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Home > Archive > Impotence Support > September 2005 > What additional tests should I get?
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What additional tests should I get?
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| Just became eligible for Medicare so I went to the
doctor for some long standing minor problems.
I have plenty of energy but not much horse power.
See bottom of post for explanation.
After some badgering I had the following tests:
Testosterone 125 (200-900)
% Free T 2.09 (1.5-2.2)
Free T 54.2 (55-90)
FSH .6 (1.4-18.1)
LH 1.6 (1.5-35.4)
TSH 2.52 (.32-4.82)
The doctor wanted to start me on testoserone patches.
I do not have most of the symptoms of low testoserone
and am reluctant to start treatment. From the tests done
I thought more tests along the lines of prolactin or
pituitary were called for. The doctor agreed to disagree.
I did get a referral to an endocrinologist. I am wondering
what further tests should be done? My symptoms
seem to be more in line with low thyroid but are sort
of ambiguous. I am more concerned by an underlying
problem that the symptoms that I have had for a long
time. For those who wonder ED is not a problem even
with a T level of 125.
Lack of horse power:
I am fit, I hike, bike and swim regularly. I have hiked
the Grand Canyon as a day trip. 18 miles with 5000 feet
of elevation gain. When I hike with my peers (people
my age in a retirement community) I am always the
last by a wide margin. I entered AARP senior triathlon.
I trained, did the whole race at 90% plus maximum
heart rate and finished last by about 20 minutes.
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| Mr. Softy 2005-09-23, 5:47 pm |
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"ray" <ray@somewhere.net> wrote in message
news:ZphXe.12259$Q71.3900@fe02.lga...
> Just became eligible for Medicare so I went to the
> doctor for some long standing minor problems.
> I have plenty of energy but not much horse power.
> See bottom of post for explanation.
> After some badgering I had the following tests:
>
> Testosterone 125 (200-900)
> % Free T 2.09 (1.5-2.2)
> Free T 54.2 (55-90)
> FSH .6 (1.4-18.1)
> LH 1.6 (1.5-35.4)
> TSH 2.52 (.32-4.82)
>
> The doctor wanted to start me on testoserone patches.
> I do not have most of the symptoms of low testoserone
> and am reluctant to start treatment. From the tests done
> I thought more tests along the lines of prolactin or
> pituitary were called for. The doctor agreed to disagree.
> I did get a referral to an endocrinologist. I am wondering
> what further tests should be done? My symptoms
> seem to be more in line with low thyroid but are sort
> of ambiguous. I am more concerned by an underlying
> problem that the symptoms that I have had for a long
> time. For those who wonder ED is not a problem even
> with a T level of 125.
>
> Lack of horse power:
>
> I am fit, I hike, bike and swim regularly. I have hiked
> the Grand Canyon as a day trip. 18 miles with 5000 feet
> of elevation gain. When I hike with my peers (people
> my age in a retirement community) I am always the
> last by a wide margin. I entered AARP senior triathlon.
> I trained, did the whole race at 90% plus maximum
> heart rate and finished last by about 20 minutes.
Maybe you should have the tests repeated. The lab may have screwed-up.
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"Mr. Softy" <mrsofty@cinci.rr.com> wrote in message
news:fWjXe.13201$ib1.1692@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com...
>
> "ray" <ray@somewhere.net> wrote in message
> news:ZphXe.12259$Q71.3900@fe02.lga...
>
> Maybe you should have the tests repeated. The lab may have screwed-up.
>
I had blood tests in 2003 and 2005. The tests were performed
between 1 to 3 times. While not exactly the same the results
appear to be consistent. Low T, LH and FSH.
Thanks
Ray
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| Buttercup's Dad 2005-09-23, 5:47 pm |
| I am unclear by what you mean by having plenty of "energy" but not much
"horse power"? It sounds to me like you are doing very well. Were you
athletic in your younger years? In my case I have suffered fatigue after
prostate surgery in 2003. My doctor tells me that he has other patients
with the same complaint, but has no explanation. My thyroid tests were
normal. I am 58.
Whatever you do, I would say to keep up your physical activities. That can
only do you good both mentally and physically. Don't worry about being the
one to come in last in the triathlon. There are probably less than 5% of
men your age who could handle that level of activity.
Good luck to you.
"ray" <ray@somewhere.net> wrote in message
news:ZphXe.12259$Q71.3900@fe02.lga...
> Just became eligible for Medicare so I went to the
> doctor for some long standing minor problems.
> I have plenty of energy but not much horse power.
> See bottom of post for explanation.
<snip>
> I am fit, I hike, bike and swim regularly. I have hiked
> the Grand Canyon as a day trip. 18 miles with 5000 feet
> of elevation gain. When I hike with my peers (people
> my age in a retirement community) I am always the
> last by a wide margin. I entered AARP senior triathlon.
