New Guy Here - Bad Protocol?

[Lmholmes11]

Hello everyone, just registered with the website this morning. Ive had an issue with low energy, low libido, and weak erections for quite a while now and finally decided to do something about it. I am 29 years old, will be 30 this October. I went to a local Urologist and had a blood test done. Testosterone was 396 ng/dl (ref range 241-827). The test was taken at 9:30am. He said technically my level is considered normal however he gave me the option to start TRT and see if things improve. I was prescribed 1ml of Cypionate 200mg per month, but im injecting .5ml once every other week. Seems like a low dose but maybe the doctor is just trying to work up. When does everyone usually start to see erection hardness improve?

 

[CoastWatcher]

Welcome to Excelmale...find a new doctor. You have been given a protocol that is guaranteed to fail. The half-life of testosterone is such that you will have metabolized the drug prior to your next injection, having shut down your natural production (exogenous testosterone always shuts down your body's natural production) you will have little testosterone in your system, and then you start the elevator ride all over again.

The best practitioners in the field of androgen replacement realize that frequent, smaller doses of testosterone are the ticket to success. A typical starting point is 50mg/every 3.5 days - one can adjust up or down from there depending on response and labwork.

if you have labwork, and would like to discuss it, post up your values with ranges - you will be pleased with the response.

 

[Vince]

Welcome to ExecelMale. I wonder why your T levels are so low. I definitely would try to find a better doctor, if you post the area you live in. Maybe someone could help you find a good doctor in your area.

 

[PAUL-E]

Coestwatcher is 100% right get a new DR! and if you post lab work with ranges you will get some solid advice I've learned that there are a lot of members on here that are more knowledgeable then a lot of DRs IMHO.
Do you know if your primary or secondary hypogonadism?

 

[Lmholmes11]

Thanks for the replies guys i appreciate it. I live in Northern Michigan, near Gaylord. I am currently going to an office in Petoskey. Next bet would be Traverse City. I will post my lab test results in the Blood Test forum section. As far as primary or secondary hypogonadism im not sure, whats the difference between the two? I may be able to tell you. Im not sure why my level is so low. I used to be a pretty heavy tobacco user. I would go through about a tin of chewing tobacco between 1-2 days. I totaly quit about a month ago.

 

[Lmholmes11]

New guy, here is my recent blood work results

This is the blood test from the Urology doctors office i go to. I posted in the "Introductions" area and a few members suggested that I post my blood work here and see what yall think. Just for a little background ill post the link to my other thread in the Introduction section.

Hepatic Function Panel	4/1/2016 10:00:00 AM	Albumin Level	4.8		gm/dL	3.2-5.4	N	4/1/2016 3:52:00 PM
Hepatic Function Panel	4/1/2016 10:00:00 AM	Bili Total	1.1		mg/dl	0.2-1.0	H	4/1/2016 3:52:00 PM
Hepatic Function Panel	4/1/2016 10:00:00 AM	Alk Phosphatase	57		IntUnit/L	45-122	N	4/1/2016 3:52:00 PM
Hepatic Function Panel	4/1/2016 10:00:00 AM	ALT	17		IntUnit/L	17-63	N	4/1/2016 3:52:00 PM
Hepatic Function Panel	4/1/2016 10:00:00 AM	AST	22		IntUnit/L	10-34	N	4/1/2016 3:52:00 PM
Hepatic Function Panel	4/1/2016 10:00:00 AM	Bili Direct	0.2		mg/dl	0.0-0.2	N	4/1/2016 3:52:00 PM
Hepatic Function Panel	4/1/2016 10:00:00 AM	Total Protein	7.6		gm/dL	6.0-8.0	N	4/1/2016 3:52:00 PM
NOTE	4/1/2016 10:00:00 AM	NOTE					N
	[TD="colspan: 8"]Performing Lab 1 refers to: McLaren Northern Michigan Regional Hospital Laboratory 416 Connable Ave. Petoskey MI 49770 Director: John C. Panos MD[/TD]
Testosterone Level Total	4/1/2016 10:00:00 AM	Testosterone Total	389		ng/dL	175-781	N	4/1/2016 3:52:00 PM

 

[Lmholmes11]

I have posted my blood work over on the Blood test section

 

[PAUL-E]

Congratulations on quitting tobacco. Primary is when balls aren't working secondary is where the brain isn't telling the balls to make test.

