Just started HRT, looking to educate myself

[skp]

Just got my labs back:

Total Test 200
Free Test 5.1

Was prescribed Testim 1%

I don't know where to start educating myself about all of this, all the info on here seems overwheming.

Any suggestions on where to start reading?
Any other Labs results I have I can post if it is useful.

Thanks

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

Yea post all your labs, ask questions in this thread. I can point you, but I don't know where lol, like you said there is tons of info.

Your TT and Free T are in the dirt! You came to the right place

 

[skp]

There are a lot, what in particular is useful?

cbc with diff
thyroid cascade
cardiac risk profile
comp. matabolic panel
urine test

are in my lab results.

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

yup thats all good stuff to know

did your urine test have DHEA and Cortisol?

 

[Athens-M50]

I was put on Testim....was on it 2 months....had blood done last week.....Free T and T were lower than before free at 3 and total at 80!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....crazy!......at 43 dr. said I had levels of 70yr old man!!!!....

jumped to injections.....1ML every week....Cyp.

hope Testim works for you.....dr said my skin just would not absorb it.

 

[skp]

yup thats all good stuff to know

did your urine test have DHEA and Cortisol?

The urine test does not show that.

comp metabolic panel:
Glucose 83
Creatinine 1.3
sodium 136
potassium 3.9
chloride 100
carbon dioxide 28
anion gap 8
calcium 8.9
t protein 7.6
albumin 4
globulin 3.6
ast 15
alt 23

cardiac risk
cholesterol 190
triglycerides 255
hdl 21
ldl 118
chol/hdl ratio 9.05

Thyroid
tsh 1.87

CBC with diff
wbc 4.2
rbc 4.86
hemoglobin 15.7
hematocrit 45.4
mcv 93.5
mch 32.2
mchc 34.5
rdw 11.8
platelet count 257
mpv 8
neutrophil% 59
lymphocyte% 24.8
monocyte% 9.8
eosinophil% 6
basophil% 0.4
neutrophils abs 2.5
lymph abs 1
mono abs 0.4
eosinophil abs 0.3
basos abs 0


Basically I just want to feel normal again, but I have been working out and have not seen the results I have had years ago. I am 38 6'1" and 211 lbs.

 

[skp]

I was put on Testim....was on it 2 months....had blood done last week.....Free T and T were lower than before free at 3 and total at 80!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....crazy!......at 43 dr. said I had levels of 70yr old man!!!!....

jumped to injections.....1ML every week....Cyp.

hope Testim works for you.....dr said my skin just would not absorb it.

I hope so, I've read about it turning into estrogen and want to do whatever I need to to fix all this. I know I'm probably on this stuff for life so I want to understand it as well as I can.

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

Well your a perfect candidate for testosterone replacement, as you can see the low testosterone is affecting your HDL cholesterol making it low, this is the good cholesterol, it is responsible for clearing LDL, the bad cholesterol, thats why its a bit high.

Thyroid you got doesn't tell us much cause its just a TSH reading, you should have T3 and T4 done to see if it was working properly, it can cause, influence or even be combined with lowT.

The cortisol test would have told us if you have adrenal fatigue, again this can cause, influence or be combined with low t.

LH and FSH would be nice to determine primary or secondary.

Either way, you need it, at least it seems from the info I have to go on.

Hope this helps, and if you need a provider, call IMT.

Please keep in mind I am not a physician, and you should consult with one before changing or embarking on any therapeutic program

 

[Athens-M50]

I hope so, I've read about it turning into estrogen and want to do whatever I need to to fix all this. I know I'm probably on this stuff for life so I want to understand it as well as I can.

so that bring a question that I was just going to ask......with low T (numbers T free at 3 and total at 80).....will I be on this from now on?

or just till I get numbers up?.....or will it be some type of maintenance dose?

 

[tenn2525]

I have used IMT and they are very knowledgeable. Give Todd a call.

 

[Athens-M50]

Imt?

 

[skp]

Imt?

"Increase my T" I gather.

 

[skp]

Well your a perfect candidate for testosterone replacement, as you can see the low testosterone is affecting your HDL cholesterol making it low, this is the good cholesterol, it is responsible for clearing LDL, the bad cholesterol, thats why its a bit high.

Thyroid you got doesn't tell us much cause its just a TSH reading, you should have T3 and T4 done to see if it was working properly, it can cause, influence or even be combined with lowT.

The cortisol test would have told us if you have adrenal fatigue, again this can cause, influence or be combined with low t.

LH and FSH would be nice to determine primary or secondary.

Either way, you need it, at least it seems from the info I have to go on.

Hope this helps, and if you need a provider, call IMT.

Please keep in mind I am not a physician, and you should consult with one before changing or embarking on any therapeutic program

Yes, like I said, I was prescribed Testim. I will see how that goes. I may have more questions later. When I get the labs done again what should I have included to make sure everything is okay. The only thing I am somewhat concerned about is it turning to estrogen, but I understand there are some blockers for that.

 

[ASUDevil]

Those labs look familiar as I'm in same boat as you. See my post in newbie for my experiences. Definitely go get checked out, you'll be happy that you did.

 

[skp]

Well, It looks like my prescription plan denied my Testim. My Doc is looking into what they will cover.

I know my buddie can get me some "aromatherapy packets" not sure if that is the equivalent.

I know I can't afford $300 a month. What does the test cyp usually run uninsured if my Doc decides to go that direction?

 

[THE-DET-OAK]

Well, It looks like my prescription plan denied my Testim. My Doc is looking into what they will cover.

I know my buddie can get me some "aromatherapy packets" not sure if that is the equivalent.

I know I can't afford $300 a month. What does the test cyp usually run uninsured if my Doc decides to go that direction?

aroma therapy packets?

gel sucks donkey balls any way man, good thing they denied you.

Good luck on getting dialed in on cypionate with your doc though............

maybe he will prescribe 100mg a month or something lol

 

[skp]

Well your a perfect candidate for testosterone replacement, as you can see the low testosterone is affecting your HDL cholesterol making it low, this is the good cholesterol, it is responsible for clearing LDL, the bad cholesterol, thats why its a bit high.

Thyroid you got doesn't tell us much cause its just a TSH reading, you should have T3 and T4 done to see if it was working properly, it can cause, influence or even be combined with lowT.

The cortisol test would have told us if you have adrenal fatigue, again this can cause, influence or be combined with low t.

LH and FSH would be nice to determine primary or secondary.

Either way, you need it, at least it seems from the info I have to go on.

Hope this helps, and if you need a provider, call IMT.

Please keep in mind I am not a physician, and you should consult with one before changing or embarking on any therapeutic program

So, for my nest test I should ask for:
T3
T4
Cortisol
LH and FSH?

Or is it too late now that he started me?
He did get me on the 1.62% stuff, but it sounds like I'd do better on injectables. I'm going to ask his what he thinks about the clinics.
Can I get referred so ins would cover some?
If IMT prescribed me treatment would my insurance cover any of it? Looks like at $30/mo for my copay as it is, but a 10ml bottle of 250mg cyp looks to be around $60 and even at .33ml/week I would be doing better cash.