Prelim blood work - levels not that low, but feel like crap - thoughts appreciated

[chronos]

I'm just in beginning stages of investigating possible low T. Saw my doc back in Dec 2012 about low libido, low energy, etc. and brought up the subject of low test. She ordered a blood panel (below). I'm just now getting around to scheduling follow up with her in few weeks.

Reading of others test levels on the forum here, mine don't seem all that low. However, my quality of life has gone steadily down hill for about the past 10 years. Extreme fatigue, little drive or motivation, no interest in sex (I can still perform, but wife really has to motivate me), moderate anxiety, occasional migraines, very moody, not sociable, don't feel like talking lol, cry easily during tear-jerker movies, just feel like old age has crept up on me.

52 yrs old, 5'9", 175lbs, about 20% bodyfat(?) - I'm not fat but I've gone soft. I used to work out regularly in the gym up until about 10 yrs ago. But just grew tired and disinterested especially since wasn't making any progress in relation to goals. The only medication I take is Propranolol for high blood pressure. Also take magnesium, B complex, and 5htp SR.

My blood work results below doesn't seem complete, but this is what they mailed to me. I'm not anticipating much cooperation from my doc during my follow up since, as I mentioned, my levels don't seem that low in relation to levels I've seen from others here on the forum. But I would appreciate any comments. Thank you!

Testosterone -free and total-AMS: 12.21.2012 08:46
Testosterone, Free 13 (9-30)
Testosterone, Total 417 (240-950)

Test performed by:
Mayo Clinic Labs - Rochester Main Campus
(blah, blah, blah)

Folic acid (flagged) 20 (3-17)
Vitamin B12 783 (160-800)
EAG calculation 120
Hemoglobin A1c 5.8 (4.7 - 6.4)
TSH 0.81 (0.35 - 4.95)
Sodium 137 (136 - 145)
Potassium 3.8 (3.5 - 5.1)
Chloride 101 (98 - 107)
Carbon Dioxide 30 (21 - 31)
Glucose (flagged) 113 (70 - 100)
BUN (flagged) 26 (7 - 25)
Creatinine 0.99 (0.70 - 1.30)
EGFR >60
EGFR-AA >60
Calcium 9.5 (8.8 - 10.6)

Comments: electrolytes normal, kidney function normal, thyroid hormone normal, hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1C) is a measure of your average blood sugar over the last several months. Your HgbA1C level indicated that your blood sugar has been moderately elevated recently. Testosterone level normal, B12 and folic acid normal, A1C is in the prediabetes range. Goal A1C is less than 5.7%.

[calstate23]

I'm just in beginning stages of investigating possible low T. Saw my doc back in Dec 2012 about low libido, low energy, etc. and brought up the subject of low test. She ordered a blood panel (below). I'm just now getting around to scheduling follow up with her in few weeks.

Reading of others test levels on the forum here, mine don't seem all that low. However, my quality of life has gone steadily down hill for about the past 10 years. Extreme fatigue, little drive or motivation, no interest in sex (I can still perform, but wife really has to motivate me), moderate anxiety, occasional migraines, very moody, not sociable, don't feel like talking lol, cry easily during tear-jerker movies, just feel like old age has crept up on me.

52 yrs old, 5'9", 175lbs, about 20% bodyfat(?) - I'm not fat but I've gone soft. I used to work out regularly in the gym up until about 10 yrs ago. But just grew tired and disinterested especially since wasn't making any progress in relation to goals. The only medication I take is Propranolol for high blood pressure. Also take magnesium, B complex, and 5htp SR.

My blood work results below doesn't seem complete, but this is what they mailed to me. I'm not anticipating much cooperation from my doc during my follow up since, as I mentioned, my levels don't seem that low in relation to levels I've seen from others here on the forum. But I would appreciate any comments. Thank you!

Testosterone -free and total-AMS: 12.21.2012 08:46
Testosterone, Free 13 (9-30)
Testosterone, Total 417 (240-950)

Test performed by:
Mayo Clinic Labs - Rochester Main Campus
(blah, blah, blah)

Folic acid (flagged) 20 (3-17)
Vitamin B12 783 (160-800)
EAG calculation 120
Hemoglobin A1c 5.8 (4.7 - 6.4)
TSH 0.81 (0.35 - 4.95)
Sodium 137 (136 - 145)
Potassium 3.8 (3.5 - 5.1)
Chloride 101 (98 - 107)
Carbon Dioxide 30 (21 - 31)
Glucose (flagged) 113 (70 - 100)
BUN (flagged) 26 (7 - 25)
Creatinine 0.99 (0.70 - 1.30)
EGFR >60
EGFR-AA >60
Calcium 9.5 (8.8 - 10.6)

Comments: electrolytes normal, kidney function normal, thyroid hormone normal, hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1C) is a measure of your average blood sugar over the last several months. Your HgbA1C level indicated that your blood sugar has been moderately elevated recently. Testosterone level normal, B12 and folic acid normal, A1C is in the prediabetes range. Goal A1C is less than 5.7%.

