need some good advice

[briang1981]

Im 30 yrs old and have been dealing with Low T for over a year and half now, i finally decided to go to a hrt clinic after my regular doctors have failed to treat me like i needed. As of 3 weeks ago i had a total t of 285 ng/dl out of 348-1197, free t was 10.0 pg/ml out of 8.7-25.1, my lh was low 1.0 out of 1.7- 4.0, i did not get any blood work done for my fsh but everything else checked out good. My uroligist said that on my left testicle it felt like i had a busted blood vein that could be causing my problem, he didnt seem like he was too concerned about it and prescribed me testim, well that shit didnt work for me bc my t level dropped from 340 to 285. Now im on test cyp and my advisor told me to start out with 1cc a week, i decided for myself to 3/4 cc on monday and 3/4 cc on thursday, i have two weeks completed with the shots. My question is how long will it take for me to start feeling better, will the shots help even though i seem to have a damaged testicle. Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated bc im tired of feeling like shit and ready to get my life back on track.

[kelkel]

Welcome to the forum. If your LH is that low your FSH probably is too. It indicates a potential pituitary issue and you should have an MRI to determine exactly what the problem is. It's possible you have an adenoma which is inhibiting your LH-FSH production, which in turn signals the testicals to produce Testosterone (I'm the proud owner of one myself.) Normally when there's a pituitary issue your LH-FSH is almost non-existant and therefore your T production is extremely low or dropping. That would make you Secondary Hypogonadal. If the problem was due to your testicals (trauma-injury-failure) your LH-FSH would be overproducing in effort to get the desired results, making you Primary Hypogonadal.

I would not necessarily up the dosage until you have BW back to justify it. You need to develope a trust with your doc if your going to continue to see him/her. How long it takes to feel better? It's kind of up to the individual and how your system responds to exogenous T. Read GDevines sticky on just that topic. While there read all the stickies if you haven't already. Great info to be had up there and it will answer a lot of your questions up front.

Good luck. Keep us posted on your progress. Try and make one change at a time so you know what works. Be patient and once again, welcome!

[Vettester]

I think Kelkel said it as good as it can be said ...

If I'm reading it right, you're taking 300mg/wk by going with 1-1/2cc/wk (based that your meds are 200mg/cc). This IMO is just asking for trouble before you ever get a handle on your program. Me personally, what I know now, I would start a 1/2 cc/wk and build from there if needed. Run labs in 6 weeks and see where that puts you. You can incrementally build on it from there if needed, and you will for sure will achieve a greater balance a lot faster by going this route.

[briang1981]

I do plan on having a MRI done in about a month or so, the only reason why i havent had one yet is bc my urologist acted like he wasnt worried about it, but i think he is a dumbasss anyways bc he told me that when my t level was at 340 that it was not far from being normal and shouldnt be feeling bad. Thanks for all the advice i think im going to back up and go with 1cc a week and go get everyhing checked again in about 6 weeks. Another thing is do yall think i should be taking a estrogen blocker right now, my estrodial level was a 19 based on a scale of 7-42

[bullshark99]

Good move start slow and build from there, this is not a sprint. regarding AI, you will need one (more than likely) would wait 3-4 weeks and get E2 run, then again, you can add and adjust from there.

[GotNoBlueMilk]

Your E2 was 19 when taking a heck of a lot less Test? If you are taking 300 mg/wk of Test Cyp you definately need an AI ASAP. High E2 will make you feel like crap just as low T levels will. The best advice I can offer is to re-read vetteman's advice. Start with 1/2 cc/wk which is 100 mg. More is not better unless your body needs more. If you give it too much, you have other problems and that defeats the purpose of getting healthier and feeling better. The feeling better part will be your guide, along with solid bloodwork.

The low LH is a concern, but lots of people will have LH that low and do not have a pituitary tumor. Checking that out is prudent, but don't lose sleep over it in the meantime.

[briang1981]

My urologist said the reason of my Low Lh was bc of my damaged left testicle, and that he would be concerned of a tumor if my LH was high. Would i benefit from HCG if i have a damaged testicle. My HRT advisor tried to get me to get some HCG it was just too expensive for me rt now, but im willing to try anything to feel better, a year and half of feeling like crap everyday is getting old and im ready to get my life back on track

[GotNoBlueMilk]

Hmmmm, LH is released by the pituitary in response to GnRH produced by the thalmus. The feedback from the testicles is Testosterone, which will decrease more LH release. I'm not sure how he determined that a damaged testicle will decrease LH. Older men whose testicles wear out and become desensitized to LH will produce even more LH, not less, because they no longer produce enough testosterone. Then these old men get testicles the size of grapefruits because of the increased LH production. Lower LH production means smaller testicles.

Your doc could easily know something I don't; however, based on how few times doctors have been correct about all things male, I doubt his opinion is an expert opinion, and I doubt that a damaged testicle will result in lower LH. If you find out I am wrong, I would like to know the physiology behind it.

[GotNoBlueMilk]

Ok, I researched this some. Apparently testicular damage can cause an increase in E2, which would definately block GnRH and LH production. So I guess your doc used that reasoning; however, he failed to note that your E2 was 19. This is far from high, which is required for blocking the LH. In fact 19 is just about perfect and would not cause a low LH value!

Don't get me wrong, the chance of a pituitary tumor is very low in my far from expert opinion. I'm just saying I think your testicular damage has nothing to do with low LH.

[briang1981]

I agree with you My urologist is young and i believe he is a dumbass i guess its time for me to get a second opinion. Im gonna ask my gp doctor and get his opinion on it too. I know i dont have any pain in my testicles and they have not shrunk or swollen up. I did have blood work dont on my pituitary gland and the blood work came back all normal, so i dont know what can be going on

[briang1981]

I also had a ct scan on my head about 8 months ago and it came back normal with no tumors. I guess i could get a MRI done just to check the pituitary gland but all the blood work i had done on it came back good, so i really dont think that is my problem

[Sgt. Hartman]

From what you say it sounds like your doc thinks you have a varicocele? That's a lot different than an actual damaged testicle.

If the varicocele is bad enough that it's affecting your testes ability to produce testosterone then you need to have it fixed.

Whatever it is I'd get another opinion about it. These guys have you sorted on the trt part of it, good luck.

[briang1981]

I think that is exactly what the urologist was trying to say, but he acted to me like he wasnt that concerned about it, bc he should have ordered a ultrasound on it to verify it. If thats the case would i benefit from hrt therapy rt now until i can have the procedure done