low test = brain tumor? oh sh*t!

**liftin4life** · 09-02-2006, 07:15 AM

So I had testosterone levels of 84ng/dl. They ran tons of tests...one test showed 44ng/dl...I'm 24 yrs old so someone was seroiusly wrong. I had an MRI and it turns out I have a tumor in my pituitary. So...yeah...that sucks. They're waiting on prolactin results to determine if it's "hyperprolactinemia" (tumor producing prolactin). If it is...they'll want me on Bromocriptine or Cabergoline. I don't want the sickness, dizziness, hallucinations, nausea, or other sides of these 2 drugs...nor the RAPID regrowth of the tumor that occurs when these 2 drugs are stopped. SO.....

That leaves me with test replacement (TRT)....and/or surgery. With levels being 1/3 of a female my age...I'm opting for the TRT before I let them cut at me...even though it's not THAT dangerous. Still...I'd rather avoid it. Also..don't want radiation. So...all roads lead to TRT at this point. On a positive note, looks like I'll be taking steroids for free and legally...so that's amazing for my fitness goals. It makes me think I've wasted all this effort and I'm wondering how I continue to lose fat and gain strength.

On a negative note...I'm somewhat in shock and never saw this coming. So...hmmm....in a weird state of mind.

**k@m NYC** · 09-02-2006, 07:24 AM

That kinda sucks. But dont worry, everything will turn out fine.

**LBT** · 09-02-2006, 07:36 AM

Rooting for you bro, hope all goes well, keep us all updated.

Was it a random bloodtest that showed your low test levels, or have you had other symptoms?

**M1chael** · 09-02-2006, 07:42 AM

If you have to take either bromocriptin or cabergoline, go with cabergoline in every way. its less harsh showing better tolerance in many users and its more powerful.

**Receiver84** · 09-02-2006, 09:04 AM

Seems like you're taking the news ok. Definitely routing for you bro. Good luck with everything

**stupidhippo** · 09-02-2006, 09:24 AM

do u think u had low tesl all your life? and another question if so.. How big / strong did u get with lo test.. ? Good luck and its prolly not so bad as ur physicians probably explained u..

**Duke of Earl** · 09-02-2006, 10:15 AM

yeah - stay away from the bromo mate - it sucks...caber sides are waaay more manageable ( for me anyhow )

good luck

**guns626** · 09-02-2006, 10:26 AM

We're all wishing you the best. HRT is alright if I am the one that wants it, but at 24 and the doctors telling me I need it that is another story! Keep us posted. Prayers are with ya.

**liftin4life** · 09-02-2006, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by LBT

Rooting for you bro, hope all goes well, keep us all updated.

Was it a random bloodtest that showed your low test levels, or have you had other symptoms?

ZERO sex drive for 4 or 5 months. It was fine after cycle and gains were maintained...PCT was fine. So...I knew something was really wrong. Couldn't even get it up...so I saw a doctor. He said I was one of the healthiest people he had seen in a long time and that all my vitals were great...and that it sounded like my training/diet were great. The only thing left to do was check my testosterone . It was 84ng on one test and 44ng on another so he ran FSH, TSH, LH...then sent me to a Urologist. He orderd the MRI. Now they're checking E2 and prolactin, then sending me to an endocrinologist to discuss options.

**liftin4life** · 09-02-2006, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by stupidhippo

do u think u had low tesl all your life? and another question if so.. How big / strong did u get with lo test.. ? Good luck and its prolly not so bad as ur physicians probably explained u..

Well since I've taken a few prohormone cycles, it's hard to say. Those cycles may have benefited me more than most if my levels have been this low for awhile. From what I know so far, I'm thinking this has effected me for several years. My whole life...probably not...but at least a few years.

Since I may respond better to hormones because I lack them, I can't say what my "natural" potential would have been. 5 years ago before I took anything hormonal I had bulked from 117 to 185 in 2yrs (a little chunky but not fat)...and my best lifts had been: bench 235 x 5, squat 265 x 20, dips...not sure...deadlift...not sure. I bulked and cut several times each time gaining too much fat and losing too much muscle with either goal. Looking back, I can see how my "female-test" levels probably affected the fat/muscle gain and loss. This year...before I began cutting, my best lifts were: deadlift: 300 x 18, squat 305 x 20, flat bench 320 x9 and weighted dips 90 x 9 at a weight of 176lbs at 5' 7". I tend to gain strength a lot faster than mass and that may have been due to my deficiency. Not sure.

**liftin4life** · 09-02-2006, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by guns626

We're all wishing you the best. HRT is alright if I am the one that wants it, but at 24 and the doctors telling me I need it that is another story! Keep us posted. Prayers are with ya.

