The VA Struck Me Down Again. Help?

Pharma / TRT Testosterone Replacement
1

Ok so just got back from the Va. I have armed myself with knowledge over the last month and half absorbing all info I could. And even though they agreed that their test are not adjusted for age and all the symptoms I gave them, they basically said unless I get below their arbitrary number I’m basically not getting it from them…

Quick back story, I am 32, 6"2 ,195 pounds. lost a testical to cancer litte over 3 years ago. Have not been same since, they did not do a test of my levels before OP.
A year goes by I knew something was not right… had them pull these labs…

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They said I was in range… didnt know anything about T then… tried to move on… doing everything I could to get it right… gym… diet… lost 100 pounds… best shape of life… still know something is wrong… mainly like absolutely no libido! I had a above average lebido before!
I then had them pull these labs not long ago…

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I originally didnt hear from them although I was able to get my results online, but I could see even though they only tested TT this time it was slightly higher than last time… I freaked out knowing they would just tell me I was normal, When I Knew for fuck sure I wasnt!
That’s when I began researching all the amazing info on this site as well as others. Which led me to a T clinic by me that from my research isn’t too over priced, but could be better… so I went to the clinic and they pulled these labs…

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Keep in mind I had a testical removed which could explain the elevated LH and FSH my system is clearly trying to compensate, but my TT AND my SYMPTOMS say it’s not producing what I need.

Anyways the clinic started me on 168 Mg of test Cyp a week split every 3.5 days in 2 84 Mg doses. And 0.25 mg anastrozole 24 hrs after T dose. As well as 500 IUs of HCG twice a week the day before T dose. This is my third week on this protocol, From what I have been reading I probably shouldn’t be taking the AI , at least not until we get a base line… what do you guys think should I stop the Ai for now? I do feel like I hold water right befor my T Dose, and I have been waking up sweating my dick off!

Ok so I armed myself with all this info, found a way to get myself on T for now… but the ultimate goal is to get this through the VA where I won’t have to pay for it. I told them all this, and the endo @ the VA wants me to get off this and they would retest me next month! Fuk but I really don’t want to stop now that I am getting more of my cognitive and energy levels back! So let’s say I did stop and crash myself before I go in for that test. What’s the least amount of time I should take off right befor I go in their for it if i did? Or the optimal time to? Stop taking the HCG the week before I stop the T, then stop the T a week or two before I go? What do you guys think? @KSman @systemlord or anyone that feels like they can help?

I really dont want to stop @ all now that I have the ball finally rolling to hopefully get myself back to before the surgery. … pun intended

I just can’t believe that I literally have every symptom in the book, and they will not put me on it, she just said that the VA Is Cracking down on it because it was supposedly over prescribed! Honestly I kind of broke down, and was just like you should clearly see that I’m not some really old dude trying to get his boners back, I’m a young guy trying to get the sexuality he should have, and have had back, and In my opinion because of some of the stuff I was exposed to in the military I basically gave a nut for this country and my quality of life has gone way down since then, although on the outside I look healthy I lost 100 pounds and am in surprisingly good shape, just because of the sheer dedication and motivation I put into it! Actually I can’t believe what I have been able to accomplish with the levels I have now. But makes me think where I would have been had this not have happened.

2

Honestly the VA is doing to best they can given the guidelines that must be followed, and the guidelines are at the heart of the problem here and are outdated.

You’re clearly scoring where most elderly men are seeing, twice weekly is optimal given your SHBG level. Take it easy on the AI and monitor estrogen closely, use the estrogen LC/MS/MS method for testing. Please confirm dosing in mgs, not ml. The vial should state mgs, 100mg or 200mg.

An example I inject .20ml (20 units) from a 100mg vial or 20mg, if I had a 200mg vial at .20ml that would be 40mg.

Testosterone being over-prescribed shouldn’t affect those with clinical symptoms and labs indicating levels at the bottom of the ranges. Great now doctors are afraid and this hurts those with a clinical need! All they have to do is take a look at where 60-80 years olds are scoring and compare those to your levels.

Forget about the VA for TRT.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USVAOIG/bulletins/1e8ce4a#.Ws4kufVjngM.twitter

3

Thanks SystemLord , oops my bad I ment mg, I knew that to, and yes my E2 test was not sensitive, I’m going to see if my primary can help me, or refer me to someone els, and worse comes to worse I know I’ll just have to stop and retest with the VA if I want them to help me. How long should I take off before, and what is the least amount of time I need to feel like shit.? I know how I feel, and I’m barely above there number, and a couple years ago I would have been below which was 350, I’ll stay up all night, pop vicodin, drink like 2 sodas right before the test if I have too! Or I’ll just find a way to budget this privately for now, then who knows maybe I’ll be on it long enough they will put me on it.

4

Just read through that entire link, and pdf attached. Wish I knew what the current OIG guidelines they keep referring to? Also I know I shouldn’t be taking the AI until I get the first base line, although I already started a low dose. 0.25. And I have been drinking water all day and seriously haven’t pissed once, and I feel so bloated right now, especially my upper stomach like right under my diaphragm. And have been sweating like crazy while I’m sleeping. Which means high e2 right? Makes me scared to go off it if that’s the case, wonder if I should just keep taking it until my blood draw in like 3 weeks.

5

Some guys over respond to AI’s, I took one .125 anastrozole and it knocked my estrogen down to 12 pg/ml, then I got hot flashes which I mistook for high estrogen and I double down on my AI dosage for a week!

Now my joints are sore and popping and clicking, especially when I try to get up from a sitting position.

Tomorrow I plan on taking half of the .125 anastrozole capsule.

6

Could you imagine how much easier all this would be if we could just test our levels on the spot with a device like a glucose or ketone reader? Even if it couldn’t give you a specific range but could just tell if it was detectable above a certain known threshold, so you could then infer with your symptoms and the fact that trace amounts of E2 either was or was not detected.

7

Why would you even take any more AI until you experienced high E2 symptoms? Makes no sense what so ever.

8

I was having high E2 symptoms, E2 was 70 pg/mL.

9

I am seen at the VA hospital in Phx and have had nothing but good things to say about them. My first blood panel showed my T level at 253, the second was at the very bottom but within range. I had a MRI done that came back negative. The Dr treated me and the symptoms even though the numbers could have been justified as being within their range. He prescribed me .5 ml shot of 200mg Test C. He offered creams and I declined. Just had my 3 month update appt with him and everything was good. 9 week blood panel came back with Test levels at 813. I have since split my dose into 2 shots per week and the Dr was all for it and even agreed. Not all Drs are bad and not all VA is bad. I am sorry you got a bad deal. Have you thought about tanking your Test numbers for a the blood panel ? No sleep, drinking, poor diet, can help you below that threshold

10

You said you plan on taking more tomm. But yet you said you just tanked it. Do you know if your E2 is high or low right now. You had itchy nipples, gyno? Maybe fight thru some of the symptoms without taking more meds for it. I was in the similar situation where E2 was elevate. Ankles had swollen to the size of softballs, flushed, sweating like a whore in church. Blood test showed E2 was at 55. I figured it was my body adjusting and being low for so long.