Low testosterone

[CaiosH]

Got my finger test back. This is on the very low side right?

[xx99xx]

Not ideal no.

Next decision.....go private or to your NHS GP.

[CaiosH]

xx99xx said:

Not ideal no.

Next decision.....go private or to your NHS GP.

I’d rather not have to pay £100 a month for something that I can get from the NHS. But reading some of the posts here puts me off the NHS. Especially the waiting and chasing.

I’m going to go see an NHS GP and ask about NHS timeframe and treatment.

But in the meantime booked the enhanced full blood test privately. Will possibly also have a private consultation as well, be interested to see what treatment private offer and compare to NHS.

I’m also going to ask GP about if it’s possible to switch treatment over down the line to NHS. I fear I’d have to stop private treatment to then get tested and start again with the NHS.

I’m 44, so could be 20 years of treatment which the total cost of that will be high privately….

Edited by CaiosH on Monday 20th May 20:55

[xx99xx]

CaiosH said:

I’d rather not have to pay £100 a month for something that I can get from the NHS. But reading some of the posts here puts me off the NHS. Especially the waiting a chasing. I’m going to go see an NHS GP and ask about NHS timeframe.

But in the meantime booked the enhanced full blood test privately. Will possibly also have a private consultation as well, be interested to see what treatment private offer and compare to NHS.

I’m also going to ask GP about if it’s possible to switch treatment over down the line to NHS. I fear I’d have to stop private treatment to then get tested and start again with the NHS.

Sadly, you're likely to be looking at years rather than months with NHS.

Usual pattern is:

A month or so for 2 tests via GP

If deemed low enough (which is a lottery) you get referral to NHS endo. That appointment could be about 6 months away.

You get to that and they insist on another blood test.

Follow up appointment another few months away

Another stage of the lottery, does the endo believe you need treatment? Often the advice is lifestyle changes and come back in 6 months.

You go back again, another blood test.

Back again, few months later, get results and some sort of decision. Usually a trial of gel and come back in 3 months.

Etc etc etc

Another lottery is getting private treatment taken over by NHS. Best to get that agreement in advance.

My own NHS journey took about 10 years to result in TRT. Long story for another day, or it's on this thread somewhere!

[272BHP]

CaiosH said:

I’m 44, so could be 20 years of treatment which the total cost of that will be high privately….

Why only 20 years?

[scottvdj79]

Anyone on this thread having TRT in Scotland? I’ve had a series of blood test via Numan and all show low levels of testosterone, with the latest being 8.02 nmol/L and lowest was 5.89 nmol/L a year ago. Highest was 11.6 nmol/L in December after a period of regular exercise and losing a decent chunk of weight.

So I’m looking at getting this sorted and it certainly appears that going the NHS/GP route is slow and not always a positive outcome.

I do have some symptoms of low T, mainly brain fog and lethargy, so keen to see if TRT is what I need and if it will help.

[Tutankhamun]

xx99xx said:

CaiosH said:

I’d rather not have to pay £100 a month for something that I can get from the NHS. But reading some of the posts here puts me off the NHS. Especially the waiting a chasing. I’m going to go see an NHS GP and ask about NHS timeframe.

But in the meantime booked the enhanced full blood test privately. Will possibly also have a private consultation as well, be interested to see what treatment private offer and compare to NHS.

I’m also going to ask GP about if it’s possible to switch treatment over down the line to NHS. I fear I’d have to stop private treatment to then get tested and start again with the NHS.

Sadly, you're likely to be looking at years rather than months with NHS.

Usual pattern is:

A month or so for 2 tests via GP

If deemed low enough (which is a lottery) you get referral to NHS endo. That appointment could be about 6 months away.

You get to that and they insist on another blood test.

Follow up appointment another few months away

Another stage of the lottery, does the endo believe you need treatment? Often the advice is lifestyle changes and come back in 6 months.

You go back again, another blood test.

Back again, few months later, get results and some sort of decision. Usually a trial of gel and come back in 3 months.

Etc etc etc

Another lottery is getting private treatment taken over by NHS. Best to get that agreement in advance.

My own NHS journey took about 10 years to result in TRT. Long story for another day, or it's on this thread somewhere!

go to your local gym ask under the counter you buy a 10ml test for 50quid max and it will last you for 6 month...

[Howitzer]

A follow up call after a blood test last week.

15 months on Cypionate and HCG.

