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Low T - thoughts on steps to take?

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LongRoad_518
August 4, 2019
17 upvotes
askMRP

So I got my blood work back at 285 T. For a 36 year old it’s Quite bad. Hell for a 60 year old it’s quite bad.

I want to make sure that 1) it’s not caused by say a pituitary issue and then 2) get this taken care of as quickly as possible. Honestly I’ve been feeling like shit and it’s getting worse. I think my primary care doctor is playing a guessing game - not even an educated guessing game.

For those that have dealt with this - thoughts on if I continue through my primary care provider, find a urologist, find an endo, find a place that specializes in low T therapy? There’s a lot of information on the internet and much of it contradictory on this. While no one here is likely a doctor - many have a lot more knowledge than I in this area.


Post Information
Title Low T - thoughts on steps to take?
Author LongRoad_518
Upvotes 17
Comments 57
Date 04 August 2019 04:33 PM UTC (1 year ago)
Subreddit askMRP
Link https://theredarchive.com/post/248668
Original Link https://old.reddit.com/r/askMRP/comments/clyb1g/low_t_thoughts_on_steps_to_take/
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Comments

[–]boy_named_su6 points7 points  (21 children) | Copy

How is your sleep? Stress level? Body fat %? Fish or Iodine intake?

Get blood work done for vitamins, minerals, other hormones. Fix any deficiencies. Magnesium and Zinc especially

8 Science-Backed Ways to Boost Your Testosterone Naturally

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322508.php

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (20 children) | Copy

Sleep - too much and hit a fatigue wall randomly - where i suddenly am exhausted and need an hour of sleep. Stress is moderate - body fat 13-15% depending on how it’s calculated. Fish - lots. Plus lots of iodine salt. Magnesium supplement. No zinc supplement.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (19 children) | Copy

This won't fix the issue, but modafinil has been a great experience for me. I'm no longer a slave to sleep. I still try and get 6-8. Always feel mentally awake and alert.

[–]RickByer3 points4 points  (1 child) | Copy

modafinil

Any way you can say a little about how/where you get it.

I'd love to try some, but I'm very wary of ordering from a "Canadian Pharmacy" (which is usually in China) because I'm nervous about fakes and quality.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Buymoda.org it's legit. I wish I got a fucking promo code or some personal gain for telling people but I don't.

[–]_zealot_0 points1 point  (9 children) | Copy

how long have you been on modafinil? any headaches?

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (8 children) | Copy

Month 2 currently. No headaches. Why do you ask?

[–]_zealot_1 point2 points  (7 children) | Copy

Headaches are the most common side effect and they can get pretty severe.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (6 children) | Copy

Nah. I feel like a fucking super hero every day. I think my dick got bigger too. jk

[–]The_LitzRed Beret0 points1 point  (4 children) | Copy

Is it a daily dose or do you take it as needed?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (3 children) | Copy

Daily dose. 1 pull when I wake up.

[–]RPeed0 points1 point  (2 children) | Copy

Heh tried this. Seriously legit. Didn’t realize how chronically fatigued I was till I tried it. Made my 100 rep squat workout much easier too.

Makes my fingers itch though.

Are you doing 100mg ED?

[–]FoxShitNasty83-1 points0 points  (0 children) | Copy

Put that thing away before you take someone's eye out!

[–]RoccoPinkman0 points1 point  (6 children) | Copy

I have been taking modafinil recently and I love it while I’m on it but I found (not sure if this is in my head) that I got a come down similar to coke in the following days after taking it. Does it affect you that way?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (5 children) | Copy

Honesty now that it's been a few months, I don't feel much different, just always awake and alert. No more 2pm crash.

If I don't take it I don't notice a difference except I can't stay awake past 10:30 unless I am fucking.