That's weird, first question I was going to ask you if you had diabetes or pre-diabetes...Your free test is low and that is important because it is the biologically active form of this hormone and serves as a better guide to see where are test levels are at....

Something out of wack when total test normal but free test low...

[calstate23]

Thyroid is also low which could be an issue....

[chronos]

Thyroid is also low which could be an issue....

Thanks Calstate. I wonder why they didn't flag that and said that it's normal. I'm going to bring that up to the doc.

In response to your first comment: I'm curious if a TRT protocol would still be called for in this instance, or is a normal/low level such an anomaly that further investigation is warranted before doing TRT.

Thanks for your response!

[BallSak]

Unless I'm missing something, your thyroid isn't low. You want your TSH below 1.5. You need a more extensive lab to determine your thyroid health though as TSH is not enough. Your T level is not that good really even though it falls under "normal". You need to find a doc who specializes in men's hormones and get a much more extensive set of labs. Read the sticky on which labs to get done.

[chronos]

Unless I'm missing something, your thyroid isn't low. You want your TSH below 1.5. You need a more extensive lab to determine your thyroid health though as TSH is not enough. Your T level is not that good really even though it falls under "normal". You need to find a doc who specializes in men's hormones and get a much more extensive set of labs. Read the sticky on which labs to get done.

Thanks!

The blood test was done before I found this forum. With the breadth of knowledge from this forum, I'll be much better prepared on my next doctors visit.

[calstate23]

Thanks!

The blood test was done before I found this forum. With the breadth of knowledge from this forum, I'll be much better prepared on my next doctors visit.

Do you have high blood pressure as well?

Because 2 of the biggest impacts on the kidneys is high blood pressure and diabetes....BUN is elevated which could be an indicator that kidney function is not working properly...

Did he mention anything about your kidneys??

[kelkel]

You need more thorough BW. Check the Finding A Doc sticky at the top of the forum. You need those panels run.

[chronos]

You need more thorough BW. Check the Finding A Doc sticky at the top of the forum. You need those panels run.

You're right. I wish I'd found this forum before I had the bloodwork done. This one really isn't telling me much.

Thank you Kel.

[bass]

Unless I'm missing something, your thyroid isn't low. You want your TSH below 1.5. You need a more extensive lab to determine your thyroid health though as TSH is not enough. Your T level is not that good really even though it falls under "normal". You need to find a doc who specializes in men's hormones and get a much more extensive set of labs. Read the sticky on which labs to get done.

exactly what BallSak said!

[chronos]

Do you have high blood pressure as well?

Because 2 of the biggest impacts on the kidneys is high blood pressure and diabetes....BUN is elevated which could be an indicator that kidney function is not working properly...

Did he mention anything about your kidneys??

Yep, have high blood pressure. Runs in the family. BUN is flagged but their comments say that kidney function is normal, so..

I'm going to take Kel's advice and have a more detailed panel run, and hopefully get a better idea of what's going on.

Thank you for your responses!

[BallSak]

BUN can be high if you are dehydrated...and you probably were if you went in fasting. My bun is often high too because of this. My doc, who is a former nephrologist, says its pretty common.

[chronos]

BUN can be high if you are dehydrated...and you probably were if you went in fasting. My bun is often high too because of this. My doc, who is a former nephrologist, says its pretty common.

Thank you for that BallSak. Indeed I went in fasting. Was getting kind of worried lol.

[calstate23]

I probably would not have mentioned it but we have pre-diabetic fella also with high blood pressure with high BUN.....Diabetes and high blood pressure are two of the main causes when it comes to kidney disease....You can't prevent if you don't know...

[chronos]

I probably would not have mentioned it but we have pre-diabetic fella also with high blood pressure with high BUN.....Diabetes and high blood pressure are two of the main causes when it comes to kidney disease....You can't prevent if you don't know...

Thanks Calstate. I'm going to make a point of mentioning this to my doc on next visit. The fact that my blood sugar is elevated does have me concerned. Better to err on the side of caution I always say.

[chronos]

I've decided to cancel my upcoming appt with my current doc and look for another physician in my area who is up on the current trends in male HRT. My rationale is that my current doc didn't even order up a complete blood panel in spite of my concerns of low test. Using the stickies at the top of the forum, I think I've found a couple of doctors in my area who follow proper protocols for male testosterone therapy and have already scheduled an appt for next week with one of them. Even better is the fact that he and the clinic are listed as providers under my insurance, yahoo!!

Since this is my thread, I will use it to track my progress and provide updates when appropriate, but I'll probably change the title of the thread at some point to make more relevant.

[steroid.com 1]

^^^^That's the way to do it!

I know my Doc would prescribe you a TRT protocol with the serum levels you presented with.

As you noted, post your experience and blood work here in this thread when you get them.

[chronos]

Thanks, GD.

I've concluded that the search for true health via the current medical establishment is liking trying to find the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I say that because I've spent the last ten years pursuing solutions to my wife's and daughter's own health problems and ran into my share of roadblocks along the way. Now that they are finally doing ok, I find that I've neglected my own health and am now searching on how I can fix me.

If it weren't for this forum, I would not know where to begin!