Hi Folks - Need some advice on test lvls.

[Mingle]

Well it has been a bit of a journey to get to this point. I guess i could go back a long way but the point where it all became an issue was when i started dating again 2 years after the breakup of a 20yr marriage and i was having erection problems. I am 48 by the way

I went to see my local GP about it and described my symptoms , well the depression was something i was allready being treated for, but i was having real problems getting any sort of an erection and it would vanish soon afterwards, i had zero libido and never got close to the grand finals!
He recommended getting off the prozac as they can be a problem in this area so this is what i did, 1 month later no joy i went to visit him again , this time he did the basic bloodwork for a checkup so that we could see if testosterone levels were okie. When the test came back he announced that my levels were normal and to wait another month to see if things would get better by themselves. I walked out of there so dissapointed that we could not find anything obviously wrong and my only hope was some vague promise that things would right themselves.

That night when i got home i started searching the internet for some answers and finally came across two really good forums where other guys had talked about similar problems and the best bit of advice i got was "get a copy of your bloodwork, because a doc will say you are normal and you might be at the lower end of the range , and the range is more of an indicator of disease not quality of life" so did this and blow me down my testosterone level was 10 nmol/l normal range 10-32.

what really baked my noodle was all the symptoms of the depression i was being treated for were also symptoms of low test. and i couldnt remember when i last had a morning glory.

So i changed docs and the new doc ordered up some more bloodwork here are the results

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone 1.7mU/L (0.4 - 4.0)
Oestradiol 83 pmol/L (40 - 250)
Testosterone 10 nmol/L (10 - 32)
Follicle Stimulating Hormone 2 U/L (3 - 20)
Free Testosterone 9 pmol/L (40 - 100)

Crikey! Doc says that with such low test and free test my FSH should be sky high trying to stimulate the testicles into making more testosterone but its not and that might be an indicator of pituitary gland failure. She has made a referal to a endo for me, but as luck would have it the specialist has retired and now i have to wait till monday for a new referall.

Does anyone know of a endo in brisbane who specialises in mens problems? if so could ask her to make a referall to him.

Also any comments or opinions that would help me understand this more would be a huge help. I would like to go to the next appointment with a bit of a clue to the questions i should be asking and what i sould be able to reasonably expect in the way of treatment options. E.g the docs says i will probable get a testosterone pellet implant , but from what i have read so far its not the optimum solution?

thanks in advance

[starkiller]

First welcome!

You will find many questions can be answered her. If not directly than through a search, I know, they told me this when I first linked-up here to. But no worries, someone will come along with a good response to your questions. As for a referel well Iam not from your neck of the woods however someone her may be.

If your "T" is as low as it appears then you may be a canidate for HRT. Only your Doctor can tell you this but some here will too. I have experienced some of the same symptoms as you.

After a visit to my Dr. I was put on TRT and after few weeks my outlook and over feeling mentally and physically has change for the better, and what a good decision it was.

Many of the low enegy and errections issues will go away, usually! As for a pellet I do not think i would like the whole idea. I was given weekly self injections, and like I said it has changed my life, and for many of the people you will communicate with here it has changed there to.

I hope the best for you, and remember, if your not happy with your Dr. you can always choose another.

Best to you!