Having a major surgery while on TRT

[RickyLam]

Dear all,

I am 54 years old and currently having a self-administered TRT, i.e. the scheme not endorsed by an endocrinologist, of 0.5 mL of Test E 250 per week, i.e. 125 mg per week, to be injected once per week.

I am going to have a cervical disk replacement operation, i.e. an operation on the cervical spine.

Do you think I need to disclose my TRT at all to my doctor? Please advise.

 

[Mobster]

Dear all,

I am 54 years old and currently having a self-administered TRT, i.e. the scheme not endorsed by an endocrinologist, of 0.5 mL of Test E 250 per week, i.e. 125 mg per week, to be injected once per week.

I am going to have a cervical disk replacement operation, i.e. an operation on the cervical spine.

Do you think I need to disclose my TRT at all to my doctor? Please advise.

In short - yes. We've covered the telling your docs in a podcast: https://www.evolutionary.org/podcasts/

 

[s.gentz]

Dear all,

I am 54 years old and currently having a self-administered TRT, i.e. the scheme not endorsed by an endocrinologist, of 0.5 mL of Test E 250 per week, i.e. 125 mg per week, to be injected once per week.

I am going to have a cervical disk replacement operation, i.e. an operation on the cervical spine.

Do you think I need to disclose my TRT at all to my doctor? Please advise.

Yes you should let them know about all "medications".
TRT should not be an issue. I have had multiple surgeries while on TRT.

 

[RickyLam]

Thanks for your advice. In fact, I have told my doctor about my TRT, and he got really scared, and ask me to seek an endocrinologist for advice.... Seems I have made things complicated...

 

[RickyLam]

Yes you should let them know about all "medications".
TRT should not be an issue. I have had multiple surgeries while on TRT.

Did you have general anaesthesia for your surgeries? Does TRT have any effect on it?

 

[toddthelineman]

The doctor is scared because it’s DIYTRT, and they even learned in school that patients are very, very poor at full disclosure, and very poor at adherence. So now he wants you to see an endocrinologist to make sure that your RBC blood work is OK. So you don’t get a blood clot. You are getting blood work done right?

 

[s.gentz]

Did you have general anaesthesia for your surgeries? Does TRT have any effect on it?

Yes, TRT has no direct bearing on this. They are prob gonna have you do pre surgery bloods so any markers affected by TRT will be picked up but the test itself is not an issue.
When are you having surgery? If you have enough time and don't want to disclose it you could just come off and resume post surgery. Prob need 5-6 weeks for test to clear.

 

[RickyLam]

The doctor is scared because it’s DIYTRT, and they even learned in school that patients are very, very poor at full disclosure, and very poor at adherence. So now he wants you to see an endocrinologist to make sure that your RBC blood work is OK. So you don’t get a blood clot. You are getting blood work done right?

I just saw my doctor a few hours ago, so I haven't seen an endocrinologist yet.

In fact, I am on my last week of cycle: 125 mg of Test E, two times per week, and two weeks ago, I had 120 mg of Tren E and 240 mg of Test E, to be split twice a week:

Week -2 and before: 60mg Tren E and 120 mg Test E x 2
Week -1: 125 mg of Test E x 2
Week 0 (Current week): 125 mg of Test E x 2
Week 1 (next week): No injections.
Week 2: 125 mg Test E x 1 (TRT resumed)

I am wondering when should be the best time to see the endocrinologist. Should I see him on week 2 or even later?

 

[RickyLam]

Yes, TRT has no direct bearing on this. They are prob gonna have you do pre surgery bloods so any markers affected by TRT will be picked up but the test itself is not an issue.
When are you having surgery? If you have enough time and don't want to disclose it you could just come off and resume post surgery. Prob need 5-6 weeks for test to clear.

Thanks for your input.

The surgery was scheduled the day after tomorrow but it is now postponed.

I have disclosed my TRT to my doctor anyway; I could as well go to see another doctor and choose not to disclose this to him that time...

