I have no idea how to interpret this blood work could somebody help me.

[dirkmcgirk]

Doc says my levels are normal for a 35 year old man

Lipid Panel Site/Specimen 08 Jan 2014 1159 Units Ref Rng
Cholesterol SERUM 295 (H) mg/dL (50-200)
Triglyceride SERUM 101 mg/dL (10-150)
HDL Cholesterol SERUM 80 mg/dL (40-or >)
VLDL Cholesterol SERUM 11 mg/dL (2-49)
Cholesterol/HDL Cholesterol SERUM 3.69 <i>
LDL Cholesterol Direct SERUM 204 (H) mg/dL (0-100)
Cholesterol Non-HDL SERUM 215 (H) mg/dL (0-130)


Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Site/Specimen 08 Jan 2014 1159
Albumin SERUM 4.7
Alkaline Phosphatase SERUM 57
Alanine Aminotransferase SERUM 21 <i>
Bilirubin SERUM 0.4
Urea Nitrogen SERUM 19
Calcium SERUM 10.1
Carbon Dioxide SERUM 28
Chloride SERUM 100
Creatinine SERUM 1.3
Glucose SERUM 87
Potassium SERUM 4.2
Protein SERUM 7.8
Sodium SERUM 139
Anion Gap SERUM 10
GFR Calculated Non-Black SERUM 73.9
GFR Calculated Black SERUM 85.5 <i>
Aspartate Aminotransferase SERUM 28

Testosterone SERUM 411 <r> ng/dL 250-1100
Testosterone Free SERUM 71.1 pg/mL 35.0-155.0

[Bonaparte]

You're on the lower end of "normal" test levels. Is that all you wanted to know?

[dirkmcgirk]

Well I have been reading a lot about normal vs optimal. I don't feel particularly sluggish but I do have a much lower libido than I would prefer, despite being in decent shape and regularly working out. Which prompted me to do a little reading into TRT

[Trenchant7]

400 was a drastic loss of libido for me. Actually I was at like 470 for several years and just totally "blah" about anything sexual. But "normal" for me prior to that was at least 800-900-1000. I could not go 24 hours without "getting busy" in some fashion, or I would go crazy. There were days I would have to release 4-7 times per day. I remember telling myself "There's no way this is going to last, its going to burn out eventually". Thanks to Propecia, I was right.

You saw your cholesterol numbers right? I would be most concerned about those.

[EZ E]

I would agree your cholesterol levels should be of concern. I would be interested in seeing your LH and E2 levels as well. While the test levels are 'normal' only you know how you're feeling. With the poor cholesterol, I wonder if it could be more of a diet/exercise issue.

[dirkmcgirk]

These numbers are from a January and since then I have been taking a cholesterol drug under the care of my primary care doctor

[dirkmcgirk]

I would agree your cholesterol levels should be of concern. I would be interested in seeing your LH and E2 levels as well. While the test levels are 'normal' only you know how you're feeling. With the poor cholesterol, I wonder if it could be more of a diet/exercise issue.

I'm 6'3 250lbs

My workout consist of only primary body parts and no secondary parts. I will do LISS cardio 5x's a week and sometimes supplement my cardio with boxing or hiit

Monday Legs: Leg press (bad knees can't do squats) 3 warmups sets, 5 sets of full range leg presses at 4-5 plates on each side for 8-15 reps.

Wednesday Chest: Dumbell press 2 warmups sets, 3 sets at 110-120lbs dumbbells for 4-8 reps, 3 sets of incline dumbbells 90lbs 4-8 reps, 3 sets of weighted dips

Thursday Back: 3 sets of standing barbell rows 155-185lbs, 3 sets of seated cable pulls 160lbs, 3 sets of widegrip pull-ups 3 sets 5-7 reps at body weight only

Saturday Shoulders: shoulder dumbbell press 1 warmup, 3 working sets 90-95lbs dumbells for 4-6 reps, 3 of standing behind the neck barbell presses 135-155 and upright rows

[kelkel]

I'd suggest a full thyroid and iron panel for your next test as well. In the Finding A Doc sticky is a list of BW.

[dirkmcgirk]

I'd suggest a full thyroid and iron panel for your next test as well. In the Finding A Doc sticky is a list of BW.

Thanks. I go back again for blood work next week at a DC area hospital. I have military's Tricare insurance and I know that the endocrinologist might not be as sympathetic to my needs as a clinic that specializes in TRT, so hopefully I can convince them to reimburse me if it makes snese to go that route

[kelkel]

Remember there are private labs (on line) that do not require scripts and they are cost effective if you need to fill in some blanks. Order what you want and go to Labcorp to pull your blood.

[Trenchant7]

Dear lord KelKel you're killing me with these profile photos of yours. Sometimes I wonder if my T really is low when I read your posts?

OP - statins (if that's what you're taking) are really really harsh on the body. Can cause neuropathies and myopathies as well. Long term. heard so many horrible stories. You can control your cholesterol with just dietary changes. I don't envy anyone having to much such a drastic change, because its nearly impossible. Takes a lot of discipline. But I have yet to hear of anyone who couldn't correct their cholesterol with just food changes.

[dirkmcgirk]

Dear lord KelKel you're killing me with these profile photos of yours. Sometimes I wonder if my T really is low when I read your posts?

OP - statins (if that's what you're taking) are really really harsh on the body. Can cause neuropathies and myopathies as well. Long term. heard so many horrible stories. You can control your cholesterol with just dietary changes. I don't envy anyone having to much such a drastic change, because its nearly impossible. Takes a lot of discipline. But I have yet to hear of anyone who couldn't correct their cholesterol with just food changes.

Rosuvastatin aka Crestor eq is what I take

[kelkel]

Dear lord KelKel you're killing me with these profile photos of yours. Sometimes I wonder if my T really is low when I read your posts?

OP - statins (if that's what you're taking) are really really harsh on the body. Can cause neuropathies and myopathies as well. Long term. heard so many horrible stories. You can control your cholesterol with just dietary changes. I don't envy anyone having to much such a drastic change, because its nearly impossible. Takes a lot of discipline. But I have yet to hear of anyone who couldn't correct their cholesterol with just food changes.

I made drastic changes with mine simply with supplements. Search up "My Cholesterol Experiment" here.

[Bonaparte]

Dear lord KelKel you're killing me with these profile photos of yours. Sometimes I wonder if my T really is low when I read your posts?

OP - statins (if that's what you're taking) are really really harsh on the body. Can cause neuropathies and myopathies as well. Long term. heard so many horrible stories. You can control your cholesterol with just dietary changes. I don't envy anyone having to much such a drastic change, because its nearly impossible. Takes a lot of discipline. But I have yet to hear of anyone who couldn't correct their cholesterol with just food changes.

Can't comment on other statins, but Lovastatin in low doses is very safe and effective. It's the active ingredient in red yeast rice, so guys supplementing with that are just trying to get lovastatin.

[sinombre]

You're creatine is borderline high, how's you're water intake? Do you have hypertension?

[sinombre]

Didn't see you're gfr until after I posted, you're renal function appears adequate.

[dirkmcgirk]

You're creatine is borderline high, how's you're water intake? Do you have hypertension?

I drink quite a bit of water.

I expressed my concerns to my gen physician and despite asking for and endocrinologist she referred me to a urologist. Are these the typical hurdles for TRT one has to go through? Why not just send me to an Endo, she sees the numbers just like i do?

This is a speculative question, but I am pretty sure they will end up putting me on a gel and since my levels are low but not super low do you think i would greatly benefit from gel supplementation??

sorry about the run on sentence