> I trained, did the whole race at 90% plus maximum
> heart rate and finished last by about 20 minutes.
>
>
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"Buttercup's Dad" <Buttercupsdad@dog.net> wrote in message
news:dgmrcb$2rg$1@gargoyle.oit.duke.edu...
>I am unclear by what you mean by having plenty of "energy" but not much
> "horse power"? It sounds to me like you are doing very well. Were you
> athletic in your younger years? In my case I have suffered fatigue after
> prostate surgery in 2003. My doctor tells me that he has other patients
> with the same complaint, but has no explanation. My thyroid tests were
> normal. I am 58.
>
> Whatever you do, I would say to keep up your physical activities. That
> can
> only do you good both mentally and physically. Don't worry about being
> the
> one to come in last in the triathlon. There are probably less than 5% of
> men your age who could handle that level of activity.
>
> Good luck to you.
>
I am sorry if I don't make myself clear. Energy means I can hike
all day and not be tired, lack of power means I am the slowest in
the group. I have never been athletic. I am more concerned whether
there is an underlying problem. I not concerned about symptoms.
Thanks for the reply. I wish you the best of luck also.
Ray
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| ray wrote:
> "Buttercup's Dad" <Buttercupsdad@dog.net> wrote in message
> news:dgmrcb$2rg$1@gargoyle.oit.duke.edu...
>
>
>
> I am sorry if I don't make myself clear. Energy means I can hike
> all day and not be tired, lack of power means I am the slowest in
> the group. I have never been athletic. I am more concerned whether
> there is an underlying problem. I not concerned about symptoms.
> Thanks for the reply. I wish you the best of luck also.
>
> Ray
>
>
Remember that the turtle finished and the hare didn't .... PJ
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| Buttercup's Dad 2005-09-23, 5:47 pm |
| Nothing to be sorry about Ray. I just did not understand what you meant.
In my case, as a younger man, I jogged regularly, but I think I did
something like a 15 minute mile, not 7-8 like my friends. I think there is
some kind of intangible with "power". When I belonged to a Vic Tanney gym I
would watch these guys with the weights. One was a policeman with big
muscles, looked like a guy from the line on a pro football team. He worked
out with a guy that was a string bean. The smaller man lifted the same
weight and did the same repetitions as the big guy. He had "power" somehow
that was way beyond his outward appearance. I would not worry about it. I
think you are doing fine. Worry more about consistency in your activity and
perhaps get one of those small monitors that tracks your pulse rate. Set
goals to reduce the time to cover the same distance while maintaining the
proper heart rate, etc. I think that is the way to try and improve
performance.
Take care. Stop worrying. You are fine!
"ray" <ray@somewhere.net> wrote in message
news:iRHXe.45270$1g2.37512@fe05.lga...
>
> <snip>
> I am sorry if I don't make myself clear. Energy means I can hike
> all day and not be tired, lack of power means I am the slowest in
> the group. I have never been athletic. I am more concerned whether
> there is an underlying problem. I not concerned about symptoms.
> Thanks for the reply. I wish you the best of luck also.
>
> Ray
>
>
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| Joe D. 2005-09-23, 5:47 pm |
| "ray" <ray@somewhere.net> wrote in message
news:ZphXe.12259$Q71.3900@fe02.lga...
> ....I have plenty of energy but not much horse power.
> See bottom of post for explanation.
> After some badgering I had the following tests:
>
> Testosterone 125 (200-900)
> % Free T 2.09 (1.5-2.2)
> Free T 54.2 (55-90)
> FSH .6 (1.4-18.1)
> LH 1.6 (1.5-35.4)
> TSH 2.52 (.32-4.82)
>
> The doctor wanted to start me on testoserone patches.
> I do not have most of the symptoms of low testoserone
> and am reluctant to start treatment. From the tests done
> I thought more tests along the lines of prolactin or
> pituitary were called for. The doctor agreed to disagree.
> I did get a referral to an endocrinologist. I am wondering
> what further tests should be done? ...
Ray you clearly have low T. That can cause lack of
energy and physcial stamina (not just sexual items).
It appears the cause of your low T is low LH/FSH,
not the testicles themselves. This means you have
the option of taking hCG shots, not just T.
There are several advantages to hCG: no messy T gels,
shots are tiny and not painful. Unlike T shots, you only need
2-3 shots per week, you can easily self administer with
a tiny 30 gauge insulin needle, much less expensive than
Androgel (depends on insurance). Also hCG avoids
testicular shrinkage like T causes.
Re prolactin, estradiol, etc, yes those tests are good to have,
but sadly it's common medical practice to not do them,
just prescribe T.
Based on your apparent age it's very common to have low T.
Based on your TSH alone, your thyroid looks OK.
I'd strongly encourage you to follow up and consider either
hCG or T. It's quite possible your lack of energy will lessen
or disappear once on these meds.
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