I will agree that "low T" is being pushed today mainly because of new less medically invasive way of administering this hormone such as Testim gels. (no one like to have a shot every week or every other week)
But for the patient who really needs it, there is no substitute to the weekly or by-weekly injection, because the gels or patches are not very efficient.
Again a person with very low or no testosterone is not a pleasant way to live--and the side effects should be next to none unless pre-existing conditions exist.
Similarly not taking hormone replacement for hypothyroidism or any other vital hormones would be dangerous with very poor health and shortened life span!
Thanks for another sensible response in a thread that is spiraling downward to nowhere. And thanks to Phil in Mesa and Blazing Pedals for sharing your experiences. And a few others seem to have been supportive as well... you know who you are!
Regardless of what anyone thinks
should be done, I have made my decision in consultation with my doctor and I am moving forward from there. I'm optimistic that this could help me achieve a much better balance between my fairly ambitious bicycling life and my work life, where I cannot afford to be sleepy and tired all the time. The early signs are good so far. I hit the weights and core training yesterday a bit harder than usual and I
think I've recovered much better than before. On the odd chance that it may be useful or helpful, I will probably report back on my progress from time to time.
I am not going to pay any attention to a discussion of the excesses of pro bodybuilding or Floyd Landis or doping in pro cycling or anything like that. It is just irrelevant to my situation and a waste of time.