Lost and Confused about TRT

[blade1091]

This is long but I feel like it's important.

When I was in my teens and in High School I always had energy and was very involved in sports (and really good too at most of them). I worked out had a lean fit, stamina was great, erections were hard as rock, and always had confidence. During my last year of high school it felt like my body started shutting down. I started gaining weight, less energetic, and had no confidence in myself. I started to notice that I wasn't getting the "manly" features all my friends were getting. I had little facial hair (stuble underneath and weak stache). I was not hairy at all (if just looking at my legs you would think I was a girl). What was hurting me the most was I started loosing my hair! I could see bald spots and my hair just seemed very weak and thin. All my guy friends were getting big and growing facial hair, while I was going the complete opposite way. I even started noticing I was getting man boobs .

Going onto college as a Computer Science major (very stressful), I fought through depression, anxiety, and lack of motivation to do anything. And worst of all my hair loss was starting to get worse. My second year of college everything seemed to kick back in as I met more people, started dating a girl and was having sex with her almost every other day (AMAZING). Started getting a build and girls were noticing me and I felt like I fit in. Then 3rd year came and everything fell apart again even though I had everything I needed in my life. I felt depressed, lack of sex drive, more stressed, and loss of hair. My gf noticed all of this but she was always there to help me and we tried to have sex at least twice a week (no erections problems for the most part) but I just didn't have the motivation and no self confidence especially of how my body looked. To sum up my third year I was depressed most of the time and my grades started taking a big hit and I failed classes because of it and on top of that my relationship with an amazing girl was going down hill. Now I definitely knew something was wrong with my body.

During the summer, about to go into my last and final year of college (if I pass all my classes), I did a lot of research and came to the conclusion that my testosterone levels are probably really low and decided to see a GP soon. This summer has been the worst of all because I feel suicidal, my gf (of 2 years) broke up with me, depression is always there, anxiety, hairloss is getting worse, gaining belly fat and man boobs still there even though I try to do intense work out twice a weak. I really can't afford to fail out of college and throw my life away that I worked so hard for. It feels like everything is just going wrong in my life and there are moments I just want to end it...

I need your help. I want to know how to talk to my GP about this, and if they do decide to do a blood test what's considered normal range for a 21 year old (5'8" 145lbs). And if it does turn out I have low T (95% sure that's the problem) should I start testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)? What type of treatment would be the best? If someone is going through same experience or is on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) around my age please feel free to chat, because it would help me a lot. Even though I did do a lot of research, I'm still a complete noob on this stuff. So please give me step by step as to what to do.

Thank you so much for reading! Hopefully this thread will help me get my life back, because as of now I'm scared and don't really have anyone to talk to about this.

 

[Megatron28]

Blade,

I just wrote a reply a few minutes ago to a girl friend asking about her 20 year old boy friends possible Low T. Read that. I think it will help you.

http://www.steroidology.com/forum/t...6-need-advice-trt-can-anyone-help-me-out.html


But the short answer, is you need to get lab tests done to see if you have hypogonadism. At a minimum, check: Total Testosterone, LH, FSH, CBC and Metabolic Panel.

The one part of your history that confuses me is the swings up and down. You're feeling strong one year and not the next. Low T doesn't come and go like that. It just stays low all the time. I still absolutely think you should check it. A "good" level for someone your age is around 600. The range is usually (each lab is different) between 350 and 1100 for "normal" test. But that includes men of all ages.

Have you talked to a psychologist about your feelings? Even if you have hypogonadism, I would really encourage you to reach out for help. Cognitive Therapy can help you. Testosterone is amazing if you have hypogonadism, but it isn't a "magic pill" that fixes everything.

 

[blade1091]

Thanks for the reply Megatron.

I'm making an appointment with a GP as we speak. It is weird that I am depressed one day and I'm okay another day. But now for past couple of months my days have been very crappy, and feels like its dragging. It's come to a point where I think I should take this semester off from college. Hopefully I get an appointment for this week and i'll list all my levels once a blood work is done. Talking to a psychologist is something I have considered but can't really afford... broke college student here .

