Serum T levels

[Old Fart]

Forum newbie here.

I just had my total serum T levels tested by Labcorp. My test came back today at 810. I do not at this time take anything other then 50mg dhea a day.
I'm 58 frigging years old. I made sure I didn't workout before I went for the test and I also didn't get enough sleep. I feel like crap 98 % of the time regardless of how much I train (I don't overtrain), how well I eat or how much sleep I get. I assumed my T levels were low as I have ALL the symptoms. Is it possible my other numbers could be low aside from my total T? I know I'll have to order a new test to find out the actual numbers.

Also, assuming that everything is normal, would a daily dose of T cream be of any benefit to me with my total T at 810?
I have some Androforte 5% on the way. I ordered it last week as I was sure I am suffering from low T. You would think I'd be overjoyed at my test numbers but I'm not as I was hoping for relief from TRT.

I'll apologize ahead of time if these seem like stupid questions. It's all new to me and I'm attempting to get control over my health.

Also, I had a checkup about a month ago. When I described how I feel everyday to my Dr he wanted me to get my T levels checked. I don't have insurance so I ordered the serum t test online.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Ratt64]

Bob,

Your total testosterone levels look good. Is this the only test you got done?
You should get a complete panel done with the following:
Total Testosterone
Bioavailable Testosterone (AKA ***8220;Free and Loosely Bound***8221
Free Testosterone (if Bioavailable T is unavailable)
SHBG
DHT (perhaps) *Gel user especially pay attention to this.
Estradiol (specify ***8220;sensitive***8221; assay for males)
LH
FSH
Prolactin
Cortisol
Thyroid Panel
CBC
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Lipid Profile
PSA (age dependent)
IGF-1, IGFBP-3 (if HGH therapy is being considered)
Vitamin D
There are a number of other issues that could cause symptoms similar to low test, one of which is thyroid issues.
I don't think androgel will do much. See you doctor and ask for the blood work I listed.

 

[Old Fart]

Bob,

Your total testosterone levels look good. Is this the only test you got done?
You should get a complete panel done with the following:
Total Testosterone
Bioavailable Testosterone (AKA ***8220;Free and Loosely Bound***8221
Free Testosterone (if Bioavailable T is unavailable)
SHBG
DHT (perhaps) *Gel user especially pay attention to this.
Estradiol (specify ***8220;sensitive***8221; assay for males)
LH
FSH
Prolactin
Cortisol
Thyroid Panel
CBC
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Lipid Profile
PSA (age dependent)
IGF-1, IGFBP-3 (if HGH therapy is being considered)
Vitamin D
There are a number of other issues that could cause symptoms similar to low test, one of which is thyroid issues.
I don't think androgel will do much. See you doctor and ask for the blood work I listed.

Yes, the only blood-work I had was total serum level. Money is tight and I don't have insurance. I'm not trying to play Dr but I kinda suspect a thyroid issue after getting the T test results today. My Dr told me I should feel great at my level of fitness. I sure as heck don't.
Aside from the way I'm feeling, I'm wondering if taking my total T levels up a few notches (not so much that I need other chemicals to lower estrogen) would help with muscle gains. I laid off the weights totally for well over 12 years and have been back in training for about 19 months. Gains are coming but slowly. I have always trained "naturally" and I have zero knowledge on the subject. Thanks for the reply. I do think more blood-work is in order to get to the root of my problems.

 

[Megatron28]

Taking some cream or whatever is going to stop your natural production -- shut it down. Then you will be relying entirely on your supplementation to provide your T. You will have to take a lot of cream to get yourself over your current 810 level. So not a good idea to start supplementing in your case.

 

[Old Fart]

Taking some cream or whatever is going to stop your natural production -- shut it down. Then you will be relying entirely on your supplementation to provide your T. You will have to take a lot of cream to get yourself over your current 810 level. So not a good idea to start supplementing in your case.

Thanks guys... I suspected as much but I wasn't sure. I was looking for a magic bullet I guess.
There's no point in screwing around with my natural production unless I decide to take my T levels much higher then normal level.

Great advice and I think I'll take it.

 

[IMT staff]

If your having symptoms I would get re tested, I have seen the lab make mistakes more than a handful of times.

