My lab results...what do you think?

[lowtesthelp]

Here are the results of BW I had done on 4/16 and 5/2. Some tests were run on both dates, other tests run only on one date or the other. Blood drawn in the morning. Only drank water after midnight the night before each test. I'm 38, 5'6" 175lbs. I take Lexapro 10mg and Wellbutrin XL 300mg daily for past 4 years.

Doctor says he sees no reason for low testosterone, that these numbers are probably just "normal" for me. He said normal total testosterone range is 250-1100 and I'm close to or within those numbers. I explained to him that based upon my research 250 might be normal for a 75 year old but it should be considered low for me. He only prescribed Androderm 4% patches after I all but begged for it. I won't use a gel. I have twin 3 year olds and a 5 year old and I won't risk it getting on them. He won't prescribe injections cause "they're done every 2-3 weeks and the peaks and valleys are to drastic." I asked why a smaller dose couldn't be taken weekly but he brushed it off and told me to just try the patches. This doctor is 70 and I just don't think he's up-to-date on the current methods of HRT.

So, here are my BW results with dates and the ranges in parenthesis. All-in-all, other than the testosterone, cholesterol and triglycerides, it appears to me that I'm pretty normal. Am I right? Anyone care to share their thoughts? I'm going to start the patches on Monday and then have blood drawn in 4 weeks. I'm hoping that I'll start feeling less weak and fatigued all the time.



TESTOSTERONE
4/16
Total 214 (250-1100)
Free 56.9 (46-224)
Bioavailable 109.5 (110-575)
SHBG 10 (10-50)
Albumin, Serum 4.2 (3.6-5.1)

5/2
Total 274 (250-1100)
Free 78.3 (46-224)
Bioavailable 105.8 (110-575)
SHBG 11 (10-50)
Albumin, Serum 4.2 (3.6-5.1)


Q-CORTISOL
5/2
6.4 mcg/dl (no range given)


Q-TSH
4/16
.77 (.40-4.50)

5/2
2.05 (.40-4.50)


Q-T4 FREE
5/2
.8 (0.8-1.8)


Q-T4 TOTAL
5/2
5.2 (4.5-12.0)


Q-T3 TOTAL
5/2
108 (76-181)


Q-IGF-I, ECL
5/2
107 (53-331)


Q-LIPID
4/16
Cholesterol Total 192 (125-200)
LDL 105 (<130)
HDL 34 (>=40)
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio 5.6 (<=5.0)
Triglycerides 264 (<=150)


Q-LH
4/16
4.0 (1.5-9.3)


Q-PROLACTIN
4/16
7.3 (2.0-18.0)


CBC
4/16
WBC 5.7 (3.8-10.8)
RBC 4.62 (4.20-5.80)
HEMOGLOBIN 15 (13.2-17.1)
HEMATOCRIT 42.5 (38.5-50)
MCV 91.9 (80-100)
MCH 32.4 (27-33)
MCHC 35.2 (32-36)
RDW 13.4 (11-15)
PLATELETS 149 (140-400)
MPV 10.2 (7.5-11.5)
TOTAL NEUTROPHILS % 64.1 (38-80)
TOTAL LYMPHOCYTES % 24.6 (15-49)
MONOCYTES % 9.7 (0-13)
EOSINOPHILS % 1.2 (0-8)
BASOPHILS % 0.4 (0-2)
NEUTROPHILS ABSOLUTE 3654 (1500-***0)
LYMPHOCYTES ABSOLUTE 1402 (850-3900)
MONOCYTES ABSOLUTE 553 (200-950)
EOSINOPHILS ABSOLUTE 68 (15-500)
BASOS 23 (0-200)


CMP
4/16
GLUCOSE 98 (65-139)
SODIUM 140 (135-146)
POTASSIUM 4.0 (3.5-5.3)
CHLORIDE 100 (98-110)
CARBON DIOXIDE TOTAL 28 (21-33)
BUN 14 (7-25)
CREATININE SERUM 1.27 (.60-1.35)
CALCIUM 9.2 (8.6-10.3)
PROTEIN TOTAL 7.2 (6.2-8.3)
ALBUMIN SERUM 4.2 (3.6-5.1)
GLOBULIN CALCULATED 3.0 (2.1-3.7)
A/G RATIO 1.4 (1.0-2.1)
BILIRUBIN TOTAL .5 (.02- 1.2)
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE 63 (40-115)
AST(SGOT) 17 (10-40)
ALT 21 (9-60)
EGFR NON AFRICAN AMERICAN 71 (>=60)
EGFR AFRICAN AMERICAN 83 (>=60)

