Guest guest Posted December 28, 2004 Report Share Posted December 28, 2004 Dale, I didn't realize TRT could lower the good cholesterol - that is good to know. Mine has been low as well. I have been told it is probably due to my reduced activity level from being ill, as I guess exercise helps promote the creation of the good cholestorol. So I guess you could try that angle if you are up to it - try to get more exercise. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2004 Report Share Posted December 28, 2004 > MY PCP has become concerned > about my HDL being too low, and > attributes that to my TRT. She is > " threatening " to lower my Testim > Rx or drop it entirely, which I would > prefer to not happen. It is > well documented that TRT will reduce > HDL, so others must have had to > deal with this aspect. Not according to my Medline search. Article 12942389 say " Although supraphysiological doses of testosterone, such as those used by athletes and recreational body builders, decrease plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations, replacement doses of testosterone have had only a modest or no effect on plasma HDL in placebo-controlled trials. " Other articles support this position. Your doctor is grossly misinformed about the effects of TRT on the cardiovascular profile. Do your own Medline search. There are many articles on the topic. > Also, Z commented earlier that > Type 2 diabetes and hypogonadism > could be related. They ARE related. Low T CAUSES diabetes. There are many Medline articles that discuss the association between low T and insulin insensitivity (i.e, T2 diabetes) and how TRT improves insulin sensitivity. If you lower your T, I am quite confident that your blood sugars will get worse (i.e., go up). > My PCP is concerned > about the low HDL due to my > being Type 2 diabetic, for obvious reasons. You need to educate her or get a new doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 28, 2004 Report Share Posted December 28, 2004 Hi Dale, Labs 3/26/04 Total Cholesterol 210 H, 100-199 mg/dL HDL 39 L, 40-59 mg/dL LDL 146 H, 0-99 mg/dL T 130 L, 241-827 ng/dL Free T 4.5 L, 7.2-24.0 pg/mL That's on Lipitor 80 mg/day. PCP suggested adding Zetia, but I asked him to hold off (too many meds as it is). Labs 8/12/04 Total Cholesterol 170, 100-199 mg/dL HDL 31 L, 40-59 mg/dL LDL 107 H, 0-99 mg/dL T 530, 241-827 ng/dL Free T 24.6 H, 7.2-24.0 pg/mL That's on Lipitor 80 mg/day. PCP thought that was okay, HDL was lower, but so was LDL and Total Cholestrol. Go figure. Bruce > > MY PCP has become concerned about my HDL being too low, and > attributes that to my TRT. She is " threatening " to lower my Testim > Rx or drop it entirely, which I would prefer to not happen. It is > well documented that TRT will reduce HDL, so others must have had to > deal with this aspect. Can anyone shed any light on their TRT/HDL > experiences, and whether you were able to counter the negative > aspects of it? MY PCP did suggest that I take 1,000-2,000 mg Niacin > to help, but it does not seem to be helping after a year. > > Also, Z commented earlier that Type 2 diabetes and hypogonadism > could be related. My PCP is concerned about the low HDL due to my > being Type 2 diabetic, for obvious reasons. Has anybody else had > diabetes/TRT issues? > > Thanks.../Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 Testosterone levels above the maximum normal limits will lower your HDL and clog your arteries. It lowered my HDL to 8 points below the lower safe limit and I got two blockages while on Androgel and depo shots. All in a three year period. I quit the gel and took one 100mg shot a week and in four weeks my HDL went up 15 points. This is my personal experience. Kissie Re: HDL and TRT Dale, I didn't realize TRT could lower the good cholesterol - that is good to know. Mine has been low as well. I have been told it is probably due to my reduced activity level from being ill, as I guess exercise helps promote the creation of the good cholestorol. So I guess you could try that angle if you are up to it - try to get more exercise. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 Thanks - yes, I found that article as well, so am not real sure how to interpret the low HDL. The other cholesterol numbers are excellent. The suggestion to add more exercise is probably the best advice to raise HDL, so I will add that to my New Year's resolutions. I will ask my PCP about Zetia, although she tends to not like treating effects of other medications, with medications. She did just switch my Rx from Pravachol to Lescol, so will see how that goes. Thanks.../Dale Re: HDL and TRT > MY PCP has become concerned > about my HDL being too low, and > attributes that to my TRT. She is > " threatening " to lower my Testim > Rx or drop it entirely, which I would > prefer to not happen. It is > well documented that TRT will reduce > HDL, so others must have had to > deal with this aspect. Not according to my Medline search. Article 12942389 say " Although supraphysiological doses of testosterone, such as those used by athletes and recreational body builders, decrease plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations, replacement doses of testosterone have had only a modest or no effect on plasma HDL in placebo-controlled trials. " Other articles support this position. Your doctor is grossly misinformed about the effects of TRT on the cardiovascular profile. Do your own Medline search. There are many articles on the topic. > Also, Z commented earlier that > Type 2 diabetes and hypogonadism > could be related. They ARE related. Low T CAUSES diabetes. There are many Medline articles that discuss the association between low T and insulin insensitivity (i.e, T2 diabetes) and how TRT improves insulin sensitivity. If you lower your T, I am quite confident that your blood sugars will get worse (i.e., go up). > My PCP is concerned > about the low HDL due to my > being Type 