Guest guest Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 On Tue, 15 Aug 2006 03:39:54 -0000, you wrote: >I tested 319 total T the last time I was tested and the lab has 350 >as the bottom of their normal range. The new urologist that I am >seeing agreed to try me on AndroGel 5g to start with. I started it >a week ago Saturday on the 5th. I don't feel any different. From >what I have read I am not surprised, because it seems that few get >the desired response from 5g. I weigh 215 so I am not a little guy >and I don't expect it to be adequate. Here's the thing that causes >me to post - my urologist wants to wait 8 weeks to test me. I asked >(through the nurse practitioner) if I could be tested in two weeks >like is on the product info (and I have read in several posts) and >was told the doc wants to wait the 8 weeks. Is there any reason to >wait the 8 weeks? Here is the response from the nurse practitioner - > > >I spoke with Dr. xxxxx this AM. He prefers to wait for the original >time period because symptom relief comes slowly regardless of the >rise in level. Due to potential side effects, we wouldn't want to >over shoot our dosage. Hang in there. > >So I started an email response, but feel it won't do any good. What >do you do in a case like this? Am I wrong to feel that I want >tested sooner because I may be missing out on feeling better? Is >there really a reason to wait? > >Thanks for any thoughts you may have! Did he run E2, LH, FSH, Prolactin? It scares me how many docs just write a scrip for T on seeing a low T number. Please bring him a copy of the AACE guidelines http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/hypogonadism.pdf and read up yourself what a proper round of diagnosis tests should include BEFORE starting TRT. But yes at your size I doubt 5 g packets will do much. I was on 1 and a 1/2 and it worked for me - for a time. (They make a pump model for 1/2 doses and doubles.) ________________ I am human; nothing in humanity is alien to me. Terence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 Thanks retrogrouch and Phil Georgian!! I had requested the tests to be done outlined in a post by Phil. They wouldn't do all of them but here's the results that I just got today (test performed 7/29/06). Ultra TSH 1.18 FSH 3.4 LH 3.8 Cortisol 9.9 Prolactin 5.6 PSA 2.0 Estrogen (fractionated) 50 Estradiolm, serum 21 Estrone 29 Sex steroid binding globulin 20 Testosterone 319 Free Testosterone 72.7 % Free Testosterone 2.3 The only other time I was tested was in May 2005 and they got 224NG/DL for total T and I was told I was low-normal. I protested and they referred me to two different urologists that didn't work out. I then got the general practitioner to refer me to another urologist and finally got an agreement that I am low on T. I look forward to any response that anyone may have!! > > >I tested 319 total T the last time I was tested and the lab has 350 > >as the bottom of their normal range. The new urologist that I am > >seeing agreed to try me on AndroGel 5g to start with. I started it > >a week ago Saturday on the 5th. I don't feel any different. From > >what I have read I am not surprised, because it seems that few get > >the desired response from 5g. I weigh 215 so I am not a little guy > >and I don't expect it to be adequate. Here's the thing that causes > >me to post - my urologist wants to wait 8 weeks to test me. I asked > >(through the nurse practitioner) if I could be tested in two weeks > >like is on the product info (and I have read in several posts) and > >was told the doc wants to wait the 8 weeks. Is there any reason to > >wait the 8 weeks? Here is the response from the nurse practitioner - > > > > > >I spoke with Dr. xxxxx this AM. He prefers to wait for the original > >time period because symptom relief comes slowly regardless of the > >rise in level. Due to potential side effects, we wouldn't want to > >over shoot our dosage. Hang in there. > > > >So I started an email response, but feel it won't do any good. What > >do you do in a case like this? Am I wrong to feel that I want > >tested sooner because I may be missing out on feeling better? Is > >there really a reason to wait? > > > >Thanks for any thoughts you may have! > > > Did he run E2, LH, FSH, Prolactin? > > It scares me how many docs just write a scrip for T on seeing a low T > number. Please bring him a copy of the AACE guidelines > > http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/hypogonadism.pdf > > and read up yourself what a proper round of diagnosis tests should > include BEFORE starting TRT. > > But yes at your size I