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trt advice, trying to gather dd...

S

slater

New Member
Nov 27, 2022
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Im a 50 year old male had my Total T checked by my primary Kaiser & im at 514, they will not check my free T cuz my total T is within their normal range.
recently started freaking out about hair loss on top / front of my head, had a neck fusion in August & sometime surgery stress can shed hair 3 months later, also heard covid & the vaccine can cause hair loss & have had both. or just dht male pattern alopecia...
No idea how much testosterone is being converted to DHT, etc...
I know for 50 514 total T isnt the end of the world but should I jump on trt @ those levels?
my thyroid is within range, my blood count #s also within range.
Ive been dealing with ed / performance in the bedroom issues for years now but just thought stress induced, Im moody & irritable more times than not…
Have noticed some recent belly fat & takes alot of control to keep in check but far from perfect. Clean diet, cardio, weights etc…
I started working out few months ago after a pause of 15 years due to work, life, back surgery, etc… im 5"8" 185lbs, not super lean, fit dad bod ; )
Now at 50 I recently had a neck fusion & due to me being a car engine mechanic for 35 years ive been awarded long-term disability. Just trying to focus on my health, all my joints hurt, moodiness, some fatigue compared to the old me but not huge, significant memory loss / train of thought issues, ed, hairloss on my head,
Also started sleep apnea / cpap treatment few months back, still go to bed at 9pm & am always up at 2 am & theres NO going back to sleep after I wake, ever...
Jumping through the hoops no inregards to sleep, primary doc sending me to insomia class, but could it be my hormones? I dont forsee this class fixing anything!
Also if I put my foot down with my primary & demand to see a endocrinologist in regards to treating my symptoms & not my total T levels & try & get the endo to prescribe me trt, is it going to happen or lost cause cuz of my total T levels?
I know we need alot more info like free test, dht, etc.....
thanks for any insight & allow me to ramble, I know its alot of random info, alot of missing info.
 
beefnewton

beefnewton

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Nov 11, 2022
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Your levels aren't terrible. I'd try something pre-TRT before jumping in, but I'd wait for the Old Ones to comment before listening to me. Depending on how you respond, for actual TRT, I'd say you don't need much... definitely not the 200mg a week I see a lot of clinics and even traditional MD's start people (now that they've realized TRT is for life, which means repeating revenue). But anyway, I'd try something further upstream like hCG or Clomid (I can't comment on the usage of Clomid at all, though) to see what you can get out of your balls (and how you feel with the boost in Test) before committing to TRT. But then again, you'll probably end up on TRT eventually anyway. So basically, I have no idea and wonder why I replied.
 
genetic freak

genetic freak

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Dec 28, 2015
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I don't know about the area you live in, but I know where I am, a doctor will not place you on TRT with those levels. Even if you were 25 years old. You could not even get a referral to an endo with those levels.

For free test you could take boron at 6 mg twice a day. This has shown to increase free testosterone by decreasing SHBG. However, it has also shown to increase estrogen, so if you are prone to gyno or already have problems with estrogen it might not be a good choice.

Even though your total testosterone is alright your DHEA may be low. Might be something to look at.

There are a lot of factors that can decrease sex drive outside of testosterone. The first one I would look at for your age would be prostate.

If you can get your sleep under control, it will positively impact your other issues. If you have not tried melatonin or magnesium supplementation that is something to look into. Melatonin is one that a lot people try and give up on, because they are not using the correct dose for them. I have seen people use as little at 2.5 mg a night to as much as 35 mg a night.
 
S

slater

New Member
Nov 27, 2022
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Thanks for the insight & would love to hear more but I know theres alot of missing pieces & need to get some real #s / blood work & not just total T.
Guess im hoping for an actual imbalance causing my issues so i have a legit reason to jump on trt vs just wanting to optimize.
Do alot of folks in my age bracket optimize regularly just to increase when the have #s like mine / average for my age?
The sleep issues have been recent, this year...Melatonin didnt help tried 8mg...
Im just irritable & obvious ed, something has to be off!!! I would hope...

Sounds like getting my primary doc or specialist within Kiaser to write me a prescription would be impossible with my total t where it is....
Even if insurance doesnt pay for meds, its a start.
 
Kluso

Kluso

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Oct 30, 2022
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Trt would most likely improve most of your problems. Balding could get worse though. You could always take matters into your own hands like a lot of us do. But that all depends on how you feel about buying testosterone on “the black market”. One OTC supplement that did help me before I went trt was DAA or D-Asparic Acid. Something to look into. Also agree with GF. I would try some boron and a DHEA/pregnalone supplement also. Could help a lot.
 
genetic freak

genetic freak

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Dec 28, 2015
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Thanks for the insight & would love to hear more but I know theres alot of missing pieces & need to get some real #s / blood work & not just total T.
Guess im hoping for an actual imbalance causing my issues so i have a legit reason to jump on trt vs just wanting to optimize.
Do alot of folks in my age bracket optimize regularly just to increase when the have #s like mine / average for my age?
The sleep issues have been recent, this year...Melatonin didnt help tried 8mg...
Im just irritable & obvious ed, something has to be off!!! I would hope...

Sounds like getting my primary doc or specialist within Kiaser to write me a prescription would be impossible with my total t where it is....
Even if insurance doesnt pay for meds, its a start.
Sleep deprivation is definitely going to make you irritable and will lower your testosterone. Your test levels are not great, but they are not bad either. The issue is, they may have been 700+ before the sleep issue. Going from 700 to 500 is something you are going to feel for sure.

I tried melatonin at 5 mg, 7.5 mg and 10 mg. Had the same issue you did where I was asleep around 9 pm, but it would not keep me asleep passed 2-3 am. Went to 15 mg and 7-8 hours of sleep a night with the CPAP is pretty normal now.
 
S

slater

New Member
Nov 27, 2022
5
0
Sleep deprivation is definitely going to make you irritable and will lower your testosterone. Your test levels are not great, but they are not bad either. The issue is, they may have been 700+ before the sleep issue. Going from 700 to 500 is something you are going to feel for sure.

I tried melatonin at 5 mg, 7.5 mg and 10 mg. Had the same issue you did where I was asleep around 9 pm, but it would not keep me asleep passed 2-3 am. Went to 15 mg and 7-8 hours of sleep a night with the CPAP is pretty normal now.
Thats alot of melatonin! Guess Ive got to get some 5mg pills, Go to bed at 8 or 11 doesnt really matter, up at 130, 230.... sucks
Only really been this way since ive stopped working due to the neck fusion...
few months maybe, will test levels really tank in a few months? There are rare days where miracles happen & sleep in until 330...
I just lay there.
In the past ide beat myself up all day long at work, staying asleep wasnt an issue.
 
S

slater

New Member
Nov 27, 2022
5
0
Trt would most likely improve most of your problems. Balding could get worse though. You could always take matters into your own hands like a lot of us do. But that all depends on how you feel about buying testosterone on “the black market”. One OTC supplement that did help me before I went trt was DAA or D-Asparic Acid. Something to look into. Also agree with GF. I would try some boron and a DHEA/pregnalone supplement also. Could help a lot.
Cant seem to pm you...
Source for BM cypionate??
Ive done my fair share of summer cycles of sustanon in my 20's but back then nothing could hurt us...
 
genetic freak

genetic freak

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Dec 28, 2015
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Thats alot of melatonin! Guess Ive got to get some 5mg pills, Go to bed at 8 or 11 doesnt really matter, up at 130, 230.... sucks
Only really been this way since ive stopped working due to the neck fusion...
few months maybe, will test levels really tank in a few months? There are rare days where miracles happen & sleep in until 330...
I just lay there.
In the past ide beat myself up all day long at work, staying asleep wasnt an issue.
Yes, they can tank in a few months.
 
CFM

CFM

National Breast Implant Awareness Month Squeezer
Mar 18, 2012
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I've lived in 3 states., had 7 different doctors, none would write a script for TRT with levels above 250. I battled my current Dr and got him to write mt at 284, with great reluctance. The range of 400-600 is what he wants, over 600 he'll back my dose down from 100mg/week. Currently I am 475ng/dl @ 105mgs/week. I have found from a couple decades of personal experience: 600-800 is where I start getting the Superman effect with the cost of my blood work telling the truth I don't want to hear.
 
S

slater

New Member
Nov 27, 2022
5
0
im in san diego, I know guys that legitimately needed it..
Through their primary care doctors, & maintaining an 800-1000 & with continuous blood work from their doc without issue.
This isnt a private doc, Kaiser.....
But for me if I choose to go down that road, its a pipe dream to go the primary care route even though I have obvious symptoms...
They would rather prescribe anti depressants & viagra, they fix-all.....
 
R

rawdeal

TID Board Of Directors
Nov 29, 2013
4,313
3,476
. . . . But then again, you'll probably end up on TRT eventually anyway. So basically, I have no idea and wonder why I replied.
I don't know everything ... not too sure I know anything, but sometimes a post that gets readers thinking, other people posting, and suggestions for other possible solutions rises above self-doubt.
 
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