UPDATED 4/9/2013
Hey guys, I’ve been feeling really tired, unfocused, somewhat depressed, and unmotivated for a long time now (couple of years at least). My sex drive is also really low. When getting a physical for work (desk job, but they promote good health), I mentioned this. They suggested getting my testosterone and thyroid checked. I found a local clinic that tested T and decided to go ahead and do it.
I went mid-morning, and it came back at 124 ng/dL (range 280-1070 ng/dL). They suggested that I see a doctor. I then saw my regular family physician a few days ago, and they ran more blood tests because she was shocked at how low it was. T came back at 192. I’m waiting for the rest of the results (details below). I also have an appointment with a urologist tomorrow morning to see what he thinks and inquire about TRT.
I’ve been reading up on TRT (all the stickies and many threads), and I decided to make a post for any input/advice and just to have a log. I’ll add more later when I get more results and see the doc tomorrow, but here’s what I have so far. I’m interested to know if TRT would be a good option at this point. Also, my afternoon temperature is 98.5 F. Morning temp is 98.1 F.
Thanks for any replies!
-age: 28
-height: 5’-9"
-waist: 33"
-weight: 180 lbs (8-10% bf in summer, 15-17% bf in winter)
-describe body and facial hair: good amount of hair on legs, forearms, chest, stomach. Decent facial hair, but too patchy for a beard (just stubble at most).
-describe where you carry fat and how changed: Thighs, arms, abdomen. Has always been like this.
-health conditions, symptoms [history]:
— depression in the past (treated with Wellbutrin for a year)
— Anxiety 2 years ago, still taking 40mg Citalopram (Celexa) / day since then (helps a lot)
— trouble falling to sleep and staying asleep throughout the night
symptoms:
— generally depressed (not extreme/suicidal, but very “blah” and unmotivated)
— low sex drive
— difficulty focusing and thinking clearly
— My energy is so low that I’ll just sit still for a long time even though I haven’t done anything strenuous or active that day. It’s not usually mental tiredness, but physical. I think of things I need or want to do (clean, shop, play bball or tennis, work out), but I instead just sit there thinking I don’t even want to move. Going out for social events is often a struggle.
-Rx and OTC drugs, any hair loss drugs or prostate drugs ever:
— (Rx) Citalopram (Celexa) 40 mg/day (been on it 1.5 years)
— (Rx) Ambien occasionally for help sleeping
— Caffeine/ephedrine HCl (600mg/60mg a day for a few weeks at a time when cutting)
— (old Rx) Hydrocodone/acetaminophen 10-325mg (1 / day) for a couple weeks at a time for back pain
-lab results with ranges: So far I have had 3 blood tests in the past 2 weeks (3/22, 3/26, and 3/29). The first was only Testosterone at a clinic, and the second is Testosterone/thyroid/etc. 3rd is a little more complete and was taken right before my 1st 200 mg Test Cyp injection (doctor wants to do it every other week, even though I insisted on weekly 100 instead. No go.)
3/22/2013 (at local clinic)
— Testosterone: 124 ng/dL
3/26/2013 (from family physician)
— Testosterone: 192 ng/dL (range 280-1070 ng/dL)
— SHBG: 31 (range 13-71 nmol/L)
— Free test: 38 (range 47-244 pg/mL)
— % free test: 2.0% (range 1.6-2.9%)
— TSH: 2.547 (range 0.350-5.500 uIU/mL)
3/29/2013 (urologist)
— TT: 334 (250-1100)
— FT: 50.2 (46.0-224.0)
— TEST, BIOAVAILABLE: 111.6 (110.0-575.0)
— E2: ?? (2 doctors would not check it, even after I insisted!)
— LH/FSH: 1.8 (1.6-9.3) / 2.6 (1.6-8.0)
— prolactin: 7.6 (2.0-18.0)
— DHEA-S: not checked
— fasting cholesterol: 194
— fasting glucose: 86
— CBC: not checked
— ferritin: not checked
— TSH: 3.31 (0.40-4.50)
— fT3: not checked
— fT4: 1.1 (0.8-1.8)
- any skin, hair hail issues? No
- feel cold easy or easier than before? No
- thyroid normal size? Normal size/feel.
-describe diet: Usually ~2500 daily calories with 100-150g protein. I’ve been cutting at 1800 calories for a couple of weeks lately to lose some fat.
-describe training: Normally (in the past) 2-3x / week of weightlifting for 40-50m. 3 sets for compound, 2 sets for accessory. However, lately I can barely make myself go, so about once per week.
-testes ache, ever, with a fever? No and no.
-how have morning wood and nocturnal erections changed: Not very common anymore. Still happens some days, but not like it used to (which was every day and much stronger).