doubt 5 g packets will do much. I was on 1 and > a 1/2 and it worked for me - for a time. (They make a pump model for > 1/2 doses and doubles.) > > ________________ > I am human; nothing in humanity is alien to me. > Terence > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Phil, They didn't give units on everything, but here is what I have. FSH 3.4 MIU/ML range 1.3 - 19.3 LH 3.8 MIU/ML range 1.2 - 8.6 Cortisol 9.9 MCG/DL range 8.7 - 22.4 Testosterone 319 (no units given) range 350 - 890 Can you tell from the above units what units this lab uses and evaluate all my test results? Can you tell from what I have given you if they jumped the gun on starting the TRT? Should they have done more testing or tried something else first? Since they have started me, I wish I knew the right thing to say to the nurse practitioner to get her to get the doctor to go ahead and have the two week follow up test done Saturday. She's stuck in the middle between me trying to get the test done per the AndroGel literature and what the Doc is telling her to do. Thanks for any help!! > > > > >I tested 319 total T the last time I was tested and the lab has > 350 > > >as the bottom of their normal range. The new urologist that I am > > >seeing agreed to try me on AndroGel 5g to start with. I started > it > > >a week ago Saturday on the 5th. I don't feel any different. > From > > >what I have read I am not surprised, because it seems that few > get > > >the desired response from 5g. I weigh 215 so I am not a little > guy > > >and I don't expect it to be adequate. Here's the thing that > causes > > >me to post - my urologist wants to wait 8 weeks to test me. I > asked > > >(through the nurse practitioner) if I could be tested in two > weeks > > >like is on the product info (and I have read in several posts) > and > > >was told the doc wants to wait the 8 weeks. Is there any reason > to > > >wait the 8 weeks? Here is the response from the nurse > practitioner - > > > > > > > > >I spoke with Dr. xxxxx this AM. He prefers to wait for the > original > > >time period because symptom relief comes slowly regardless of the > > >rise in level. Due to potential side effects, we wouldn't want > to > > >over shoot our dosage. Hang in there. > > > > > >So I started an email response, but feel it won't do any good. > What > > >do you do in a case like this? Am I wrong to feel that I want > > >tested sooner because I may be missing out on feeling better? Is > > >there really a reason to wait? > > > > > >Thanks for any thoughts you may have! > > > > > > Did he run E2, LH, FSH, Prolactin? > > > > It scares me how many docs just write a scrip for T on seeing a > low T > > number. Please bring him a copy of the AACE guidelines > > > > http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/hypogonadism.pdf > > > > and read up yourself what a proper round of diagnosis tests should > > include BEFORE starting TRT. > > > > But yes at your size I doubt 5 g packets will do much. I was on 1 > and > > a 1/2 and it worked for me - for a time. (They make a pump model > for > > 1/2 doses and doubles.) > > > > ________________ > > I am human; nothing in humanity is alien to me. > > Terence > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 Curious to see how his works out for you..I'm in very similar situation...low-end on T and midrange on LH. Just started Androgel yesterday. No changes yet. Amazing, been dealing with this for 10 years and now I'm not happy it hasn't been fixed in 1 day. I'm also on 5mg Androgel - seems most say it isn't enough, but if my pre- treatment level was 299 and 5mg Andro gets most people to the 500 range - shouldn't I be in the 700's rather quickly. At least until my own production slows down? > > > > > > >I tested 319 total T the last time I was tested and the lab has > > 350 > > > >as the bottom of their normal range. The new urologist that I > am > > > >seeing agreed to try me on AndroGel 5g to start with. I started > > it > > > >a week ago Saturday on the 5th. I don't feel any different. > > From > > > >what I have read I am not surprised, because it seems that few > > get > > > >the desired response from 5g. I weigh 215 so I am not a little > > guy > > > >and I don't expect it to be adequate. Here's the thing that > > causes > > > >me to post - my urologist wants to wait 8 weeks to test me. I > > asked > > > >(through the nurse practitioner) if I could be tested in two > > weeks > > > >like is on the product info (and I have read in several posts) > > and > > > >was told the doc wants to wait the 8 weeks. Is there any reason > > to > > > >wait the 8 weeks? Here is