Need 1st time blood work tips?

[45factor]

So, I'm 41 and have all the signs of low T and go for my 1st blood tests and doc appt on the 28th but, want to know if there's anything I should or shouldn't do to possibly alter the test if I'm close to the questionable end of the scale as most doctors lean towards non-treatment if even on the low end of things? Thanks

[glover]

Look up the symptoms of low T and give those as yours to the Doctor. If you measure low and have symptoms he/she should prescribe T.

[45factor]

Thanks for the Info/help...

[lovbyts]

lack of sleep the night before blood work will lower your T levels. Drinking the night before your blood work will lower your T levels. A shot of Deca one or 2 weeks before your blood work will lower your T levels.

[45factor]

Thank you, so should I stop all supplements and workouts as well??

[mperk]

good luck with that. the best advice is to look up ALL the symptoms and recite them. I did all this to my doc, and 2 of his assistants (1 female - gulp) he said i "could benefit" from it but wouldn't prescribe because the ins co won't pay for it. waste of time for me! Finally got a script from a private doc but the test was more expensive than UG and same quality (IMO)

Docs are really discouraged from scribing by the ins co's.....

Keep us posted what happens. BTW - once I started cycling at 47 my nuts went on vacation. Even with lots of PCT the #'s dropped so I will be on TRT for life (which is ok by me) (Total test went from starting at 450 down to 300 to 255 to 135 after each cycle) Not much resiliency in my nuts for taking up where the needle left off.

[45factor]

Thank you as this is what I came up with. Please to all continue to add any & all Info.

1. Do you have a decrease in libido (sex drive)?
2. Do you have a lack of energy?
3. Do you have a decrease in strength and/or endurance?
4. Have you lost height?
5. Have you noticed a decreased "enjoyment of life"?
6. Are you sad and/or grumpy?
7. Are your erections less strong?
8. Have you noticed a deterioration in your ability to play sports?
9. Are you falling asleep after dinner?
10. Has there been a recent deterioration in your work performance?

If you answer yes to question one or seven, or at least three of the other questions you may have low testosterone levels.

I hope my workouts and supplements not affect the outcome? Since I'm not sure if they will I'll be stopping everything this coming Monday the 20th which would give me nine days off before bloodwork.

Will start looking for private doctor as a back-up. Not worried about the nuts and won't mind lifetime of TRT if everything else changes... Well worth it!

[mperk]

Yeah those are the questions - one that killed me was that i had to say i had a limp dick and my wife was complaining no libido. And i had to tell all three! hahahahaha and one was halfways cute chick... The doc heard that and immediarely offered viagra and cialis.... i was like no I'd rather treat the cause rather than the symptom. he was like ..."Oh, they just tell us to give prescriptions for Viagra at the free lunches..." Dum$hit!!!

Good luck bud.

[Vettester]

You could always run a private panel first before running any lab work with your doctor. A good place for this is privatemdlabs.com. Their male panels cover the gamut, and they're secure, accurate, and convenient. Another benefit to do this is that you would have a lab file in hand, ready to go with you to a clinic in the event your doctor refuses to treat you.

I wouldn't try to manipulate anything to lower your levels. You're already showing the symptoms, so get your baseline numbers to know exactly where you are at.

[45factor]

mperk - I hear ya on this as the doc is female and who knows how bad I'll humiliate myself while trying to explain everything. It's a shameful feeling!

vetteman08 - Great site/info as I will most likely use in the future with two locations just down the street but, since it took me 2mos to get in and don't want to wait another 2mos and the blood work should be covered under Ins.? After I will be sure to share the findings.

I just would like to feel normal again instead of some tired old grumpy man...

As Always Thank So Much, Very Helpful and Please Anyone Feel Free to Add.

[mŭsˈəl]

You don't want "normal", you want "optimal" testosterone levels. When she's testing your blood, you may want to test her about that difference. My unfortunate experience has been that few MDs have that clinical sophistication and ignore Sx if the resutls are "normal."

[45factor]

I like that OPTIMAL as thats what I'm looking for... TY

[mperk]

You don't want "normal", you want "optimal" testosterone levels. When she's testing your blood, you may want to test her about that difference. My unfortunate experience has been that few MDs have that clinical sophistication and ignore Sx if the resutls are "normal."

Good call mŭsˈəl; VERY TRUE! first time i had it tested it was low normal and the doc said "don't worry about it, but optimal is WAY different. second time same story and a diff doc said the same thing.

[mŭsˈəl]

Good call mŭsˈəl; VERY TRUE! first time i had it tested it was low normal and the doc said "don't worry about it, but optimal is WAY different. second time same story and a diff doc said the same thing.

Yep, sounds familiar - more than one MD ignored my low Free-T levels when my labs were consistently in the 90s!, which is way under the “normal” range of 241.0-850.0 ng/dL. “Optimal” is at least in the higher end of normal, but we’re all different. My “optimal” is mine alone and I can tell the time of day by when by Sx return.

