Author Topic: Low testosterone levels :/ (Read 4841 times)

RobbyR · « **on:** November 23, 2016, 08:44:24 pm »

First post in awhile, been busy with life, work, dating, etc. Doing well overall. Still glad to have this place to post from time to time..Awhile back, I had requested that they check my Testosterone levels as part of my routine labs. I suspected they were low, I had been having bouts of fatigue and some lack of interest in sex. The nurse called me today, I didn't get a chance to ask her the exact levels, but she said they were on the low side, and that the doctor thought it could just be low-T, or a result of hiv medication..they're referring me to an endocrinologist. I see my primary doc before then though, so really hoping that maybe she'll consider letting me do testosterone injections or some kind of supplement. I'm glad I listened to my gut and got it checked, because I knew it was on the low end a couple of years ago when it was checked previously, and now it seems to be even lower. Hopefully this will work out..I will keep you all posted. Thanks for reading.

Ptrk3 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2016, 10:43:08 pm »

Good luck with the endocrinologist. I hope things work out for you and your quality of life is improved.

Lightfighter · « **Reply #2 on:** November 24, 2016, 05:26:46 pm »

Taking the shots are a pain in the ass, literally. They made a huge difference for me, and for my wife

RobbyR · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2016, 07:18:06 pm »

Yea I've suspected they've been low for some time. My docs for some reason never did routine testosterone checks unless I specifically asked for it, maybe they assume because I'm young, (34) that no need to..but a couple years ago I had it checked and it was like 300 and now I'm not sure what the reading was yet this time but obviously it's low for them to refer me to an endocrinologist. I've wondered for some time if this contributes to my extreme difficulty in putting any muscle mass on, or the lack of certain masculine features..ay any rate, I'm glad I started getting pro-active and requested they check it, you have to be your own advocate! I'm going to see what thet levels were and if they are really low, hoping they'll give me injections and my fatigue will improve. I've been taking Viagra for a year or so which has helped my sex life, but the fatigue and general feeling of tiredness is still there, which hopefully this will help.

bocker3 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 25, 2016, 09:07:05 am »

Testosterone testing is almost never done "routinely". It tends to only be ordered when there is something causing the doctor and/or patient to think something is amiss. I am closing in on 53 years and have never had my testosterone levels checked - I see nothing out of the norm with that.

I state this not so much because of your situation Robby, but to ensure that others know this isn't likely to get tested without having a conversation with your doctor about concerns. If one is "feeling" fine, but wants to get a baseline to compare with down the road, that also could be a conversation with your doctor.

Finally -- it is completely NORMAL for men's testosterone levels to decrease with age. There is a reason that a 20-something can often go at a few times a day, but a 40 or 50-something, not so much........ (generalization, your mileage may vary).
Of course, that doesn't mean that one has to simply live with a lower T level if it is causing issues. The key point here -- talk to your doctor, he/she is not a mind reader.

Robby - here is hoping that your endocrinologist gets everything sorted out and you can move forward in a better position!!

Mike

LukasAtlPZ · « **Reply #5 on:** November 25, 2016, 03:35:37 pm »

RobbyR, I have unfortunately experienced walking in your shoes. Unable to gain muscle mass, difficultly losing weight, low sex drive, etc. I finally got my doc to order a total testosterone and a free testosterone tests. The free testosterone test is the important one, as this is the amount available for the body to use. The endocrinologist will order a number of other tests in an attempt to determine the root cause of your low testosterone. It is possible there could be some other issue with your endocrine system, or maybe you just dont make enough.

RobbyR · « **Reply #6 on:** November 25, 2016, 04:52:43 pm »

Yea I'm just glad I'll get some answers as to what causes my levels to be low. I remember someone on here telling me that free testosterone was the crucial number to check, so I specifically asked my doc to check that, which is what she did, and it must have been low for her to refer me..Not sure if it's a side effect of the hiv meds, or just not making enough in general. I know for a fact that some friends of mine who are also poz had low T and a couple of them now go for regular injections and they are bulked up and have nice muscle mass. I cannot seem to build any muscle mass at all no matter what I do. I've found that for the most part, my interest in sex is there, but usually it's tiredness or fatigue and just feeling of malaise sometimes. The viagra has helped with performance. Hopefully things will get better.

