Help with blood work results / TRT decision

[brickshthouse79]

Hi Everyone,

First, thank you in advance. I know we have some really smart people on the boards and I could use your input.

History: 33 year old male. 12 years of anxiety/depression issues, low libido, excessive sweating, irritability, bowel urgency after eating, poor sleep, very weak (hard to do anything) and it has been quite tough to exercise.

Went to primary care for a checkup after feeling so burnt out from these symptoms (should also add that I take a small dose of celexa). The doctor concluded that with the exception of having low testosterone, I am healthy.

Tested by LabCorp:
Testosterone, Total: 344 (range 348-1197)
Testosteron, Free: 8.5 (range 8.7-25.1)

Here are the other items that tested out of range:
LDL cholesterol: 104 (range 0-99mg/dl)
Bun creatinine ratio: 23 (rage 8-19)
Blood urea nitrogen: 21 (range 6-20mg/dl)
Vitamin D 1, 25-Dihydroxy: 95.9 (range 10-75 pg/ml)

Primary care took a 2nd round of bloodwork to check the HTPA axis and referred me to urologist. The urologist said I was certainly symptomatic of having low testosterone, but said I was "within range" and is sending me to an endocrinologist. He said starting T therapy is a big consideration and wants to be certain before going down that path.

Another consideration is that I am in my early 30s and will likely want to have a child within the next 2-3 years. If I start TRT, I assume using HCG and an AI will allow my boys to keep working at least at their current level.

Next week, I have an appt with a doc that is more liberal and I think will give me TRT if I want it. I'd appreciate input on the situation, particularly from anyone under 40 that has been in my shoes.

Thank you again

 

[keith1569]

Thats a tough one bro because you are wanting to have kids still.. I know plenty of people including myself who was on for 2 1/2 to 3 years straight blasting and cruising and i was able to knock it my gf when I come off but it sure would be horrible of 3 years of trt made you 'sterile'.. Not trying to scare you but it is something u seriously want to consider.. Have you thought about trying other options.. My testosterone came back about your level after I had been off for 6 months and I to was experiencing the symptoms you described... I am on low dose test now and feel a lot better. I am done having kids though.. I know I didn't answer your question, but giving you my experience and some food for thought.

Keith

 

[brickshthouse79]

Thank you Keith. May I ask your dose, current test levels from that dose and if you use HCG? At the moment, I am thinking of starting it and if insurance doesn't cover HCG, I'll just pay for it out of pocket to stay fertile. I'm 33 now and my gf is 31, we only want 1 child and my guess is we would want to have it in the next 3 years. I just can't imagine being this tired and uncomfortable for the next 3 years.

Also, 7 years ago another urologist put me on TRT for 2 months. I saw a 2nd doc (endo) who told me to stop taking it. Since I was only 27 at the time, I was fine with trying to get by with my own low natural levels. Now that I am approaching 34, I'm less patient and want to feel better.

Thank you again.

 

[keith1569]

I am self scripted. I cruise in either 125mg test 100mg tren a week or 250mg test a week.

 

[brickshthouse79]

Thanks. I'll update you this week after my next round of doctor appointments.

 

[s2h]

the inability to have children while on TRT or cycle is a bit overstated at times...i'm def not saying there cannot be a negative impact..i fathered 3 kids(i know of) while on full blast..been in this game a long time and i couldnt begin to count the guys i know who have fathered children while on or after using many cycles..

if your really wanting to make sure there is no negative impact...have your sperm frozen..if for some reason you cant then there is a plan B..

good luck!!

 

[brickshthouse79]

the inability to have children while on TRT or cycle is a bit overstated at times...i'm def not saying there cannot be a negative impact..i fathered 3 kids(i know of) while on full blast..been in this game a long time and i couldnt begin to count the guys i know who have fathered children while on or after using many cycles..

if your really wanting to make sure there is no negative impact...have your sperm frozen..if for some reason you cant then there is a plan B..

good luck!!

Thanks S2H. I'm starting to consider that option.

 

[brickshthouse79]

Hi Everyone,

Its been a hell of a week.