But by the way, how can I "come off" test E before surgery? You mean skip a week of TRT?

 

[s.gentz]

Thanks for your input.

The surgery was scheduled the day after tomorrow but it is now postponed.

I have disclosed my TRT to my doctor anyway; I could as well go to see another doctor and choose not to disclose this to him that time...

But by the way, how can I "come off" test E before surgery? You mean skip a week of TRT?

What ideas getting at is if you didn’t want to disclose the TRT you could stop taking test for 5-6 weeks prior to surgery and it would be cleared out from your body so you’d be back to natty for the surgery. Was just throwing out another option.

 

[toddthelineman]

I just saw my doctor a few hours ago, so I haven't seen an endocrinologist yet.

In fact, I am on my last week of cycle: 125 mg of Test E, two times per week, and two weeks ago, I had 120 mg of Tren E and 240 mg of Test E, to be split twice a week:

Week -2 and before: 60mg Tren E and 120 mg Test E x 2
Week -1: 125 mg of Test E x 2
Week 0 (Current week): 125 mg of Test E x 2
Week 1 (next week): No injections.
Week 2: 125 mg Test E x 1 (TRT resumed)

I am wondering when should be the best time to see the endocrinologist. Should I see him on week 2 or even later?

So you told him you were on TRT, but you’ve been on a cycle including tren? To be honest, I’m not sure if anybody can pin down your best move at this point. Probably, I would want to everything come out of my system except for about 80 mg of test and make sure the blood work is as good as it’s going to get the surgery. But I am just some guy on the Internet and ultimately you’ve done the right thing by alerting your doctor that you have anabolics in play and you should just do whatever he says because he is going to be liable for anything going wrong.

 

[LevButlerov]

Dear all,

I am 54 years old and currently having a self-administered TRT, i.e. the scheme not endorsed by an endocrinologist, of 0.5 mL of Test E 250 per week, i.e. 125 mg per week, to be injected once per week.

I am going to have a cervical disk replacement operation, i.e. an operation on the cervical spine.

Do you think I need to disclose my TRT at all to my doctor? Please advise.

You should tell you doctor you're on TRT for sure @RickyLam

how long is the surgery?

 

[rizzlekdizzle]

Just TRT won't make a difference - you are just supplementing to natural T levels. A cycle - thats a different story

 

[bigbadvuke]

Dear all,

I am 54 years old and currently having a self-administered TRT, i.e. the scheme not endorsed by an endocrinologist, of 0.5 mL of Test E 250 per week, i.e. 125 mg per week, to be injected once per week.

I am going to have a cervical disk replacement operation, i.e. an operation on the cervical spine.

Do you think I need to disclose my TRT at all to my doctor? Please advise.

I would. I have similar concerns with a surgery that could improve my life, but it requires severing the Achilles tendon and grafting it on another area to allow me to lift my toes (peripheral nerve severed) my whole leg is full of metal and steroids and HGH literally reinforced my leg, I fixed a leg that flexed and hurt and thickened the bone and even grew bone over the clasps and pins. So yeah I'd disclose it. Hormones can influence bone, connective tissues and healing. I had a surgery booked that could restore lifting of my toes but it could also fail and result in a fused ankle. I decided I am blessed to be able to run, climb and lift, who cares if I can't lift my toes and my foot is a bit fucked up. Not worth risking for me especially when you know your estrogen is probably on the lower end which really effects connective tissues. I cancelled the surgery, but when considering i told them everything. Tell them everything if it's a surgery you must have.
That's my 2 cents.

 

[stevesmi]

Just tell your doctor that your insurance doesn't cover your TRT so you do it on your own. That usually shuts them up pretty quick if you are in the USA.
It won't affect your surgery. Man, it's not like you're running a high dose.

