Please help interpret blood results!

[Joshcraw]

I'm a 22 y.o. male, been in a deep depression with extreme anxiety since my early teens. attempted suicide twice, one leading to hospitalization for 5 days. Have very little libido, which lead in-part to my lover leaving me. I found out this could maybe be cause by low testosterone.

I just got my blood work results today. doc only ordered TT.

Total Testosterone: 11.8 (range 8.4 - 26.48) ---> equivalent to 340 ng/dl if i'm not mistaken.

I explained to the nurse who interrupted my results that this is LOW for a 22 year old male. She of course replied that its right within range. From my knowledge, someone my age averages ~700ng/dl.

I am so thankful i think i have finally pin-pointed the cause of all my despair. I have an appt. with my Doc in two days and hope shell come around after i show her findings of what my results SHOULD be. does anyone have any reputable tests i could show her?

I need this hell out of my life!

 

[Joshcraw]

I am located in Ontario Canada as well, does anyone know of any great docs in the area?

 

[ScottyB28]

Wish I could help you bud. Hope everything works out.

 

[river]

Best of luck

 

[miller98b]

If I were you, based on my experience, I would see an endocrinologist and get a FULL lab of blood. Hopefully someone else can add to this list, but I would DEMAND, at the very least:

Total T
Free T
Estradiol
FSH
LH
Prolactin
Iron
Cortisol
etc....

After those results, talk about possible solutions. You are a young guy and there may be solutions that don't require lifelong testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but you need to start with professionals. In my situation, the professionals were hard headed and not very helpful, but they helped me rule out ALL other causes, like testicular cancer, pancreatic cancer, pituatary tumors, bad blood, infections, diabetes, heart disease and so on. I'm healthy as a racing horse except for my Low-T. Once I realized that they couldn't support my testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at the rate I needed, which was 200 mg per week and HCG of 50 units twice a week, as that is a high dose for the "medical" standard of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), I did research and found alternative solutions. As everyone here can attest to, you can't skip steps and jumped to conclusions. One test result is not conclusive enough to assert a cause. Its very hard to be patient.....believe me I know and so do the great people on this site.....but stay mentally strong.

In the meantime, stop with the suicidal thoughts and attempts. You have no idea what great things could be around the corner, especially for such a young guy like yourself, and prematurely ending those possibilities is just not the right solution. NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK! That sounds easier said then done, but many of us have experienced similar situations and realized that our feelings and thoughts are due to an hormaonal imbalance and not necessarily who were are as a person. It should provide hope that something as simple as a shot once a week could change your life forever. In the meantime, get some help from a support group or a anti-depressent until you find your solution. They didn't work for me, but my mind stayed strong throughout the hoorific things that happened in my life and I still knew life was always better than death. Heck, in the span of one year my wife cheated on me twice, we got divorced, I lost all my friends, I lost my job, I lost my house, I lost my savings, I lost my prized vehicle and I had to move into my mom's basement as a balding, fat, divorced, unemployed, depressed, broke and very unhealthy middle aged man that slept most of the time.......And I still knew that something better was around the bend. Now, I'm in a WONDERFUL realationship, have a great job, looking at a new place and my testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is starting to make the last peice of the puzzle come together.

Last, but deifintely not least, as sympathetic as the people on this site are to the pains and sufferings of low-T, they understand a need to be strong and to find a positive path forward. Giving up through suicide hurts everyone, not just you.

Stay Strong and Good luck! Be proactive!

 

[cross88]

If I were you, based on my experience, I would see an endocrinologist and get a FULL lab of blood. Hopefully someone else can add to this list, but I would DEMAND, at the very least:

Total T
Free T
Estradiol
FSH
LH
Prolactin
Iron
Cortisol
etc....

After those results, talk about possible solutions. You are a young guy and there may be solutions that don't require lifelong testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but you need to start with professionals. In my situation, the professionals were hard headed and not very helpful, but they helped me rule out ALL other causes, like testicular cancer, pancreatic cancer, pituatary tumors, bad blood, infections, diabetes, heart disease and so on. I'm healthy as a racing horse except for my Low-T. Once I realized that they couldn't support my testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at the rate I needed, which was 200 mg per week and HCG of 50 units twice a week, as that is a high dose for the "medical" standard of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), I did research and found alternative solutions. As everyone here can attest to, you can't skip steps and jumped to conclusions. One test result is not conclusive enough to assert a cause. Its very hard to be patient.....believe me I know and so do the great people on this site.....but stay mentally strong.

