I read many of the posts on low T and TRT with Androgel and I would interested in your feedback on my dilemma.

I saw my family practice guy 2 months ago with a low libido and irritability and asked about getting my T tested.

3/7/08 Total T - 388 and Free T-11.9 ( I am 42 y/o)

I started the 50/5 Androgel packs, and felt some immediate improvement. My doctor wanted me to have it tested after a couple months before prescribing it again. Here are my new levels:

5/22/08 Total T-242 (241-827) and Free T - 8.2

I was very confused at how the levels could drop, and why. My doctor is on vacation currently, but his PA told me that my initial improvement was likely a placebo effect, and I should stop taking it and see what my doctor wants to do when he returns in a few days.

Is there any risk to stopping it? Can you level get too low? Why would it drop further? I am very concerned about what's going on? Please share your experience on this complicated and somewhat embarrassing experience.

Could you post the ranges for your free T?

for 40-49 y/o it's 6.8 - 21.5

Ok, thanks... I am assuming the Total T is ng/dl... what measurement is the Free T?

Thanks

yes. total T is ng/dl. Free T is pg/ml. I just founf out my family doc is refering me to an endocrinologist for "failing TRT".

yes. total T is ng/dl. Free T is pg/ml. I just founf out my family doc is refering me to an endocrinologist for "failing TRT".

lol, no no, your trt is not failing. This is what happened, you had t levels in the 300s and you started adding more t from androgel. So now you have external t and your own, hence why you felt better. However, your hpta shut down since it sensed T levels were optimal, meaning you arnt producing any of your own T and are reliant completly on external T. Another reasons why doctors who dont know how to adminster TRT shouldnt. Read up on this site, full of good info.

lol, no no, your trt is not failing. This is what happened, you had t levels in the 300s and you started adding more t from androgel. So now you have external t and your own, hence why you felt better. However, your hpta shut down since it sensed T levels were optimal, meaning you arnt producing any of your own T and are reliant completly on external T. Another reasons why doctors who dont know how to adminster TRT shouldnt. Read up on this site, full of good info.
Ok..what's the solution to my body stoping to produce my own T? How do you get the level back up to a better range where I was feeling better?

Also, now that I'm out of Androgel and waiting for an endocrinologist. Is my T going to drop too low? Can that have any harmful effects? I can see why you comment that certain doctors should handle this issue if they are not fully informed.

As you will find, most docs suck at this. You can use hcg to keep your natural production going if you are secondary. You need to get your LH and FSH tested to determine if you are secondary or primary. Yes your levels are gonna go back down and your gonna feel like crap, sucks. When you go the endo, ask about using HCG to keep your testicles functioning and producing T. Your hardest job now is finding a good doctor.

I agree. Your hardest job is going to be to find a good doctor. Maybe you should call the endo's office ahead of time and ask if he ever prescribes HCG therapy and if he tests estradiol in addition to total T. If the answer to either is no, then keep looking and don't waste you time waiting for this guy.

Your T certainly can be too low but for a few months it's not going to do any permanent damage. But you may feel like crap. Hopefully your HPTA (hypothalmus/pituitary/testicular axis) will turn back on and you will get back to where you started while you try to find a doctor. The HPTA is like a control loop that regulates T levels in the body. It senses T level and if too low or too high adjusts LH to make T go up or down. If you are typical case your's is broken and it thinks a T level around 300 is good enough.

By the way, did the doctor prescribing the androgel tell you it would make you infertile and cause your testicles to shrink? Probably not. Unless you have left out some test results I assume you doctor also made no attempt to find out why your T was low. Low T can be a sign of a much more serious condition. If he made no attempt to rule out the more serious causes then he should be ashemed of himself. Maybe we have to start filing lawsuits against these guys to wake them up. I often read about medical costs being so high due to all the malpractice suits. Well, maybe these suits are fully warranted and the real problem is poor doctors, not lawsuit happy patients.

Maybe we have to start filing lawsuits against these guys to wake them up. I often read about medical costs being so high due to all the malpractice suits. Well, maybe these suits are fully warranted and the real problem is poor doctors, not lawsuit happy patients.

Sad, but its true. Hypogonadism is a FULLY treatable disease, yet we recive awful care. Its ridiculous. Ill be writing some letters shortly to american society of endocronology,maybe to american medical association too voiceing my opionon. This has got to stop, doctors need to know how to properly treat this.

But anyways Macdriver, not meaning to scare ya, just letting you know the reality of this stuff. Like i said, Low T is fully treatable, you just gotta find a good doc. Call around to your local endos,uros/internists. Ask if they specialize in hypogonadism, if they use hcg, if they check e2 levels.

Hayfarmer,

You said below that Low T can be a sign of a much more serious condition. What are some of these conditions that you are referring to? Are they life threatening?

I was thinking of are hemochromatosis, pituitary adenoma, and empty sella syndrome. Empty sella is very serious, hemochromatosis is fatal if not diagnosed....and it often goes undiagnosed until it's too late. It is genetic and the saying is every family that has it has a "sacrificial lamb". The one who dies from it and alerts the rest of the family to check for it.

I have an update and I would be interested in your feedback. I have been using 2 pkts a day of androgel and my level have been 900 and recently 485ng/dl. I am feeling significantly better.

My endocrinologist said my exam was pretty benign except my left testicle was smaller and softer than the right. These are my lab results from that visit.
Iron 77 mcg/dl
Iron Binding Capacity 414 mcg/dl
Iron Saturation 19% (low)
Ferristin 18 ng/dl low
FSH <0.6 miu/ml
LH <0.1 miu/ml
Prolactin 9.90 ng/dl
T4 Free 0,76 ng/dl
Bioavailible T 267 range: 62-512
Thryroglobulin Antibody <20 iu/ml
TSH 1.34 mcIU/ml
Thyroperoxidase Antibody 12 IU/dl

I am scheduled for a pituitary MRI next week, and he does not expect to find anything, but he said it's required to rule out a tumor. I'm surprised by the low iron, I east very healthy and plenty of read meat and green vegetables.