For the past few decades, I’ve been showing signs of low testosterone. Mostly, it was centered around my lack of energy and disrupted sleeping patterns. Well, I finally decided to do something about it at 48.
If this affects me as much as the doctor says it does, I’ll be kicking myself in the ass for the next few decades that I didn’t get checked out sooner.
After hearing a few ads on the radio for the Rocky Mountain Men’s Clinic, and hearing a story about a family member, I was finally convinced to get my T levels checked.
What Causes Low Testosterone?
Testosterone levels can drop for a variety of reasons. And what may affect one male may not affect another. There are a lot of things such as genetics at play.
Some of the things that can affect testosterone production include:
- Age
- Stress
- Medicinal side effects
- Obesity
- Injury to the testicles
- Brain issues with the hypothalamus and pituitary glands
- Thyroid issues
- Alcohol consumption
- Sleep apnea
- Depression
- Diabetes
- A variety of diseases and syndromes
Out of all of the above, perhaps the most prevalent are aging and stress. Low testosterone is a long-term element, and most men simply adapt to being tired, stressed, or lethargic. It’s not like a part of your brain instantly lets you know that levels are on the decline.
The way the doctors at the Rocky Mountain Men’s Clinic described it was the frog in the boiling water analogy. You put a frog in boiling water, it’ll jump out immediately. Put it in cold water and bring it to a boil gradually, and the frog will cook to death.
Men don’t realize their T levels are dropping and simply make adjustments to the symptoms throughout their lives.
The Effects of Low Testosterone
Low testosterone, or hypogonadism, is when the testicles decrease production of the hormone. It can happen over a long period of time and affects every male. This decline usually happens between the ages of 30 and 40. However, a lot of men will start to experience low T in their early 20s.
As every male is unique, it all comes down to personal physiology and family genetics. There is no absolute date when someone’s T levels start to drop.
What can low testosterone do to a man if left unchecked?
- Depression
- Irritability
- Some memory degradation
- Lower muscle development and size
- Decreased bone density
- Decreased or non-existent sex drive
- Unable to get an erection
- Inability to maintain an erection
- Lower sperm count
- Enlarged prostate
- Sleep complications
- Cortisol development/abdominal fat gain
- Lack of focus and concentration
Not all men will experience every one of these effects. Some of us will simply have a lack of energy or severe sleep complications. A lot of men will experience the sexual side of things.
If you have any of these symptoms and are over 30, you might want to get your T levels checked. From what I’ve heard, it can vastly improve your quality of life.
What’s a Low Level of Testosterone?
Generally speaking, 300 nanograms per deciliter of blood is considered a low level of testosterone. The average healthy range is anywhere between 300 and 1,000 nanograms. A healthy level for you is going to depend on a slew of factors, though. Not everyone will be in the same range.
In other words, it’s not something that is a one-size-fits-all fix. Some men will need quite a bit more testosterone for physical maintenance than others. Everything from sleeping patterns to workout regimens will ultimately impact your baseline.
When I was tested at the Rocky Mountain Men’s Clinic, my levels were down to 274. I’ve also lost 80 pounds over the past decade, which contributes to higher levels. Still, that was quite low and the doctor said he could see why I am exhausted all the time.
Visiting the Rocky Mountain Men’s Clinic
From the very beginning, I knew I was going to be very uncomfortable going to the men’s clinic. But probably not for the reasons you’d think. I don’t have too much of an issue with the sexual side of things.
I was secure in my masculinity and looked forward to seeing what they could do for me. I simply hate needles…and they were going to draw several vials of blood.
To say that I hate needles is a gross understatement. Unfortunately, there isn’t a word in the English language that describes how much I hate them.
The $99 Visit and Testing Fee
When testing for low testosterone at the Rocky Mountain Men’s Clinic, it’ll cost $99 for the blood work and consultation. So, it wasn’t too expensive from that point of view. Plus, the $99 fee is waived if you start treatment that day.
Given that I was relatively certain my T levels were low, I budgeted the money and was confident it would be waived.
When they were drawing my blood, I found myself trying to control my breathing as I was starting to hyperventilate. Luckily, I’m quite good at refocusing and calming myself down. It’s one of the nice benefits of frequent meditation.
Doctors and Staff Were Amazing
I don’t have a love of doctors in the slightest. In fact, I’ve had nothing but bad experiences, especially in the ER – of which I’ve spent quite a bit of time in my youth.
The staff at Rocky Mountain Men’s Clinic were nothing short of amazing. Everyone from the receptionist to the treatment planner was great. My treatment guy reminded me of a much younger Phil Collins.
Not only did they explain things quite well in terms of what low testosterone is and how it affects men, but they were pleasant and more jocular than most doctors I’ve met. Better yet, most of the guys I spoke with at the clinic were actual clients themselves for low T.
Testing Done in 15 to 20 Minutes
The actual testing for low testosterone took about 15 to 20 minutes. It was relatively quick compared to my other hospital visits. Since the testing is done in-house, they can have your results ready when they come in to speak with you.
I mean, it makes sense from a business perspective. If your levels are low, they can get you signed up with a plan on that first visit. But there is a part of me that wonders if they fudge the numbers just so they can move on from a $99 fee to a massive, and somewhat expensive plan.
Then again, I’m a bit of a pessimist. So, take that conspiracy theory with a very small grain of salt. I’m always on the lookout for the other shoe to drop.
2 1/2 Hours for the Visit
The testing was the quickest part of the visit to Rocky Mountain Men’s Clinic. I thought it was only going to take an hour, but I was there for two and a half. It was time that I really didn’t have available that day.
However, if the visit results in boosting my quality of life, then the time was worth spending. Unfortunately, I probably won’t notice major changes for another six to eight weeks. At least, that’s what the treatment planner said.
