Tests: (6) TSH REFLEX TO FREE T4 (2834)
Order Note:
TSH 1.2 UIU/ML 0.3-5.1 *30
Basically told me that being below 300 was too low and started me on androgel.
I’m due back in for follow-up tests in about a week and a half, which will then let them make adjustments.
Should be interesting, I’ve never done this sort of thing before.
[/quote]
Without measuring free Test and Estradiol, these numbers don’t have much meaning. Now, the gel will F things up and you won’t have any baseline numbers to work with.
Rule #1: Never, repeat never, go to anyone except an anti-aging doc to do HRT. You wouldn’t take your grandma to a pediatrician, would you?
You need an HRT doctor to do HRT.
If you don’t follow this advice, here’s what’ll happen:
GP → Endo → Urologist → new Endo → new Urologist…and sooner or later you will begin to hate all doctors with a passion.
I’ll remember that. I wasn’t going to the doctor for HRT, just normal yearly physical, they called me in and told me I needed to start the androgel as part of the follow-up.
I gather those numbers are meaningless then?
They have me scheduled for follow-up tests next week.
[quote]Elaikases wrote:
I’ll remember that. I wasn’t going to the doctor for HRT, just normal yearly physical, they called me in and told me I needed to start the androgel as part of the follow-up.
Tests: (6) TSH REFLEX TO FREE T4 (2834)
Order Note:
TSH 1.2 UIU/ML 0.3-5.1 *30
I gather those numbers are meaningless then?
They have me scheduled for follow-up tests next week.[/quote]
Those are thyroid numbers so that’s going to be of interest to a genuine HRT doc.
I did the HRT game for 5 years, beginning in a very similar manner to what you have. I’m trying to spare you the misery I went through.
If you feel great being, say, 4 points above minimum for Test, with no measure of bio-available T and no measure of E2, then by all means continue with the GP…because those are EXACTLY the things he’ll be trying to do. If you want high T, minimal E2, and balls bigger than raisins, go to the the website I listed.
[quote]Headhunter wrote:
Elaikases wrote:
I’ll remember that. I wasn’t going to the doctor for HRT, just normal yearly physical, they called me in and told me I needed to start the androgel as part of the follow-up.
Tests: (6) TSH REFLEX TO FREE T4 (2834)
Order Note:
TSH 1.2 UIU/ML 0.3-5.1 *30
I gather those numbers are meaningless then?
They have me scheduled for follow-up tests next week.
Those are thyroid numbers so that’s going to be of interest to a genuine HRT doc.
I did the HRT game for 5 years, beginning in a very similar manner to what you have. I’m trying to spare you the misery I went through.
If you feel great being, say, 4 points above minimum for Test, with no measure of bio-available T and no measure of E2, then by all means continue with the GP…because those are EXACTLY the things he’ll be trying to do. If you want high T, minimal E2, and balls bigger than raisins, go to the the website I listed.
[/quote]
Thanks for the explanation. Much of the test results are somewhat meaningless to me. I know a fair number of people who have moved to androgel alone and have been perfectly happy. But, I guess better safe than sorry (or why go to a doctor at all?!).
[quote]Headhunter wrote:
Elaikases wrote:
I’ll remember that. I wasn’t going to the doctor for HRT, just normal yearly physical, they called me in and told me I needed to start the androgel as part of the follow-up.
Tests: (6) TSH REFLEX TO FREE T4 (2834)
Order Note:
TSH 1.2 UIU/ML 0.3-5.1 *30
I gather those numbers are meaningless then?
They have me scheduled for follow-up tests next week.
Those are thyroid numbers so that’s going to be of interest to a genuine HRT doc.
I did the HRT game for 5 years, beginning in a very similar manner to what you have. I’m trying to spare you the misery I went through.
If you feel great being, say, 4 points above minimum for Test, with no measure of bio-available T and no measure of E2, then by all means continue with the GP…because those are EXACTLY the things he’ll be trying to do. If you want high T, minimal E2, and balls bigger than raisins, go to the the website I listed.
[quote]KSman wrote:
Headhunter wrote:
Elaikases wrote:
I’ll remember that. I wasn’t going to the doctor for HRT, just normal yearly physical, they called me in and told me I needed to start the androgel as part of the follow-up.
