Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) - 20 years old

[totalburnout]

My insurance isn't covering much of the blood work whatsoever. The testing on the 3rd and 22nd alone was $800 AFTER insurance. I hate to see what the testing from the endo will cost considering some of the tests were sent to the Mayo Clinic and a place in California to be analyzed. I really don't want to continue racking up all these medical bills at such a young age.

I have an appointment later this week with a urologist so well see how things go with that. I'll be sure to mention Clomid to him.

I know you mentioned in an earlier post that low but in range SHBG was a good thing. But the endo said the low SHBG is the cause of my low test. So are my SHBG levels too low? What is the ideal amount of SHBG for someone who is 20? And also will starting testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) raise my SHBG levels?

Sorry bud, I can't help you without knowing what the level actual was and what the lab ranges were for the test. My version of low and the doctor's version of low may be different. You may basically be off the scale low - whereas I'm thinking you're on the lower end of normal. Two COMPLETELY different things.

What I would do is call your prescription insurance company. Find out what they cover for Testosterone Cypionate, hCG, and anastrozole. Find out if you have coverage for these and what the copay is for those scripts. If you don't want to call the insurance company, you can see if someone at your local pharmacy will help you out and look up what your insurance would cover and what your cost @ that pharmacy would be.

If your insurance isn't footing much of the bill, it may make more sense to use an online clinic and just get things up and running. Is that ideal? No, but I also don't want to see someone get jerked around by a doctor and have them run up a bill for nothing. By the way, I wouldn't be doing your lab work @ your endo. I'd call him ahead of time and ask for a prescription for blood work. Use your lab card - likely a Labcorp or Quest card if you have one - and just get the bloodwork done at one of those facilities. They won't charge you the same crazy rate just for the office visit that the endo/urologist will as specialist.

 

[Megatron28]

Use Private MD - Buy Lab Tests Online to get your labwork done. They have some panels that are really cheap. Search on the word "panel" to see which ones they have. And you usually get your results back within a week at most. Let one of us know if you want to use them and we can give you a coupon code.

They go through Labcorp to get the actual testing done.

 

[Lacoste]

Just got back from the Urologist. Told him about my groin injury a few years back and he said that has nothing to do with my low T. He said he has never seen a groin injury effect testosterone. Looked at everything down there and said there appears to be no problems, testicles feel "healthy". Checked my prostate and that was fine also. I asked him about his protocol when it comes to injections and his wasn't much better than my family docs. 200mg every 3 weeks. Told him I had been doing a lot of research and that I have found weekly injections are very common. Said he had never heard of anyone doing weekly injections all he does is 200mg every 3 weeks. Also asked about hCG and he looked at me as if he had never heard of that. He said my problem is something an Endo needs to be dealing with. He also wants to have a semen analysis ran on me and see me back in 3 weeks. I'm so lost at this point I wish I could just find a good doctor to help me solve this issue.

 

[Lacoste]

Could Magnesium and Zinc deficiency be causing levels this low?

 

[Megatron28]

Just get labs done yourself. Go to the place I suggested. They are cheap and do a great job. You will have results back within a week. They can do a semen analysis too. Then we can help you interpret the results.

Based on what you find, you can stop dicking around with docs and show the numbers that they can't argue with.

You urologist doesn't sound like he knows what he is doing when it comes to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). But I will agree with his assessment that you should also be talking to an Endo.

 

[Lacoste]

Alright I have 3 different labcorps withing 30 miles of me so that's good. Which panel would best fit my needs? There are multiple different Male anti aging panels available at my nearest location.

Male Anti-Aging Ultimate w/Free (Direct) Testosterone

Description: The Male Ultimate Anti-Aging Panel is our Ultimate Anti-Aging Panel, with the addition of Ferritin, Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test and includes Estradiol, Sensitive and Free (Direct) Testosterone. The Male Ultimate Anti-Aging Panel contains the following tests:

-Lipid Cholesterol Profile
-Complete Blood Count w/ Differential
-Estradiol, Sensitive
-Hemoglobin A1c
-Cardiac C-Reactive Protein Test, High Sensitivity
-Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1)
-Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
-Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT)
-Insulin, Fasting
-Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
-Luteinizing Hormone(LH)
-Testosterone, Free (Direct), Serum With Total Testosterone
-Sex Hormone binding Globulin, Serum
-Urinalysis, Routine
-Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
-Magnesium, Serum
-Thyroxine (T4) Free, Direct
-Ferritin, Serum
-Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
-Iron Serum w/TIBC
-Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-S)


Something like this would I should have done?

 

[Megatron28]

I don't know which panel will be the best option. You can compare them. And you will probably have to throw in some al la carte items too. Here are some labs you should consider gettoing depending on your medical history.

Need to Have:
Total testosterone
LH
FSH
Prolactin
Estradiol (regular or sensitive assay. Sensitive prefered.)
Vitamin D
Thyroid panel
CBC
Metabolic Panel

Nice to Have:
SHBG
IGF-1
Anemia Panel (includes B12 and iron)
Free T
PSA if you have risk of prostate cancer
Lipid Profile
DHEA
Cortisol
HBA1c

That's what I can think of for now. Hopefully the other guys will add what I missed.