I have been on TRT for a year now with lots of ups and downs. I am being treated by the VA. They give me Depo-Testosterone and let me inject at home. I was prescribed 100mg a week but was using 120mg a week, injecting once a week. My Testosterone levels were in the high 700s, however, my Estradiol was 72 with a range of 0-52. I felt like crap. The VA would not prescribe an AI or HCG. I took matters in my own hands. I bought my own insulin pins and have been using 28mg EOD subq for the last 3 months along with Exemestane 6.25 EOD. The below labs were taken after switching to this protocol. I have felt okay enough to work out, but still lots of naps and not wanting to do much. I have now started HCG after the below labs were taken. My Vitamin D was super low and I have started supplementing. Here is all of my information.
-age - 50
-height â?? 70.5â??
-waist â?? 42â??
-weight â?? 260lbs
-describe body and facial hair â?? Average body hair, beard does not get very long or thick
-describe where you carry fat and how changed â?? abdomen, love handles, hips, moobs
-health conditions, symptoms [history] â?? severe neck injury, knee injuries, back injury, sleep apnea
-Rx and OTC drugs, any hair loss drugs or prostate drugs ever - Morphine twice daily, Percocet for breakthrough pain, no prostate drugs
-describe diet [some create substantial damage with starvation diets] â?? Average American Diet, not always healthy
-describe training [some ruin there hormones by over training] â?? some weightlifting off and on
-testes ache, ever, with a fever? - No
-how have morning wood and nocturnal erections changed â?? Maybe twice a week
Labs. The Reference Ranges are after the results.
BASOPHILS 0.04 x1000/uL 0.0-0.1
BASOPHILS/100 LEUKOCYTES 0.6 % 0-2.0
EOSINOPHILS 0.12 x1000/uL 0.0-0.8
EOSINOPHILS/100 LEUKOCYTES 1.7 % 0-5
ERYTHROCYTE DISTRIBUTION WIDTH 12.3 % 11.6-15.5
ERYTHROCYTE MEAN CORPUSCU-33.8
ERYTHROCYTE MEAN CORPUSCULAR HEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION 34.5 g/dl 32.4-35.6
ERYTHROCYTES 5.39 M/uL 4.24-5.56
ERYTHROCYTES.NUCLEATED/100LEUKOCYTES 0.0 /100WBC <0
GRANULOCYTES.IMMATURE/100 LEUKOCYTES 0.7 % 0.0-5.0 15.9 G/DL 13.2-16.9
HEMATOCRIT 46.1 %VOLUME 39.5-50.5
HEMOGLOBIN 15.9 G/DL 13.2-16.9
IG # 0.05 x1000/uL 0.0-5.0
LEUKOCYTES 6.99 K/uL 4.3-9.7
LYMPHOCYTES 2.41 x1000/uL 0.5-5.1
NEUTROPHILS 3.94 x1000/uL 1.9-6.8
NEUTROPHILS/100 LEUKOCYTES 56.3 % 41.5-82.8
PLATELET MEAN VOLUME 9.2 fL 6.9-14.6
PLATELETS 177 K/uL 150-391
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE 26 IU/L 10-50
ALBUMIN 4.3 GM/DL 3.1-4.5
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE 48 IU/L 38-126
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE 26 IU/L 15-41
BILIRUBIN 1.5 MG/DL 0.1-1.5
CALCIUM 9.4 MG/DL 8.4-10.2
CARBON DIOXIDE 29.9 MMOL/L 22.0-32
CHLORIDE 105.1 MMOL/L 98-111
CHOLESTEROL 179 MG/DL <200 Details
CHOLESTEROL.IN HDL 33 MG/DL >35 Details
CHOLESTEROL.IN LDL 118.0 MG/DL <130 Details
COBALAMINS 352 PG/ML 180-914
CREATININE 1.0 MG/DL 0.7-1.5
GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE.PREDICTED 84.4
GLUCOSE 98 MG/DL 74-118
LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE 171 U/L 98-225
PHOSPHATE 3.3 MG/DL 2.4-4.7
POTASSIUM 4.5 MMOL/L 3.5-5.0
PROSTATE SPECIFIC AG 1.050 ng/ml 0-4
PROTEIN 6.8 GM/DL 6.0-8.0
SODIUM 139 MMOL/L 133-145
TESTOSTERONE 422.57 ng/dl 168-781
THYROTROPIN 3.88 uIU/ML 0.34-5.60
TRIGLYCERIDE 138 MG/DL 0-250
URATE 7.5 MG/DL 3.5-8.5
UREA NITROGEN 13 MG/DL 9-20
CALCIDIOL 23 ng/ml
CALCIFEROL <4 ng/ml
VITAMIN D, 25-OH, TOTAL 23 Low ng/ml 30-100
Still waiting on the Estradiol results. They should be low based on the Exemestane.
