help with test results

[dayman]

hey guys first post here and i'm looking for a little help/guidance...

i've been feeling weak/fatigued/tired for about 6-8 months and been in and out of my PCPs office multiple times and even seen a few specialists. on my most recent blood test ordered by the most recent specialist they checked my testosterone in addition to a few other things.

the results came in my testosterone was 334 ng/dl. when the doctor was showing me the results it showed the 'normal' range as 268-1565 ng/dl.

i am 24 years old. 6'2 and 180 pounds and have been pretty active until this fatigue has set recently set in.

I checked a few posts here and even found a chart on average test levels. for the <25 year old category it said the average was 692 ng/dl and the 5th percentile was 408.

IMO I am entirely to low but the doctor seems to disagree. thats why I signed up to get some input from others and perhaps some recommendations.

thanks in advance

 

[DJ_UFO]

It is very low, specially for your age. How is your free test? SBHG?

 

[dayman]

the only thing on the results was the 334 ng/dl. free test and SBHG weren't on there.

these results came from the specialist doctor who was a young female. i had her send copies to my PCP who i'm going to see next week. he's super conservative when it comes to him dispensing any type of medication.

i'm just looking for some ideas as to what to do when i go in next week because i know he will say that i am fine.

thanks dj for the help

 

[DJ_UFO]

The best thing you can do, is study. Read all the threads here on this forum about low test levels, causes, treatments, etc. Google "Testosterone replacement therapy", study the function of pituitary gland, hypothalamus, interaction with thyroid gland, etc...the whole endocrine system. Once you learn, all the questions about your symptoms will be answered, and you'll find out how ignorant doctors are. Like any other scientist, what they know is just another religion.

 

[thelion2005]

The dr might be willing to give you 5 Androgel. Use it for 90 days and see the difference.

 

[manboy]

which lab has 1500 within the normal range? I wanna get my labs done by that one.

 

[XMAN.]

which lab has 1500 within the normal range? I wanna get my labs done by that one.

maybe in the freak lab lmaol

 

[universal tek]

This is my problem too. My levels are like yours and my doc feels it is still in the normal range. Still doesn't matter how knowledgeable I am on the subject if a doctor refuses to treat you. So you go to another doc and they want to run there own labwork.....then want to wait and have you come back in a month to retest levels to see if they are still low....then when they are still low they tell you that it could be normal levels for you....then you see another doc and repeat the process....

 

[lumenosity]

What DJ UFO said,is dead on. After studying the HPTA axis and the associated hormones,you will know more than most Endos,about what is going on. Your level of Test,is terribly low for a guy your age. I was at 400,when I started my HRT,and I felt and looked like crap!
The sad part of this is,you will have to doctor hunt. I did,and it worked out great. I had to go and spend a bunch of cash on lab tests,but at least it gave me a baseline. You can take these results to various doctors,and feel them out about putting you on HRT.

As for lab values,my current doctor,feels just fine about having me float in the 14-1500 range,for Test,at 200mg a week of Cyp. However,I still had to ask him to check my Estradiol.So..... even he was lacking about the important role it plays.

If you have the cash,and access to a Labcorp,they will draw and test blood,without a doctor's say so. This way,you can fine-tune your system.

At your age,you have far too many years ahead of you,to not get this going!

 

[dayman]

thanks for the help gentlemen. i have an appt with a new endo on 3/16. i hope he'll be more open than the past doc. i'll let everyone know what my values come back at cause i'm sure he'll run his own set of blood work. hopefully i'll have better luck

 

[dayman]

update. saw the new endo today. didn't do anything but ask me more questions and look at my old results. he set me up to get more blood drawn to see if my last results (334 ng/dl) were an anomaly. the appt is for 8am because he said my levels would be at their highest then. i am debating whether to stay up all night to lower my T to ensure a more convincing result. any suggestions?

 

[dayman]

2nd update: after seeing the new endo and getting blood taken he told me to call him in 2 weeks. i did and he didn't give me results over the phone but said that i needed to get another test done to confirm the first results. seems like a bit of an over kill but I got a good night sleep and had it taken saturday a.m. he said to call this week and to find out next step pending the 2nd results. to be continued...

 

[LeoG]

I have some of the same questions. Where did you find the chart?
thanks!

 

[kingplaya4]

Have you looked (carefully) into your thryoid? Blood tests won't always show if there's a problem. Constantly having a cold body temperature is a red flag, your waking body temperature is the most telling. I'm on T replacement at age 29, and I started going downhill around your age. I still don't feel anywhere near the way I did in my early twenties, and am looking into thyroid treatment. (TSH in normal range, but not optimal)

Anyway, your doctors are right to be cautious, Androgel or shots will treat symptoms, but the question is why are you so low? You have to know trt is likely to be permanent not temporary. For environmental reasons men today do tend to have lower testosterone than they did years ago, and there can be genetic reasons but that wouldn't explain it if the energy loss has been rather sudden. If you do go the trt route, try to get some weekly hcg injections to keep the production you do have up.

 

[dayman]

Have you looked (carefully) into your thryoid? Blood tests won't always show if there's a problem. Constantly having a cold body temperature is a red flag, your waking body temperature is the most telling. I'm on T replacement at age 29, and I started going downhill around your age. I still don't feel anywhere near the way I did in my early twenties, and am looking into thyroid treatment. (TSH in normal range, but not optimal)

Anyway, your doctors are right to be cautious, Androgel or shots will treat symptoms, but the question is why are you so low? You have to know trt is likely to be permanent not temporary. For environmental reasons men today do tend to have lower testosterone than they did years ago, and there can be genetic reasons but that wouldn't explain it if the energy loss has been rather sudden. If you do go the trt route, try to get some weekly hcg injections to keep the production you do have up.

thanks for the help kingplaya. i've been meaning to post back my updates. long story short, after the second blood draw and another two week waiting period he called me back asking for a third blood test! after the third test he got back to me saying test was highest result @ 424 and that was at low end of normal range and that we can talk more about trt in a follow up appointment in September. everytime they check TSH and they said those values were fine. doesn't look like i have an option other than to talk more to him in september...

...any help/suggestions would be appreciated. thanks gents