Need Advice About T Levels

[MarMar]

I am 34 years old and I've been over weight for about 6 years. I am 6'3 and I weigh about 370. The past two years have been constant clean eating and exercise. I do 30 - 45 minutes of cardio 6 days a week and lift weights five days a week. My diets have gone from Kris Gethin's 12 week program, to Atkins, to carb cycling, to near starvation. The results are always the same; 10 lb loss in three months and body fat % the same. So I switch up the program and diet. Same results.
Last week I decided to get my thyroid checked. I had done this a couple of times before, but I felt like I must be missing something. I will admit that it's pretty depressing to work for two years and weigh almost the same as when you started. As an after thought I asked the doctor to check my testosterone also. I really didn't think I'd have a problem there.
I got the results back. No thyroid problem, but my testosterone is 247. My doctor mailed me the results with a letter that said the average male range of 241 - 827. I suffered a broken back in Iraq so my medical is through the VA in Fayetteville NC and they are a pain in the ass. They don't do anything without you fighting every step of the way.
So I really need to know if I do fall into the normal range or if I should be fighting to get treatment? What treatment or tests should I be fighting for? I have dealt with the VA for some time now and I have yet to run into a doctor in the VA who volunteers information. You have to ask for every damn thing and test you get.
Any advice and tips you could give would be appreciated.

 

[willnorthwest]

you sound like a prime candidate for trt....look for a good anti-aging clinic in your area or contact IMT

 

[MarMar]

Imt?

 

[halfwit]

Imt?

Increase My T. They're a board sponsor here and specialize in male hormone replacement therapies. Yes, I would most certainly fight to have this pushed further as you may very well have something causing your testosterone levels to be so low. What the doctor didn't tell you is that the range he quoted you includes sick and dying 80 year old men. What is important is HOW YOU FEEL. If you feel weak, have energy issues, a lack of libido, unable to lose weight, struggle in the gym, are depressed, or any of the other multiple symptoms of low testosterone, I'd fight tooth and nail to get to the bottom of the issue.

I feel for you, my step father is a vet and has some of the hardest times getting proper medical care. It can be done, but you have to be vigilant.

My .02c

 

[MarMar]

Thanks halfwit. That's about what I thought. Do you know what tests or therapy I should be pushing for? I sure do appreciate all the help.

btw, constant low energy, inability to lose weight, struggling with depression, inability to increase strength are my symptoms. My libido seems okay, though it's embarrassing to admit that I have lost an erecting during sex quite a few times in the last year. It has hurt my wife's feelings, and I now it's not about her. I don't know if that is a symptom of low t though. I also have problems concentrating. Again, I don't know if that has anything to do with low t.

The crazy thing is I used to be so physical, I was an airborne infantryman with a ranger tab for Christ's sake! Now I feel like a weak ass. I have to do something about this, even if I have to figure a way to come out of pocket.

 

[halfwit]

Thanks halfwit. That's about what I thought. Do you know what tests or therapy I should be pushing for? I sure do appreciate all the help.

btw, constant low energy, inability to lose weight, struggling with depression, inability to increase strength are my symptoms. My libido seems okay, though it's embarrassing to admit that I have lost an erecting during sex quite a few times in the last year. It has hurt my wife's feelings, and I now it's not about her. I don't know if that is a symptom of low t though. I also have problems concentrating. Again, I don't know if that has anything to do with low t.

The crazy thing is I used to be so physical, I was an airborne infantryman with a ranger tab for Christ's sake! Now I feel like a weak ass. I have to do something about this, even if I have to figure a way to come out of pocket.

I would push for a comprehensive panel including: Total testosterone, free testosterone, TSH, LH, FSH, T3, T4, rT3, rT4, estradiol, prolactin, ALT/AST, cortisol, DHEA-S, hematocrit, and triglycerides. If your panel comes back with say a very high LH/FSH - you will have an idea on where your doctor should look as this would likely be a primary hypogonadal situation, where something such as trauma to the back/testes/head or even varicoceles could cause your production of testosterone to be severely limited. If it comes back with a low LH/FSH, you are likely secondary hypogonadal, and an MRI of your pituitary gland (a high prolactin could trigger a need for an MRI as well) might show a tumor (usually benign) that should be addressed. Just looking at testosterone only paints part of the picture and really doesn't do you any service aside from them pushing testosterone replacement on you - which you may not need at this point.

