Endo Says 561 Total T Is Just Fine

[systemlord]

@Moneyman1

Anyway, ended up at endocrinologist today to talk about my thyroid being a bit under active

Oh yeah, iron deficiency affects thyroid function and the conversion of T4 to fT3, the active stuff!

[highpull]

@Moneyman1

I did have some symptoms but my GP said I did not need T injections because I simply have age related normal reducing T.

Interesting, there are many infirmities of age that mainstream medicine jumps on with questionable treatments. It’s unfortunate TRT is so heavily based on numbers.

@Moneyman1

Low libido
Did not feel as strong…workouts not as good
Energy levels low
Some low level depression
Brain fog that sucks

Testosterone is effective for all of those. Good luck moving forward, hopefully, you will find what works for you.

[Moneyman1]

True. Even my endo could not clearly advise totally against it other than using the total T number.

[Moneyman1]

Ok so I used this calculator and here is what I got. Honestly, still not sure how to really interpret.

Free T 6.84 ng/dl= 1.21%
Bio avail 182 ng/dl= 32.3%

Good, bad or indifferent. These were my number before I started Trt.

[systemlord]

@Moneyman1

Even my endo could not clearly advise totally against it other than using the total T number.

If you had low SHBG, the Total T would be lower and Free T wouldn’t change much.

Also about the brain fog and cognitive decline, low-T is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Testosterone increases the release of dopamine, and this decline in dopamine in patients with low-T is what’s thought to greatly contribute to cognitive decline and may even lead to Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia.

Low Testosterone Level and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Elderly Men:

Sex steroids can positively affect the brain function, and low levels of sex steroids may be associated with worse cognitive function in the elderly men.

Dopamine and Dopamine Receptors in Alzheimer’s Disease:

Conclusions: Overall, decreased levels of dopaminergic neurotransmitters were linked with the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease.

[systemlord]

@Moneyman1

Free T 6.84 ng/dl= 1.21%

I remember other members Free T numbers at 10-12 ng/dL and responding well to TRT.

@Moneyman1

Honestly, still not sure how to really interpret.

The line is blurred, everyone’s version of normal is different.

Recommendations on the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of hypogonadism in...

Unfortunately, no consensus has been reached regarding the lower TT threshold defining TD, and there are no generally accepted lower limits of normal TT. This lack of consensus follows from the fact that no studies have shown a clear threshold for TT or free T that distinguishes men who will respond to treatment from those who will not.

Meanwhile the number of CAG (cytosine–adenine–guanine triplet) repeats in androgen receptor differs in men and influences the androgen receptor activity. Hence testosterone sensitivity may vary in different individuals.

The same applies to androgen receptor gene CAG repeat lengths >24 in the presence of symptoms and normal testosterone levels may be considered as a state of preclinical hypogonadism.

[kikero]

I’ve always been athletic. But these days I just can’t imagine doing sports like this without being depleted at mid exercise. Not even considering going to the gym afterwards! And I’d have muscle soreness the next days…