The actual doctor, on the other hand, said that I might feel some small changes in energy and whatnot almost immediately. So, I’m not 100% sure what that all entails.
It might be psychosomatic, but I feel better today than I have in a while. Of course, that could also be from getting more than four hours of sleep last night. I drank some Sleepytime Tea to help put me down.
Getting Weekly Shots – Forever?
Apparently, treating low testosterone is a life-long commitment. I asked the doctor, “So, do I have to take weekly shots for the rest of my life?” And he responded, “Well, if you want to be happy.”
I think what impressed me most was how the doctor responded almost exactly as I would.
I suppose at my age, health care is but a full-time job. Getting a shot in the ass once a week might just be one of those things that I’ll have to add to the ever-growing list of bodily maintenance. If it does vastly improve my quality of life, then perhaps a few seconds of getting poked in the rump is worth it.
I could have opted for the cream, but I don’t want to put people and pets around me at risk. Topical options can affect anyone you touch in a very negative way.
Having Testosterone Shipped to Me
When signing up for the treatment, you can choose to visit Rocky Mountain Men’s Clinic without an appointment to have someone administer the injection. Or, you can choose to have testosterone shipped to your home and you can do it yourself. It doesn’t cost anything extra.
I chose to have it shipped to the house. The clinic is literally on the other side of Denver in Westminster, which is a one-hour round-trip drive for me every Wednesday. Honestly, I don’t have the time to burn driving back and forth.
Luckily, they trained my friend on how to administer the dose. It would be a pain in the ass for me to try it myself (pun intended). They said I could stick myself in the shoulder, but it’s far more effective in the glutes.
Continued Rework of Dosages
Every six to eight weeks, the doctor at the Rocky Mountain Men’s Clinic does a follow-up questionnaire while testing for low testosterone levels. Essentially, they try to estimate what you need on day one and then adjust the dosage depending on your specific experiences.
I have a feeling that I’ll need a higher dose for maintenance simply because of my body type and physiology. But I guess we’ll find out after my next visit.
The premise here is to find the levels that are right for you. Every man is different and will need tailored dosages of testosterone. Since I easily hold muscle mass and stand six feet tall, I bet I’ll need a slightly higher dose than what I’m doing now.
But I’m not a doctor. So, we’ll wait to see the results.
A Little Expensive
I knew testing for low testosterone was going to be expensive. However, I wasn’t prepared for just how much money it was going to cost overall.
As I said, I budgeted the $99 testing fee already. But to get on the one-year plan, it was going to run $2,599! You could save money by signing up for three years at $5,999.
Some insurers will cover the cost of testosterone replacement therapy, but you’ll have to jump through a ton of hoops. Unfortunately, the only thing I have is Medicaid, which Rocky Mountain Men’s Clinic apparently doesn’t accept.
On a side note, yes, Medicaid covers testosterone therapy in the state of Colorado as long as it’s a medical necessity. It’s a bit of a maze to go through, but it might be worth exploring if you have it.
In my case, I was able to use Affirm. For those of you who buy things from Amazon, you’re probably familiar with the company. Affirm has lower interest rates and flexible payment plans compared to most credit cards. However, the Affirm account for Rocky Mountian Men’s Clinic is separate from an Affirm account you use for Amazon purchases.
In this case, it’s an Affirm account specifically connected to the clinic and cannot be used anywhere else. Luckily, my credit rating and payment history were enough to qualify for the one-year plan.
When using Affirm in this manner, you’ll need $375 down at that moment. Then, you’re first payment comes out a month later. So, if you plan to go to Rocky Mountain Men’s Clinic to test for low T, set aside about $475 in case you need treatment. That is if you’re planning to try Affirm.
My payments to Affirm will run about $117 per month because I chose the two-year payment option. Nonetheless, I plan on paying it off as soon as humanly possible.
You can also use CareCredit. But they wouldn’t increase my line to what I needed for the testosterone treatments.
Stigma of Low Testosterone
Perhaps one of the reasons why many men don’t think to go get their testosterone levels checked is because it makes them feel like less of a man. This might be especially true when it comes to the sexual prowess part of the conversation. It’s quite a sensitive subject for most.
I suppose I might be a bit luckier than most. I mean, I’m not 100% in the bedroom at 48 years old. But, I’m not necessarily lacking, either. My primary concern with low testosterone is my energy levels and my sleeping patterns. I am exhausted all the damn time.
Well, and this bit of a spare tire that’s been on my waist for several years now. Despite the ab workouts, it just doesn’t shrink as fast as the fat does everywhere else.
Anyway, there’s no reason to think any less of yourself if you have low T.
Did you know that about 40% of males 45 and over experience low testosterone levels? And one in four will start to decline by the age of 30 years. So, it’s a prevalent problem among men and shouldn’t be looked down upon. It’s just a fact of life.
If getting yourself checked equates to a huge improvement in the quality of your life, wouldn’t it be worth it to yourself and your mate? For me, being able to sleep for more than 5 hours per night is worth the three grand every year.
I’ve been in a fatigued brain fog for decades.
Get Your Testosterone Checked
You don’t have to go through life with low testosterone. It’s not life-threatening, but it affects so many aspects of your life that you probably wouldn’t have considered.
For example, a balanced level of testosterone promotes a stronger immune system. Too far in either direction (low and high) is detrimental. So, it’s the “Goldilocks” effect – gotta find just the right amount.
Given how low testosterone can negatively impact so many areas of your life, it’s worth the time to visit something like Rocky Mountain Men’s Clinic. In a few months, you could be on your way to feeling like a million bucks.
At least, that’s what the doctors say…
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