Testosterone Questions

[mania]

Hi

I'm new here & have been reading as much as I could before posting.

I am 53 & have been pretty athletic most of my life. Triathlon type training.

But recently ...like since 2008 I have gained 25 pounds & my diet has not really changed.
Add to that all the signs of low test

low energy
weight gained as mentioned
low libido
sleep problems
etc etc

So I went to see a doctor.
I asked for a testosterone test & said I need the free testosterone test.
As I always heard that was the one to get. She gave me the total by mistake & then I went back & had the free done along with some other blood tests.

Anyway it is through Kaiser Permanente where you need to see a GP before they will forward you too a endocrinologist

She said she will not do it because my numbers are
TESTOSTERONE, TOTAL 590 ng/dL
TESTOSTERONE, FREE/TESTOSTERONE 1.49 %
TESTOSTERONE, FREE 88.1 pg/mL

So now she tells me she will not forward me because I need to be consistently below 200

I wanted to know where does this number come from? I see others mention 300 as low etc.

Do I subtract the free 1.49 from the total 5.46?

Also does this number seem normal as she suggests & does not warrant any further checking?

She even told me she made a mistake as I tasted at noon & she said better at 8am yet she seems to feel I should not be tested any further.

Yet not once did she even ask my reason for wanting the test so I have not even gotten to tell her my symptoms.

Is it any wonder in all my adult life I have rarely been to a doctor.
I buy health insurance for catastrophe but rarely use it for this very reason.

Anyway any input would be appreciated as you folks seem a hell of a lot better informed than she does.

Thanks

[SlimmerMe]

Welcome! your test is below 200 and she will not help you? is this what I understand?

[mania]

No I guess she is saying it needs to be <200 but as yet has not even told me what mine is.
Only given me the info I posted plus one i forgot to list

TESTOSTERONE , TOTAL 590 ng/dL
TESTOSTERONE, FREE/TESTOSTERONE 1.49 %
TESTOSTERONE, FREE 88.1 pg/mL

[SlimmerMe]

under 200 to now 590! whew! I was wondering...

[mania]

Yes LOL sorry for any confusion

I am trying to understand how folks read these tests

So is that the number they use to determine your T levels?
I always thought the total was considered inaccurate as some was bound.

Is the 590 number what they use to decide then?

Thanks for any info.

[big_ron]

Post up the full report man including the reference ranges

[mania]

Post up the full report man including the reference ranges

Ok well the first test was done on 10/6
Total Testosterone
Component..........................Your result.......Units
TESTOSTERONE, TOTAL 5.46 ng/ml
Standard range 2.4 - 8.27


The next on 10/8 was total & Free but did not list ranges

Component Your result Units
TESTOSTERONE, TOTAL........................... 590 ...................... ng/dL
TESTOSTERONE, FREE/TESTOSTERONE.....1.49........................%
TESTOSTERONE, FREE..............................88.1............ ...........pg/mL

[bass]

well your total test looks great but the free doesn't make sense! you sure it says 88.1 not 8.81?!

[mania]

Hey Bass thanks for pointing that out.
No it reads that 88.1 & I am betting the lady made yet another mistake.

Like you said I look back at the original total testosterone & the range/result & think your right.
Does that also mean the total is supposed to read 5.90?
Hard to figure it out & I still do not understand ranges.
Anywhere online to see a definition? I have not found any
Here are the screen shots as they post the results.

[renjr70]

From my understanding they use all three of the ranges to determine if your total test is low. 590 is a high number and I dont think your going to find a doc that will prescribe treatment with those kind of numbers. In comparision I just got my numbers back today, I'm 40 years old and in good health and mine came back Test 202, free test .87, and free test % .4 Take into account I'm 13 years younger than you. Docs are all gonna say your levels look great for 53 IMO, good luck though, I'm sure if you look hard enough you'll find a doc willing to help you.

[mania]

From my understanding they use all three of the ranges to determine if your total test is low. 590 is a high number and I dont think your going to find a doc that will prescribe treatment with those kind of numbers. In comparision I just got my numbers back today, I'm 40 years old and in good health and mine came back Test 202, free test .87, and free test % .4 Take into account I'm 13 years younger than you. Docs are all gonna say your levels look great for 53 IMO, good luck though, I'm sure if you look hard enough you'll find a doc willing to help you.

Thanks & yes I think your probably right.

Sad thing is a number is just that eh?

I still have symptoms that suggest some T would be a help for me. Yet I know the doc will probably stick to
her range. I did in fact get the referral to the endo & it will be a hassle to get there as the nearest one is a few hundred miles away.
But the doctor that is referring me on my request did already tell me that the endo does not treat if your not under 200.

Hmmmm

[SlimmerMe]

if you are absolutely determined to start treament, I suppose an online clinic might help....just an idea. But wait to get more ideas here first to make sure. Unfortunately many docs treat the numbers and not the patient. So you need to find one who does what you want to do. This is common here. It takes a lot of work for many members to find that perfect doc who is looking at the entire person. Have you tried an anti-aging clinic? They tend to be more aggressive.

[mania]

if you are absolutely determined to start treament, I suppose an online clinic might help....just an idea. But wait to get more ideas here first to make sure. Unfortunately many docs treat the numbers and not the patient. So you need to find one who does what you want to do. This is common here. It takes a lot of work for many members to find that perfect doc who is looking at the entire person. Have you tried an anti-aging clinic? They tend to be more aggressive.

Thanks & yes I have considered other ways. Both online & the anti-aging clinics as you mentioned.
Also I dont mean to give the impression that I want T & nothing else will do. I would be just as happy if they find out it is something else & bring my attention to it.
It was just that the symptoms pointed in that directions & I could tell that right away it seemed like it would be an uphill battle just to get treatment for these symptoms.

They seem to just want you to say ah well I'm getting older.

[Vettester]

Your free testosterone could probably come up a bit. Did they run your E2 and SHBG? I'm guessing that your SHBG might be a little elevated based on your free test %. If you increased your free test to 2.50% (which is attainable), with keeping your serum level where it's at, you would be basically increasing your testosterone that is available for use by 40%!

It's imperative that you run a complete hormone panel to see the full picture. A lot of your symptoms could be easily caused by elevated E2 (estradiol). I would also look at the thyroid (TSH, T3, T4).

[mania]

Thanks Vette

no they did not do the E2 or the SHBG
Hopefully the endocrinologist they refer me to will.
Makes sense
Thanks