So I got my T bloodwork back showing total T just barely above the bottom of the standard range (have been on T replacement gel for 8-10 years), levels have been higher in the past since I’ve been on the TRT. I’m 63, in good overall health, have been lifting for 40+ years and not overweight. Don’t have much energy or sexual desire. Have an appointment with prescribing urologist tomorrow for annual check-up. What should I expect. One thing, at the urging of my PCP I started a statin 5-6 months ago. My cholesterol was in the high normal range, all other heart markers like BP were fine. Doctor said suggested statin, “just in case”.
Appreciate your thoughts.
NOTE, looking at the results I believe the first year or 2 shown may have been using a slightly different scale so the 827 wasn’t flagged as high. The last 5 at least have been using the scale shown.
While you will get all kinds of advice and protocols here, I doubt you will get one favoring gels. It does not look like you are absorbing very well with transdermal application. It is reported that about 30% of test is absorbed with that method. Your total numbers are not very good at all and you are wasting money. Injections will be better. By the way, do you know if free testosterone was checked? SHBG? Estradiol?
As for statins, the side effects shouldn’t warrant a “just in case” approach, though Pfizer, makers of Lipitor, have studies that would recommend a statin with total cholesterol of 180 and would pretty much put three quarters of Americans over 60 on a statin. Lipid improvements are often seen with TRT.
Then something needs to be changed.
Probably more of the same. What was done when you came back at 290 on May 2016? Or 371 last year?
If targeting numbers, not saying you should, you probably should go for the 600-700 range. Good luck.
Statins are poison and can cause other diseases, optimizing testosterone and thyroid is how you lower cholesterol except thyroid medicine and TRT are less profitable than drugs. The problem is you are trying to optimise hormones in a sick care setting, sick care doesn’t optimise you, they treat disease and only care about normal.
Just a follow up. Showed urologist my pre-statins bloodwork numbers, his opinion was basically it was stupid I was given that prescription. He suggested I confer with the PCP, drop the statin and retest T levels in 3-6 months.
I’m in a less populated area with limited providers on my insurance and few options regarding private clinics. I Googled a couple private providers and they were touting weight management and nutrition counseling along with hormone therapy so not sure how legit they are.
@john2009
If you want a doc that will prescribe T via a phone call and mail that shit to you the next day then my email is in my bio. It’s out of pocket and runs about $150/month which includes T & syringes. There are a gazillion docs that do the exact same thing. Use mine or find one on your own. Imagine someone said for $150 they can change every aspect of your self mentally & physically for the better.
You can use somewhere out of state via telemedicine. That’s what I do, I use Defy. They are in Florida and I am in NC. They order blood work and I go to any LabCorp and they do them for me and send the results to me and defy. Pretty cool.
