't think it does, because I'm sure other people on it would be suffering the same, and I think this goes back years before I was on methadone.
I do get dark depressions, and anxiety, but this is different.

I'm just asking if there is a link somewhere with methadone? because I put on loads of weight after I begun my script, but thats prob due to the fact I was running around, feeding mine and my brother and his G.F's habbit at one point while they dossed in my flat and all the other shit of not eating properly etc.....
I do feel the methadone helps me in a way, esp with my nerves, I think I'd be much worse without it..
I'm asking though because I know opiates can effect your libido.

I got to wait now, for the hospital to get in touch with me, Hopefully a lot of things that are effecting me will get better..fingers crossed. I want to have that go and desire again to work, etc..
I spoke to my pharmacist about this, He told me that a man my age shouldn't be getting these symptoms, He did say a lot of older man do start losing there testosterone drives etc 
He reckons that they should be screening more men for testosterone levels, like they do with women of certain ages.
He told me its much more common in America for men, esp men in there, late 40's and 50's to have tests then treatment if needed. So maybe there is a middle age crisis men go through after all.  : ) 

Also I had my medical with ATOS, I was expecting the worst esp with whats been happing, But they awarded me,  ESA support, its a bit more money I think too. It does help for taxis. That has been really stressful, with everything else thats gone on this year..
But I've heard that ATOS sometimes put you on ESA then ask for another medical which you go on to loose, and have to go through all the shit of appealing and tribunals. again for some people...   

Thanks for any feed back, take care all....

 

[Jules]

Hi Skroe

It's always good to hear from you mate - still got one of your pictures hanging on my bedroom wall and in the office.

I seem to remember you're in your 40's (I'm 52) but I don't think it's the methadone causing low testosterone, whilst, from experience (not mine obviously  ), using gear can.  I know how bad your arthritis is and the various meds you're on - combine that with the time of year which is a bit depressing and it's not surprising you're not feeling up for it.  I'm just starting the menopause which is making me sluggish, depressed etc so I guess what I'm trying to say is we all get these problems at a certain age.

Get painting when you can, be kind to yourself and PM me if you want to.

Take care

Jules x

[skroe]

thanks Jules, always nice to hear from you and everyone here, haha, I'm a bit younger, I turned 38 in June, though your not far off, i feel physically older, mind you, lol..

I cant Remeber what painting I done you like? lol my memorys gone too..
I'm painting 6 pictures atm, addiction, and graffiti, subway ones.. but Its the time it takes, or feeling in the mood to work that's worrying me, I will say I'm drawing quite a lot, Just to get ideas, I'm getting interested in drawing punks lately, Drawing a lot of rough ideas, and drawing ideas for other ideas i have, I want to paint some paintings from my memory of tripping on acid, back in 1989-1990 the rave days, kinda an abstract vision of colours and forms in a rave.. you'd make out people dancing in these paintings, but with a dreamy vibe to them..bright colours of the lasers, strobes, traces of movement..
I have crazy, stupid ideas of painting famous MPs, like Margaret Thatcher, but not the same dreadful woman she become, like a kinda parallel universe, So Instead of her as an MP,, In this parallel universe, she would be an alcoholic, or an ageing hippy, I'd paint her likeness as.. basically  Anything?.. even a madam of a brothel,-lol.. I'm just typing these out as I'm going on, I think I need help for my imagination haha..

Its just starting these, Years ago, I would spend 8-10 hours a day painting, I try to spend about 3-4 hours these days, but some days its just 2hours, Though I'm drawing for about 5-6 hours on avg, just rough ideas.
I need to be painting 8 or more hours again..I'm worried that times getting on, and Its time to up my game so to speak..

I agree with you Jules, esp with the time of year too..I best go I'm hungry..
Thanks again..Take care..
   

[OP8S]

Did TPVALLEY not have an issue about testosterone & bitch-tits while he was on meth ?
I can relate to a lot of your feelings just now, but have just upped my ad & blaming it on the time of year. We get shit weather up north. Just another winter to get through.
Good show with your benefits though, bet you didn't expect that !

[derek d j]

There is nothing wrong with my testosterone, ok?

The bitch is a liar.

[sapphire]

Skroe - methadone (and some other opioids) can have an effect on the endocrine system, which controls hormone production, and it is known that men can suffer with low testosterone on methadone.

In America quite a few men on methadone are also on testosterone patches.

There's loads of info on Google Scholar about it.

If they've tested you, and you do have low levels of testosterone, there areloads of tablets/patches etc that can resolve it dead easily, without having to stop taking methadone.

[skroe]

Haha Derek, I always love your posts..

Thank Saph, I'll Look into that, Yes The bloodtests came back, and the Doctor told me that my Body is not prouducing hardle any, I think there where a couple of other hormones too..
I was dreading the fact it it was or is the methadone they might of pushed me off my script, So reading that I can continue to have my Script and receive Treatment of my lack of testosterone..
I'm really glad I asked for them to check, Because I knew there was something not right, and has been for years now, Its all the lack of vvrrooomm, i dont know how to put it, its the total lack of vigour to get my work done and spend hours in concentration thats doing my head in, and the weight gain, and a feeling of just bluuurrr. kinda deflated..lol Its hard to explain.
I just want to be prouducing work prolific, more so now than I've ever been, mainly because I cant paint walls anymore due to the damn arthritis etc..
And this time of year esp by mid jan early Feb, my mood does lower, visually, Like a black and white image of a council estate in the drizzle on a sunday afternoon in the 1980s.. lol thats the best way i can describe winter blues, When its dark depression its just Dark, one massive arsehole of gloom..I think you all will agree, Its so hard to explain real depression to people... Anyway that's another subject matter.. 

