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Has any of my fellow testosterone taking eunuchs had their doctor insist on lowering their dose when their t-level came back at 1% over the maximum suggested target? He has already lowered it once because I was 10% over, but at 1% over I think he's crazy wanting to do it again.

I have been on a weight loss program since late November, and when I started prior to his lowering my dose in January, I was losing the typical 2-3 pounds recommended per week though diet and exercise. He lowered the dose and I've not lost much weight since. In the past month I've lost nothing, in spite of my watching my diet and continuing with exercise. This difficulty started when he lowered my dose. Not to mention I've been having bouts of impotence which I initially attributed to my age, but noticed also started when he lowered the dose.

The last communication from him is we continue the current dose and if I'm still "above normal" in 8-weeks we need to lower it. I was on this dose when in the care of an endocrinologist, and I was never told to lower the dose beyond 100mg per week. This guy has me on 75mg per week. I told him if we get to 8-weeks and check again and it's still only 1% high, I'm insisting on a referral to an endocrinologist. This is the only doctor I've had since my testicles were removed that has insisted on lowering the dose and I feel like crap on what he lowered it to. *ugh*

Yes, I'm incredibly frustrated. He seems to think testosterone averages are a one-size fits all thing.

--LT

My doctors will not give me even a low dose T anything. I would like to try just a little to see if it helps with energy and weight loss. Oh the joys of being a eunuch.

But your right LT, 1% over, one test and oops its all over? give me a break.

River

I know this is old but my last visit to Endo, the lady wanted to reduce me to .3 cc or 60mg because my T level was only 30 over the max range. I pushed back and she gave me lecture on stroke, heart attack risk etc... I have lost all confidence in Endo's...

My screen 7 months ago came in at 910 ng/dl - quite high for someone who averaged 500 in Androgel. a month ago it came in at 1010, again using 2 pumps of 1.67% gel. Endo told me to cut to 1 pump. I've now got limp dick, which I don't want. I suspect that somehow my body is refusing to take up the T, use it, and get rid of what is left. Maybe will have to try a different form. Find out in about 4 weeks with follow up with endo.

You may want to get him to check E levels since your T could be getting aromatized into E.

A few years ago a previous urologist noted my 280 or so T level and suggested Androgel. My insurance picked up the $400+ for a month's supply. At about the same time I had an appointment with my PCP. When I mentioned TRT he went ballistic. I'm already on meds for high blood pressure and blood thinners for A-Fib. He convinced me to forget about TRT so that blue box with the little foil packets gathers dust in the shoe box with all the other meds. The idea of a stroke or heart attack isn't one bit appealing.

Losethem (imported) wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2015 2:23 pm Has any of my fellow testosterone taking eunuchs had their doctor insist on lowering their dose when their t-level came back at 1% over the maximum suggested target? He has already lowered it once because I was 10% over, but at 1% over I think he's crazy wanting to do it again.

I just wonder about two things:

1. What is standard deviation for testosterone levels? Somehow I think 1% is definitely in this range.

2. What is the measurement accuracy of methods involved (and time difference)? Same thing - 1% is relatively low and... well. It is strange.

I can not imagine that a 1% deviation is significant. However since the recent publicity about the hazards of using HRT, the medical profession has been wary of supplying Testosterone. --FLO--

Uncle Flo (imported) wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2015 8:39 am I can not imagine that a 1% deviation is significant. However since the recent publicity about the hazards of using HRT, the medical profession has been wary of supplying Testosterone. --FLO--

Mine is total replacement not supplemental. It is mostly the supplementals that have been having all the strokes, etc. Endo assured me that wasn't an issue, at least until the hemoglobin levels rose - that is stroke risk...

Fucked one way or another, and no damned kiss...

On the higher dose my lab levels (other than testosterone) were well within limits. This is why I'm incredibly frustrated, it's as if he's purposely trying to slow my metabolism at the very same time lecturing me about losing weight. I lost 35 Pounds (about 15kg) really quick, but over the past month I've only gotten another 3 off, most of that since this weekend when I upped the dose myself. I've not bothered telling him I've done that yet. I'm waiting to see if a quick 5 comes off this week so I can beat him over the head with it.

Since this is a body chemistry/metabolism thing, it's why I'm going to insist on a referral to an endo, and if he doesn't do it, I'm finding a new primary doctor.

--LT

fhunter wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2015 7:45 am I just wonder about two things:

1. What is standard deviation for testosterone levels? Somehow I think 1% is definitely in this range.

2. What is the measurement accuracy of methods involved (and time difference)? Same thing - 1% is relatively low and... well. It is strange.

The Art of Manliness has some info on that somewhere. I'll edit this post if I find the link, but you can look for yourself in the meantime.

Got a referral and talked by phone to an endo today. He said I had most things correct on this - that it was unreasonable to lower my dose when it's that close to the target. It could be that I accidentally put just a bit more testosterone in the syringe when I drew it from the vial and it could cause a slight bump that cycle. He's actually changed my dose a small bit, I'll be getting 10mg more during a two-week period than I get now (I'll be at 80 per week instead of 75), but I'll be dividing the total dose in half and taking it once a week instead of once every two weeks. I did that before and felt a LOT better on that plan. I just have to watch for lipidystrophy at the injection site (basically hardening of the fatty tissues where I inject) because I'll be injecting twice as often.

At least I got someone who knows what the heck they are doing and had a reasonable conversation about this. At the core the issue is they are all worried about lawsuits if their patients encounter any heart/stroke/circulatory issues. He also noted those are most common in people that are supplementing what their testes make and since I don't have any, it's a different game for me.

For now I feel like I have someone that is listening. I certainly didn't feel that way when my primary doctor was looking to lower the dose again for a 1% overage on the test. This guy understands that no scale is perfect.

--LT

March 4, 2015-

New studies fail to find cardiovascular risk with testosterone therapy

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-03-c ... erapy.html

Thanks Jessica! I may have to ask the endo about this when I get my 6-week blood draw in May.

--LT

Losethem (imported) wrote: Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:12 pm Thanks Jessica! I may have to ask the endo about this when I get my 6-week blood draw in May.

--LT

You may want to point out to these doctors that whats called normal range now days was considered below normal in the 1950s, hence, men's testosterone levels are lowering and many labs are using these new below normal numbers to list what they call "normal range".

as for high-dosing, even mega dosing, there were some studies done showing even 600mg per week (which truly IS above normal) which even that didn't produce side effects.

PS. for the older man, as in senior citizen age, I might agree with the higher level of risk, but even then, its mostly because of the excess estrogen and not the actual testosterone.