Seroid.com members/Testosterone reference ranges

[Vahevahe]

Dear Seroid.com members
My name is Vic and im a 24 year old male and since i can remember my life has been an uphill battle. Visiting more than my share of doctors in which they ultimately sent me home with no diagnosis and no help. The only worse feeling than feeling helpless and suffering every single day is knowing that nothing can be done to end the struggle . With the grace of god and Steroid .com members I recently found out that my total testosterone levels were 224 ng/ml, 266 ng/ml and 275 ng/ml. I visited numerous doctors and specialists which refused to treat me because i was in range or close to it (250-1100ng/dl). Even after telling them my symptoms, gynecomastia and severe lack of hair they still said that my labs were "in range". I understand that this is fundamentally a fault of the physicians and not the laboratories but I think that laboratories have a responsibility to have clear reference ranges. Reference ranges should not be misleading. Laboratories should be petitioned to place proper information on laboratory reference ranges to give doctors a clearer picture of what constitutes low testosterone relative to the patients age. This will help rein in laboratory reference ranges and help save people from falling through the cracks. I want to gauge support for starting a petition on change.org.


UPADATE**********************************


Hello everyone,
I wanted to give you guys a update on my progress so far. I have contacted My Harvery W. Kaufman Senior Medical Director at Quest Laboratories. This is his response.

Dear Vic *************,

I am sorry to hear of the daily struggles people have to find good healthcare so they can become and stay healthy. I am delighted that you have found a physician who recognizes your medical needs and is responsive to them. I cannot comment on your specific medical condition or medical management. I will limit my response to your comments about the testosterone reference ranges.

Quest Diagnostics works hard to inform and educate physicians about appropriate test utilization and interpretation. Given the ever-expanding nature of information, none of us can keep pace with all aspects of medicine. Thus, specialists fill an important role in keeping pace with information and new studies that can best guide decisions about medical management of patients. Quest Diagnostics continues to develop innovation solutions that improve the lives of patients.

Again, I wish you the best in improving your own health through better information.


Harvey W. Kaufman, M.D., MBA, FCAP
Quest Diagnostics | Senior Medical Director, Office of the Chief Medical Officer | 3 Giralda Farms | Madison, NJ 07940 USA | mobile +1.201.213.8452 |
==================

I have also contacted Labcorp and many different endocrine organizations and am waiting for there response. I am going to be preparing documents to show to news organizations after november. I am also going to be starting a petition on change.org very soon so please stay tuned. Thank you very much for your support !!!

[TennTarheel]

I totally agree. The bottom line is that the docs need to realize that everyone has their own unique set of "optimal ranges". Person A feels great with a TT of 650 while Person B may feel terrible that low. Obviously many other numbers come into play, but lots of docs dont even consider them important or relative

[bass]

Dear Seroid.com members
My name is Vic *********** and im a 24 year old male and since i can remember my life has been an uphill battle. Visiting more than my share of doctors in which they ultimately sent me home with no diagnosis and no help. The only worse feeling than feeling helpless and suffering every single day is knowing that nothing can be done to end the struggle . With the grace of god and Steroid.com members I recently found out that my total testosterone levels were 224 ng/ml, 266 ng/ml and 275 ng/ml. I visited numerous doctors and specialists which refused to treat me because i was in range or close to it (250-1100ng/dl). Even after telling them my symptoms, gynecomastia and severe lack of hair they still said that my labs were "in range". I understand that this is fundamentally a fault of the physicians and not the laboratories but I think that laboratories have a responsibility to have clear reference ranges. Reference ranges should not be misleading. Laboratories should be petitioned to place proper information on laboratory reference ranges to give doctors a clearer picture of what constitutes low testosterone relative to the patients age. This will help rein in laboratory reference ranges and help save people from falling through the cracks. I want to gauge support for starting a petition on change.org.

you sure you want your name to be known?! recently lab corp. changed their scale and made it the same for all adults, it used to be by age range and now one range for all adults, but the low range is still way too low in my opinion it should be 600-1200 not 348-1197!

[steroid.com 1]

You need a diagnosis by a trained TRT specialist; at your age these levels are extraordinary low and something is causing that to happen.

Where do you live and do you have insurance?

[Vahevahe]

Gdevine, you were actually one of the forum members that helped me with my original post .I found a competent endo (Dr. Colin Cooper) and i will soon be starting hormone replacement therapy pending the results of a prolactin blood test which i submitted with Quest laboratories today.

[kelkel]

Keep us informed of your progress Vahevahe!

kel

[steroid.com 1]

Gdevine, you were actually one of the forum members that helped me with my original post .I found a competent endo (Dr. Colin Cooper) and i will soon be starting hormone replacement therapy pending the results of a prolactin blood test which i submitted with Quest laboratories today.

Excellent man!

Your Doc wants to rule out potential pituitary issues which is one correct course of action.

Complete Thyroid panels are needed as well.

Keep us posted here in this thread on results and if you have your blood work post it here with ranges as well.

Please make sure to get a thorough diagnosis from Dr. Colin which he can support through his tests...this if very important for you to know and understand before you embark on the TRT journey my friend!!!

GD

[Vahevahe]

I dont know how to change the title so BUMP!!!