 

[Megatron28]

Thanks for the reply Megatron.

I'm making an appointment with a GP as we speak. It is weird that I am depressed one day and I'm okay another day. But now for past couple of months my days have been very crappy, and feels like its dragging. It's come to a point where I think I should take this semester off from college. Hopefully I get an appointment for this week and i'll list all my levels once a blood work is done. Talking to a psychologist is something I have considered but can't really afford... broke college student here .

A lot of times schools offer free counseling services. It would be worth checking into.

Let us know how you visit to the doc goes and what your lab results are. There are a lot of guys here ready to help you out. Just try to hang in there a little longer.

 

[blade1091]

So I visited a general physician yesterday and he said testosterone should not be an issue at my age and not to worry about it. I even told him all my symptoms of low energy, feeling depressed most of the days, not motivated to do anything, some sex drive. He said all these forums are scams but I know these r real people. I asked for a blood test but the tests they are doing are CBC, Tsh, Lipid, Cmp. I'm not sure if any of these tests will show I have low t. Really frustrated with the doc...can't even get a simple testosterone check. Should I see another physician?

 

[71Avido]

Should I see another physician?

Yes.
Finding a doc to treat you right is a very difficult task especially for TRT.
I've been on a 5 year journey to find one, 4 endo's and 2 GP's before I finally got one I can work with.

Remember too that you're seeing a GP who needs to know a little about everything from your hair to your toes.
Request a specialist, an endocrinologist or a urologist will know more about low T than a GP normally will.

Don't be afraid to order your own lab work also through some place like private med labs.
Private MD - Buy Lab Tests Online

 

[blade1091]

Thanks 71Avido for the info! So I can see a endo without a referral? Because I read at a lot of places that you need a referral from a GP, that's the reason I went to GP. I will look into the private lab tests, how much do they cost?

 

[71Avido]

Thanks 71Avido for the info! So I can see a endo without a referral? Because I read at a lot of places that you need a referral from a GP, that's the reason I went to GP. I will look into the private lab tests, how much do they cost?

Call and ask, some need referrals some don't.
My insurance treats an endo just like any GP, standard co-pay applies and after that the only thing you pay for are script or bloodwork.]
As far as cost for the private bloods, you'll have to scope out that link I gave you.
It all depends on what you want to have tested.
There are other sources besides privatemedlabs also.

 

[Megatron28]

You can get the Hormone Panel for Females. It is for men too. It costs $50 with the 15% off coupon code. Just search the internet for the code or post here if you can find it. You will have your results in 24-48 hours typically. It includes:

CBC
Metabolic Panel
LH
FSH
Total Testosterone
Estradiol

This is what you want to diagnose hypogonadism.

If money isn't an issue, throw in Thyroid Panel, Vitamin D, and Prolactin.

 

[Optimal]

So I visited a general physician yesterday and he said testosterone should not be an issue at my age and not to worry about it. I even told him all my symptoms of low energy, feeling depressed most of the days, not motivated to do anything, some sex drive. He said all these forums are scams but I know these r real people. I asked for a blood test but the tests they are doing are CBC, Tsh, Lipid, Cmp. I'm not sure if any of these tests will show I have low t. Really frustrated with the doc...can't even get a simple testosterone check. Should I see another physician?

I literally got the exact same response when I first went like 6 months ago.... but then my guy told me to take an anti-depressant, LOL! I'm the least likely to person to get depressed that I know, it's my body that doesn't want to cooperate.
Seemed like a real sketchy place anyway, thankfully we can just hop from clinic to clinic up here without any additional charges.

 

[tiredguy]

since i've been taking testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), i've gotten off my anti-depressants. wouldnt work for everyone, but sure did me. i wasn't depressed, i just felt like shit.