Yeah, I can't say I jump for joy at the thought of it, but if I choose to take a positive outlook...health issues aside...I could be excited that I can take physician-monitored test enth or test cyp and get it very cheap and legally. If I take that perspective, that's something to be excited about. I could just spike the dosage up once or twice a year for 6-8 weeks adding in some Letro or Arimidex (maybe nolva) then drop back to baseline while keeping gains. So that's positive.

It sucks I had to get a tumor though to have that option...haha. And I agree with you...CHOOSING to take something vs. HAVING to take something are different.

From everything I've read on Bromocriptine and Cabergoline, the tumor regrows rapidly when they're stopped. Also..the increase in dopamine and the low blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, possible hallucinations, etc....are NOT ideal for my work position. I can't say it here but my job requires me to be ready to fight someone at any random moment. If the indications say "be careful while driving" then I surely can't take it then work.

I appreciate everyone's support. This is somewhat of a shock for me and I'm not devastated but I am somewhat upset about it.

**Bratty4him** · 09-02-2006, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by liftin4life

So I had testosterone levels of 84ng/dl. They ran tons of tests...one test showed 44ng/dl...I'm 24 yrs old so someone was seroiusly wrong. I had an MRI and it turns out I have a tumor in my pituitary. So...yeah...that sucks. They're waiting on prolactin results to determine if it's "hyperprolactinemia" (tumor producing prolactin). If it is...they'll want me on Bromocriptine or Cabergoline. I don't want the sickness, dizziness, hallucinations, nausea, or other sides of these 2 drugs...nor the RAPID regrowth of the tumor that occurs when these 2 drugs are stopped. SO.....

That leaves me with test replacement (TRT)....and/or surgery. With levels being 1/3 of a female my age...I'm opting for the TRT before I let them cut at me...even though it's not THAT dangerous. Still...I'd rather avoid it. Also..don't want radiation. So...all roads lead to TRT at this point. On a positive note, looks like I'll be taking steroids for free and legally...so that's amazing for my fitness goals. It makes me think I've wasted all this effort and I'm wondering how I continue to lose fat and gain strength.

On a negative note...I'm somewhat in shock and never saw this coming. So...hmmm....in a weird state of mind.

Please keep us updated...I'm anxious to see your prolactin levels. I too was told that I have a prolactinoma. Benign tumor of the pituitary gland. Mine is about 3mm. Which they said is nothing to worry about. Unless I start getting headaches or blurred vision. Also when they checked my prolactin levels they were, I believe 17.1, and I think they are not supposed to be above 15. I went back a few weeks later to check the prolactin levels again and they were normal. They did all these tests b/c my wife and I were having trouble conceiving our second child. My sperm count was only 900,000 when it's supposed to be 20 million. Let me know how everything turns out.

**liftin4life** · 09-02-2006, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by ynot_5_0

Please keep us updated...I'm anxious to see your prolactin levels. I too was told that I have a prolactinoma. Benign tumor of the pituitary gland. Mine is about 3mm. Which they said is nothing to worry about. Unless I start getting headaches or blurred vision. Also when they checked my prolactin levels they were, I believe 17.1, and I think they are not supposed to be above 15. I went back a few weeks later to check the prolactin levels again and they were normal. They did all these tests b/c my wife and I were having trouble conceiving our second child. My sperm count was only 900,000 when it's supposed to be 20 million. Let me know how everything turns out.

Yeah, mine is 4mm as of now. From everything I've read on prolactin I don't have symptoms of those levels being high but then again they say sometimes in males there are no obvious ones. I know the danger zone (vision/headaches) is around 10mm in size but how do we know how fast it is growing at this point?

I'll keep you posted. The lab lost 2 samples so I had to take more...and of course labor day...they're not working. I should know something more on Tuesday. I'm not too concerned with fertility...I just want my test back to normal. If I can delay surgery and take TRT...that's fine. I just CANNOT take bromo or cab due to the danger level of my job. I think it would be putting me at a high risk for getting hurt...especially with my energy already low from hardly any test.

**liftin4life** · 09-05-2006, 11:30 PM

So here is the deal. Final numbers as well. My prolactin and E2 levels came back right in the middle of the normal range. This means my tumor is nonsecretory and at 4mm....not a serious threat.

HOWEVER, my total test in the AM...is 51.89 and free is 11.1. That is the only level that's off. SHBG is 11. So...that being said...it's messed up.

Since surgery is not something they jump into, and 10mm in size is the danger area...I think they'll (the endo when I meet w/him)....want to monitor the tumor with MRI's to see if it is growing and if so...how fast.

In the meantime, since my test is so freakin low, I'm going to request that I bet put on TRT. I don't care about fertility and even if I did I think it is salvagable later on. Considering that my levels are so low and prolactin is normal...medicinal treatment other than TRT is not available. It's surgery, radiation or TRT at this point.