I went to a 10ml vial of Cypionate as I found the smaller ones were crystallising and it was a pain having to warm it up each time.

I now take 0.28ml of 200mg/ml of Cypionate every other day and 0.1ml of HCG every other day.

My last levels were

Testosterone 23.4 nmol/L
Free Testosterone 0.577
SHBG is 21

Going from 0.25 to 0.28 the doctor is hoping I get between 25 and 30 nmol/L as that’s where he wants me to be. I’ve been feeling great since getting it over 15 so I’m very pleased at the minute.

Dave!

[Legacywr]

Why do you have to warm it up, to get it to draw down easier?

[Howitzer]

It was turning into a solid. A common thing to happen apparently, you could see the crystals in it and when warmed it turned back to a liquid, nonissue with the contents doing this, it was just a pain. It was never left to get cold either, I keep it in the utility room where the tumble dryer etc are so is the warmest room in the house.

The larger vial, even when nearly empty never does this so maybe it’s a slightly different type.

Dave!

[StreetDragster]

Not sure what equipment you are using, but when i changed to Cypionate, i had to go to 25g needles to get it to draw correctly.

[272BHP]

StreetDragster said:

Not sure what equipment you are using, but when i changed to Cypionate, i had to go to 25g needles to get it to draw correctly.

Cypionate should be able to be drawn with 30g insulin needles no problem as it has very low viscosity.

[Howitzer]

I use a 29g needle without issue.

It literally turns into a vial full of crystals like this……

https://themenshealthclinic.co.uk/why-does-testost...

Dave!

[StreetDragster]

272BHP said:

StreetDragster said:

Not sure what equipment you are using, but when i changed to Cypionate, i had to go to 25g needles to get it to draw correctly.

Cypionate should be able to be drawn with 30g insulin needles no problem as it has very low viscosity.

Not mine, its quite thick. Supplied by Optimale btw.
I tried 30g, 27g and in the end, 25g.

[272BHP]

StreetDragster said:

Not mine, its quite thick. Supplied by Optimale btw.
I tried 30g, 27g and in the end, 25g.

What does the bottle or vial say? who is the manufacturer?

Cypionate should not be thick.

[pidsy]

272BHP said:

StreetDragster said:

Not mine, its quite thick. Supplied by Optimale btw.
I tried 30g, 27g and in the end, 25g.

What does the bottle or vial say? who is the manufacturer?

Cypionate should not be thick.

It’s very difficult to draw with 29g needles. Takes more than 5mins to draw .25ml.

The larger bottles are slightly quicker.

[CaiosH]

xx99xx said:

Sadly, you're likely to be looking at years rather than months with NHS.

Usual pattern is:

A month or so for 2 tests via GP

If deemed low enough (which is a lottery) you get referral to NHS endo. That appointment could be about 6 months away.

You get to that and they insist on another blood test.

Follow up appointment another few months away

Another stage of the lottery, does the endo believe you need treatment? Often the advice is lifestyle changes and come back in 6 months.

You go back again, another blood test.

Back again, few months later, get results and some sort of decision. Usually a trial of gel and come back in 3 months.

Etc etc etc

Another lottery is getting private treatment taken over by NHS. Best to get that agreement in advance.

My own NHS journey took about 10 years to result in TRT. Long story for another day, or it's on this thread somewhere!

Thanks for this. Its what I fear. I'll go see the GP and have a chat.

But I doubt I'll have the patience for the NHS

[CaiosH]

Howitzer said:

A follow up call after a blood test last week.

15 months on Cypionate and HCG.

I went to a 10ml vial of Cypionate as I found the smaller ones were crystallising and it was a pain having to warm it up each time.

I now take 0.28ml of 200mg/ml of Cypionate every other day and 0.1ml of HCG every other day.

My last levels were

Testosterone 23.4 nmol/L
Free Testosterone 0.577
SHBG is 21

Going from 0.25 to 0.28 the doctor is hoping I get between 25 and 30 nmol/L as that’s where he wants me to be. I’ve been feeling great since getting it over 15 so I’m very pleased at the minute.

Dave!

Going well. Im new the the thread.

Can I ask where your getting the treatment?

[Funk]

CaiosH said:

Going well. Im new the the thread.

Can I ask where your getting the treatment?

I think he said earlier in the thread he's with Optimale.

[StreetDragster]

272BHP said:

What does the bottle or vial say? who is the manufacturer?

Cypionate should not be thick.