 

[PAUL-E]

Seems like some tests that should have been done are missing, do you have LH FSH RBC Hematocrit? and is this on TRT or before?

 

[Lmholmes11]

Im assuming my balls are working, because I have SOME testosterone its just not very high. So that would probably mean i am secondary? What are some other causes for low testosterone?

 

[Lmholmes11]

This is before TRT. I am currently on week 2. Ill look around to see if I have another lab

 

[PAUL-E]

If your test is low and lh/fsh are high your likely primary, if your test is low and your lh/fsh are low your likely secondary.

 

[PAUL-E]

Its possible the proper tests where not done given your horrible protocol I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[Lmholmes11]

Here is more from the lab.

BASOPHIL, ABSOLUTE	0.04	K/mcL	0.0-0.2	Details
	BASOPHIL %	0.8	%	0.0-2.0	Details
	EOSINOPHIL, ABSOLUTE	0.18	K/mcL	0.0-0.7	Details
	EOSINOPHIL %	3.5	%	0.0-4.0	Details
	HCT	44.9	%	42-52	Details
	HGB	16.0	g/dL	14-18	Details
	LYMPHOCYTE, ABSOLUTE	1.11 Low	K/mcL	1.2-3.4	Details
	LYMPHOCYTE %	21.5	%	20.5-51.1	Details
	MCH	30.5	pg	29.0-33.0	Details
	MCHC	35.6	g/dL	32-36	Details
	MCV	85.5	fL	80-94	Details
	MONOCYTE, ABSOLUTE	0.56	K/mcL	.11-.59	Details
	MONOCYTE %	10.8 High	%	1.7-9.3	Details
	MPV	11.1 High	fL	7.4-10.4	Details
	NEUTROPHIL, ABSOLUTE	3.27	K/mcL	2.0-8.1	Details
	NEUTROPHIL %	63.2	%	42.2-75.2	Details
	PLT (COUNT)	256	K/mcL	130-400	Details
	RBC	5.25	M/mcL	4.7-6.1	Details
	RDW	12.1	%	11.5-14.5	Details
	WBC	5.2	K/mcL	4.8-10.8

 

[Lmholmes11]

Okay makes sence. I think I will start looking for a new doctor. Theres just a lot of variables and possibilities as to what is causing my erection problems. Is it from chewing and my arteries arent 100%? ( Ive thought of this so I am drinking 8 oz of pomegranate juice every day, I hear that helps arteries) Or is it Low T? Its all very overwhelming. Im 29, I wouldnt think I should be worrying about this, this early! Also to note, I have always had near perfect blood pressure

 

[PAUL-E]

I see a local urologist but a lot of people have had great success with Defy and it can be done over the phone.

check this out
https://www.excelmale.com/forum/sho...toring-Your-Blood-Tests-While-on-Testosterone
https://www.excelmale.com/forum/showthread.php?6751-Blood-Tests-Pre-and-On-Testosterone-Replacement

 

[CoastWatcher]

Your entire situation is a mess. Why were no thyroid tests run (TSH, T3, T4, RT3)? Was LH and FSH captured - to see if you had either primary or secondary hypogonadism? Estradiol? Seiously, you are working with a doctor who is doing you no favours.

 

[PAUL-E]

yeah that's whys its so critical to find a competent DR. sometime there could be underlying causes.

 

[CoastWatcher]

The two threads you started have been merged for the sake of simplicity.

 

[Lmholmes11]

Thank you everyone. I am going to go to another office next week for a second opinion, and hopefully get the correct blood tests done