Low testosterone and don’t know what to do

[sanipialo]

I am a healthy 32 year old male with low body fat and a BMI of 22. Not a bodybuilder, but generally fit. For the last year I have had symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, reduced sex drive and other problems that could be low testosterone, but also low iron and low blood cell count. The symptoms keep getting worse.

My last doctor did not want to test me as he considered me a healthy person. My new doctor tested me and my bloodlevels are good. My Testosterone is 10,4 nmol/l = 299 ng/dl which is within the norm of 10 to 35 nmol/l but just within norm.

Based on my own research the value is too low for someone my age and should be much higher. My doctor disagrees and will not send me to an endocrinologist.

I have access to Sustanon 250 and testosterone patches from 1.2mg/24h to 3.0mg/24h. My goal is not that of bodybuilding or mass gain.

What would you do if you were in my position?

 

[MJF]

I'll let the experts come and give the real advice. I can say that getting dialed in is tricky even with a doc that knows what he's doing so on your own will be hard and expensive. You'll need lots of blood work @ ~$75 a pop, plus the meds that you will be obtaining illegally and therefore can't travel with.

Me personally, I would not consider sustanon 250 for trt usage, but that's a personal opinion.

Most here will say not to try to go at it alone and find a new/better doc I think.

 

[sanipialo]

@MJF

Thank you for your input. I can also get Testosterone Enanthate 100mg and 250mg. Based on the Rate of compound release (mg/day) 100mg of Test.E every week seems to be a better option than Sus 250 every 3 weeks.

The meds are not illegal and can be part of my medical passport, as they are supplied by my pharmacist. Traveling is not a problem. The only difference is that I have to pay it for myself and my insurance will not cover it when a doctor has not written a prescription.

 

[MJF]

Ok. I'm awake so wanted to give you a response. Now we wait for the people who know what they're talking about to wake up.

 

[Megatron28]

Why can't you see another doctor that would be willing to help you?

Read the Basic TRT Overview sticky thread. There are a lot of things you should be exploring before you choose the TRT option. How is your Prolactin? How does you thyroid look? Primary or Secondary? And so on.

http://www.steroidology.com/forum/testosterone-replacement-therapy/662394-basic-trt-overview.html

Lastly, as mentioned, you will be needing a lot of blood work if you do end up having to go down the TRT route. Will you have regular access to all the lab tests needed?

 

[Alpin]

How's 10.4 nmol/l "good"?
You're in Australia?
Whats your Bio Avail. Testosterone level?
I see no other tests done for pituitary function. ..
LH, FSH, Prolactin no Estradiol either...
Just because a blood test for T comes back borderline low does mot mean card blanche to start injecting T.
There are lifestyle changes and Restarts that can be used to adress the issue before committing to life long HPTA shutdown.
Have you bothered to research anything?

 

[sanipialo]

@Megatron28

This is the 3rd doctor I have visited and the only one willing to do bloodwork. I am out of options in terms of doctors.

I did read the TRT overview and it is very help in providing information and part of this information I am going to take to my doctor in the next meeting.

Thyroid (TSH) is 3,15 mU/l. Prolactin does not seem to have been tested and I cannot find a secondary Thyroid.

Lab tests I will not have access to using my doctor, but I have found a company willing to do it in my country. They charge about $125 for

- Estradiol
- Free testostrone
- FSH
- LH
- SHBG
- Testosterone

 

[sanipialo]

@APOLLON

This is all the bloodwork that has been done. And I have researched all the results and the only thing that stands out to me and is linked with my problems is Testosterone. But I am not a doctor.

ALAT = 23 U/l
ALB = 47
AMYL = 115
ATTG = 0.2
BASO = 0.0
BSE = 2
Calcium = 2.53
EO = 0.1
ERY = 5.3
FERR = 123
GGT = 20 U/l
HB = 9.6 mmol/L
HT = 0.46 L/L
IGA = 1.09
LEUK = 5.7
LYMF = 2.2
MCV = 86
MONO = 0.5
NEUT = 2.8
RDW = 12.5
TEST = 10.4 nmol/l
TROM = 174
TSH = 3.15 mU/l
Vitamin B12 = 720
Vitamin D = 93

 

[Megatron28]

@APOLLON

This is all the bloodwork that has been done. And I have researched all the results and the only thing that stands out to me and is linked with my problems is Testosterone. But I am not a doctor.

ALAT = 23 U/l
ALB = 47
AMYL = 115
ATTG = 0.2
BASO = 0.0
BSE = 2
Calcium = 2.53
EO = 0.1
ERY = 5.3
FERR = 123
GGT = 20 U/l
HB = 9.6 mmol/L
HT = 0.46 L/L
IGA = 1.09
LEUK = 5.7
LYMF = 2.2
MCV = 86
MONO = 0.5
NEUT = 2.8
RDW = 12.5
TEST = 10.4 nmol/l
TROM = 174
TSH = 3.15 mU/l
Vitamin B12 = 720
Vitamin D = 93

You need to post normal ranges with the results.

