Any help with my results please? Much appreciated

Hi guys,

Long time lurker with a supportive partner who pushed me to get my tests done. I live in greece, so Testosterone and hormones are generally not very available and doctors refuse to acknowledge they can be a treatment. Fortunately I have access to Tostran 2% without any prescription. I had my blood work done today, but am having trouble interpreting and the doctor says "don't worry you are fine". Partner thinks that I might be low but said best to get some other opinions. Used the guide from the site to get my check done (thanks a lot to excelmale for that) so that I didn't just get general test. I am sorry if i am not displaying the results properly.

My results (I am a 65 yr old male):

Red blood cells mid range (fine)
Cholesterol Fine
E2 36.8 pg/ml (range is 5-42 on the guide)
Test 3.4 ng.ml (guide says 2.4-8.3 is the range)
Free test 4.2 ng/dl (guide says 4.7-18.9 is the range)
PSA was perfect
LH 7.3 mIU/ML (range says 0.6-10)
FSH 11.9 mIU/ML (range says 0.8-18.1)

Partner says my free test and E2 seem to be a bit off. He knows a little more than me but didn't want to give any advice so suggested I ask you guys as there are some resident doctors here and people currently on treatment.

Additionally I am HIV+ undetectable on a two pill a day ****tail. Worried of course about red bloodcells should i take any T treatment.

Should I consider trying harder to find someone who will guide me using T, injectables are not really available here but as I said I do have already a tube of Tostran and can get more easily when needed.

Any advice is really appreciated and thanks for your patience with this old timer.

Thanks!

Edit: Thought I would edit with some info on why I got tested

Sometimes i get depression and anxiety
No sex drive, at all. Which leads again to depression anxiety
Weight gain
No energy whatsoever
No motivation.

I am pretty sure Nelson knows of a TRT doctor in Greece. Hopefully he will comment on this if I am remembering correctly.

Welcome, to ExcelMale. You certainly present numbers that reflect low testosterone. Are you currently using the Tostran? Does the doctor working with you in regard to HIV have a broader knowledge of men's health? Would he be open to following a protocol that an American doctor designed, one you would obtain following an "opinion only" phone consultation?

Hi Coast watcher. Thanks for the reply.

Doctor is anti hormone. I know there is a greek specialist (after spending 3 hours on google) but as you know financial crisis is going on here.

Haven't taken the tostran yet as I wanted to be super sure before I did. However tomorrow I was tempted to start with a low dose to see how it felt.

I also have been studying about E2, and realised I did the standard test, discussed with the partner and we agreed its likely the E2 is in a decent range (20-30).

Would a low dose gel 'test phase' say 2-4 weeks be beneficial along with further blood tests? As mentioned financially I cannot really jump around and at the same time do not want to do any unecessary damage to myself.

Again really appreciate it.

TGreece said:

Hi Coast watcher. Thanks for the reply.

Doctor is anti hormone. I know there is a greek specialist (after spending 3 hours on google) but as you know financial crisis is going on here.

Haven't taken the tostran yet as I wanted to be super sure before I did. However tomorrow I was tempted to start with a low dose to see how it felt.

I also have been studying about E2, and realised I did the standard test, discussed with the partner and we agreed its likely the E2 is in a decent range (20-30).

Would a low dose gel 'test phase' say 2-4 weeks be beneficial along with further blood tests? As mentioned financially I cannot really jump around and at the same time do not want to do any unecessary damage to myself.

Again really appreciate it.

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As soon as you start dosing with exogenous testosterone you begin the process of shutting down all natural production. Even if the dose you are administering seems low, and - objectively - is low, the body will recognize it as exogenous. There really is no way to coast in and out of TRT.

You wil not find the sensitive estradiol test outside of the United States - a simple fact of life. That said, you probably aren't running a high E2 value.

Did you run your SHBG?

Thank you for the reply again. Makes complete sense. So in the end, it is about either diving in or running away. If I die in, I then have to balance it to make it last.

If there becomes a lack of supply here I presume there will become some sort of bodily withdrawal due to the lack of supplement correct? So once on T always on T. Will my partner (30) have bad side effects if he is exposed to the gel. He has mid-high levels of testosterone and is perfectly healthy, I wouldn't want his hormones to get out of whack because he touched my arms.

TGreece said:

Thank you for the reply again. Makes complete sense. So in the end, it is about either diving in or running away. If I die in, I then have to balance it to make it last.

If there becomes a lack of supply here I presume there will become some sort of bodily withdrawal due to the lack of supplement correct? So once on T always on T. Will my partner (30) have bad side effects if he is exposed to the gel. He has mid-high levels of testosterone and is perfectly healthy, I wouldn't want his hormones to get out of whack because he touched my arms.

Click to expand...

You ask good questions, and it tells me you need to spend some more time becoming familiar with the ins and outs of TRT before you head down that path.

Yes, your partner should not come into contact with that part of your body where a testosterone gel was applied. Spouses/partners/children are at risk of transfer - and that isn't something you want to do. Typically, TRT is a lifetime commitment.

https://www.excelmale.com/forum/showthread.php?5823-ExcelMale-com-Guide-to-Testosterone-Replacement

Thainis an excellent overview in hypogonadism and TRT. You may have read it, but if you haven't it is a good grounding

I actually printed this and took it to the doctor when I did my tests. At worst I spread the information to the close-minded.

There is of course a language barrier here and a lot of the places here don't do some of the tests. But I tested pretty much everything I could. Living in greece - Sometimes paradise, sometimes a curse.

I have information overload at the moment as you guys have lead me to more questions which ultimately lead me to more articles and so on.

I will likely start treatment tomorrow and keep an eye on my bloodwork after 4-6 weeks as well as try to get in touch with an overseas doctor to help me as I see a lot do phone consulting. I can of course force my doctor to follow what is recommended, and if it is working I will twist the arm that bit further until it breaks

We're a community for people looking for health. Ask what you want when you want to.

TGreece

Private message me.

What HIV med are you taking? Hopefully it is not efavirenz. It causes anxiety, depression and high estradiol (your estradiol is not high). I know a doctor in Greece, so let me know.

My office is located in Athens,close to Acropolis.Veikou str.108,+302109214303 (10am/12pm).
You may call me and arrange an appointment.I do believe that tostram 2% is the best option.I also use it,since i am on TRT since January 2015.Testosterone enanthate is also available,but it affects to hematocrite,beta estradiol.
Your FT could get elevated if you add some mesterolone (proviron).It is also available-prescription free,in pharmacy stores of Athens.