Impotence Support - 53yr. testosterone test update

Author

53yr. testosterone test update

crooner

2005-05-30, 10:48 pm

I hope I can get some input here.
I had my blood tested for the suggested levels(from this group), and
here are the results,...any input appreciated, (as I stated in an
earlier post, I've been very depressed, and anti-depressants don't seem
to be the answer)

testosterone total.........................421................. free
testosterone....10.4..percent free..0.2..........
cortisol..17.12..estradiol..31..prolactin..15.35.....
T4thyroxine..6.9...totalT3..0.87...........................

I can use any help, the only reason the G.P. even ordered these tests
were because I myself (from this groups advice) requested them.
When I went to the office to get the resuts, the nurse just said "he
said all your tests are normal".

I do have a referral to an endechrinoligist , what do you think?

D Hamilton

2005-06-01, 10:47 pm

On Mon, 30 May 2005 19:26:57 -0700, randall560@webtv.net (crooner)
wrote:

>I hope I can get some input here.
>I had my blood tested for the suggested levels(from this group), and
>here are the results,...any input appreciated, (as I stated in an
>earlier post, I've been very depressed, and anti-depressants don't seem
>to be the answer)
>
>testosterone total.........................421................. free
>testosterone....10.4..percent free..0.2..........
>cortisol..17.12..estradiol..31..prolactin..15.35.....
>T4thyroxine..6.9...totalT3..0.87...........................
>
>I can use any help, the only reason the G.P. even ordered these tests
>were because I myself (from this groups advice) requested them.
>When I went to the office to get the resuts, the nurse just said "he
>said all your tests are normal".
>
>I do have a referral to an endechrinoligist , what do you think?

I'm not the one to give any advice regarding your current bloodwork --
but it will help the folks who know more if you would provide
reference ranges.

My most recent bloodwork is below -- I'm due for another test in two
weeks.

My tests were done by Labcorp

Tot T Free T % Free Prolactin
Feb05 464 (281-827) 15.73 (5-21) 3.39(1-2.7) 11.5 (2.1-17.7)

Several blood tests ago I asked my endo what we'd do if my then-new
bloodwork didn't show any improvement over the previous bloodwork. He
told me, "Nothing. You're normal."

It wasn't really what I wanted to hear as I didn't feel normal.
Fortunately I've continued to show progress with each blood test.

Like you I had to request the tests from my GP. We had a small
argument, in fact, over the need for tests.

I guess I'm trying to say that I feel your pain.

Joe D.

2005-06-02, 11:47 am

Crooner, without reference ranges it's hard to advise. Each lab
uses different ref ranges.

E.g, total T ref range could be 250-1100 or 350-850. It varies.

Just guessing, total T of 421 is normal, but low in the ref range.

Likewise your free T of 10.4 is normal, but probably low in the
ref range. One lab uses a free T ref range of 7.0-25.0 pg/ml,
so on that scale 10.4 would be just 19% into the ref range,
about the level of a 90 yr old man.

Prolactin 15.35 is normal, but possibly high within the ref range.
One lab uses a prolactin ref range of 2.6-18.2 ng/ml.

Regarding thyroid, an important number is TSH, which you
didn't post. However borderline low thyroid level is often
implicated in depression. Psychiatrists frequently prescribe
thyroid medication to patients who don't respond to
antidepressants.

If you take antidepressants, be advised most can cause
sexual dysfunction. Two which rarely do are Wellbutrin and
Remeron.

If you've never taken antidepressants, or have had bad experiences
with them, consider one of these two.

It's hard to tell without reg ranges, but your T numbers might
be low enough to try a trial period of testosterone. I've
had several Drs who were supportive of that given roughly
similar T numbers. Your task if finding one in your area.

Another possible alternative to taking testosterone is hCG
shots, which IMO are easier and less trouble.

crooner

2005-06-02, 10:48 pm

Thankyou Joe,.I'll try this again...........................
testosterone.420..ref.rng...241-827....................
free test..10.4..ref. rng...8.0-35.0 pct.free..0.2...
T4 thyroxine.6.9.ref. rng..4.5-12.5.....................
T3 total.0.87..ref. rng. 0.86-2.00........................
cortisol.17.12..a.m.4,30-22.40.p.m.,3.09-16.6....blood sample taken at
5:30p.m..........................
prolactin.15.35..ref, rng..2.10-17.70...................
Estradiol serum 31.ref. rng.21-50......................

isn't the T3 really low? thankyou...crooner.

crooner

2005-06-02, 10:48 pm

I also would like to share that the ref. rng.,(as you know),go's way
down after age 50, and I'm sure there axceptions to this "rule"

Joe D.

2005-06-03, 8:50 am

Yes, T3 seems low. Likewise free T is only 8.8% into the
ref range -- you want that much higher. Prolactin is 85% into
the ref range -- ideally you want that lower.

All of those -- low thyroid, low free T, high prolactin --
can cause depression. Not saying in your case it's the
cause, but it seems to bear further investigation.

Muerta

2005-06-06, 5:47 pm

"crooner" <randall560@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:20855-429BCB71-315@storefull-3111.bay.webtv.net...
>I hope I can get some input here.

Hmmmm...........some good advice already rendered. Keep in mind that hormone
imbalance is only one of the *many* things that can cause depression,
cognitive dysfunction, or/and sexual dysfunction.

I, personally, don't see a *big* problem in your lab numbers. However, one
of the obstacles with the doc's, even the cooperative ones, is that they
don't understand that a small tweak in the numbers can have a substantial
difference on the individual. There are those that function remarkably on
"below normal" readings, and those that come alive at a higher level.

Along with shooting all the lawyers, I think we should give all the doc's an
anti-testosterone antigen so they can relate ;).

Striving to get within the numbers is good, but it's no guarantee.

On that, as mentioned, yeah, your prolactin is high, free T is low, T3 is
low. You can (1) Get a scan for a tumor on the hypothalamus to see if that's
causing the high prolactin (2) Get a shbg test to see if that's causing the
low free T (3) Find somebody who'll get you on Testosterone to get you in
the upper 1/3rd of the range. Don't bother with the gels, in years I've only
seen one person that worked for, and he was methodical to a fault about it.