Hello all. I had some bloodwork done in 2017 and got a prescription for TRT, but I backed out because I was too scared to start it. Would like to know if my numbers are now high enough that I wouldn’t benefit from it? Naturopath Doc is still willing to prescribe. I have many low T symptoms. But I can’t be certain they are from Low T. I have been working on Hashimotos disease for 20 years now and believe I have that dialed in the best I can with help from this forum.
2016 Number:
TT 416.8 (348-1197)
FT 11.7 (9.3-26.5)
2017 numbers:
Total T 363 (348-1197)
New Numbers
TT 500 (348-1197)
FT 11 (8.7-25.1)
Estradiol 19.0 (7.6-42.6)
I definitely don’t feel great. I am tired all day every day. Anxious, depressed, and generally not a very happy person. This has been going on for about 7 years.
I’ve tried a handful of anti depressants, sleeping pills and thyroid medication protocols. As well as natural supplements like D3, omega 3, multi, tryptophan, melatonin, ashwaganda , etc etc.
Weight lifting is a big struggle. I lifted for about 4 years straight, with a perfect diet and never was able to break through the noobie barrier. I even hired a starting strength coach and ate a ton of calories and I was never able to lift over 200 on the squat. I needed to give up because it was so frustrating and life consuming.
I think my only worry is that I won’t feel any different and them am stuck doing injections for life.
I have another blood draw today. I’m going to go this one in the late afternoon to see if my numbers drop low during the day.
So in other words what you have been doing the last 7 years isn’t working, sounds like you have only one direction to go. I think guys overly focus on the numbers and is the reason for stalling when really what’s going on under the surface is low testosterone men tend to choose inaction because low testosterone lowers motivation in life and therefore to seek treatment.
A lack of motivation is a symptom of low testosterone. Your FT levels are closer to the bottom of the ranges, a lot of men who be symptomatic at these levels. It was Dr. Abraham Morgentaler, an expert in testosterone at Harvard who stated men below <15 pg/mL will show benefit on TRT in his book “Testosterone For Life”.
Here is how it’s going to play out, once you start TRT you will wish you had started sooner. You will kill it in the gym and you life will change for the better for the rest of your life, your new life awaits you.
I would like to see your thyroid labs.
Everyone’s testosterone lowers midday and is even lower at nighttime.
Ok, I just had a second blood draw from the prescribing Doctor.
She is measuring TT, SHBG, CBC, LH, FSH, Estradiol.
Are there any other tests I should get before starting?
Secondly, her starting protocol includes 200mg Test-c injected weekly, as well as an AI (I don’t know does yet). HCG is available, but optional. My plan is a little different: start with about 150mg weekly with no AI and do a blood test after 3 months.
Its puzzling to see your TT in the 300’s and 500’s and FT is still in the 11’s, 200mg weekly may end up being to much testosterone, you’ll probably need less.
If your numbers are 1000> and your biomarkers look fine then there nothing wrong with above range testosterone if other marker are good.
Your SHBG is most likely midrange or slightly higher. I think when all is said and done you’ll be injecting twice weekly.
Prolactin is a little elevated, it’s probably not causing issues. Remember levels are always changing, you might be spending a short while slightly elevated and are low on average.
I have seen some men’s prolactin increase on TRT, then medication may be needed.