Testosterone Tragedy
A year and half ago if you would have told me I would be in the place I was, I would have said, “You’re crazy!” For three years my mind and body had been hijacked by testosterone replacement therapy and numerous other supplements which were wreaking havoc in every area of my life.
My personality started to change, my behavior became erratic, my health was spiraling out of control, and my life at the time would have rivaled any Jerry Springer episode. My true essence had disintegrated and I was becoming someone I didn’t like.
It was July 2009, I was happy, healthy, running, training for a sprint triathlon, and had just started dating Kevin. Life was good! Being the proactive person I am, I sought out hormone replacement therapy which a friend had recommended.
I was right at that age where you start to experience what I call “a woman’s rite of passage” and I was going to get ahead of it. I was told my testosterone level was 28 and considered on the low end and a perfect candidate for testosterone replacement therapy (normal is 15-62).
The first 6 months I felt great and then all hell broke loose. For three years my levels ranged from 238 to 465! I became agitated all the time, the texture of my hair changed it started to fall out, my blood sugar started spiking and dropping and I would wake up every morning feeling like I had a poisonous substance invading my body.
My friends, family and coworkers would always hear me say, “I don’t feel good, I don’t feel good, I just don’t feel good.”
I now have a better understanding of the male body chemistry and, no offense guys, I didn’t really like it! But I can say I have a little more compassion for you and really love being a woman!
Being the woman who loves to seek out resources when I find myself in a crisis or growth mode for that matter, it was time to seek out my trusted therapist whom I hadn’t seen in over 5 years.
I told him the story and he looked at me and said, “How in the hell did you get yourself into this situation, you of all people are one of the most aware people I know!” I quickly threw my hands up in the air and said, “I KNOW, ME!”
He told me he has counseled many couples where testosterone replacement has created big problems in their relationships, some even resulting in affairs and divorces. When he told me this I had a sense of relief, knowing I wasn’t alone.
Being the resilient, strong willed person I am, I went on my own personal crusade to take my life and health back. I started my process of elimination and took my mind and body to ground zero.
One by one I started to eliminate medications, foods, relationships and habits. As I prepare my plan for 2014 I am grateful to have gone through my testosterone tragedy because I know it has served a bigger purpose in my life and in others.
I’m not out of the health woods yet but I will say I am in love with my life and life is good. So as you prepare your 2014 plan, do you like who you are becoming?
If not, what do you need to eliminate or incorporate to become the person you know yourself to be or want to be? Are your mind and body operating at your optimal level? If not, what tools and resources do you need? Cheers to you and being in love with your life in 2014!
