Low T and Missed Reps

[Mark Rippetoe]

Doctors who don't lift, do not understand powerlifters.

Then why pay him?

[Browndog]

Then why pay him?

Most every physician I've dealt with over the past two and a half years don't understand Masters Athletes / Powerlifters, and those that do are rarer than hen's teeth. It doesn't matter whether they're PCP, or Specialists, their idea of physical fitness stops at a good walk, and eat healthily. Were I the picture of health, I'd bypass these folks completely...but I'm not, so I can't.

I go to this guy so that I can have access to the best specialists in my area in case I need them.

I paid my co-pay, because I made use of his time, and it's the only way to get a script for the thyroid medication right now.

I can advocate for myself, and if I find that he's unable to treat my conditions / concerns appropriately, I'll have to find a new PCP within that medical group.

Likewise, he can fire me if I'm too much of a pain in the ass.

But right now, he's the gatekeeper to all my specialists...so I soldier on.

[dalan]

Reporting from the Thyroid Front:

I've been started on Synthroid (25mcg), and it's been 30 days so far. I notice some improvement, but not nearly enough.

I contacted my PCP, and asked to have the next round of blood tests moved up so that we can get to a more efficacious dosage.

He grudgingly acceded to my request. He had reservations about moving too fast, he preferred to take a conservative approach to titrating up the dosage. I wanted to scream at him: DUDE, I'm a prostate cancer survivor (for how long, who knows); I've been feeling like shit for two years. I want to feel better NOW, not a year from now. Honestly, let's move the process along.

And a bit off topic, this doc freaked out over a high creatinine assay (which have been running to just outside the high side of "normal" for years now). According to him, my kidneys were failing, and he scheduled a kidney ultrasound to determine the next steps to take. However, to his great surprise the scan came back totally normal. This next round of blood tests will included another creatinine survey. He's had me off creatine and NSAIDS for 30 days, and I'll probably skip my Deadlift session before going into for the blood draw the next day.

Doctors who don't lift, do not understand powerlifters.

Couple of things that powerlifters (and bodybuilders) tend to do are things that can cause higher creatinine, namely having a lot of muscle mass and training very hard.

Be as hydrated as possible before your next blood draw. Being dehydrated can also skew the reading.

[John Fioravanti]

I’m getting interested in this TRT topic. 23 year old male here. Are there ways outside of TRT to improve or prevent the loss of testosterone levels? For example, filtering water and getting less toxic personal care products like that podcast with Dr. Anthony Jay discussed?

[Mark Rippetoe]

I’m getting interested in this TRT topic. 23 year old male here. Are there ways outside of TRT to improve or prevent the loss of testosterone levels? For example, filtering water and getting less toxic personal care products like that podcast with Dr. Anthony Jay discussed?

You can start by not drinking your girlfriend's piss, get outside more, and eating cleaner.

[topcraig]

I heard from a friend that if you go to a pet store and buy a monkey, then you spank the monkey often, you will have higher testosterone levels.

[Johnsonville]

Reporting from the Thyroid Front:

I've been started on Synthroid (25mcg), and it's been 30 days so far. I notice some improvement, but not nearly enough.

I contacted my PCP, and asked to have the next round of blood tests moved up so that we can get to a more efficacious dosage.

He grudgingly acceded to my request. He had reservations about moving too fast, he preferred to take a conservative approach to titrating up the dosage. I wanted to scream at him: DUDE, I'm a prostate cancer survivor (for how long, who knows); I've been feeling like shit for two years. I want to feel better NOW, not a year from now. Honestly, let's move the process along.

And a bit off topic, this doc freaked out over a high creatinine assay (which have been running to just outside the high side of "normal" for years now). According to him, my kidneys were failing, and he scheduled a kidney ultrasound to determine the next steps to take. However, to his great surprise the scan came back totally normal. This next round of blood tests will included another creatinine survey. He's had me off creatine and NSAIDS for 30 days, and I'll probably skip my Deadlift session before going into for the blood draw the next day.

Doctors who don't lift, do not understand powerlifters.

Good luck on getting a doctor to actually treat your thyroid effectively. I’ve been going back and forth with my endocrinologist for four years now. It is extremely frustrating.

[Smyth]

Hopefully you've had a chance to listen to some of the podcast and it's great that you're getting treatment but make sure you get adequate treatment. The main reason a lot of men don't do as well as they should is because they don't get enough testosterone when they undergo testosterone therapy. I can show you dozens of studies where testosterone was given to men and didn't work.The Common denominator in every single one of those studies was that their testosterone was only raised a little bit. Quite honestly you have to have levels that are for the most part supraphysiologic to really exert a good response. A lot of doctors will not treat outside of the normal range but that's where all the benefits occur.

Dr. Nichols, I am a 60 y/o with a total T level of 640, with the arguably mild symptoms of poor concentration, bad sleep, less interest in things that used to interest me, and less energy. Do you think that I should consider the TRT? I’m thinking that despite my Primary doctor saying “you’re over 300, you’re fine, in fact you’re a rock star,” that perhaps MY optimal T level is much higher. He would hear none of it. Also, if I do not seem to have a propensity to lose hair already, would TRT make me lose hair?

[Kyler.Painter]

So just as an update, I got in touch with a local TRT clinic and have been taking 200mg of test weekly and just had my third injection today. I've honest to God never felt this good in my life. My lifts are getting back on track, my anatomical functions are actually functioning, my libido is becoming aggressively strong, I have the energy to clean my home, and I actually don't hate the sack of flesh I see in the mirror every morning. Oh and I'm getting a nice shade of pink to me.

[topcraig]

Jesus, Christmas, son, when I was 23 I used to leave a testosterone slick in the street. I'm an old crusty bastard now but after my first day on Testosteronius my wife noticed a difference. I'm 64 and my wife is 41. In your case, your equivalent mate is still an infant. The gym is your best source of TRT.