“45 Factor” -- FYI, finding out your “Free Testosterone” level is essential, not just your “Total Testosterone.” Your Free-T level is the amount of testosterone your body has available to use.

[45factor]

Can't wait...

4 days till appointment and just want to get moving forward but, in the back of my mind I just feel as if I'm going to get jerked around about everything like the results (Free-T vs. Total-T) & (Normal vs. Optimal).

She is a younger Endo doc and hoping more open minded than most.

Can't afford alot of Cost and I'm hoping if they do give me anything that they will let me do the shots myself. My sisters a nurse and has agreed to teach me the ways of the needle as this would be a huge cost savings vs. office visits.

[45factor]

Okay - office visit today: $40.00 copay to answer a list of questions just to hear well you fit the profile but, we'll need blood work at 8am and then I'll see you back in about 30days. If your T is low will test it again just to make sure and then we'll want either an MRI of your head (up top) of ultrasound of head (down low). So, by the time I get any help it'll be 2011 and Thosands of $$ in Ins. invoices all the while not helping me and causing me to continue to take off work, etc... Just what I thought...... BS and without any idea if anything will be treated and or with what in what way. KRAZY
I'll keep ya posted...

[45factor]

Blood taken today for the below tests:
Testosterone Total
Testosterone Free
Basic Metabolic Panel
Hemoglobin A1C
T4 & TSH
After the results are back I will continue to update.

[lovbyts]

Yeah some docs can be a PITA especially if it's time for a car payment and they don't have much clientele. My endo is in a NICE, BIG business office with labs and everything right there. I don't think he needs to have patients running back and forth to make his payments, he is booked up all day 5 days a week and it took me almost a month to get in for an appointment the first time. I didn't have to see him again for 6 months after he saw my blood work.

[45factor]

Okay, word back today from doctors office is that I have low T but, now I must go in again in the morning at 8am for another T test then office visit on Oct 25th. lol

[45factor]

Talked to the docs office today and I at least know my Total T is 324 and will be back in for my next visit on the 25th to find out the Free T and what she plans on doing next... I hate to wait!

[45factor]

Okay, so here we go - Total T for the second test was 325 ng/dl and Free T was 62 pg/ml, LH is 1.9, FSH 4.3 and Prolactin is 8.4ng/ml...

As these are all LOW levels and NOT "optimal levels"... She will not help at this time and asked me to come back again in six months for more blood work. Do you believe this??? HUNDREDS of Dollars as the Ins. Co. is now stating they won't cover the costs--- This is just freakin crazy all I wanted was to feel better and have a normal life again. Back to square one... Anyone know of a good doc in St. Charles, Missouri?

[mania]

Okay, so here we go - Total T for the second test was 325 ng/dl and Free T was 62 pg/ml, LH is 1.9, FSH 4.3 and Prolactin is 8.4ng/ml...

As these are all LOW levels and NOT "optimal levels"... She will not help at this time and asked me to come back again in six months for more blood work. Do you believe this??? HUNDREDS of Dollars as the Ins. Co. is now stating they won't cover the costs--- This is just freakin crazy all I wanted was to feel better and have a normal life again. Back to square one... Anyone know of a good doc in St. Charles, Missouri?

Man sorry to hear that. I dont have any recommends but now wonder...

I wonder if I should still go through with the appointment I have with a endo here.
My T numbers are higher than yours at 590 total & 88 free

What a hassle eh? Does not matter if we have symptoms. Just matters that the "Norm" range is where they read us.

[Far from massive]

Have you tried doing a google search for low T clinics in your area? They are probably a lot more likely to prescribe since thats how they pay the rent. I don't know how far St louis is from St Charles but I googled "missouri low t clinics" and the 2nd from the top of the list clinic has a doc there.

[45factor]

Far from Massive, thank you for the suggestion and I will keep searching but, my google search results are - No results found for "missouri low t clinics", No results found for "Missouri low testosterone clinics"??? Any and all help always appreciated from anyone....

[mperk]

Okay, so here we go - Total T for the second test was 325 ng/dl and Free T was 62 pg/ml, LH is 1.9, FSH 4.3 and Prolactin is 8.4ng/ml...

As these are all LOW levels and NOT "optimal levels"... She will not help at this time and asked me to come back again in six months for more blood work. Do you believe this??? HUNDREDS of Dollars as the Ins. Co. is now stating they won't cover the costs--- This is just freakin crazy all I wanted was to feel better and have a normal life again. Back to square one... Anyone know of a good doc in St. Charles, Missouri?

hey man - fight that with the insurance co! don't pay it. i am sure that low T is not excluded from coverage. But in the end - i had the same experience - fukked! But now i'm on trt with Test at 875 free test at 276 and it's all good. though i can''t wait to get on cycle again and go for beast! hahahahaha