the response from the nurse > > practitioner - > > > > > > > > > > > >I spoke with Dr. xxxxx this AM. He prefers to wait for the > > original > > > >time period because symptom relief comes slowly regardless of > the > > > >rise in level. Due to potential side effects, we wouldn't want > > to > > > >over shoot our dosage. Hang in there. > > > > > > > >So I started an email response, but feel it won't do any good. > > What > > > >do you do in a case like this? Am I wrong to feel that I want > > > >tested sooner because I may be missing out on feeling better? > Is > > > >there really a reason to wait? > > > > > > > >Thanks for any thoughts you may have! > > > > > > > > > Did he run E2, LH, FSH, Prolactin? > > > > > > It scares me how many docs just write a scrip for T on seeing a > > low T > > > number. Please bring him a copy of the AACE guidelines > > > > > > http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/hypogonadism.pdf > > > > > > and read up yourself what a proper round of diagnosis tests > should > > > include BEFORE starting TRT. > > > > > > But yes at your size I doubt 5 g packets will do much. I was on > 1 > > and > > > a 1/2 and it worked for me - for a time. (They make a pump model > > for > > > 1/2 doses and doubles.) > > > > > > ________________ > > > I am human; nothing in humanity is alien to me. > > > Terence > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Phil, Thanks for the response and questions. The test was in the morning. The lab range for cortisol was broken down into AM specimen or PM specimen. The range of 8.7 - 22.4 was listed for the AM specimen. So I have to agree with you that I am low, but that doesn't mean much to me due to my ignorance of cortisol. I still haven't noticed much if any change since starting the 5g AndroGel. On Saturday (right or wrong) I decided to cheat and use two of the packets. I tried to decide if I felt better or not and decided that maybe I felt a bit better. It was hard to tell. The next day (yesterday) I went back to one packet and felt bad all day. I couldn't get myself to do anything. We had tickets to go to an event, but I wasn't up to it. I didn't feel better until about 7:00 or 8:00PM. Does this make sense? Did my higher dose one day and going back to the prescribed dose the next cause me to crash on my T level? I can't help but think that that is what happened and that I won't do that again. It also makes me think that getting my T level up in the proper range is that much more important to me, since I think I felt what it is like to have a dip down lower than my normal low T level. I just wish I knew how to influence my doc to not make me wait so long to test me next. Thanks for the help to those that have posted! > > > > > > >I tested 319 total T the last time I was tested and the lab has > > 350 > > > >as the bottom of their normal range. The new urologist that I > am > > > >seeing agreed to try me on AndroGel 5g to start with. I started > > it > > > >a week ago Saturday on the 5th. I don't feel any different. > > From > > > >what I have read I am not surprised, because it seems that few > > get > > > >the desired response from 5g. I weigh 215 so I am not a little > > guy > > > >and I don't expect it to be adequate. Here's the thing that > > causes > > > >me to post - my urologist wants to wait 8 weeks to test me. I > > asked > > > >(through the nurse practitioner) if I could be tested in two > > weeks > > > >like is on the product info (and I have read in several posts) > > and > > > >was told the doc wants to wait the 8 weeks. Is there any reason > > to > > > >wait the 8 weeks? Here is the response from the nurse > > practitioner - > > > > > > > > > > > >I spoke with Dr. xxxxx this AM. He prefers to wait for the > > original > > > >time period because symptom relief comes slowly regardless of > the > > > >rise in level. Due to potential side effects, we wouldn't want > > to > > > >over shoot our dosage. Hang in there. > > > > > > > >So I started an email response, but feel it won't do any good. > > What > > > >do you do in a case like this? Am I wrong to feel that I want > > > >tested sooner because I may be missing out on feeling better? > Is > > > >there really a reason to wait? > > > > > > > >Thanks for any thoughts you may have! > > > > > > > > > Did he run E2, LH, FSH, Prolactin? > > > > > > It scares me how many docs just write a scrip for T on seeing a > > low T > > > number. Please bring him a copy of the AACE guidelines > > > > > > http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/hypogonadism.pdf > > > > > > and read up yourself what a proper