T Nation

Is 35 Yr Total T at 384 Considered Low?

Over 35 Lifter
#1

I saw my doctor a month ago and was feeling like life sucked all the time. No motivation to do anything. not even with my girlfriend, mojo completely up and went. He gave me a sample of Cialis and suggested we test my t levels. So one month later here are the results.

Sex Hormone BNG GLOB …30
Free Testosterone…74
Total Test…384
Test % free…1.9

His notes say, not urgent. Total Testosterone is a little low, suggest repeat lab work in a month and follow up office call. Honestly I don’t feel any better at all. Should I see him again? And endo? I live in Chicago area, anyone I should be talking to? Is this level acceptable?

#2

Instead of waiting find a better MD.

Search here:http://www.worldhealth.net/search.asp?type=dir&q=

Don’t give up man!

#3

Hop in the car and go see Dr Crisler. It’s about a three hour drive.

#4

[quote]brentf13 wrote:
Hop in the car and go see Dr Crisler. It’s about a three hour drive.[/quote]

I second this. At 35, you have too much life to live to feel like shit all the time. Make the investment and get a doctor that knows what they are doing. You can check out Dr. John here…

#5

Without E2 lab results, it is hard to know what is going on. There are many roads to travel for this and many dead ends.

#6

ok, per your suggestions, I went to see an Endo. My last labs had me at 290 for T and free at 54. The endo say “heck yeah your T is low” and put me on Androgel 2 pumps a day. I’m one week into it and feeling SOOOOO much better. May be a placebo effect, but I feel more normal and focused, also very upbeat. My gym time seems to be on the upswing also. I have to go back in a month to “reassess” and take another round of labs. I would love for my test to be around 700-900, cause so far I’m feeling groovy. Although Androgel is $$$. Test injection may be cheaper. Anyone traveled down this road?? My endo is using this a replacement/hypogonadism, which it is, but I sure would like to make some progress towards unleashing the beast within.

dan

#7

Did you get your insulin and glucose checked? Insulin that is all over the place can wreak havoc with your hormones. There are things you can do with diet to maximize hormone levels. Stress is another killer. I just went through all of this and I feel much better by just changing my diet, reducing/coping with stress, upping my zinc, getting 7-8 hours sleep and magnesium cream. Feelin’ fine… Hope this helps.

#8

2 pumps a day of Androgel is lower than the recommended stating dose. (most need 8) That’s a joke. You need a new Dr that knows what they’re doing. It seems like there isn’t an endo in the country that knows how to properly treat low T. You should seriously consider driving north to see Dr Crisler or find a local anti-aging Dr with a clue. If all you’re doing is 2 pumps of Androgel and nothing else that’s a big problem.

#9

[quote]brentf13 wrote:
2 pumps a day of Androgel is lower than the recommended stating dose. (most need 8) That’s a joke. You need a new Dr that knows what they’re doing. It seems like there isn’t an endo in the country that knows how to properly treat low T. You should seriously consider driving north to see Dr Crisler or find a local anti-aging Dr with a clue. If all you’re doing is 2 pumps of Androgel and nothing else that’s a big problem.[/quote]

To add to this statement, you may doubt that the dose is too small because you are feeling so much better. But that amount of exogenous testosterone you’re taking right now is only supplementing your endogenous testosterone and not replacing it yet. Your levels are higher, but only for a brief moment.

Soon, that low amount of test will shut down your natural production and your levels will be left lower than they were to begin with. Probably much lower.

More than likely, your doc is going to play the “test and adjust” game for a couple of years until your levels are barely in the lowest part of range with no HCG or AI.

If you want to find a good doc, you should do what KSman suggests to many new patients. Go to google maps and zoom in on your region. Do a search for compounding pharmacies in your area. Call and see which doctors are prescribing T+HCG+AI. Many pharmacies will have recommendations on their websites. You are really not that far from Dr. Crisler either. Well worth the trip if you can afford it. Good luck.

#10

I have seen HCG in several threads and articles. If an am interpreting it correctly, the HCG will keep your natural production going even when receiving TRT. Is this correct?
If so, is there any benefit to HCG by itself?

#11

Without hCG the testes atrophy… can you spell organ failure? Major source of pregenolone production stops, which undermines production of all steroid hormones.

Scrotum pulls up tight and some get 24-7 dull aching. Tiny testes and a tight scrotum is bad for sexual self image and the way that you are regarded by your Wife/GF.

Loss of fertility or low sperm count.

Pregnenolone is needed in the brain. The improvement in mood that many report when starting hCG after HPTA shutdown is thought to be from resumed pregnenolone production.

#12

I haven’t used this but in Chicago I just found this, was thinking of checking them out, seem to have doctors and a pharmacy on staff and specialize in hormone therapy (I found it googling for “compounding pharmacies” in the area) wonder if they take my insurance…

http://www.bodylogicmd.com/

#13

[quote]danielwtk wrote:
ok, per your suggestions, I went to see an Endo. My last labs had me at 290 for T and free at 54. The endo say “heck yeah your T is low” and put me on Androgel 2 pumps a day. I’m one week into it and feeling SOOOOO much better. May be a placebo effect, but I feel more normal and focused, also very upbeat. My gym time seems to be on the upswing also. I have to go back in a month to “reassess” and take another round of labs. I would love for my test to be around 700-900, cause so far I’m feeling groovy. Although Androgel is $$$. Test injection may be cheaper. Anyone traveled down this road?? My endo is using this a replacement/hypogonadism, which it is, but I sure would like to make some progress towards unleashing the beast within.

dan[/quote]

I have no idea how Androgel is perceived as expensive. With GHI, I co-paid 25 bucks a month for 7.5 grams per day; with BCBS, I co-pay 45$.

My T-level is consistently 700 to 900 and I feel like a million bucks.

#14

What does your particular co-pay have to do with the cost of the product? There are some who do pay for these things out-of-pocket.

#15

[quote]KSman wrote:
What does your particular co-pay have to do with the cost of the product? There are some who do pay for these things out-of-pocket.[/quote]

It means that it’s not expensive for all.

I also have a question. It might be stupid.

I want to know why so many people on here prefer injections over Androgel. As I’ve said a few times, my levels with 7.5 to 10 grams of gel over the years have consistently been 700 to 900 ng/dL.