Tests: (6) TSH REFLEX TO FREE T4 (2834)
Order Note:
TSH 1.2 UIU/ML 0.3-5.1 *30
I gather those numbers are meaningless then?
They have me scheduled for follow-up tests next week.
Those are thyroid numbers so that’s going to be of interest to a genuine HRT doc.
I did the HRT game for 5 years, beginning in a very similar manner to what you have. I’m trying to spare you the misery I went through.
If you feel great being, say, 4 points above minimum for Test, with no measure of bio-available T and no measure of E2, then by all means continue with the GP…because those are EXACTLY the things he’ll be trying to do. If you want high T, minimal E2, and balls bigger than raisins, go to the the website I listed.
Are you promoting an agenda or understanding?[/quote]
Don’t understand the question. If by ‘an agenda’ you mean avoiding/warning others about the miserable state of affairs wrt HRT and general medicine, then ‘Yes’ I’m promoting an agenda.
The usual route for most of the people investigating HRT is through their family doctor. That’s like asking the 3 Stooges to perform life saving surgery. Won’t happen. GPs go that route because they are too dumb to be specialists. You can either fuck around with these ignorant boobs or go straight to the specialist.
I guess that’s my ‘agenda’: Despising human suffering and helping others avoid it.
The usual route for most of the people investigating HRT is through their family doctor. That’s like asking the 3 Stooges to perform life saving surgery. Won’t happen. GPs go that route because they are too dumb to be specialists. You can either fuck around with these ignorant boobs or go straight to the specialist.
I guess that’s my ‘agenda’: Despising human suffering and helping others avoid it.
[/quote]
[quote]KSman wrote:
Also recieved my Life Extension Foundation magazine today. It has a huge amount of material concerning estrogen and men. Also a lot of material about estrogen and the prostate.[/quote]
let me guess, one has to pay for the subscription right?
[quote]Steve8867 wrote:
KSman wrote:
Also recieved my Life Extension Foundation magazine today. It has a huge amount of material concerning estrogen and men. Also a lot of material about estrogen and the prostate.
let me guess, one has to pay for the subscription right?
[quote]Caged wrote:
Steve8867 wrote:
KSman wrote:
Also recieved my Life Extension Foundation magazine today. It has a huge amount of material concerning estrogen and men. Also a lot of material about estrogen and the prostate.
let me guess, one has to pay for the subscription right?
[quote]AynRandLuvr wrote:
The typical doctor loves to get you just above minimum. That way they get a little CYA and that’s about it. I posted these studies for all of us to have ammo if needed. Now to find a doc who’ll not just pooh-pooh the studies.[/quote]
T-Nation members of a few years standing might recall Dr Bruce Nadler, who lost his license due to aggressive HRT prescription. There’s an unfortunate but very real reason for doctors to tread cautiously in this area.
I just got off the phone with my Dr’s office. My blood test results were Total T 193, free T 32.3,estroidal 43 total cholestoral 123. Everything else is in normal range. I must say I am shocked that I feel as well as I do with these levels. Unfortunately, this is the first time I have ever had this type of blood work done, so I have no previous baseline.
I am 45 5’9’ 200lbs about 16%bf. I workout hard 5 or 6 days a week. The reason my bf is so high is I have been on a bulking type program and not been watching my calorie intake at all. My strength has gone up in the past 3 monthes despite such low T levels. I no longer have the raging wood every morning or spontaneous erections but have not had problems getting up or maintaining an erection. My mood is not great but the mariage is going through a very rough spell.
On the good news side I have found a PA who works with a MD here in the DFW Metroplex who is very aggressive with T replacement, he has been on it himself for 8 years. I have an appointment with him tomorrow afternoon. He is almost too aggressive for my tastes. He uses and recommends the “new topical”. I am pretty conservative about taking any medicine. In addition cancer especially colon and prostate cancer run like wildfire in my family.
I am going to start really doing some research (lots of good sites listed above). If any of you experienced HRT gents have any clues, recommendations etc. I would be very appreciative.
You may want to start your own thread. You will probably get more responses if it’s not in a ‘sticky’.
Besides having low T, E2 at 43 is way too high. With your family history of prostate cancer, I would get that estradiol under control ASAP, down around 22 would be best.
Thanks for your reply I will start my own thread tonight. I have read about a couple different options to lower the estradiol. Is there one you recommend?