2 diabetic, for obvious reasons. You need to educate her or get a new doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 29, 2004 Report Share Posted December 29, 2004 Hi, Had a bypass back in 1982 and have been on every cholesterol med there is I think. In 1992 I started TRT and am now in the high normal range at 73. Take 30mg Lipitor daily (by breaking a 20mg tablet). The Lipitor was raised from 20mg to 30mg to bring up the HDL and lower the LDL a few numbers. I saw no significant change in my lipid profile when I started TRT in 1992. ernestnolan > > MY PCP has become concerned about my HDL being too low, and > attributes that to my TRT. She is " threatening " to lower my Testim > Rx or drop it entirely, which I would prefer to not happen. It is > well documented that TRT will reduce HDL, so others must have had to > deal with this aspect. Can anyone shed any light on their TRT/HDL > experiences, and whether you were able to counter the negative > aspects of it? MY PCP did suggest that I take 1,000-2,000 mg Niacin > to help, but it does not seem to be helping after a year. > > Also, Z commented earlier that Type 2 diabetes and hypogonadism > could be related. My PCP is concerned about the low HDL due to my > being Type 2 diabetic, for obvious reasons. Has anybody else had > diabetes/TRT issues? > > Thanks.../Dale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2004 Report Share Posted December 30, 2004 Did you happen to get a lipid panel done (that is, the blood test for cholesterol, HDL, etc) just prior to starting your TRT? That baseline would certainly be big help is establishing the effects of the TRT. Add in that exercise that you already mentioned, improve your diet if need be, and bring that HDL down. Then you and your physician can both be satisfied that your body is in good health. Good luck! --mranak > Thanks - yes, I found that article as well, so am not real sure how to interpret the low HDL. The other cholesterol numbers are excellent. The suggestion to add more exercise is probably the best advice to raise HDL, so I will add that to my New Year's resolutions. I will ask my PCP about Zetia, although she tends to not like treating effects of other medications, with medications. She did just switch my Rx from Pravachol to Lescol, so will see how that goes. > > Thanks.../Dale > Re: HDL and TRT > > > > MY PCP has become concerned > > about my HDL being too low, and > > attributes that to my TRT. She is > > " threatening " to lower my Testim > > Rx or drop it entirely, which I would > > prefer to not happen. It is > > well documented that TRT will reduce > > HDL, so others must have had to > > deal with this aspect. > > Not according to my Medline search. Article 12942389 say " Although > supraphysiological doses of testosterone, such as those used by athletes > and recreational body builders, decrease plasma high-density lipoprotein > (HDL) cholesterol concentrations, replacement doses of testosterone have > had only a modest or no effect on plasma HDL in placebo-controlled > trials. " Other articles support this position. Your doctor is grossly > misinformed about the effects of TRT on the cardiovascular profile. Do > your own Medline search. There are many articles on the topic. > > > Also, Z commented earlier that > > Type 2 diabetes and hypogonadism > > could be related. > > They ARE related. Low T CAUSES diabetes. There are many Medline > articles that discuss the association between low T and insulin > insensitivity (i.e, T2 diabetes) and how TRT improves insulin > sensitivity. If you lower your T, I am quite confident that your blood > sugars will get worse (i.e., go up). > > > My PCP is concerned > > about the low HDL due to my > > being Type 2 diabetic, for obvious reasons. > > You need to educate her or get a new doctor. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 30, 2004 Report Share Posted December 30, 2004 Prior to TRT 2 years ago, my cholesterols were all high (total 261, triglycerides 218, and HDL 43). T was 283. A month after TRT, T was unchanged but cholesterol had dropped a lot (also began Pravachol at the same time). Total cholesterol was 183, triglycerides 183, and HDL 34. HDL has stayed in the low 30's, while T has stayed in the 700's for the past year. Adding more exercise is certainly the best advice to raise the HDL. New Years... Thanks.../Dale Re: HDL and TRT > > > > MY PCP has become concerned > > about my HDL being too low, and > > attributes that to my TRT. She is > > " threatening " to lower my Testim > > Rx or drop it entirely, which I would > > prefer to not happen. It is > > well documented that TRT will reduce > > HDL, so others must have had to > > deal with this aspect. > > Not according to my Medline search. Article 12942389 say " Although > supraphysiological doses of testosterone, such as those used by athletes > and recreational body builders, decrease plasma high-density lipoprotein > (HDL) cholesterol concentrations, replacement doses of testosterone have > had only a modest or no effect on plasma HDL in placebo-controlled > trials. " Other articles support this position. Your doctor is grossly > misinformed about the effects of TRT on the cardiovascular profile. Do > your own Medline search. There are many articles on the topic. > > > Also, Z commented earlier that > > Type 2 diabetes and hypogonadism > > could be related. > > They ARE related. Low T CAUSES diabetes. There are many Medline > articles that discuss the association between low T and insulin > insensitivity (i.e, T2 diabetes) and how TRT improves insulin > sensitivity. If you lower your T, I am quite confident that your blood > sugars will get worse (i.e., go up). > > > My PCP is concerned > > about the low HDL due to my > > being Type 2 diabetic, for obvious reasons. > > You need to educate her or get a new doctor. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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