In the meantime, stop with the suicidal thoughts and attempts. You have no idea what great things could be around the corner, especially for such a young guy like yourself, and prematurely ending those possibilities is just not the right solution. NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK! That sounds easier said then done, but many of us have experienced similar situations and realized that our feelings and thoughts are due to an hormaonal imbalance and not necessarily who were are as a person. It should provide hope that something as simple as a shot once a week could change your life forever. In the meantime, get some help from a support group or a anti-depressent until you find your solution. They didn't work for me, but my mind stayed strong throughout the hoorific things that happened in my life and I still knew life was always better than death. Heck, in the span of one year my wife cheated on me twice, we got divorced, I lost all my friends, I lost my job, I lost my house, I lost my savings, I lost my prized vehicle and I had to move into my mom's basement as a balding, fat, divorced, unemployed, depressed, broke and very unhealthy middle aged man that slept most of the time.......And I still knew that something better was around the bend. Now, I'm in a WONDERFUL realationship, have a great job, looking at a new place and my testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is starting to make the last peice of the puzzle come together.

Last, but deifintely not least, as sympathetic as the people on this site are to the pains and sufferings of low-T, they understand a need to be strong and to find a positive path forward. Giving up through suicide hurts everyone, not just you.

Stay Strong and Good luck! Be proactive!

When you say you found "alternative solutions"" what do you mean exactly? Are you self administering at that dose now?

 

[300winmag]

well said above. It might be tough to get a doc to sign off on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at that age period specially if you are technically in range, although that can be be disputed but the medical community as a whole accepts the range as the range. But none the less you still might be a candatite with the right doc and right program. But I would be sure to have your thyroid checked as well as liver function and cholesterol. You might also have your pituatary checked as well.

But like said testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is for life and needed can be great but its also a royal PITA. So be sure its what you want to do. But before you get to crazy on anything make sure you are analyzing everything else in your life. For example are there are other drugs you are taking that could be hurting you, or might you need to see a shrink? How is your alcohol intake or recreational drug use? Do you sleep 7-9 hours a night reguarly? Hows your diet, are you eating crap every day in and out? lastly are you working out? A lot of people would like a magic pill but somestimes some life style things need to be changed and that is all.

 

[Joshcraw]

Thanks for the helpful replies!

Firstly, i had my thyroid checked about a month ago, TSH: 3.145. Doc said it was "perfect". I asked for free T3 and T4, she refused.

I was misdiagnosed bi-polar, and have been seeing TWO physchiatists for the past two months. I have been on 2 anti dpressents, both with no effect.

I have a 'mostly' healthy, high caloric diet. I am 5.11 and have been stuck around 145lbs for the past 6 years or so. I worked at a YMCA and got customary use of the equipment. I worked out vigorously with very little gains and saw virtually no increase in weights over a 4 month time period.

I have no chest, stomach, and back hair. Decent about of hair on my legs, none on my feet. Can grow a sparatic beard and a thick volume of hair on my head.

 

[miller98b]

When you say you found "alternative solutions"" what do you mean exactly? Are you self administering at that dose now?

I have a prescription, but I had to look far and wide, and go through incredible numbers of doctors, to get the level of help that I needed. ONCE AGAIN, this was after extensive research and MANY tests. If you are at the point of looking to self-administer, I think you are way ahead of yourself. I'm not sure you're asking the right questions of the correct people. People on this site like to answer specific questions based on bloodwork and tests admisnistered by professionals; otherwise you would get enough information from us to be dangerous and not healthful. The observations about body type, hair growth and the so forth, could be symptoms of low-T, but, once again, I'm not sure you're looking in the right places yet. Only trained medical professionals and bloodwork will be able to help you take the next step to recovery. Don't cheat the process.....take the necessary steps. Once you have bloodwork, all the boxes checked off for health screenings, know that there is no other problem or simplier solution, determined that you actually need testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at this age, know that your medical professionals will not meet your needs and then you realize that you have to go the route that so many of us have gone......then the people here can really help.