[kelkel]

Welcome. Standard testosterone range is now 348 - 1197. Whatever lab being used is using out dated numbers. Your assessment of yourself appears correct. Immediately consider finding a new doc. Read the sticky at the top of the forum regarding "Finding a TRT Physician" as it may help you. Actually, read all the stickies and educate yourself as much as possible. It's your health.

Before you go the TRT route, and after you find a competent doctor, you may want to consider alternative therapy such as HCG/Nolvadex to attempt to jump start your bodies own production. I did not see LH or FSH panels above. These are very important and are indicators as to why your T is low. If your doc did not order these he's basically a retard. It can help tell us whether your production is low due to a pituitary issue (secondary hypo) or due to a testical issue (primary hypogonadal.)

If it were me I'd find out the LH/FSH levels right away. If you need TRT so be it, but I would look to find the underlying problem first and delay starting it until you know more. And I repeat, the first problem is your doctor. Find another. Also with your situation with kids I'd lean toward an injection protocol. Minimum once a week although some of us split that dosage and go every 3.5 days for more stable levels. More will chime in but weekends can be a little slower. Be patient and don't jump into things until you have some answers.

Welcome to the forum!

[lowtesthelp]

LH result is there. 4.0 (1.5-9.3) What does that mean?

Are all numbers the same from all different labs? If the same blood was sent to two different labs with differently calibrated equipment would the results and ranges be different?

What's FSH?

[ecdysone]

you may want to consider alternative therapy such as HCG/Nolvadex to attempt to jump start your bodies own production.

I would tend to go with kel on this, considering you're still a relatively young guy.

Normally I wouldn't recommend patches, but with your extremely low SHBG any test you absorb should easily increase your test level - might be alternatively worth a shot since you have ruled out gels/creams.

[Vettester]

Hmmm ... The LH lab isn't as low as I would have expected when looking at the serum level. That's just a speculative observation ... Everyone is different, but I've probably seen more posts of people being secondary where their LH was < 2.0, and the total serum is in the 200's. I think my baseline was 1.9 back in 2008, and my serum was a bit higher than yours. Either way, this is just trivial and food for thought as we discuss these things ... Regardless, your serum score is low!

At the moment, the best thing you might take away from all of this is Kelkel's comments regarding your doctor. I can't stress to you how imperative it is that take note of this and start thinking about plan B. It's bad enough when a guy is in the low range and gets denied, but it's completely absurd when you're below the range and the guy says you're close enough to the range that you don't need it. Testosterone is only one component of many, so it's crucial that you work with someone who will understand all of these variables, and who won't let you get out of balance in other areas like E2, thyroid, DHEA, etc.

Plus, seeing that you're on Anti-D's, I'll take a wild guess that this doctor of yours is quick to prescribe them without hesitation if a patient even mentions they feel off a bit?? IMO, very few people really need them. This is coming from a guy who once upon a time was on them just the same. Two years prior to my HRT campaign, that's what my GP put me on. I had depression issues, anxiety issues, life was blah! I slowly weened off of them, found out that my hormones were off, and then got back control of my life. I can't say this is the right or wrong course for you, but I'd like to think that a doctor will help you get to the root of where the real problems are and fix/manage it instead of just putting a patch over it.

[kelkel]

Sorry for missing the LH panel above. LH is pulsed out by the pituitary and signals the leydig cells in the testies to produce testosterone. FSH signals the testies for spermatogenesis.

[HRTstudent]

A) sounds like you have low T and you want to treat it with testosterone (there are alternatives of course)

and

B) You need a new doctor, one that really understands male hormones. This one is not the right one for treating your low T, I promise you that....

[zaggahamma]

agree with guys above

yes, test is low and/around where a lot of near 40 year olds need trt...

your pic being on anti-d's complicates yes but like stated, finding a good doc is important

test for thyroid also

good luck