Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Discussion
Patch1875 said:
Interesting stuff..
I asked the doc to check my t levels a year or so ago due to some unexplained symptoms they apparently came back fine but I didn’t get told what they were.
Last few years I have issues with anxiety and low mood with no real reason also I feel my upper body feels weak and chest muscles disappearing, I do go to the gym but not hardcore weights and I have a pretty physical job.
Wonder if it’s worth another test?
I think I am correct in saying that what is considered “low” has been increased. I think below 12 is now low, whereas a lower figure was acceptable before.I asked the doc to check my t levels a year or so ago due to some unexplained symptoms they apparently came back fine but I didn’t get told what they were.
Last few years I have issues with anxiety and low mood with no real reason also I feel my upper body feels weak and chest muscles disappearing, I do go to the gym but not hardcore weights and I have a pretty physical job.
Wonder if it’s worth another test?
UK guidelines (which not all doctors follow, btw) suggest starting TRT when total testosterone value is below 8nmols.
Between 8-12nmols they may offer a trial of TRT and re-evaluate.
Over 12 and the guidelines recommend no TRT.
Reference ranges that you get with your blood test will vary between labs. So the reference range maybe something like 10-38nmols as the 'normal' range, but if you come in at 9nmols it'll say 'low' but it won't necessarily mean you'll get offered TRT as you're in the 8-12 grey area.
It's a bit of a lottery really. Some GPs are ok with dishing out TRT, some point blank refuse and some will palm you off to an endocrinologist.
I know all this after spending 10 years, many GPs, many endocrinologists and many blood tests trying to get some sort of diagnosis and treatment. I eventually got it but they don't make it easy for blokes.
Between 8-12nmols they may offer a trial of TRT and re-evaluate.
Over 12 and the guidelines recommend no TRT.
Reference ranges that you get with your blood test will vary between labs. So the reference range maybe something like 10-38nmols as the 'normal' range, but if you come in at 9nmols it'll say 'low' but it won't necessarily mean you'll get offered TRT as you're in the 8-12 grey area.
It's a bit of a lottery really. Some GPs are ok with dishing out TRT, some point blank refuse and some will palm you off to an endocrinologist.
I know all this after spending 10 years, many GPs, many endocrinologists and many blood tests trying to get some sort of diagnosis and treatment. I eventually got it but they don't make it easy for blokes.
xx99xx said:
Over 12 and the guidelines recommend no TRT.
A friend in his late forties was on exactly 12 and managed to persuade the local GP to issue him with some cream/ patch or something. Trouble was he's a big lad and decided that to feel 'normal' again would take rather more than the advised dose, so went through the stuff rather quickly. Said he felt good again and was horny as hell, but couldn't sleep. 
Gp referral got him to an endocrinologist, where my friend apparently tried to persuade the endo chap that what he really needed was a regular prescription for test enanthate, administered intramuscularly Not surprisingly he was told there was no chance, unless he lived in the States, where they are a bit more progressive about these things. So he's back on double patches/cream.
xx99xx said:
UK guidelines (which not all doctors follow, btw) suggest starting TRT when total testosterone value is below 8nmols.
Between 8-12nmols they may offer a trial of TRT and re-evaluate.
Over 12 and the guidelines recommend no TRT.
Reference ranges that you get with your blood test will vary between labs. So the reference range maybe something like 10-38nmols as the 'normal' range, but if you come in at 9nmols it'll say 'low' but it won't necessarily mean you'll get offered TRT as you're in the 8-12 grey area.
It's a bit of a lottery really. Some GPs are ok with dishing out TRT, some point blank refuse and some will palm you off to an endocrinologist.
I know all this after spending 10 years, many GPs, many endocrinologists and many blood tests trying to get some sort of diagnosis and treatment. I eventually got it but they don't make it easy for blokes.
And was that diagnosis low T?Between 8-12nmols they may offer a trial of TRT and re-evaluate.