Does that make any sense? I'm assuming how you will react to this post, but I really hope you hear the experience in this post that so many people have shared with me on my journey.

Good Luck!

 

[miller98b]

well said above. It might be tough to get a doc to sign off on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at that age period specially if you are technically in range, although that can be be disputed but the medical community as a whole accepts the range as the range. But none the less you still might be a candatite with the right doc and right program. But I would be sure to have your thyroid checked as well as liver function and cholesterol. You might also have your pituatary checked as well.

But like said testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is for life and needed can be great but its also a royal PITA. So be sure its what you want to do. But before you get to crazy on anything make sure you are analyzing everything else in your life. For example are there are other drugs you are taking that could be hurting you, or might you need to see a shrink? How is your alcohol intake or recreational drug use? Do you sleep 7-9 hours a night reguarly? Hows your diet, are you eating crap every day in and out? lastly are you working out? A lot of people would like a magic pill but somestimes some life style things need to be changed and that is all.

Good questions!!

 

[Joshcraw]

I understand it could be for life, and that i am young. But, honestly, i can't live the way i am anymore, i am NOT living, just existing. I can put up with the pain in the ass happily if it means a better quality of life.

As for alcohol and drug use. I have not had alcohol in 9 weeks (8 when blood work was done). Was a heavy drinker during the summer (sometimes being to the state of full blown drunk 4x a week). Not big on drugs, very little use throughout my whole life.

I'd like to stress these symptoms have being going on since my early teens. Never was just a sudden change, just has been gradually growing stronger and stronger, and now its unbearable.

Also, past few years my erections have become few and far between. when i do have one it is often somewhat soft, this lead to major penetration problems, really taking a toll on my self confidence. also, my ejaculations have become almost "watery" and clear. whereas, in my early teens i had farily large and frequent loads. thing of the past

 

[300winmag]

Another thing to think of is at 22 you might still be growing or in pueberty to some exten so you may want to watch that. Also one other thought if the docs refuse testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) after you have done all test. Also you may want to see the endo and give them the psych drugs you are taking so they can full analysis of the situation. But one last thing is maybe a clomid restart might help you out as well.

 

[brown1106]

Good luck bro! Hang in there. With your symptoms and low feeling along with your labs, in my opinion, there is no doubt alot of your problems could be solved with trt. 350 may be in chart range but when you are symptomatic, you need the testosterone. Again in my opinion, a 22 year old should have a level almost 3 times yours.

 

[Joshcraw]

So doctor appointment today..went pretty terrible.

Doc didnt even want to discuss my bloodwork. Addressed the material showing average ranges by age and such as not "scientific fact". Argh..i'm so angry!

Worst part...she stated that my symptoms having nothing to do with Low testosterone!!

Just said she'd "try" to refer me to an endo. who knows how long that will take.

I feel so defeated..

 

[300winmag]

So doctor appointment today..went pretty terrible.

Doc didnt even want to discuss my bloodwork. Addressed the material showing average ranges by age and such as not "scientific fact". Argh..i'm so angry!

Worst part...she stated that my symptoms having nothing to do with Low testosterone!!

Just said she'd "try" to refer me to an endo. who knows how long that will take.

I feel so defeated..

I would push to get to the endo, the doc may not be doing everything wrong here YET! It seems as if she may not know the whole story yet and is going to be reluctant to put a 22 year old on TRT. I would advise to see the endo anyways and go from there. In the mean time I would focus on what you can do now like some things I posted above.

 

[miller98b]

So doctor appointment today..went pretty terrible.

Doc didnt even want to discuss my bloodwork. Addressed the material showing average ranges by age and such as not "scientific fact". Argh..i'm so angry!

Worst part...she stated that my symptoms having nothing to do with Low testosterone!!

Just said she'd "try" to refer me to an endo. who knows how long that will take.

I feel so defeated..

Oh, the revolving door of idiotic doctors....Have fun on that merry-go-round! Just keep pushing until you find an open doctor that is willing to at least look at the whole picture objectively.