You definitely fit the symptoms, which are 100% reversible. It just takes time and some jumping through hoops. If you're not seeing progress with the VA, I know I'd definitely hit up the IMT guys here and see what they can do for you. I know if I had the financial means, I would hit them up myself. Sadly, I'm a poor college student, so I have to stick with my insurance (barely) covered Doctor and get my script for testosterone; taking the rest into my own hands. Point is, you don't have to live like this - and shouldn't.

Best of luck to you man, and I thank you for your service to this country.

 

[Megatron28]

Halfwit always gives great advice and this is no exception.

MarMar: we have all been in your situation. It is horrible. I can remember being too tired to do the things I loved. I was even too tired to want to have sex with my wife. Getting your testosterone levels back to normal is a life saver. None of us want to be on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but we are all grateful that such an effective treatment exists. Literally, restoring your testosterone to normal levels can make you feel like your old self again. You will still have to put the work in to lose weight, but having test again will help you and make all that work pay off. For example, you will feel like you have strength again.

I know going through all this can be scary, but know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel now.

 

[MarMar]

Thanks to both of you. The VA informed me this morning that they won't even refer me to an endocrinologist unless my testosterone levels are "critically low". I'm not even sure what critically low is. I'm pretty bummed. I'm going through finances now to see if I can cover it out of pocket or need to just learn to live with it. Thanks for all of the great advice.

 

[Megatron28]

Thanks to both of you. The VA informed me this morning that they won't even refer me to an endocrinologist unless my testosterone levels are "critically low". I'm not even sure what critically low is. I'm pretty bummed. I'm going through finances now to see if I can cover it out of pocket or need to just learn to live with it. Thanks for all of the great advice.

You have dangerously low T levels if left where they are for a long time. There are serious health risks such as cardiovascular. You can't leave this untreated.

I would recommend making a new post and titling it something like Vet needs help navigating VA for TRT.

 

[BigRussT]

You have dangerously low T levels if left where they are for a long time. There are serious health risks such as cardiovascular. You can't leave this untreated.

I would recommend making a new post and titling it something like Vet needs help navigating VA for TRT.

This ^ right here.

 

[MarMar]

Thanks for the advice guys. After reading the responses on here I threw a fit and made my doctor recheck. He's now referring me to endo. I don't know what these results mean, but I know my test was lower the second time.
Prolactin 11.05 ng/ml
LH 2.89 miu/ml
FSH 2.29 miu/ml
Testosterone 189.65 ng/dl

 

[IMT staff]

wow your T is really low, castrate levels.

 

[Spunkey71]

Thanks for the advice guys. After reading the responses on here I threw a fit and made my doctor recheck. He's now referring me to endo. I don't know what these results mean, but I know my test was lower the second time.
Prolactin 11.05 ng/ml
LH 2.89 miu/ml
FSH 2.29 miu/ml
Testosterone 189.65 ng/dl

You are a good candidate for TRT with those levels, if the VA isn't willing to help then you must take your care in your own hands and find a doctor on your own. IMT is a board sponsor and those that use them swear by them.


Good Luck!

 

[MarMar]

Castrate levels? You have successfully scared the crap out of me.

 

[Spunkey71]

Castrate levels? You have successfully scared the crap out of me.

You need to take your low T seriously, there is a laundry list of health issues that can arise as a result of low T. I had a test level of 64 when I started TRT and it has been a life saving progress over the past 3 months, do whatever you have to do to get this under control and be proactive.

 

[Megatron28]

The good news is that this is very effectively treated with TRT. Within a few short weeks you can feel like a new man and eliminate all of the health risks associated with hypogonadism.

 

[Alpin]

You can't lose weight with LOW T MarMar. An idiot GP told me to go off my TRT and it was the worst thing...
Gained 22 pounds in a year and had all the symptoms you had and I had 290 ng/dl T.T. Low T robs you of life.

 

[MarMar]

Thanks Spunkey71! I'm pushing the VA like a mad man right now. I broke lower back in Iraq after an explosion and I keep wondering if something happened then to cause this. I'm determined to get this fixed, one way or another.

 

[MarMar]

Megatron, I'm actually kind of excited about how great everybody on trt says it feels. I've been kind of "blah" for so long, I just figured it was just me. I really appreciate your encouragement and support. My wife and I talked and she did some research on low t. She is now cracking the trt whip.

 

[MarMar]

Apollon, the thing that sucks is I have worked my ass of to lose weight for a long time and now I know it's been a waste of time. I suppose the crazy strict diet and exercise regime have kept me from experiencing the more serious effects of obesity, but it's still frustrating.