Over 12 and the guidelines recommend no TRT.
Reference ranges that you get with your blood test will vary between labs. So the reference range maybe something like 10-38nmols as the 'normal' range, but if you come in at 9nmols it'll say 'low' but it won't necessarily mean you'll get offered TRT as you're in the 8-12 grey area.
It's a bit of a lottery really. Some GPs are ok with dishing out TRT, some point blank refuse and some will palm you off to an endocrinologist.
I know all this after spending 10 years, many GPs, many endocrinologists and many blood tests trying to get some sort of diagnosis and treatment. I eventually got it but they don't make it easy for blokes.
So said:
And was that diagnosis low T?
Yes, but they made no attempt (this time) to identify the cause. I've had an MRI in the past to rule out pituitary issue. In the past I've also been told it's due to:- insulin resistance
- diet/lifestyle
- lack of sleep
- depression
This time though (2 years ago now) I just had 2 consistently low T readings and my GP was confident enough to put me gel without any further tests or examinations. She didn't even check my balls or slip her finger up my bum, although the link between TRT and prostate issues is not quite proven.
My morning blood tests for T have been consistently low over the years, ranging from 4-12 (with one freak reading of 16). However, when a GP/endo has calculated free T from other elements of the blood test they say it's fine, despite me still complaining of symptoms.
popeyewhite said:
A friend in his late forties was on exactly 12 and managed to persuade the local GP to issue him with some cream/ patch or something. Trouble was he's a big lad and decided that to feel 'normal' again would take rather more than the advised dose, so went through the stuff rather quickly. Said he felt good again and was horny as hell, but couldn't sleep. Gp referral got him to an endocrinologist, where my friend apparently tried to persuade the endo chap that what he really needed was a regular prescription for test enanthate, administered intramuscularly Not surprisingly he was told there was no chance, unless he lived in the States, where they are a bit more progressive about these things. So he's back on double patches/cream.
The US, it seems to be a lot more about the single Ester Testosterone injections, UK is a lot more about Sustanon 250 which is a multi Ester Testosterone shots. All the stories I’ve read about the NHS is why I’ve gone straight to a specialist clinic, even if it means paying for blood tests and the test off my own back. Another massive issues with the NHS and GPS is that they don’t generally test a mans Oestrogen/Estradial levels as “that’s a woman’s hormone”. A mans sex drive relies so much on the right amount of Oestrogen, too little and Scarlet Johansson could be dancing naked in front of you and you’ll still be more interested in the football. Gp referral got him to an endocrinologist, where my friend apparently tried to persuade the endo chap that what he really needed was a regular prescription for test enanthate, administered intramuscularly Not surprisingly he was told there was no chance, unless he lived in the States, where they are a bit more progressive about these things. So he's back on double patches/cream.
Regiment said:
Another massive issues with the NHS and GPS is that they don’t generally test a mans Oestrogen/Estradial levels as “that’s a woman’s hormone”. A mans sex drive relies so much on the right amount of Oestrogen, too little and Scarlet Johansson could be dancing naked in front of you and you’ll still be more interested in the football.
Deca dick. A term often used to cover any erectile dysfunction associated with anabolic steroids. Most men would need quite a lot of t though...somewhere in the region of above 400 mg a week. Nothing shuts you down quicker.popeyewhite said:
Halb said:
I think lostbmw knew about this, but sadly, he doesn't post anymore.
What's happened to him, didn't he change his username for a while?I think there's very few posters from a while back in the health forum
popeyewhite said:
A friend in his late forties was on exactly 12 and managed to persuade the local GP to issue him with some cream/ patch or something. Trouble was he's a big lad and decided that to feel 'normal' again would take rather more than the advised dose, so went through the stuff rather quickly. Said he felt good again and was horny as hell, but couldn't sleep. Gp referral got him to an endocrinologist, where my friend apparently tried to persuade the endo chap that what he really needed was a regular prescription for test enanthate, administered intramuscularly Not surprisingly he was told there was no chance, unless he lived in the States, where they are a bit more progressive about these things. So he's back on double patches/cream.
