WTF... look how low my natural testosterone is

[maldorf]

I set up an appointment today with my internal medicine doctor to discuss. I'll see if he can refer me to a specialist.

Thanks everyone.

Let us know what they find. I think a lot of members would like to know. You are definitely not in the minority here. Many guys with the same problem. No telling right now what the cause is though.

 

[Joltan]

My doctor referred me to Endocrinology. He said most likely I will be put on therapy. I'll keep everyone posted.

He also ordered the following labs:
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
Cortisol
Estradiol
Growth Hormone
Testosterone, Total
Thyroid, Cascade

 

[pimpman]

I say it's you anxiety meds. It's known to kill your libido and your test levels. I would see both doctors. First your primary and have him run test. And tell him you want to see a urologist. I'm not saying just your meds is causing it. I'm sure it more than just that alone but definitely has its impact in it

 

[Fa Seeshus]

I'd see a Urologist after my experience with Endo. Have you ever had a concussion or been knocked out? These are common in my career choice and it can impact the HPTA decades later. Mine literally shut off one day and I had numbers nearly identical to yours.

Bad rad, did you get an MRI done? Were your igf levels also low?

I also had multiple concussions and am hypogonadal and hypothyroid. The last doc I saw had mentioned the scan but I wasn't sure if it was worth it...

 

[maldorf]

Bad rad, did you get an MRI done? Were your igf levels also low?

I also had multiple concussions and am hypogonadal and hypothyroid. The last doc I saw had mentioned the scan but I wasn't sure if it was worth it...

Did your doctor attribute your low hormone levels to the damage?

 

[Joltan]

My Dr. also mentioned having an MRI done.

 

[bad rad]

Bad rad, did you get an MRI done? Were your igf levels also low?

I also had multiple concussions and am hypogonadal and hypothyroid. The last doc I saw had mentioned the scan but I wasn't sure if it was worth it...

No MRI but I have documented head trauma and all my hormones were low. On TRT I have below normal IGF. My thyroid was jacked up but now is working much better for no reason. I'm due for another round of testing and expect an MRI then.

One reason the Doc decided mTBI was they couldn't stimulate my HPTA with PCT protocols. HCG works but my LH/FSH never moved. Your brain can/will heal but the hormones are usually never coming back.

 

[Joltan]

No MRI but I have documented head trauma and all my hormones were low. On TRT I have below normal IGF. My thyroid was jacked up but now is working much better for no reason. I'm due for another round of testing and expect an MRI then.

One reason the Doc decided mTBI was they couldn't stimulate my HPTA with PCT protocols. HCG works but my LH/FSH never moved. Your brain can/will heal but the hormones are usually never coming back.

Do you/they do anything for your IGF?

 

[Fa Seeshus]

Did your doctor attribute your low hormone levels to the damage?

He suspected that due to the multiple concussions... Though my test has always been a bit low since taking SSRI'S as a teenager and young adult.

 

[bad rad]

Do you/they do anything for your IGF?

Not yet as I was considered too young at the time. This next round of testing will be very in depth so that may change now that I'm older too.

Like Fa Seeshus, I was place on SSRI as a late teen and I immediately grew tits, lost my libido, and had lower T levels afterwards.

 

[aphextwin]

There's no way that your meds are causing such low testosterone. If anyone believes that to be the case, I have a bridge in Idaho for a great price to sell you.

 

[Joltan]

That's what I would have guessed too... seems remarkably low for something like that.

Question though... how much of a difference would there be with having blood drawn at 8am, versus say 12pm?

My Dr. asked me if I had my bloods drawn at 8am. I can't imagine it would cause that much of a difference. I also had 1 packet of oatmeal and tomato juice in the morning, and I've read it is better to fast.

 

[Joltan]

I was prescribed 200mg of Test Cyp. per week to start. No HCG or anti estrogen's.

This was through an HRT clinic, not the endocrinologist. I have an appointment with the endo in April. I didn't want to wait that long to get started though...

He said he would like to get my levels to around 1100. For those on TRT, what are your total test levels on 200mg per week?

 

[maldorf]

He said he would like to get my levels to around 1100. For those on TRT, what are your total test levels on 200mg per week?

Well, 200 mg/wk really isn't something that an endo would typically prescribe for TRT since it will put you out of normal reference range.

Im on 100 mg/wk and that puts me at about 850 a couple of days later when they test me. If you extrapolate that then you would think I would be around 1600 or so on 200 mg/wk.

 

[Pissbrainiac259]

I would make an appointment with your regular doctor and go from there. They will probably want to do a second blood test to confirm.

This is the most appropriate next step. Well done. :headbang:

 

[Pissbrainiac259]

There was a student that used to go to our high school were I sub, he is now dead I think, that looked like he was in the 4th grade or so. He was going to school at the high school in a special ed class, and the aids told me he was 17 years old. He had some serious disabilities. When I asked what happened to him I was told he was in a bad car accident and never grew any after that. He must have been about 10 years old or so and was as if he were frozen in time, never looked older than that. GH must not have been released, never went through puberty. The wreck must have been real bad. It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen. He couldn't really talk either, no speech. One day he just stopped coming to school, he finally passed away.

https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/october-2014-head-cases/

This is a relatively rare condition called hypopituitarism (or panhypopituitarism depending on which part of the pituitary gland is hypofxn'ing and to what degree of hypofxn'ing) with the most common causes being a non-fxn'ing pituitary adenoma (which may be associated with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1), sudden coup-contrecoup type head trauma which can shear all or part of the pituitary stalk, pituitary infarction secondary to hypovolemic shock, craniopharyngioma, pituitary apoplexy, and lymphocytic hypophysitis.

 

[Serotonin]

Klonipin has an extremely long half life. My lifting buddy has told me numerous times that this stuff ruins his pumps in the gym.

I'd opt to switch to a shorter half life benzo such as xanax at the very least. You can take it at night and wake up in the morning with no issues going to gym compared to a longer half life benzo.

Benzos are best avoided though...Gabapenton might be a better option but that also can negatively effect gym performance.

Def get a second blood test done.

 

[Joltan]

I got my blood results back for Growth Hormone, and that was also low (or non-existent).

It came in at <.1 ng/ml.


Is that normal to ever be that low? Dr. says it can vary a lot.

 

[Joltan]

Well, 200 mg/wk really isn't something that an endo would typically prescribe for TRT since it will put you out of normal reference range.

Im on 100 mg/wk and that puts me at about 850 a couple of days later when they test me. If you extrapolate that then you would think I would be around 1600 or so on 200 mg/wk.

I think I'll start out at around 100 too... what were your levels before TRT?

 

[maldorf]

I think I'll start out at around 100 too... what were your levels before TRT?

My level was stuck at around 35 or so.