round of diagnosis tests > should > > > include BEFORE starting TRT. > > > > > > But yes at your size I doubt 5 g packets will do much. I was on > 1 > > and > > > a 1/2 and it worked for me - for a time. (They make a pump model > > for > > > 1/2 doses and doubles.) > > > > > > ________________ > > > I am human; nothing in humanity is alien to me. > > > Terence > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Wow - thanks for all the info. I had a long day today and have not had as much time as I would like to go through all of this. I will though. I took my temp and it is 97.8 with a thermometer like the one you use. I have gotten low readings like that much of the time in the past. When I have asked about the low reading before, I have been told that different people have different " normal " temperatures. From what I read in the link you posted, that is not really true. I'll have to plot my temps. I just took it again and got 97.5. I don't feel so great about misleading the doc. You might be right that that is what I should do (tell a little white lie), but even though we have not started out so great, I'm hoping to develop a relationship where he feels like working with me to get me fixed up. Thanks for all the info!! You help a lot people with your knowledge. > > > > > > > > >I tested 319 total T the last time I was tested and the lab > has > > > 350 > > > > >as the bottom of their normal range. The new urologist that I > > am > > > > >seeing agreed to try me on AndroGel 5g to start with. I > started > > > it > > > > >a week ago Saturday on the 5th. I don't feel any different. > > > From > > > > >what I have read I am not surprised, because it seems that > few > > > get > > > > >the desired response from 5g. I weigh 215 so I am not a > little > > > guy > > > > >and I don't expect it to be adequate. Here's the thing that > > > causes > > > > >me to post - my urologist wants to wait 8 weeks to test me. I > > > asked > > > > >(through the nurse practitioner) if I could be tested in two > > > weeks > > > > >like is on the product info (and I have read in several > posts) > > > and > > > > >was told the doc wants to wait the 8 weeks. Is there any > reason > > > to > > > > >wait the 8 weeks? Here is the response from the nurse > > > practitioner - > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >I spoke with Dr. xxxxx this AM. He prefers to wait for the > > > original > > > > >time period because symptom relief comes slowly regardless of > > the > > > > >rise in level. Due to potential side effects, we wouldn't > want > > > to > > > > >over shoot our dosage. Hang in there. > > > > > > > > > >So I started an email response, but feel it won't do any > good. > > > What > > > > >do you do in a case like this? Am I wrong to feel that I want > > > > >tested sooner because I may be missing out on feeling better? > > Is > > > > >there really a reason to wait? > > > > > > > > > >Thanks for any thoughts you may have! > > > > > > > > > > > > Did he run E2, LH, FSH, Prolactin? > > > > > > > > It scares me how many docs just write a scrip for T on seeing > a > > > low T > > > > number. Please bring him a copy of the AACE guidelines > > > > > > > > http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/hypogonadism.pdf > > > > > > > > and read up yourself what a proper round of diagnosis tests > > should > > > > include BEFORE starting TRT. > > > > > > > > But yes at your size I doubt 5 g packets will do much. I was > on > > 1 > > > and > > > > a 1/2 and it worked for me - for a time. (They make a pump > model > > > for > > > > 1/2 doses and doubles.) > > > > > > > > ________________ > > > > I am human; nothing in humanity is alien to me. > > > > Terence > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 I emailed the nurse practitioner a couple of times and finally got her to issue the lab order. I'm happy that she did that, but she only made the order for total T. I guess since I don't really feel that the gel has significantly changed my T level, there is no need for testing anything other than T at this time. I'll post my results when I get them next week and also what the doc says. > Wow - thanks for all the info. I had a long day today and have not > had as much time as I would like to go through all of this. I will > though. > > I took my temp and it is 97.8 with a thermometer like the one you > use. I have gotten low readings like that much of the time in the > past. When I have asked about the low reading before, I have been > told that different people have different " normal " temperatures. > From what I read in the link you posted, that is not really true. > I'll have to plot my temps. I just took it again and got 97.5. > > I don't feel so great about misleading the doc. You might be right > that that is what I should do (tell a little white lie), but even > though we have not started out so great, I'm hoping to develop a > relationship where he feels like working with me to get me fixed up. > > Thanks for all the info!! You help a lot people with your knowledge. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2006 Report Share Posted September 11, 2006 I got the results today from the test done Saturday. My T level is down to 161. To recap - my first test about a year ago was 224 (this was done at another lab - I mistakenly posted it was 242). The test done a few weeks ago was 319 at the new lab (ref. range 350-890). I was started on 5g AndroGel and have definately not felt any better and some days for sure worse. With the new test result coming in at 161 total T, I was given the go ahead to change to 10g AG/day. I must say from all the posts that I have read and my results to date, I am very skeptical that the AG is going to do the trick. My best hope at the moment is that it will get me in range for a while, but I have just not read about many that have long term good results from AG. I hope this is because when someone does get good results they are no longer active on the forums. Has anyone had good long term results on AG? I'm going to write an email to the nurse practitioner requesting that I be retested in two weeks this time. I will also ask to have all the recommended testing, not just T. I'm going to bring up my low cortisol level also, like Phil pointed out. Any suggestions are more than welcome! > > I emailed the nurse practitioner a couple of times and finally got > her to issue the lab order. I'm happy that she did that, but she > only made the order for total T. I guess since I don't really feel > that the gel has significantly changed my T level, there is no need > for testing anything other than T at this time. I'll post my > results when I get them next week and also what the doc says. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 My prolactin tested at 5.6 - they didn't provide units or a lab range. My E2 tested at 21 - same here - no units or range provided. If they use the same units and ranges like other posters' labs, my E2 is right were I want it - right? This was before the start of AG. The docs have not mentioned an MRI. I am extremely fortunate to be able to get an MRI for free, I just have to drive 7 hours. Maybe this is just my ignorance, but I have not felt terribly motivated to get the MRI. I now believe that I have had low T for something like thirty years now. Doesn't seem like a tumor to me. Am I wrong? Thanks!! > > > > >With the new test result coming in at 161 total T, I was given the go > >ahead to change to 10g AG/day. > > Have they tested prolactin and E2? Have they done an MRI? > > You should most likely not start on TRT until these are done. > > ________________ > I am human; nothing in humanity is alien to me. > Terence > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 12, 2006 Report Share Posted September 12, 2006 Your post together with the others I have read lead me to believe that I will be giving myself shots in the near future. I kinda want to skip right to them, but I guess I will try to wait and do what the doc wants for now and then press for the shots when it doesn't work out. I'm thinking that if the 10g AG gets me barely into the normal range, the doc is going to think he has done his job. When I sent the email to the nurse practitioner stating that I ultimately wanted to be in the upper one third of the labs' range, I didn't get a response to that part of the email. We'll see. Thanks for the post! > > Hey Dave - we have a similar history. I was first diagnosed at 225 and told that was OK. Went another year - feeling like crap with no sex drive and ED. Tested again at 180. Put on AG and did not absorb. Started at 5 g a day and my T was 188 (no change). Due to my insurance I had to try the patch -that was another bad story - After finding this forum I discussed injections with my Doc - he agreed and it has been the best therapy for me. Also had to get on arimidex due to high E2. Some people don't absorb it well and best I can tell is even at 10 g AG a day, your T levels will still not be where you need them based on your initial indications. It works for some but not all. It took me a year to get where I feel good 95% of the time - still tweeking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Dave: I was originally at 250 but was told that was OK, also. I'm suspicious that when your T is that low, Androgel won't do the trick. At 10g of 1% per day, I was getting my T level up to 775, but didn't feel much better, and still had NO sex drive. It helped to switch from Androgel to a more concentrated cream made by a compounding pharmacist, which made me more hairy with occasional nocturnal erections. But once I switched to injectable after being on the gel/cream for a year, everything changed. Suddenly I had sex drive and my energy levels came back. Currently, my E2 level is 50 but now I'm being told that's OK too. I feel I have no choice but to correct it on my own with DIM and give the reports back to the doctors so they have a record of what's going on. -- RedBear > > > > I emailed the nurse practitioner a couple of times and finally got > > her to issue the lab order. I'm happy that she did that, but she > > only made the order for total T. I guess since I don't really feel > > that the gel has significantly changed my T level, there is no need > > for testing anything other than T at this time. I'll post my > > results when I get them next week and also what the doc says. > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Stay in the know. Pulse on the new .com. Check it out. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 I changed to 10g of AndroGel two weeks ago and just got blood work done. The doc only made the order for total T. The result was 331. I hope it was not a big deal that I had the blood drawn at about 8:00 at night. Even though my doc seems to be against injections, should I push for them or seek another doc? Any suggestions on other options, creams, etc? If I am learning correctly, with only an increase this small, I surely wouldn't benefit from an AI would I? Pre TRT my E2 tested at 21. I found a local doc on the Testosterone Tuneup list and gave them a call. Maybe I used the wrong approach, but I said that I would like to talk to the doc. I said I would be happy to make an appointment in order to do so. The receptionist or whatever said that I would have to have my records sent over and become a patient. I asked if I couldn't just chat first and was told that it was all (become a patient) or nothing. How do you go about getting your doc to work with Dr. ? I'm actually asking about the psychology involved. Doctors tend to have big egos. How has it worked for others to get Dr. involved without crushing that big ego and the doc telling you (even if he is not this blunt) that he doesn't need any outside help because he knows what he is doing? As always, thanks for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2006 Report Share Posted October 4, 2006 I got my MRI done Sunday and it is negative. I am very fortunate to have a brother that owns an MRI clinic - that's why it was done on a Sunday. With the MRI coming up negative, that has me trying to figure out why my T, LH, and FSH are low. I still have a lot to learn, but I'm thinking that maybe it is like Phil has said that I need to get my cortisol up. I tested at 9.9 (range of 8.7 - 22.4) on an AM test. Phil just posted a link (http://personal.lig.bellsouth.net/w/u/wurmstei/) and I read some of it (Thanks Phil!!). The part where low cortisol was discussed and having aching feet and sleep apnea/snoring realy caught my eye. My feet get to aching if I am on them for a few minutes. I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea after an overnight stay at a sleep clinic. Should I get some Isocort and try that or wait for my appointment with the doc next week and roll the dice with him? I plan on giving him one more shot before I jump ship on him. Any thoughts would be appreciated!! > > >I changed to 10g of AndroGel two weeks ago and just got blood work > >done. The doc only made the order for total T. The result was > >331. I hope it was not a big deal that I had the blood drawn at > >about 8:00 at night. > > > >Even though my doc seems to be against injections, should I push for > >them or seek another doc? Any suggestions on other options, creams, > >etc? If I am learning correctly, with only an increase this small, > >I surely wouldn't benefit from an AI would I? Pre TRT my E2 tested > >at 21. > > I don't understand why he opposes injections. They're about $2000 > cheaper over a year and work better for most - if done at least weekly > and with some E2 management. > > ________________ > I am human; nothing in humanity is alien to me. > Terence > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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