Training with depression? Long term prognosis?
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I agree with you. Thats why you need to get all the labs tested. its interesting that you had symptoms with high free test. Maybe your symptoms were due to not enough E2/estradiol? If total test is low and free is high, what was your conversion rate? E2 can have good and bad symptoms. But htis is my point and why I agree with you - you need to get lab work done and figure this shit out for yourself. Doing things like losoiign weight, which you did, affects the analysis. Also, while none of us are snowflakes, we are all a little different and our hormnal profile, aptitudes, receptor sensitivtiy and so on is all rather unique. This is why test, experiment, test again is required for conundrum like cases. Such as yours.
Thank you for this...I have grown increasingly frustrated with both (retired) military medicine and the VA healthcare system (they are two different providers) refusals to perform the labs I wanted; had my blood drawn locally this morning for a full male hormonal profile via Private MD. Regardless of my results, I plan to do this every 6 mos or so from now on and track things myself; seeking treatment when/if appropriate.
It is weird how everyone seems to rule out testosterone issues right out the gate. When I was a teenager and had a LOT of trouble growing muscle and was always depressed, no one even seemed to consider testing it. I'm actually about to go get it looked at for the first time today. I'm hoping I can rule it out as an issue, but better to know if it's a problem than not. Unfortunately it's not gonna be the full hormonal profile I think.
I get my labs drawn using Privatmdlabs. BeeN using em for years. They’ll send you a requisition that’s you print and take to LabCorp. Tell em it’s prepaid. Great source! I usually order the “female hormone panel” for about $60 and use the 15% off coupon they send you via email. It’s usually the first three letters of the month and last two of year (Jan20 for this month).
The female hormone panel (you check that you’re a male when you order it) will provide a CBC, testosterone (up to 1500), estradiol, lh and fsh, so it’s a pretty good one. Once a year I’ll add things like a PSA, lipid profile, maybe thyroid, etc as needed.
Hope it helps.
I, too, get the female panel BUT I have heard people say that the estradiol test in the female panel is not good. That men need the so-called "sensitive test" or "sensitive assay test" (cant recall name) because its more accurate somehow. Whatever. My numbers have been stable and logically high or low depending on my medicine usage using the cheap E2 test.
After reading this thread, I’m pissed. I just had my T, SHBG, and free T checked. Total was 420. SHBG was 33 and free T was 8. Doc told me that was “normal.”
The whole reason I went was because I’m chronically getting injured. My recovery times are abysmal. My libido is shit and despite yet another injury I’m pushing through, my progress is virtually stalled.
I’m headed to “The Men’s Clinic” ASAP.
All this mess because Rip advises to get your test checked. Good lord.
Anyone on this board, or anywhere for that matter, who disagree with this simple but critical piece of data (when dealing with depression) are out of those minds.
(Which is a perfect example of circular logic.)
100 mg/week of test at age 56 saved me from a very dark place. It’s not a cure all for everyone, but it wasn’t suggested as one. It’s another metric we need to be aware of.
Once you start TRT can you stop?
I know of no current regulation prohibiting the cessation of TRT. You probably won't want to, but nothing bad happens that wasn't bad before.