I decided to start a new thread about my TRT experience as the original one is getting a little long in story line and my TRT process is starting to feel more like a tribulation than a triumph. I have reached the unfortunate conclusion that I am working with the wrong Dr. for this therapy. I wish I had discovered this forum before beginning treatment as I now realize that the original blood work ordered by the Dr. was insufficient in scope and has left a number of potential pathways of explanation as to why my T levels were low unexplored ie. am I primary or secondary, baseline LH, FSH,SHBG, ALBUMIN, PSA, DHT, etc. etc. The table below shows the extent of blood test run by my Dr. to date.
Date:................................. 12-2-11............. Date: 3-6-12
PSA ...................................None........... .........1.6..... ........Range: 0.00 to 4.00 ng/ml
Free T3 ................................2.7 .....................3.1.............Range: 2.5 to 3.9 ng/
DHEA-S................................144.............. .....297.1...Range: 44.30 to 331.00 ug/dl
Total Test ............................188................... ...610............ Range: 348 to 1197 ng/dl
Free Test .............................6.80................. ..12.70......... Range: 6.80 to 21.50 pg/ml
.
Estradiol...............................18.70..... ...........69.1 0.........Range: 7.60 to 42.60 pg/ml
TSH.....................................1.97...... .............1.28...........Range:0.34 to5.60uIU/ml
It has become painfully clear to me that he is not up to speed with the latest protocols for male TRT therapy. As some may recall my wife and I are seeing the same Dr. for TRT and the Dr. is even more behind the times with her therapy. Needless to say we are bummed as we are both 3 months into this without satisfactory progress and have as many or more questions than when we started. Here is the most recent post I made in my original thread highlighting my Dr. visit yesterday.
"Well the Dr. visit today was interesting. Doc resisted my request to try AI and rather pushed for Resveratrol 200mg/day. He claims this will suppress T conversion to E naturally and may eliminate the need to go on an AI. I argued that I wanted AI and we agreed to compromise with me trying the Resveratrol until next visit...which I plan to schedule 30 days from now. Basically I figure I can give a go and see where I am at and if necessary go to an AI if it doesn’t work. His suggestion for Resveratrol was a complete unknown to me."
What I didn’t mention in that tread was how the debate went. I knew my E was elevated and needed to come down in part because of all the good help on this site. I also have had developed a new issue never experienced before; serious erection issues. I expected an AI therapy from the Dr. but he started down a path of diet and lifestyle changes to reduce E. I explained that this was not the source of the E issue as evidenced by my original E levels before treatment and that I had to be converting T to E. I explained my erection issues telling him I couldn’t keep it up for more than 5 minutes. His response: “some guys would be happy with that.” I assured him I was not. He then suggested lowering the T prescript to control E. WTF!!...that’s the whole reason I am here in the first place….to get my T levels to a level of a 20 to 29 age male. He thought my Free T of 12.70 was fine as it was right in the middle of the 40 to 49 age group. I assured him it was not. He resisted AI therapy and pushed for a natural process through Resveratrol, something I was not familiar with so I acquiesced, agreeing to give it a shot. Incidentally, when ordering my blood work for the next visit I pushed for some new tests not previously done. I could tell a couple of them through him for a loop as I had to spell out the Albumin test.
At this point I think I am throwing in the towel. He did maintain my original T prescript but I think I have to find a new Dr. which is going to be painful. What makes this a difficult decision for me is this Dr. seems willing on some levels to work with me as he took the Dr. Crissler protocol program I printed out for him and said he would read it. He says he is open to AI but wants to try the Resveratrol therapy first, which I am ok with if its not a waste of time. But I am not interested in trying to get this guy up to speed with current TRT for men. The more I read about it I see things in my future like possible IM delivery and HCG therapy etc. which I don’t think this guy knows or cares to know anything about. Also I am especially pissed off about his failure to order the correct panels in the first place as any credible Dr. is going to have try to interpret his incomplete job and now having been on therapy for 3 months I have no baseline to work with which leads me to my final question.
Would it make sense to jump off therapy and let my body return to it pre T therapy levels and then start this process all over again with the right Dr.? Can this even be done? How long would it take? Is it a big deal not knowing if I am primary or secondary? As an alternative I have considered getting some AI on my own to lower the E until I can get to the right Dr. That way I don't have to sacrafice the T progress I have made. I am thinking this Resveratrol is going to be a waste of time for significant E suppression although it does look like a highly benificial supplement for other reasons.
As always guys and gals…thanks for all the help and suggestions.
PS. Anybody got a good TRT Dr. to recommend in the NE Ohio area for either my wife or I or both?
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