Any advice on why I am so tired and run down and what I can do better with my treatment? Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Met with my VA Doctor today. He prescribed me Vitamin D 50,000iu to get my levels back up (short term use). Estradiol labs are not back yet. The Doctor stated I can inject more of the Depo-Testosterone to get my levels up as long as there are no sides. He prescribes me one 1ml bottle of 200mg Depo-Testosterone per week. I only use .5ml per week currently. He is a nice guy and is restricted by the VA rules.
I am responding on my phone so if I miss something I apologize.
What were your labs before beginning TRT?
Read through the blood testing sticky at the top of the page. If you are still feeling bad it could be your adrenals, which would need a 4-point cortisol test to determine, or you could have something going on with your thyroid. The VA can be limited on treatment options, but in my experience they will at least run labs if you specifically request them. I commend you for finding ways around their system to get the peripheral items you need for proper TRT.
You lab in the high 700s was probably just due to the timing of the lab in relation to when you injected. If 28mg EOD only gets you into the 400s, you would be considered a “hyper excreter” and need to inject more to get to optimal T levels.
Also, your cobalamin (B-12) is on the lower end. You would probably see some benefit with a good B-12 supplement or B-12 injections. You can buy animal grade B-12 on amazon
I supplement with 10,000iu of vitamin D everyday.
[quote]Kaynon311 wrote:
I am responding on my phone so if I miss something I apologize.
What were your labs before beginning TRT?
Read through the blood testing sticky at the top of the page. If you are still feeling bad it could be your adrenals, which would need a 4-point cortisol test to determine, or you could have something going on with your thyroid. The VA can be limited on treatment options, but in my experience they will at least run labs if you specifically request them. I commend you for finding ways around their system to get the peripheral items you need for proper TRT.
You lab in the high 700s was probably just due to the timing of the lab in relation to when you injected. If 28mg EOD only gets you into the 400s, you would be considered a “hyper excreter” and need to inject more to get to optimal T levels.
Also, your cobalamin (B-12) is on the lower end. You would probably see some benefit with a good B-12 supplement or B-12 injections. You can buy animal grade B-12 on amazon
I supplement with 10,000iu of vitamin D everyday.
[/quote]
Kaynon311, thank you for the response. My T levels started at 210 before TRT. Tried Androgel, it did not work at all. Started injections and my levels went to 540 and then progressed to 700s. The tests were done on Day 5 after the IM injections. Thanks for the advice on the Cortisol Test and B12. I will order the B12 tonight. I do not use iodized salt and only eat seafood 2 or 3 times a month. My temperature is always low at the Doctors Office, has been for years. I ordered an iodine supplement, 12.5mgs, today. I am also working on eating real unprocessed foods to help a ith my weight.
If you didn’t respond to androgel, this could point to a thyroid issue. Some with thyroid issues do not absorb topical testosterone.
Trying to find problems with the HPTA can be a rabbit hole. You will quickly become an expert on ‘you’. We will do our best to guide you along the way, but it’s important to do your own research and choose the path you feel is best for yourself.
I know VA appointments can take some time, so if you have a bit of expendable income, you can do your own blood testing at LEF.org
Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of good information and people here.
[quote]Kaynon311 wrote:
If you didn’t respond to androgel, this could point to a thyroid issue. Some with thyroid issues do not absorb topical testosterone.
Trying to find problems with the HPTA can be a rabbit hole. You will quickly become an expert on ‘you’. We will do our best to guide you along the way, but it’s important to do your own research and choose the path you feel is best for yourself.
I know VA appointments can take some time, so if you have a bit of expendable income, you can do your own blood testing at LEF.org
Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of good information and people here.[/quote]
Kaynon311, thank you very much for your help. I will read all of the stickies today.