[–]RoccoPinkman0 points1 point  (4 children) | Copy

Your not supposed to build a tolerance to it but some people say you do, sounds like you haven’t. I’ll try it out for a couple of weeks see how I feel I got fucking loads of them anyway.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (3 children) | Copy

I def have a bit of tolerance. At first, sleeping during the day would have been impossible. If I took it later in the day, I would have a harder time sleeping. Now its easy to fall asleep regardless when I take it.

[–]RoccoPinkman0 points1 point  (2 children) | Copy

That sounds ok though still, it’s keeping you alert but you can still sleep. Are you taking a full 200 in one dose, or splitting it?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

Full 200

[–]RoccoPinkman0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Ok cool, thanks.

[–]Iammrp25 points6 points  (3 children) | Copy

I had t levels about that low. And they seemed to go up by themselves. The only things I changed was cutting out alcohol and adding magnesium and b vitamins. Not sure what helped. It could have even been a bad test the first time. Who knows. The weird thing is I lifted with low T results and was pretty strong. I'm not sure how accurate those tests really are.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (2 children) | Copy

I stopped alcohol a long time ago. Will add B vitamins into the mix. I am mistrusting of the test too but definitely have something bad going on. Lifting and muscle mass seem to be where I’d expect them to be 10 months in from starting so who knows.

[–]Cam_Winston213 points4 points  (1 child) | Copy

Mine was actually lower than yours a few years ago. Now it stays in the low 400s, all naturally. I never felt bad or weak or lethargic, at all. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Big question: do you have symptoms of low T? If so, seek a Dr. If not, maybe ponder why would you take stuff that would forever change your body's natural secretion of hormones? That isn't a small thing. I understand that juicers will tell you that you can lift more if you stick a needle in your ass, but if you feel fine (I did) ask yourself if you're trying to fix what isn't really broken or if you're putting your ego above your health.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

Biggest issues for me right now are very low energy, irritability/mood swings. But then there’s also dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea and some other shit. Doctor hasn’t found anything out of the ordinary except one day of low blood sugar and blood pressure changes when standing up. Not sure if this is all related or several different things. Only medicine I’m on is a biological for IBD and doesn’t have any of these as side effects.

[–]BobbyPeruRed Beret4 points5 points  (0 children) | Copy

I’m not a dr, but you said your sex drive and functioning was on, so I’m wondering if your symptoms are related to long term use of a stimulant. Maybe check with your dr on that. I was on a med that was causing low T- eventually it got under 200. When I discontinued the med, it went above 500. Currently I am on T, but I waited until I was 50 since my sex drive was still there. It’s best to try to raise your T naturally by cutting out meds and living clean first IMO, especially if you are only 36. The thing you have to consider is once you are on T, it’s usually for life, and starting at 36 is a long time when they don’t have much data on the long term effects of TRT.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (1 child) | Copy

Do you take vitamin D? Dr Rhonda Patrick has some great info about the importance of it. She is legit as fuck. Her Joe rogan podcast episodes are very interesting.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

I do but it’s usually borderline low. B12 is tough due to where my intestine is fucked up as well. I’ll get both these levels tested.

[–]RedPill-BlackLotusRed Beret3 points4 points  (7 children) | Copy

They will write off every low t symptoms as a lifestyle issue with the exception of a broken dick.

You have to complain about your dick not working and if it does? Your pushing rope, soft erections. Its already gone to far by this point anyway, but the medical community doesn't give a fuck about mens issues.

Broken dick is what landed me there. I didnt fuck my wife for 16 months. When she bought it up, I tried and couldn't. I had the life experience to know what was wrong though.

[–]red-sfpplusHard Core Red0 points1 point  (6 children) | Copy

You had a 16 month dry spell?

[–]RedPill-BlackLotusRed Beret1 point2 points  (5 children) | Copy

Yes. I was a total faggot. Dry spell means you cant get it. I just didnt want it, and I knew why, I just didnt want to do anything about it.

I knew I had low t, and I knew an endocrinologist would talk one look at me and tell me to stop drinking and smoking before he would do anything so I just kept drinking and smoking, and playing video games, and not fucking my wife.