Considering that my total test is 51, hopefully they'll do more than the typical 100mg cyp or enth per week as I think it may take 150-200mg/wk to reach the "normal" 800-1000 level of a 25 year old.

We shall see. I won't use the gel due to DHT conversion and just plain messiness. I'm sure the doc will understand that. Also, I'm sure he won't push me to have surgery when the tumor is only 4mm. Hopefully we think alike and TRT is on the way. Something must be done. Having levels this low is a health risk.

**liftin4life** · 09-05-2006, 11:31 PM

So here is the deal. My prolactin and E2 levels came back right in the middle of the normal range. LH/GH/FSH/TSH are all normal or close enough. This means my tumor is nonsecretory and at 4mm....not a serious threat.

HOWEVER, my total test in the AM...is 51.89 and free is 11.1. That is the only level that's off. SHBG is 11. So...that being said...it's messed up.

Since surgery is not something they jump into, and 10mm in size is the danger area...I think they'll (the endo when I meet w/him)....want to monitor the tumor with MRI's to see if it is growing and if so...how fast.

In the meantime, since my test is so freakin low, I'm going to request that I be put on TRT. I don't care about fertility and even if I did I think it is salvagable later on. Considering that my levels are so low and prolactin is normal...medicinal treatment other than TRT is not available. It's surgery, radiation or TRT at this point. I can't imagine any doc saying no to this scenario.

Considering that my total test is 51, hopefully they'll do more than the typical 100mg cyp or enth per week as I think it may take 150-200mg/wk to reach the "normal" 800-1000 level of a 25 year old.

We shall see. I won't use the gel due to DHT conversion (hairloss) and just plain messiness. I'm sure the doc will understand that. Also, I'm sure he won't push me to have surgery when the tumor is only 4mm. Hopefully we think alike and TRT is on the way. Something must be done. Having levels this low is a health risk and aside from that it must SURELY be affecting my workouts and fitness goals.

**stupidhippo** · 09-06-2006, 12:11 AM

good luck with that... TRT definetly has its good sides... u can do a cycle every now and then and not worry about losing all thr gains.

**InsaneInTheMembrane** · 09-06-2006, 01:47 AM

I'm just glad you caught the tumor in time... Imagine if you opted for IGF or HGH down the line without a diagnosis..your tumor could have grown out of control!!

Thank your stars mate! With modern medicine, you will garanteed a fully functional life with TRT... so dont be too down on yourself...also, should you ever decide to start a family, compounds like HCG can help.. My friend, a pro, completely destroyed his HPTA system by going on a 2 yr cycle... he's on TRT now and was able to have two sons by using HCG in the time frame he wanted to conceive...

cheers

**stupidhippo** · 09-06-2006, 02:54 AM

I doubt the tumors growth would be affected by GH... ofcourse I cant say that with certainty and its good that u watch closely what u do now.. All Im saying I doubt this type of tumors growth is in relation to GH levels.

**yom** · 09-06-2006, 03:56 AM

oh wwell no pct for you anymore - your body made the choice not your brain nice one.

**liftin4life** · 09-06-2006, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by InsaneInTheMembrane

I'm just glad you caught the tumor in time... Imagine if you opted for IGF or HGH down the line without a diagnosis..your tumor could have grown out of control!!

Thank your stars mate! With modern medicine, you will garanteed a fully functional life with TRT... so dont be too down on yourself...also, should you ever decide to start a family, compounds like HCG can help.. My friend, a pro, completely destroyed his HPTA system by going on a 2 yr cycle... he's on TRT now and was able to have two sons by using HCG in the time frame he wanted to conceive...

cheers

Awesome...that makes things seem better. I have an appointment on the 20th. If the doc doesn't prescribe TRT I'm gonna flip out. With ALL levels normal, she'd be out of her mind not to...right? And I DO KNOW they can't make me have surgery because it's a last resort and MY body. As far as radiation...F*CK that....51% of people who have the radiation (which always follows surgery now) go on FULL HRT within 2 years! That's the statistic! So I surely don't want that...TRT over HRT, surgery, and radiation ANY DAY.

**liftin4life** · 09-06-2006, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by yom

oh wwell no pct for you anymore - your body made the choice not your brain nice one.

Yeah...I think with all other levels normal and the tumor a reasonable size, this can be a very positive scenario. Yeah...spike the test a couple times a year...pack on 20 or so (maybe an AI or SERM)...then drop back to TRT dose and keep gains. From that perspective this is great.

Should anyone at my age INTENTIONALLY try to get on TRT...I don't think so. But in my case I think it is the best option out of the others...and the safest.