 

[Megatron28]

@Megatron28

This is the 3rd doctor I have visited and the only one willing to do bloodwork. I am out of options in terms of doctors.

I did read the TRT overview and it is very help in providing information and part of this information I am going to take to my doctor in the next meeting.

Thyroid (TSH) is 3,15 mU/l. Prolactin does not seem to have been tested and I cannot find a secondary Thyroid.

Lab tests I will not have access to using my doctor, but I have found a company willing to do it in my country. They charge about $125 for

- Estradiol
- Free testostrone
- FSH
- LH
- SHBG
- Testosterone

Looks like your TSH is pointing towards Hypothyroidism. This can cause low testosterone. You need to run more tests on your thyroid.

 

[sanipialo]

You need to post normal ranges with the results.

The problem with that is that there is no standard definition normal ranges. The doctor does not provide them as he is the judge to value the ranges.

If you look at online sources there is not set definition. I have found 3 sources that have different ranges. For my test I used
merckmanuals.com/professional/appendixes/normal_laboratory_values/blood_tests_normal_values.html

And based on that everything is within normal rage. Although the Testosterone is on the low end.

 

[Alpin]

What country are you in?
The doctor decides the range?
What?

 

[sanipialo]

What country are you in?
The doctor decides the range?
What?

I live in The Netherlands and there is no range on the lab results sheet. According to my doctor he has it and will not provide it to patients. In his words "I will judge if something is too low or too high"

 

[Megatron28]

I live in The Netherlands and there is no range on the lab results sheet. According to my doctor he has it and will not provide it to patients. In his words "I will judge if something is too low or too high"

Regardless, you need to investigate your possible hypothyroidism And find a better doctor.

 

[Alpin]

Yup.
sounds exactly like dictatorship.
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the Netherlands a socialist country?
I guess thats the way the power structure is from the top down. No room for free thinking.
I understand your frustration.

 

[sanipialo]

@Megatron28
I am going to find a new doctor and ask for the right blood tests related to testosterone and hypothyroidis. Thank you.

@APOLLON
It used to be a socialized healthcare, but it has been privatized since 2006. Till 2006 I used to pay $18 a month and get full coverage. There was no pressure on doctors and their goal was to help patients. Now that it is privatized I pay $160 a month. There is pressure on the doctor to reduce costs (that is why they don***8217;t want to do uncommon bloodwork), there is pressure on the hospitals to make more money and the insurance companies have gained lots of power with goal to maximize profits. I now have limited choice of doctors and hospitals I can visit I could get help from any doctor and any hospital in the country before 2006.

Costs have drastically gone up for the patients, yet the quality has gone down since it has been privatized. They are now working on a law to set a maximum price on life. If the treatment is going to cost more than that, they will not help you. This is going to cause huge financial problems for people with cancer and other expensive chronical treatments.

 

[Alpin]

@Megatron28
I am going to find a new doctor and ask for the right blood tests related to testosterone and hypothyroidis. Thank you.

@APOLLON
It used to be a socialized healthcare, but it has been privatized since 2006. Till 2006 I used to pay $18 a month and get full coverage. There was no pressure on doctors and their goal was to help patients. Now that it is privatized I pay $160 a month. There is pressure on the doctor to reduce costs (that is why they don***8217;t want to do uncommon bloodwork), there is pressure on the hospitals to make more money and the insurance companies have gained lots of power with goal to maximize profits. I now have limited choice of doctors and hospitals I can visit I could get help from any doctor and any hospital in the country before 2006.

Costs have drastically gone up for the patients, yet the quality has gone down since it has been privatized. They are now working on a law to set a maximum price on life. If the treatment is going to cost more than that, they will not help you. This is going to cause huge financial problems for people with cancer and other expensive chronical treatments.

Welcome to Globalism. Foreign Banks own those Insurance companies and they can dictate what level medical care you receive.

 

[novaman]

There many many potential causes of what you describe (I know because I've had the same problems and have been looking for answers for many many years)

you should do a sleep study and check for sleep apnea
Have the docs rule out other potential causes, like Lyme disease
Too much porn use can also cause these issues

 

[juced_porkchop]

There many many potential causes of what you describe (I know because I've had the same problems and have been looking for answers for many many years)

you should do a sleep study and check for sleep apnea
Have the docs rule out other potential causes, like Lyme disease
Too much porn use can also cause these issues

Lyme disease i often overlooked.
But one thing we can all agree on is try to find a better doc...... you should be able to ask to see an Endo and them send you. they work FOR YOU... its BS im sure and very frustrating

 

[sanipialo]

@novaman
As far as I and my wife are aware I don't have sleep apnea and I also don't have the problems, symptoms that according to several sites are a sign of sleep apnea. Lyme disease has been ruled out and I haven't seen much porn in years.

@juced_porkchop
I am looking for another doc and have formally applied for a second opinion.