When I finally pulled my head out of my ass I got back into shape and quit the booze and cigarettes, my libido was still shit and my dick was still flaccid. Trt for life.

Self inflicted wounds hurt the worst. I own this shit.

[–]red-sfpplusHard Core Red-1 points0 points  (4 children) | Copy

Dry spell means you cant get it.

I dont know what this means. But let me be specific in my ask:

You did not have sex with any woman for over a year? Correct?

Anyway, Mandy and I's schedule has been crazy. Seen her once in the past three weeks, and have not had sex in about the same time.

Going crazy bro. Not really interested in cheating as its not about that, just travel, work, etc.

But fuck, 16 months?

[–]RedPill-BlackLotusRed Beret2 points3 points  (1 child) | Copy

The no sex thing predates my wife. Nobody here can be a bigger faggot than me because I'm so intense.

My high school girlfriend pulled a pregnancy scare on me when I was 17 and it freaked me the fuck out. I wouldn't fuck her anymore after that. Of course she left me and started fuckig this super cool guy on the wrestling team with abbs. I drew all the wrong conclusions from that failed relationship and was all sour grapes about woman for years.

I didn't approach, I didn't date, none of that. I hit in mmorpgs and stayed single from 18 - 27 maby 28 until I decided to give it a shot again.

I married the next one. Red flags everywhere that i ignored. Ignorance all around because I had no experience.

She was fucking another guy and I waited my turn like the total pussy that I was, I'm so ashamed. It gets even worse.

When we first met she was training hard at the gym to lose 10 pounds to impress that guy she was fuckig. She used the language "hardcore" to describe her training. My first gift to her was a bookmark with hardcore engraved on it. She loves it and still has it to this day.

Every time I see it I'm reminded where I came from. She was training hardcore for another man. I waited my turn. The first time I asked her out she said no. I should have run for the hills.

I own this shit.

[–]red-sfpplusHard Core Red2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

I own this shit.

Fuck yeah you do.

I should have run for the hills.

Meh, dont be so hard on yourself. You had zero experiance. You did ok. Waiting your turn, then putting a ring on it - is not the most flagrant offense a man can make.

Now if she pull a TFA on you, and fucked another man while yall were hooking up, AND you then put a ring on it - then yeah - life long faggot status for you.

Regardless - keep doing what your doing.

[–]RedPill-BlackLotusRed Beret0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

Oh shit ya, no sex for 16 months. Leading up to that long spell we had a few years were I only fucked her maby twice. It was out biggest issue for years.

Part of it was I was ashamed of my poor sexual performance, and just didnt want it. Sex just made me feel shame. It was fucking weird.

Once I got on the trt though my whole personality changed. All that nonsense just vanished. I was tested below 200 a few times. I was really low.

Ya man. 16 months.

[–]red-sfpplusHard Core Red0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Ya man. 16 months.

I am clearly ignorant on these matters honestly. I was in court the other day and my lawyer was asking if my wife was dating. I dont think she is, but have no proof one way of the other.

It is coming up on two years of separation. She is still alpha widowed, obsessed with Mandy and I's relationship and while I personally could never go that long w/o sex - it is clearly possible according to Deadbedrooms. Year long, and multi-year long dry spells are clearly common.

Its the only reason I bring it up. And that I am going on 3 weeks myself - due to schedule issues. Prob the longest dry spell I have ever had. I would expect full on High School type fucking the next time we are in each others presence.

Balls were so swolen by day 10 I had to fap, and that is something I never do. It was either that or commit capital murder. LOL

[–]RPeed2 points3 points  (4 children) | Copy

Mines pretty low bro and I’m symptomatic of low T. Dick has been broken for months and I generally want to blow my head off. You can work through it but it’s up hill sure.

I tried everything for sleep, boron, IF etc for forever. And I mean everything. I’m pretty lean and jacked so it’s not a body comp issue.

