Help With Blood Test Results

[Colonel Ingus]

I'm 48, still in reasonably good shape, and good health. I do my 3x per week routine at the gym regularly, sometimes only twice if other things take priority but that isn't often. No real issues with libido, either desire or performance. What has been happening is that I have that belly fat that just won't go away, and a pretty constant feeling of "why bother" about things in my life. My job is a drag and I find myself unmotivated to do anything about it. My hobbies are not as much fun as they used to be, and overall I'm starting to feel really unfulfilled. With all the stress from work and other things, I'm wondering if all that stuff about cortisol might be a factor in things, or if maybe my testosterone levels have dropped off. Had a check-up, and asked the doc about some of this and he's got me going for a blood test which will include a complete thyroid profile and whatever he said is the testosterone screen that they do for men at around age 50.

I'm wondering if I can get an idea of what I should be looking for with the results when I get my copy. (I'll post them when I get them) How much can you tell from a single blood test? From reading other posts, it seems like somehow boosting my own body's ability to produce test would be a great thing, followed by maybe taking some kind of synthetic testosterone.

Obviously I'm getting into a whole new thing for me with all of this, and I'd like to hear whatever opinions and/or advice on the pros and cons of regaining some of my youth.

 

[Viking850]

Getting your blood tested annually is one of the best investments you can make for your health. This is where something potentially problematic will show up most of the time first. Your testosterone levels are VERY important for the very things you mentioned. Also, make sure your test includes a check of ESTRODIAL (coded as E2 in most lab forms). Estrodial is a form of estrogen commonly elevated in men your age. This combined with low test levels makes for many undesirable side effects, including the "belly fat" issue you mentioned.
If you decide to go with HRT, remember it is a life long commitment. Find a good doctor that is up on the latest. Most doctors will tell you to forget HRT and tell you all of the "risks." The bottom line is YOU must do your own research and take charge of your health and options. There are many doctors out there that specialize in male HRT and that is where you need to go.

Please keep us posted on your test results and if you have any other questions please ask. We are here to share what ever knowledge we have and help each other!

 

[Colonel Ingus]

Thanks Viking. I called and had them add estradiol to the blood test. From what the nurse told me on the phone, it sounded like this might be a very basic blood test where all they report is free test. I hope not, but we'll see.

I'd rather not get into HRT unless there isn't any other way to get my test levels up naturally. I have to say, I got away from working out for a few months and noticed a big difference is libido along with a few other things. Then after getting back to my 3 day per week workouts, most of those problems went away, so there must have been some test boost associated with that. Still not where I'd like to be though.

 

[Tatyana]

It is my job to perform and interpret blood work, so post up the tests, and I can tell you what it means.

If I miss the thread, please feel free to PM me

 

[Colonel Ingus]

Results are in, just had the office fax a copy to me.

Testosterone Total is 462, with a reference range of 241-827 ng/dL
Testosterone Free is 1.63, with a reference range of 0.95-4.30 ng/dL
(for males 20-49 yrs)

Testosterone % Free is 0.35, with a reference range of 0.33-0.48 % of total.

The Estradiol is 27, with a reference range of <57 pg/mL
(what the heck does "pg" stand for.......picogram?)

It looks a bit low, but still within range. Still, I wouldn't mind bumping it up a bit.

Let me know what you think, and any help is appreciated.

 

[Dopamineloveaffair]

Results are in, just had the office fax a copy to me.

Testosterone Total is 462, with a reference range of 241-827 ng/dL
Testosterone Free is 1.63, with a reference range of 0.95-4.30 ng/dL
(for males 20-49 yrs)

Testosterone % Free is 0.35, with a reference range of 0.33-0.48 % of total.

The Estradiol is 27, with a reference range of <57 pg/mL
(what the heck does "pg" stand for.......picogram?)

It looks a bit low, but still within range. Still, I wouldn't mind bumping it up a bit.

Let me know what you think, and any help is appreciated.

Your testosterone looks low. Bringing yourself to the top of the range will most likely give you some relief.

Unfortunately the ranges are calculated from the middle 95% of an already unhealthy population ages 18-85. The differance between "normal" and optimal is large. Many doctors don't see it this way.

If your thyroid or adrenals are shot, the increased testosterone won't help much though. Do you have labs for these?

Your estradiol looks good.

_________________________________________________________________

http://www.mens-hormonal-health.com/

 

[Tatyana]

pg is picograms.

Your oestradiol is fine, men want some oestradiol, but not huge amounts as there can be sides such as gyno, so the less than range for oestadiol.

You are smack dab in the middle of the reference/normal range, but the thing with the sex hormones, the natural range is very wide, but there is nothing wrong with your levels.

Did you have anything else done, like thyroid function, cholesterol?

There are ways of increasing test naturally if you are not keen on TRT.

 

[Colonel Ingus]

pg is picograms.

Your oestradiol is fine, men want some oestradiol, but not huge amounts as there can be sides such as gynecomastia, so the less than range for oestadiol.

You are smack dab in the middle of the reference/normal range, but the thing with the sex hormones, the natural range is very wide, but there is nothing wrong with your levels.

Did you have anything else done, like thyroid function, cholesterol?

There are ways of increasing test naturally if you are not keen on TRT.

I asked the doc to have a complete thyroid profile, but my there is nothing in my results about it, so I think they just didn't do it.

Here is the lipid profile:
Cholesterol 243.....reference is <200
Triglyceride 64.....reference is <150
HDL is 55.....reference is >40
VLDL is 12.80.....reference is 5.00 to 40.00
LDL is 175.....reference is <130
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio is 4.....reference is <5


My PSA is 1.67.....reference 0.00 to 3.89

Only other out-of-range results were as follows:
monocytes% 15.2.....reference 4.0 to 12.0
basophils% 2.8.....reference 0.0 to 2.2
(I have had high results for monocytes for the past two decades plus)

I would love to hear a bit more about how to increase test naturally.

..........and thanks for taking the time to help here.

 

[Nelson Montana]

I believe in holding off on HRT as long as possible. Have you tried raising your free T via supplementation? It can make a huge difference. And your e can be controlled naturally as well. Still, at 48, if you want your T to be what it was at 28, you'll need replacement. But once you go on, there's no going off.

 

[thelion2005]

I believe in holding off on HRT as long as possible. Have you tried raising your free T via supplementation? It can make a huge difference. And your e can be controlled naturally as well. Still, at 48, if you want your T to be what it was at 28, you'll need replacement. But once you go on, there's no going off.

Agree. I can never come off.