Anyone with diagnosed Low T? Straight Dope Doctors

[DSeid]

@simster

Pardon me if I don’t take this “opinion” to be worth a grain of salt - even if he is an “internist” - you’ll note the byline does not state other creds. …

The information contained is what is valuable in that editorial, not the source; it was not an appeal to authority. And he was hardly shilling anything. Just noting that losing excess weight, exercising regularly, drinking alcohol more moderately, eating less “junk” and more vegetables (in particular the cruciferous ones like broccoli and collard greens) are more likely to be effective and have other benefits in addition to increased energy, strength, and libido.

But if you want more authority I can oblige: the FDA.

Testosterone supplements have long been marketed to aging men as a fountain of youth and virility, but there is still no proof they are safe or effective, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. …

… As it stands, testosterone supplements are approved only for men with certain medical conditions that cause abnormally low levels of the hormone – such as damage to brain areas that control testosterone production.

But once the FDA approves a drug, doctors are free to prescribe it as they see fit. And most American men on testosterone therapy have no clear medical condition; they’re using it to counter the aging process, the researchers said.

Between 2009 and 2013, the number of U.S. men on testosterone shot up from 1.3 million to 2.3 million, according to the FDA. And the most common reason, the agency says, is the vague diagnosis of “testicular hypofunction, not elsewhere classified.”

That explosion in testosterone use has occurred despite a lack of evidence showing it is effective. The surge has been attributed to an aggressive marketing campaign by manufacturers alerting men to the potential effects of “low T,” such as fatigue, sexual dysfunction, declining muscle mass and gains in body fat.

“The benefits and risks of testosterone therapy have not been established for the treatment of men who have low testosterone levels due to aging, even if there are symptoms that seem related to the low testosterone,” said Dr. Christine Nguyen, lead author of the FDA report and the agency’s deputy director of safety. …

… What’s more, concerns persist that testosterone supplements increase a man’s risk of heart attack or stroke. Last March, the FDA started requiring all prescription testosterone products to carry a warning about those potential hazards. …

… There are other issues, as well. For one, Anawalt said, an older man’s testosterone is considered “low” if it falls below the normal range for a healthy young man. There are no standards on normal levels for specific age groups.

“It’s just been assumed that the normal range for young men applies to older men, too,” Anawalt said. …

Many men are prescribed based on a single test taken without regard to what time of day the sample was drawn (there is substantial variation during the day and it is recommended to have more than one sample taken to base a treatment decision upon) and estimates are that at least 28% of the men are prescribed with no blood test done at all. What actually is normal for men at different ages is completely unknown.

No question there is real hypogonadism and there is also a huge desire for a quick fix for more complex problems with many willing to oblige if they can profit in the process. No argument about discussing your problems with your doctor, even mentioning that you have heard “low T” discussed lots and wonder what (s)he thinks about that. That is a bit different however than going in with an agenda to get a test for the current fad diagnosis.

[FinsToTheLeft]

@Edward_The_Head

I can only tell you my experiences, but my doctors keep telling me I have low-normal T. Basically it’s right at the lower end of the scale. I’ve refused to go on the supplement because I’ve heard of the increased chance of heart attack and other things like that.

About 5-6 years ago I started having problems with my vision, I gained weight, my sex drive went down, sex satisfaction changed, energy went down. I thought at first it was because I was getting older, mid 30s at the time, and had two young kids. My doctor told me I had low T, but I skipped the treatment at the time. Almost 4 years ago my eye doctor sent me in for an MRI and it turns out I have a pituitary gland tumor, it was killing off my testosterone, pumping out prolactin, which is a female hormone, which was causing me to have all of those symptoms. I’ve been told that about 20% of people have such a tumor, but to most people it doesn’t do anything.

I went on another drug for the tumor, and now I feel ‘normal’ for a 42 year old. After about a month my energy came back, my sex dive came back, and I lost about 30 pounds without trying.

Even with my low T I still can, and sometimes want to, have sex a few times a day. I asked my doctor one time the benefits of a testosterone replacement and he said more energy, higher sex drive, and a couple of other things. I turned it down simply because I don’t think I need it.