I’m likely to go straight to UGL but if I was in the US or maybe even UK and could get a specialist I’d have been there a year ago.

[–]RedPill-BlackLotusRed Beret2 points3 points  (3 children) | Copy

Do your own thing man. Start with 125 a week no ai. Run bloods at 6, 12, and 18 to make sure your e2 and lipids are stable then every 4 months for the first year, then every 6 after that.

99% of us just start juicing after being on trt for a while. It makes you cocky and risk averse. Steroids just sound more fun after your testosterone levels are at the top end of the range for 6 months.

Try it.

[–]hack3geRed Beret3 points4 points  (1 child) | Copy

Checks out - 6 months in and starting to consider running a blast. Never thought in a million years I would want to but I’ve said that about a lot of things in the past 18 months.

[–]RedPill-BlackLotusRed Beret3 points4 points  (0 children) | Copy

Hormones are a lense you view the world through. The version of you making decisions doesn't exist yet. It's a total pandoras box. Totally worth it.

[–]RPeed0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Lol straight to the point.

[–]ke3bsf61 point2 points  (1 child) | Copy

I know quite a bit about this because just a few years ago, my T levels were kind of low. I was in the high 400's which isn't bad, but my free test was low. I got my diet in check and I feel a decent amount better. T levels are above 500 and my free test went up a bit.

What kind of shape are you in? How is your diet?

Do you have kids or do you want to have kids soon? I know the TRT route could cause some issues if you are looking to have children.

If I were you, I would look into the HCG route. It is an injection and the results look like the best bang for your buck.

AVOID any type of patches, especially Clomid.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

Mine was low 264 - was on clomid and got it to around 500 but it was short lived. Diet is on point. Health, exercise, lifting all there. The kids route is uhh interesting anyhow with fertility issues already so not really worried about that.

I also had low blood sugar. Low blood pressure. Not sure if related or different cause. Energy level and mood are terrible lately though. Sex Drive is ok.

[–]beta_game1 point2 points  (0 children) | Copy

I’m starting TRT this week as well as thyroid medication. Might be worth checking your thyroid but need a complete panel with total T4, T3 and Reverse T3. My thyroid is also sub optimal and tired all the time even with good diet and exercise. Whatever you do don’t let a doctor tell you you’re fine by the numbers if you feel like shit. If you can’t find a good Dr or clinic you can go the telemedicine route, Defy Medical or Viking alternative medicine can take your lab work and treat your symptoms until you feel optimal. Most primary doctors and a lot of “specialist” don’t know shit about optimizing male hormones. Check out The Lifting Dermatologist on YouTube.

Edit: TT of 285 is really low and will put you at risk for many health issues and diet, exercise and supplements are not going to bump you up hundreds of points to where you’ll be optimal.

[–]rocknrollchuck0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

Here's some advice I thought was really good.

[–]NoCoast822 points3 points  (0 children) | Copy

Yeah that was some useful advice that got me on the road to TRT

I ditched my primary care doctor who thought 280ng/dl was fine for a 36yr old and scheduled an appointment with a urologist office that was covered under my insurance and I knew prescribed injections. Started injections within a few weeks of my old GP say everything was OK.

OP you need a lot more bloodwork moving forward

Total test is important but just one of many important markers. As far as sex hormones go you also want to get LH, FSH, SHBG or free test (you can calculate one from the other), and a sensitive estradiol test.

Also you need a CBC and the common blood work done with a comblete health screening, and a complete metobolic panal. Thyroid issues if present need to be treated before treating sex hormones

I have primary hypogonadism so the only treatment option for me was TRT, which made things a bit easier.

With the little info you have, I bet your estrogen is low, just a guess.

Also remember for some of us TRT is life changing, but not in a dramatic way. I have improvements in all areas of quality of life but many of them are very minor. Still wish I would of pursued this many years ago, and it is worth the effort. I still hate needles, but just had the smoothest self injection right before I started typing this.

[–]bf5yes0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Go to a specialist for low t. Your free t is more important than total t and you did not state what that is. So when you hear people doing fine when total t is in the 200’s that normally means free t is still in a normal range. The long term effects of t replacement have been studied over and over again in Europe and is quite safe. Do not “dick” around and take clomid.

[–]JudgeDoom690 points1 point  (4 children) | Copy

Go to a men's health clinic and get on TRT with HCG. They might also start Anastrozole if your estrogen jumps up. If you need more lead in your pencil, get on Cialis too.

It's all generic now and cheap. Almost free with insurance.

[–]HornsOfApathyMod / Red Beret1 point2 points  (3 children) | Copy

5mg cialis daily is a fucking gamechanger.

I never need dick pills but holy shit - it's like my dick is 16 again.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (2 children) | Copy

I don’t have any of the issues of a broken dick. It’s hard as a rock when I wake up... random times... touching my wife. Whatever. Sex Drive is high too. The energy thing is really the only issue I’m facing. And that apparently may be heart related. Once I get that figured out I’ll worry about the test.

[–]HornsOfApathyMod / Red Beret1 point2 points  (1 child) | Copy

Try it once. Then report back.

Guarantee you've never seen yourself that hard in 20 years.

I too had no problems but shit... i can go for hours upon hours.

[–]JudgeDoom690 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Shortens recovery time for round two as well

[–]WolfofAllStreetz0 points1 point  (4 children) | Copy

I was literally in your position exactly. I'm 35 and have had low T since I was 27, 200ish. Fucking sucks and I was lifting since I was 22. Guys don't understand how important a normal T level is for young men. I was moody, irritable, depressed, no sex drive etc. I had every test at endocrinologists, urologists, primary etc to try to figure out what the hell was going on but this was years ago when TRT wasn't as big as it is now. I am secondary hypo which basically means they have no idea why my test levels suck ass. No ball issues, no tumor on pituitary. Make sure those are fine and press on...

PCP suck ass at this shit. You need to find a mens health doctor (typically urologist) who specializes in this shit. This took me forever since I live in a rural area so it's not a normal thing here to get prescribed. Also it's heavily abused so I think people are more leary on giving scrips out and it requires constant blood work to titrate properly.

I shoot 50mg twice a week intra muscular. My SHBG levels always sucked so I have to dose more frequently. I run around 800ish now. I do not need an AI as with the smaller dosing my estrogen was never bad. Less is more with this stuff. Low estrogen is not good either. I get bloods every 4 months now to check hematocrit (synthetic test makes your blood thicker)

One thing I will caution about this is you are not the same man after you start this journey. It literally changed my life. My energy levels returned and you want to fuck all the time. Your attitude is different. My wife knows I am on it and said I'm not the same person she married. Don't really care honestly. There is a lot of bad things that can happen with low T levels for a long time so the benefits outweighed the risks for me.

I see the 518 at the end of your name, if that's your area code I can assist with a doctor. Happy to answer any questions because I had no real help with this shit when I started looking around.

[–]SoggyTrainCucked by machines0 points1 point  (2 children) | Copy

Yep be ready for the shit tests if you do get on TRT. The first 1-2 months most people feel fucking amazing and you will want to bone daily. It's the new drug high, and eventually levels out and you just feel good all the time.

[–]WolfofAllStreetz0 points1 point  (1 child) | Copy

I don't know man, I am like 6 months in and I still want to fuck a lot. I'm not sure what I would do if wife didn't have a high sex drive...

[–]SoggyTrainCucked by machines0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Haha. Yeah libido is stays high, but I can go a couple days now and be OK. Initially daily release was needed.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children) | Copy

Sounds like first step is to rule out pituitary as a cause. Once I get that done then find a specialist in the area. (518 isn't the area code, just a random number with no meaning).

Thanks, this is very helpful.



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