Hi All - I am 50 years old and have had symptoms of TRT for over 1 year. I do not drink, smoke or do any drugs and have never done steroids in my life. I eat a pretty balanced diet and used to run about 20 miles per week but since I am tired all the time, I stopped. About a month ago I went to a Urologist who prescribed 200 mg of Testosterone Cypionate by injection every 14 days. The Urologist made the diagnosis of primary hypogonadism based off of 1 low testosterone reading of just over 200. Normal range for this test was 268. Seeing that I was not feeling well, I was thinking he was correct as my symptoms all pointed to Low T. I started the protocol provided by my doctor except that I injected 100 mg every 7 days. I read on this forum that this is more effective. I have been on TRT for 1 month and have not experience much of a change but it has only been 1 month. I have gained 7 pounds and I assume its all water weight. Also, morning erection have come back.
At the same time I scheduled the appointment with the Urologist, I also scheduled an appointment with an Endocrinologist. My appointment with the Endocrinologist was this week and she was not very complimentary of the Urologist's diagnosis of primary hypogonadism without adequate testing and was visibly upset that he prescribed Testosterone Therapy without conducting numerous blood tests first.
We discussed the situation and decided that I would stop taking testosterone therapy for 2 months and then she ordered a multitude of tests to include Testosterone Bioavailable (she said this included Total and Free T), FSH, LH, and Prolactin. Also, she ordered the following tests that I had done immediately; Thyroid Auto AB, T4, T3, TSH, Iron Panel, Ferritin, Basic Metabolic Panel, CBC, and Hepatic function. The tests I completed immediately came back in range. It is interesting that my Ferritin and has been high for 5 years and after being on TRT for 1 month, is now well within the normal range.
Two questions, 1) is my decision to come off TRT correct based on the scenario above, and 2) are there additional tests that I should have done when I am off TRT.
I want to have the correct tests done so that I do not have to go through this waiting game again. The Endocrinologist stated that she is more than willing to prescribe TRT via androgel if needed. She stated that she would prescribe injections if androgel does not work.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
At the same time I scheduled the appointment with the Urologist, I also scheduled an appointment with an Endocrinologist. My appointment with the Endocrinologist was this week and she was not very complimentary of the Urologist's diagnosis of primary hypogonadism without adequate testing and was visibly upset that he prescribed Testosterone Therapy without conducting numerous blood tests first.
We discussed the situation and decided that I would stop taking testosterone therapy for 2 months and then she ordered a multitude of tests to include Testosterone Bioavailable (she said this included Total and Free T), FSH, LH, and Prolactin. Also, she ordered the following tests that I had done immediately; Thyroid Auto AB, T4, T3, TSH, Iron Panel, Ferritin, Basic Metabolic Panel, CBC, and Hepatic function. The tests I completed immediately came back in range. It is interesting that my Ferritin and has been high for 5 years and after being on TRT for 1 month, is now well within the normal range.
Two questions, 1) is my decision to come off TRT correct based on the scenario above, and 2) are there additional tests that I should have done when I am off TRT.
I want to have the correct tests done so that I do not have to go through this waiting game again. The Endocrinologist stated that she is more than willing to prescribe TRT via androgel if needed. She stated that she would prescribe injections if androgel does not work.
Any thoughts are appreciated.