No chance unless he was in the US where Doctors will prescribe anything they can vague justify , waffle some s Gp referral got him to an endocrinologist, where my friend apparently tried to persuade the endo chap that what he really needed was a regular prescription for test enanthate, administered intramuscularly Not surprisingly he was told there was no chance, unless he lived in the States, where they are a bit more progressive about these things. So he's back on double patches/cream.
t about 'informed consent' ( which isn't Informed Consent ) and laugh all the way to the bank Patch1875 said:
Interesting stuff..
I asked the doc to check my t levels a year or so ago due to some unexplained symptoms they apparently came back fine but I didn’t get told what they were.
Last few years I have issues with anxiety and low mood with no real reason also I feel my upper body feels weak and chest muscles disappearing, I do go to the gym but not hardcore weights and I have a pretty physical job.
Wonder if it’s worth another test?
Yes. This is roughly how mine started. Never really noticed week muscles but problems downstairs and the same with mood / anxiety. I had 3 blood tests done over a about 6 months. Their level for low was 8.6 I think. My first was 8.7, the next 12 something, then the last one 7 something. Because I had a long history of these symptoms and low levels they referred me to an endo. They then did a couple of tests themselves and I was consistently low.I asked the doc to check my t levels a year or so ago due to some unexplained symptoms they apparently came back fine but I didn’t get told what they were.
Last few years I have issues with anxiety and low mood with no real reason also I feel my upper body feels weak and chest muscles disappearing, I do go to the gym but not hardcore weights and I have a pretty physical job.
Wonder if it’s worth another test?
popeyewhite said:
?
trouble sleeping ? if you have enough cash some Dr Nic Riveria type will dose you with propofol - see M JacksonUS issues with iatrogenic opiate addction Doctors Shopping + ignoring the WHO analgesic ladder in favout pf prescribing the latest and best ( kickbacks for the prescriber) synthetic opiate ...
Just to update everyone, second set of blood tests came back with a value of 11.2 and a free testosterone value of 0.205 in a range of 0.2-0.62. Everything has been sent off to the doctor for final approval which should come either today or tomorrow hopefully. Next step after that is to sort out dosage and having a home visit from a nurse to go through teaching me how to inject but my presumption is that it'll be around 100mg or so of Sustanon every 5-7 days, then another blood test after 6 weeks to see where my Test and Oestrogen is.
I must admit, i am excited to see what boost i get at the gym and it'd also be nice to actually start to get some muscular definition beyond just the skinner guy that out lifts the muscular guys.
I must admit, i am excited to see what boost i get at the gym and it'd also be nice to actually start to get some muscular definition beyond just the skinner guy that out lifts the muscular guys.
Regiment said:
Just to update everyone, second set of blood tests came back with a value of 11.2 and a free testosterone value of 0.205 in a range of 0.2-0.62. Everything has been sent off to the doctor for final approval which should come either today or tomorrow hopefully. Next step after that is to sort out dosage and having a home visit from a nurse to go through teaching me how to inject but my presumption is that it'll be around 100mg or so of Sustanon every 5-7 days, then another blood test after 6 weeks to see where my Test and Oestrogen is.
I must admit, i am excited to see what boost i get at the gym and it'd also be nice to actually start to get some muscular definition beyond just the skinner guy that out lifts the muscular guys.
Very little, I'm afraid. A bbing beginner's first cycle of sustanon would be in the region of 400mg every 4/5 days. It's quite easy to actually walk into a gym and buy the stuff so you can always supplement what you get for free!I must admit, i am excited to see what boost i get at the gym and it'd also be nice to actually start to get some muscular definition beyond just the skinner guy that out lifts the muscular guys.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff