Very Low T Levels

[U_Got_Hit]

I have been feeling run down and have not had any kind of sex drive for a while. I went to see a Urologist last week and he ordered 2 different blood tests to check my test level. I went both times in the morning and had the tests done. I got my results today. On the first day it was 50 and the second it was 35. He said it was very low because the levels should be (if i remember correctly what he said) 247 to 890.

He took blood again today to see if imy pitutairy gland is sending the right signals. He said we would take it from there after the blood work comes back.

The thing is my doctor does not tell more than he has too. I would like to know if there are any questions i should ask him and does anyone know what they do to fix the pitutairy gland if it isnt working?

Any advise would be greatly appreciate.

[JanSz]

Originally Posted by U_Got_Hit

I have been feeling run down and have not had any kind of sex drive for a while. I went to see a Urologist last week and he ordered 2 different blood tests to check my test level. I went both times in the morning and had the tests done. I got my results today. On the first day it was 50 and the second it was 35. He said it was very low because the levels should be (if i remember correctly what he said) 247 to 890.

He took blood again today to see if imy pitutairy gland is sending the right signals. He said we would take it from there after the blood work comes back.

The thing is my doctor does not tell more than he has too. I would like to know if there are any questions i should ask him and does anyone know what they do to fix the pitutairy gland if it isnt working?

Any advise would be greatly appreciate.

If you can convince your doctor, ask him for real thorough blood test, better than the one below.
Do it at Quest Diagnostics, give a blood at Quest.
Then post it here.
Complete metabolic Panel
Hepatic Function Panel
Lipid Panel
CBC

Total Estrogens
estrone
Estradiol, sensitive
Progesterone
Pregnenolone
Total Testosterone
Free Testosterone (calculated)
Bio-available Testosterone (calculated)
Albumin
sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG), serum
DHT (dihydrotestosterone)
Hematocrit
prolactin, serum
FSH (3rd Generation)
LH
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Free (T3) triiodothyroxine
Free T4
Total T4
Total T3
DHEA Sulfate
Cortisol, AM/PM
SOMATOMEDIN C (IGF-1)
IGF-BP3
C-reactive protein (high-sensitivity)
Fibrinogen
Hemoglobin A1C
Lp(a)
Bilirubin
AST (SGOT)
ALT(SGPT)
VLDL
Homocysteine
Insulin, fasting
Glucose, plasma
Magnesium
Vitamin D, 1, 25-Dihydroxy
Folate
Vitamin A
Ferritin
B12, selenium, zinc, copper
Free PSA
FreePSA/Total PSA
aldosterone
Estradiol, Bioavailable

[advanced-stealth]

His main concern is cancer at this point, not trying to scare you, but that is what your doctor is looking for. To be honest with you bro, I would start asking my doctor these questions, you should be asking him why he is looking at your pituitary and what he plans on doing if it is not working properly. If he doesn't give you satisfactory answers I would advise you to find someone that does and will.

Again, not trying to scare you or anything, but you should always know exactly what your doc has planned for you and why, that is why you are paying him!

[U_Got_Hit]

Thanks for both replies. I go back in 12 days and i will ask for the blood test results and will post them.

[advanced-stealth]

Good luck brother!

[zkt]

How old are you ?
Lacking the units of measurement used-
Normal total test levels are 300 to 1200 ng./dl
Normal free test levels are 5-20ng/dl
The pituitary secretes Lutenizing hormone (LH) which cause the testes to produce test.
Thet are trained not to tell you more than necessary ( has somrthing to do with subjectivity, I think) so you have to do your homework and ask them specific questions if you want to know anything.
The prescribing info for Androdern patch says check the SBHG(sex hormone binding gobulin) too(7-79nmol/L. There are a number of things that can go wrong in the HPA axis an d cause low test and other symptoms. Do you do the anabolic steroids ? That would do it I`m told.

[cpeil2]

Originally Posted by advanced-stealth

His main concern is cancer at this point, not trying to scare you, but that is what your doctor is looking for.

Don't thorough docs always consider the pituitary when trying to pinpoint the cause of somebody's hypogonadism?

[zkt]

Originally Posted by cpeil2

Don't thorough docs always consider the pituitary when trying to pinpoint the cause of somebody's hypogonadism?

Now where did I hear that befor ? LOL
"The pituitary secretes Lutenizing hormone (LH) which cause the testes to produce test" Altho I guess it only implied.

[U_Got_Hit]

Originally Posted by zkt

How old are you ?
Lacking the units of measurement used-
Normal total test levels are 300 to 1200 ng./dl
Normal free test levels are 5-20ng/dl
The pituitary secretes Lutenizing hormone (LH) which cause the testes to produce test.
Thet are trained not to tell you more than necessary ( has somrthing to do with subjectivity, I think) so you have to do your homework and ask them specific questions if you want to know anything.
The prescribing info for Androdern patch says check the SBHG(sex hormone binding gobulin) too(7-79nmol/L. There are a number of things that can go wrong in the HPA axis an d cause low test and other symptoms. Do you do the anabolic steroids ? That would do it I`m told.

I am 37....only thing i have ever used is Andro patches about a year and a half ago. I had my levels checked back then and they were 160. My family Dr. put me on the patches for 6 months. I was susposed to go back and have them checked but wound up having another back surgery and never went back. Now my back pain is tolerable so that is why i went to the Urologist.

[U_Got_Hit]

Originally Posted by zkt

How old are you ?
Lacking the units of measurement used-
Normal total test levels are 300 to 1200 ng./dl
Normal free test levels are 5-20ng/dl
The pituitary secretes Lutenizing hormone (LH) which cause the testes to produce test.
Thet are trained not to tell you more than necessary ( has somrthing to do with subjectivity, I think) so you have to do your homework and ask them specific questions if you want to know anything.
The prescribing info for Androdern patch says check the SBHG(sex hormone binding gobulin) too(7-79nmol/L. There are a number of things that can go wrong in the HPA axis an d cause low test and other symptoms. Do you do the anabolic steroids ? That would do it I`m told.

Also, it was measured by ng/dl.....that is why my Fr is so concerned....mine was 50ng/dl on the first test and 35 ng/dl on the second one 5 days later. I will get a copy of my blood test and post when i go back to the Dr on the 29th.

[farmerjohn]

I don't know why the other poster thinks your doc is looking for cancer. He's just checking LH and FSH to see if you have primary or secondary hypogonadism. I thought my levels were low when diagnosed...my T was 98 on the first check and 110 on the second. You got me beat there. You will need SHBG checked for sure and just getting everything Jan mentioned above checked is not a bad idea if you can have it done.

If you are secondary (meaning LH is low or normal while total T is low) then you should have an MRI of your pituitary and also get checked for hemochromatosis (iron, ferritin, TIBC, saturation%). Most likey at your age you are secondary and you should take some treatment to keep your testicles working like HCG or clomid (if it works for you). You can also take T replacement at the same time like Tcyp injections or a patch or gel if the HCG does not get your T level high enough. Be aware if you are on T replacement alone, your testicles will shut down and atrophy and you will have a very low sperm count.