RobbyR · « **Reply #7 on:** December 10, 2016, 04:23:21 pm »

Got the actual results of my testosterone test..My level was 46..A normal adult male 20-49 yo is 160-726. This is very low. I'm only 34. Seeing my primary doc this week, and an endocrinologist in January. Hoping that my doc will agree to testosterone supplement or injection. I'm glad I insisted that they check it. Maybe now they can treat it and I can get my energy and vitality back.

Grasshopper · « **Reply #8 on:** December 10, 2016, 05:02:01 pm »

What if your endocrinologist wants to treat the cause of your low testosterone, instead of giving you supplements or injections ?

RobbyR · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2016, 07:28:37 pm »

Quote from: Grasshopper on December 10, 2016, 05:02:01 pm

What if your endocrinologist wants to treat the cause of your low testosterone, instead of giving you supplements or injections ?

That's fine with me, I'm all about getting to the root cause I'm thinking it's probably hereditary or hormonal or maybe even hiv related even though my numbers have been superb ever since I was diagnosed. However if my primary doc agrees to supplementation prior to seeing an endocrinologist I'm definitely open to that. I really have no clue what could cause my low-T, guess it could be any number of things. I'm open to pretty much anything that will cure it. It must be a pretty common thing because one of the nurses at my doctor's office shared with me once that she had many men come in regularly for testosterone injections.

LukasAtlPZ · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2016, 12:07:46 am »

The reference range depends on the lab processing the tests. Your levels are lower than 95% of the population. You should ideally be somewhere in the middle of this range.

bocker3 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2016, 11:28:27 am »

Robby,

If you really want to get to the root cause, you might be wise to NOT start any T treatment until after meeting with your endocrinologist. Why? There is a whole "feedback mechanism" that your body uses to control the level of T and clearly something is amiss there. If you artificially increase your T levels it may make it difficult or impossible for testing to be done to try and see what is going on.

I'm guessing that it is taking a little time to get in to see the Endo doc, which is normal, you want to ensure that he/she can start their search from then and not have to wait for any T supplement to work its way out of your system. Not to mention that getting T treatment and then having to stop it for testing could really make you feel the effects even more strongly. I'll guess that your T levels dropped off over time, having them suddenly crash will really knock you for a loop.

I know you want to get this "fixed" as quick as possible, but it may make a ton of sense to wait for the Endo to start any treatment. You've been living with it for this long, what's another couple of days/weeks if it helps you find out what the cause it a little quicker.

That's my 2 cents!

Mike

RobbyR · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2016, 01:25:42 pm »

Hopefully once I get it back under control where it's supposed to be I will develop a more normal masculine looking appearance, have had a somewhat effeminate appearance for most of my life, not much body hair, etc, compared to other men's and especially bone structure. I'm hoping this might be what can finally address this at least somewhat.

Grasshopper · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2016, 02:31:01 pm »

First you mentioned "bouts of fatigue and some lack of interest in sex", and now you mention your "somewhat effeminate appearance ".
Are you sure you are seeing the right kind of doctor ?

RobbyR · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2017, 02:48:10 pm »

I was given one more testosterone test before I see the endocrinologist next week..The test in October showed my total level at 46..Extremely low. Hence the referral..They did one more test on me in December and my total level then was 348..Better, but still low to me. My levels should be in the 600 range it would seem..At any rate, I'm hoping the endocrinologist will tell me the cause of the low T and treat it. I just want to get my energy back. I'm going to try and start going back to the gym too, which I know can naturally boost levels, but my fatigue is pretty high right now, and I just don't feel very motivated. Hoping he can help me finally!

RobbyR · « **Reply #15 on:** January 29, 2017, 07:21:42 pm »

Thought I'd post an update..Saw the endocrinologist, wasn't that impressed with them. Basically the guy sent his assistant dr in there who was a nice lady, and she explained that one low testosterone level test wasn't enough to start me on TRT. I mentioned what about my other two tests that were in the 300s, but she kept saying that was normal, and that there is a wide range for normal. So basically she said none of my prior tests were fasting, so I'm going to have a fasting testosterone lab done, and she said if it comes back normal, fine, then I do not need TRT, but if it comes back low, then might have to take further action. So it's all dependent on this 8am fasting lab test. Because levels are highest in the morning. But these doctors don't seem like they are going to do any kind of trt unless my fasting levels are low. So we'll see I guess. I still think levels in the 300s seems low, but if they are adament that those are normal, ok.

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