If your T is really that high at your age, good for you.

Did you check your free T?

I have also seen TT in the 700's and men will have symptoms, the A4M says if the free T is low then you warrant treatment.

So you really need more info, like has been previously mentioned.

 

[Old Fart]

I only had my total serum level tested.
Aside from feeling like I have a mild flu a good part of the time, (I know I don't. This has been going on for a couple years) I have all the well known symptoms of low T including a difficult time getting a good pump. Also, I don't get the natural hormone rush and feeling of well being I used to get after a good workout. While I'm lifting I usually feel a little nausea even while doing arm exercises. That's not to be confused with nausea on leg day or a heavy deadlift-back day.
There may be readers who think I may be suffering from depression and you're right. I've been on meds for that for close to 20 years. That's not the problem. My Dr and I both agree on that point. This isn't my first time around the block with weight training and before I got tired of it and stopped training 12 years ago, I didn't have these problems. I was under treatment for the depression then and I felt great.
I also want to make it clear that I don't overtrain.
I lift 4 days a week only. Monday is back-deadlift day and I go heavy. Tuesday off. Wed chest, tri's. Thursday shoulders, bi's. Friday, legs. Sat and Sun off. Sometimes I mix it up a bit and this week I went a little lighter and less sets to give my system a break. I throw in cardio on a bicycle 4 or 5 days a week.
The bottom line is that I need more blood work to find out what's really going on.

Here we go with assumptions again. If my free T is low and my total T is 810 as the test showed, won't I have to take enormous amounts of testosterone, as my own natural production will shut down, to bring my total levels up to where they already are along with bringing up the free T?
Even with the great advice I'm being given, I'm halfway tempted to go through 50 days of T cream as I already paid for it and it's on the way but if it's going to further screw up whatever is going on it's probably a bad idea. Will my natural production suffer much for a 50 day try at it?

 

[Ratt64]

Here we go with assumptions again. If my free T is low and my total T is 810 as the test showed, won't I have to take enormous amounts of testosterone, as my own natural production will shut down, to bring my total levels up to where they already are along with bringing up the free T?
Even with the great advice I'm being given, I'm halfway tempted to go through 50 days of T cream as I already paid for it and it's on the way but if it's going to further screw up whatever is going on it's probably a bad idea. Will my natural production suffer much for a 50 day try at it?

IMHO If you start t cream, it will shut down your natural production and it may be hard to recover to the levels you are currently at.
If I were you, I would as a minimum get your free t checked and thyroid checked before doing anything.

 

[DragonMeat]

You are twice my age and have twice the testosterone....that sucks! Like others said, get it tested again to be sure that number wasn't a lab mistake. Also, check your free T and SHBG for sure, along with everything Ratt suggested. Remember symptoms are more important than numbers, but numbers help point you in the right direction for a remedy so get lots of numbers and be sure not to touch the test cream until you do more labs and get things narrowed down.

 

[ws2006]

Some guys on this four who used the cream have reported that their T does not get any higher than where you ate currently according to your labs. It might be possible that you go on the cram and your T goes down if the number from your lab truly is accurate.

 

[Old Fart]

I have a hard time believing my total levels are that high. I can afford to get this test:

Testosterone, Free (Direct), Serum With Total Testosterone

Description: Evaluate hirsutism and masculinization in women; evaluate testicular function in clinical states where the testosterone binding proteins may be altered (obesity, cirrhosis, thyroid disorders).

Includes: Free Testosterone (Direct) and Total, Serum ; Testosterone, Free/Tot/Direct

If I do, will the above test tell me all I need to know about my T levels? At least I'll know if the lab made a mistake on my total levels.

I can't afford to get the thyroid tested right now. I'm self under-employed with no health insurance.
Thanks for the info so far. I learned things I didn't know.
Bob

 

[Old Fart]

<bump> I had posted the incorrect lab test yesterday. I changed my post to the above lab test available at Labcorp.

 

[konaguy1966]

get your t3 and t4 check...sounds like bad thyroid

 

[Old Fart]

Thanks guys. You successfully talked me out of using the T cream. If I hadn't asked questions I would have most definitely have screwed up my own natural production. I'll have to get more blood work somewhere down the road to check my thyroid.