 

[bigbadvuke]

Dear all,

I am 54 years old and currently having a self-administered TRT, i.e. the scheme not endorsed by an endocrinologist, of 0.5 mL of Test E 250 per week, i.e. 125 mg per week, to be injected once per week.

I am going to have a cervical disk replacement operation, i.e. an operation on the cervical spine.

Do you think I need to disclose my TRT at all to my doctor? Please advise.

I am in Canada BTW. Our medical system is shit cause well its a communist shithole. Anyways I chose to disclose....but I feel even if I didn't disclose it and got the surgery I would've ended up with a fused ankle.......lol USA at least doctors try to fix you chasing dollars....Canada they get paid and can't be sued regardless if they mangle you....

 

[Dreamer]

You should disclose everything to your doctor, I would think healthy test levels would aid recovery anyway

 

[bigbadvuke]

Only concern in the states I'd have with disclosing it would be if they fucked up the surgery catastrophically where you wanted to sue. They might use unauthorized hormone therapy as a reason to get away with malpractice.....but then they heal chasing dollars good incentive for a good surgeon, they make more actually healing people as opposed to canada. If it were me in the states....I'd disclose it and make sure the surgeon is top notch. Good luck brother.

 

[ROIDDERS]

Dear all,

I am 54 years old and currently having a self-administered TRT, i.e. the scheme not endorsed by an endocrinologist, of 0.5 mL of Test E 250 per week, i.e. 125 mg per week, to be injected once per week.

I am going to have a cervical disk replacement operation, i.e. an operation on the cervical spine.

Do you think I need to disclose my TRT at all to my doctor? Please advise.

disclose it why not. it can't hurt to tell them.

 

[2Thick]

Dear all,

I am 54 years old and currently having a self-administered TRT, i.e. the scheme not endorsed by an endocrinologist, of 0.5 mL of Test E 250 per week, i.e. 125 mg per week, to be injected once per week.

I am going to have a cervical disk replacement operation, i.e. an operation on the cervical spine.

Do you think I need to disclose my TRT at all to my doctor? Please advise.

I think you have more important things to worry about. This is a very risky surgery you're about to do. Why don't you tell us more about that? Anything with the spine is very risky.

 

[Mobster]

Thanks for your advice. In fact, I have told my doctor about my TRT, and he got really scared, and ask me to seek an endocrinologist for advice.... Seems I have made things complicated...

Nah. He can't make you.

 

[RickyLam]

You should tell you doctor you're on TRT for sure @RickyLam

how long is the surgery?

The surgery has been cancelled because the my insurance company was not willing to pay my doctor the level of fee he expected. I am going to seek another doctor. If the surgery was carried out, it should last about 2 to 4 hours, in general anaesthesia.

 

[RickyLam]

I think you have more important things to worry about. This is a very risky surgery you're about to do. Why don't you tell us more about that? Anything with the spine is very risky;

I was diagnosed with a pinched spinal cord on the neck spine C5/6 ("cervical myelopathy") and a bulged cervical disk on C6/7, which pinched a nerve coming from the left side in early October of this month.

Now I am experiencing random severe pain (if no pain killers taken) jumping from the left side of the back neck, left back shoulder and the left shoulder blade muscles. Also my left arm is now quite seriously affected - my left triceps is now only 1/3 as strong as the right one, and my left biceps and left upper chest muscle are also significantly weakened. Furthermore my left ring and little fingers can be very numb at times that give me hard time on keyboarding and handwriting (I am left handed). From time to time my left and and arm tremble and there is severe tingling feel coming from my left shoulder to my left hand when I am doing dumbbell lateral raise or dumbbell bicep curl....

The pinched area of the spinal cord is now very thin and narrow (from MRI images) and if left untreated, besides of the risk of the spinal cord being broken, body parts lower than the pinched part could potentially be affected over times.

I think I have little choice now. Physiotherapy offers limited help for severe pinched neck spinal cord issue and the only viable option at this moment is ... surgery... While the consequence of failure can be grave, but as far as I know the operation I want to take, cervical disk replacement, the chance of failure is not that high... Therefore I am willing to take the chance...