You should ask your doctor for a blood test, bring up more then just the low T, but ask about other hormones too. They can do it all in one test, I get mine done every couple of months, and it lists testosterone, prolactin and a few other hormones. They could find another cause contributing to your issues.

I’m going through this right now. After feeling crappy and tired with no sex drive for way too long, I went to the doctor last week. Lo and behold, T is virtually non-existant and a follow up shows the same for Bio Available Testosterone and Prolactin through the roof.

I’m now waiting for a referral to an endocrinologist and an MRI.

[simster]

@DSeid

The information contained is what is valuable in that editorial, not the source; it was not an appeal to authority. And he was hardly shilling anything. Just noting that losing excess weight, exercising regularly, drinking alcohol more moderately, eating less “junk” and more vegetables (in particular the cruciferous ones like broccoli and collard greens) are more likely to be effective and have other benefits in addition to increased energy, strength, and libido.

But if you want more authority I can oblige: the FDA.

Many men are prescribed based on a single test taken without regard to what time of day the sample was drawn (there is substantial variation during the day and it is recommended to have more than one sample taken to base a treatment decision upon) and estimates are that at least 28% of the men are prescribed with no blood test done at all. What actually is normal for men at different ages is completely unknown.

No question there is real hypogonadism and there is also a huge desire for a quick fix for more complex problems with many willing to oblige if they can profit in the process. No argument about discussing your problems with your doctor, even mentioning that you have heard “low T” discussed lots and wonder what (s)he thinks about that. That is a bit different however than going in with an agenda to get a test for the current fad diagnosis.

I don;'t think anything in that response negates anything I’ve said.

As for your first link - he is still shilling for his ‘plan’ - and sure - exercising more and eating right is the cure for many things that ails us - wether or not it will “boost testosterone” (as the title to his book implicates) is another question, and shows that he is also pulling into the same mindset that preys on peoples “wanting the fountain of youth”.

IOW - somehow I think we agree more than we don’t.

[Nars_Glinley]

@FinsToTheLeft

I’m going through this right now. After feeling crappy and tired with no sex drive for way too long, I went to the doctor last week. Lo and behold, T is virtually non-existant and a follow up shows the same for Bio Available Testosterone and Prolactin through the roof.

I’m now waiting for a referral to an endocrinologist and an MRI.

Bumping this to see how FinsToTheLeft is doing.

[diggerwam]

I’m unable to have kids and I have never really had a strong libido. I was tested for low-T a couple years ago and the numbers were fine. Different people have different libido’s at different times in their lives. I’m not too worried about my situation.

[FinsToTheLeft]

@Nars_Glinley

Bumping this to see how FinsToTheLeft is doing.

Hi Nars, thanks for the shout out. I must have forgotten to subscribe to this thread and just saw followup.

I’ve been on cabergoline for about 7 weeks now and it seems to be working! I’ve lost almost 10 lbs so far, my body hair is all growing back (to the amazement/delight/disgust of my wife:D), and most importantly I don’t feel like the walking dead anymore. Back in September, I would sleep for 9 hours and wake up exhausted. Now I’m sleeping 7.5 hours but more refreshed. I can also concentrate on a task in a way I thought I had lost forever.

It’s amazing what .5 mg twice a week of a medication can do for you.

I’m back for lab tests in about 4 weeks to confirm if my prolactin levels have dropped and everything else returned to normal, but the fog has lifted!

Best,

Fins

[HoneyBadgerDC]

I am actually enjoying my gradual drop in “T”. I am 67 and have had a very gradual decline in libido. I still have sex 2 or 3 times a week because thats all I have a desire for. I enjoy not thinking about sex so much. I find I am more sensitive to others and less aggressive. Overall I have no desire to increase my “T”. I am not so sure my body could handle the levels I had when I was younger.

[John_DiFool]

Just wanted to say-whenever I hear this catchphrase/abbreviation it always makes me think of a suitably evil Oriental supervillian, one with a long Fu Manchu moustache who has just stolen your mojo and keeps it in a bottle next to his throne. The 500 Vials of Dr. Loh Tei…