1) saw primary care and was given results above, doc also did a 2nd round to check hpa
2) went to a urologist, he said surgery is his speciality and he referred me to an endo. Unfortunately the endo is not in my insurance network
3) went to a local internalist/anti aging doc. He ran a bunch of tests on me, gave me a shot of b12, said I have hypothyroidism (sufficient t4 that is not converting) and gave me a rx for 5mcg t3 2x a day and suggested giving me clomid instead of trt since I am only 33 and may want kids. He based the thyroid conclusion on my symptoms and the following:

T4, Free, direct 1.36 (range 0.82 to 1.77) - so i am making or have t4 is what i think he said
TSH, 3.22 (range 0.45 to 4.5) - since i am over 3, i am in the grey area of hypothyroidism (b/t 3 and 5.0)

The problem here is he doesn't have availability for a follow-up appt for 3 months! So, I took 1 dose of t3 and noticed immediately that i felt quite good, actually almost high or manic.

4) went back to primary care to get the hta results. Also told doc about my experience with urologist and anti aging guy. Doc was surprised he would give me t3. Said its effect was due to it causing a bit of a high and was not fixing any underlying problem since she thinks my throid is fine. My 2nd round of blood work showed the following:

LH: 3.9 (range 1.7 to 8.6)
FSJ: 2.4 (range 1.5-12.4)
Total Test: 279 (range 348-1197)
Free Test: 6.9 (range 8.7-25.1)

Based on that my primary care wants me to see an endo and thinks trt is likely the way to go. She disagrees with clomid and t3. Any imput would be greatly appreciated.

 

[brickshthouse79]

bump

 

[vassille]

I agree with doc giving you the t3 at that dosage. My gf takes the same prescription and feels much better taking t3 and having t4 within range. Some ppl just can not convert t4 to t3 efficiently. I also dont see any long term side effects with taking a bit of t3 if you need it.
As for the rest of it, you def a candidate for HRT based on those numbers. Low test will also give you the symptoms you are experiencing. Just food for thought, I have been on HRT for over 10 years and I have had no issue with not being fertile. I do use HCG, clomid occasionally and even after a heavy cycle or just cruising on low dose test thinking I was sterile and I learned the hard way more than once that it wasnt the case. So from my perspective as long as you take some HCG or clomid every few months for a cycle of 4 weeks or so you should be able to have kids.

There is also another wrinkle in the HRT protocol...from my experience if I take a low enough dose ex 100mg a week I noticed my natural testosterone is not completely shut down and my balls actually work, as long as I keep estrogen low. For some reason my body seems to produce a low LH signal and explains why I was able to be fertile even on HRT without taking clomid or HCG consistently. I can not say this works for everyone but it has worked for me.

 

[brickshthouse79]

I agree with doc giving you the t3 at that dosage. My gf takes the same prescription and feels much better taking t3 and having t4 within range. Some ppl just can not convert t4 to t3 efficiently. I also dont see any long term side effects with taking a bit of t3 if you need it.
As for the rest of it, you def a candidate for HRT based on those numbers. Low test will also give you the symptoms you are experiencing. Just food for thought, I have been on HRT for over 10 years and I have had no issue with not being fertile. I do use HCG, clomid occasionally and even after a heavy cycle or just cruising on low dose test thinking I was sterile and I learned the hard way more than once that it wasnt the case. So from my perspective as long as you take some HCG or clomid every few months for a cycle of 4 weeks or so you should be able to have kids.

There is also another wrinkle in the HRT protocol...from my experience if I take a low enough dose ex 100mg a week I noticed my natural testosterone is not completely shut down and my balls actually work, as long as I keep estrogen low. For some reason my body seems to produce a low LH signal and explains why I was able to be fertile even on HRT without taking clomid or HCG consistently. I can not say this works for everyone but it has worked for me.

Thank you for the reply, Vassille. Here is an update. 19 days ago, I gave another round of bloodwork. At that time, I also started self administering trt (roughly 85 mg e5 days). I've noticed an incredible increase in energy since that time. I literally feel almost too energized if I dont go to the gym. That is in contrast to not having enough energy to go to the gym before starting. As expected my bloodwork that I gave before self administering came back low (endo did not specify how low) and I am now prescribed gel. The endo claims my blood work on my thyroid came back fine. The past two mornings, I have tested my temperature upon waking and I am getting a reading between 95 and 96.3. The issue with the t3 is that it made me feel anxious, almost manic actually. So, I am holding off taking it for the time being and see how I feel after another few weeks of trt.