 

[RickyLam]

Just tell your doctor that your insurance doesn't cover your TRT so you do it on your own. That usually shuts them up pretty quick if you are in the USA.
It won't affect your surgery. Man, it's not like you're running a high dose.

Thanks for your good advice. However in my case my doctor was seemingly clueless about what TRT was ....

He said that as surgery put my body into a very stressful condition, he worried that the level of testosterone injection was not enough to deal with it... But I think 125 mg of Test E per week is already very high for TRT indeed.... And he even thought that I should have an on-site endocrinologist in the hospital to monitor my hormone level ....

 

[ceo]

Dear all,

I am 54 years old and currently having a self-administered TRT, i.e. the scheme not endorsed by an endocrinologist, of 0.5 mL of Test E 250 per week, i.e. 125 mg per week, to be injected once per week.

I am going to have a cervical disk replacement operation, i.e. an operation on the cervical spine.

Do you think I need to disclose my TRT at all to my doctor? Please advise.

Bros. I be more worried about the surgery. That's some dangerous shit. Anytime they messing around with the spine, hopefully it go good.

 

[Ulter]

Thanks for your good advice. However in my case my doctor was seemingly clueless about what TRT was ....

He said that as surgery put my body into a very stressful condition, he worried that the level of testosterone injection was not enough to deal with it... But I think 125 mg of Test E per week is already very high for TRT indeed.... And he even thought that I should have an on-site endocrinologist in the hospital to monitor my hormone level ....

125mgs is right around trt levels. so not sure what he is obsessed about. sounds like he is trying to make more $$$ from you

 

[stevesmi]

Thanks for your good advice. However in my case my doctor was seemingly clueless about what TRT was ....

He said that as surgery put my body into a very stressful condition, he worried that the level of testosterone injection was not enough to deal with it... But I think 125 mg of Test E per week is already very high for TRT indeed.... And he even thought that I should have an on-site endocrinologist in the hospital to monitor my hormone level ....

it happens man. hopefully the surgery goes well for you

 

[LevButlerov]

The surgery has been cancelled because the my insurance company was not willing to pay my doctor the level of fee he expected. I am going to seek another doctor. If the surgery was carried out, it should last about 2 to 4 hours, in general anaesthesia.

This time dont tell the new doctor about TRT, you scared the other guy off it seems @RickyLam

 

[ballin2504]

Definitely let them know.

 

[willipede]

I've had surgery 4 times this year and in the past, always told the hospital im taking testosterone and never been any issues or even any further questions

 

[2Thick]

I was diagnosed with a pinched spinal cord on the neck spine C5/6 ("cervical myelopathy") and a bulged cervical disk on C6/7, which pinched a nerve coming from the left side in early October of this month.

Now I am experiencing random severe pain (if no pain killers taken) jumping from the left side of the back neck, left back shoulder and the left shoulder blade muscles. Also my left arm is now quite seriously affected - my left triceps is now only 1/3 as strong as the right one, and my left biceps and left upper chest muscle are also significantly weakened. Furthermore my left ring and little fingers can be very numb at times that give me hard time on keyboarding and handwriting (I am left handed). From time to time my left and and arm tremble and there is severe tingling feel coming from my left shoulder to my left hand when I am doing dumbbell lateral raise or dumbbell bicep curl....

The pinched area of the spinal cord is now very thin and narrow (from MRI images) and if left untreated, besides of the risk of the spinal cord being broken, body parts lower than the pinched part could potentially be affected over times.

I think I have little choice now. Physiotherapy offers limited help for severe pinched neck spinal cord issue and the only viable option at this moment is ... surgery... While the consequence of failure can be grave, but as far as I know the operation I want to take, cervical disk replacement, the chance of failure is not that high... Therefore I am willing to take the chance...

Man I hope it goes well for sure.