Thanks all..Oh I did ask at my family Doctor could it be caused by heroin in the past affecting my brain,, I was baiting him for my own amusement, because all the G.P's at my practice are the most conservative daily mail types you can imagine, I went on to say do you think its safer to your body's organs to use clean medical heroin, than alcohol?  what is worse..I was just baiting him for his reaction, lol he went bright red, and went into one about anyone that uses heroin are not right in the head, and are mentally retarded for even thinking of using heroin, I should of asked his opinion on growing your own opium poppy, and asked him what was more damaging to ones body, poppy tea or special brew??
lol..

thanks saph,
yeah thanks OP8S, Mate Atos had been on my mind constantly, really worried about the outcome, I will be fair the women who did my medical was nice,
But I've heard so many story's about them being nice etc, then writing a report that was totally different to what the person was asked resulting in nil points and the grief of an appeal and tribunal..Why the hell they appointed a for profit company to assess a persons wellbeing and health is beyond me.. golden handshakes and backdoor payments I bet..,
It all stinks of corruption, Even the BBC seems to be on the war path against genuinely Ill People. its horrible what some people has had to go through, many give up, some even die, Its just wrong, I think Saph said it correctly that its causing groups of people to pit against each other.
They should be after the F8cking bankers and CEO's, the superrich that get away without paying taxes throu off shore bank accounts, and all their other tricks they have, etc, but there all buddys with the government, so they attack the weakest people, its way out of order, yeah stop fraud by all means, but not though these companys such as ATOS and the right wing press that profit from people's misery and ill health.....sorry lil rant there..

take care..

[OP8S]

Top 5% of the country could pay off the entire national debt with a 10% one-off tax, I remember reading. It would still leave them with a personal fortune of £4 billion. They should be the ones paying. Bastards. Eat the Rich!

[sapphire]

Oh god Skroe, ATOS are fucking idiots, so I'm glad it came out alright for you! The governemtn is trying to pit marginalised groups (disabled, single mothers etc) against each other to detract from the shit job the government are doing to sort the shit state out!

With the testoterone thing, they quite routinely test men on MMT long term in America for low testosterone, and give them hormone replacement type patches or tablets, with regular blood tests I think, to check they are working, and I suppose not going the other way and giving them too much testosterone.

This should be a matter between you and your GP, there is no reason your DSP should even have to know about this, it's a medical matter that can easily be solved, and solved without the need to stop methadone, or alter your dose or anything like that.

[skroe]

So true OP8S, So so true..

Thanks, saph...its really interesting that in America they test men for levels, while in this country they don't, I'm not sure if its because Men in this country don't visit doctors much and are embarrassed and get on with it as a aspect of growing old, or if its just easier for doctors here to be dishing out anti depressants to men, rather than getting at the root of the problem..??
It seems if you go to the doctors these days with a cold, they'll dish you out Anti depressants.. Which is going to backfire soon, like Benzo's these days.

Atos..your so right, unfortunately.. I don't understand why the media are not on to these corrupt bastards, The only press really is the guardian. Even the BBC is up the arse of the a conservatives.. and always has been i guess.. 
Anyway...

Thanks again..

Take care all..

[TuffsNotEnuff]

There is nothing wrong with my testosterone, ok?

The bitch is a liar.

Love it !

[TuffsNotEnuff]

Methadone and no testosterone.

I recently asked if they could test my blood for low testosterone, while having a blood test for some other things, Over the last few years, say 5 or more years, have had no interest what's so ever in sex... etc. 

In New York the testosterone level is reported with the standard blood work for male addicts.

We've thought is relates to blood oxygen level. Other conditions that produce low oxygen also correlate with low testosterone. The physical connection should be obvious.

One simple test is to schedule an hour of mild exercise for three times a week. Your body will make adjustments within a few months, including a stronger heart pump action. Blood oxygen will rise accordingly.

Adding testosterone chemically is also possible. But exercise should be tried first. The benefits go all over the spectrum. Goggle has millions of how-to advice pages.

[simon]

Who mentioned ATOS?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/aug/13/atos-doctors-improper-conduct-disability
It seems they are also looking at war pensions now.

[OP8S]

Yet another con/libem policy are they ? Or did the previous Gov. use them ? Out-sourcing to the cheapest tender. Even worse than that they're French aren't they ? Nothing against the French  but I'm sure that we have plenty of GPs & other medical professionals that I'm sure could carry out this service. Personally I think that your own GP has  the best insight into whether you are able to work or not. They don't tend to sign you off for the hell of it I'm sure. Surely they would be more inclined to get you back working rather than time after time signing a sick line if they do think you are fit enough to work. They must be sick themselves of people trying it on with them to increase their benefits when they know that there are plenty of people who really are unable to work for one reason or another.

[sapphire]

OP - they've been around for a while, they do all the fitness for work interviews for the DWP. Absolute arseholes.
Before I went back to work I had been off sick for about 5 months cos my arthritis and epilipesy were going a bit crazy, I had one of those fitness for work interviews and they said there was nothing wrong with me, even put on the form that I had no fits, even though I had hospital docs showing proof of the damn things!

The person who saw me, well, Engilsh was not her first language (Polish, I think) and she couldn't even understand the names of the medications I take when I tried to tell her, total farce.