1. < Men's Health

Testosterone, normal levels but many symptoms?

Posted by thetor @thetor, Oct 1, 2022

Hey there.
Hope I can get some info and maybe som good tips on what I should do, as my doctor makes it feel like it's just in my head, though it doesn't feel that way to me.

I've recently had a few visits with my doctor, because I've noticed that I have several of the symptoms that could be caused by low test. levels.
But after being tested twice, my levels are what he says are "within the lower normal levels"
He says my symptoms are not caused by low testosterone, but says it's due to a lot of other factors.
And I am very confused.

Symptoms:
- Mr. Willie isn't as active as he should be
- My hair is running away from my face
- Problems with my memory is getting more normal
- I feel fatigued a lot of the time
- Get easily annoyed/antsy
- Feeling more depressive/down than before
- Problem building musclemass
- Problem burning fat (Both despite having a very strict and hard training and diet)
- Lack of focus

And these are newer symptoms, only started noticing them the last 2 or so years. And I'm not even that old, 39 and turning 40 next year (2023)
I genuinly have no idea what to do next.
Any tips and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
T

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kbb57 | @kbb57 | Jul 9 6:23pm

From experience, you MUST know your free testosterone levels. Most guys won’t know what their baseline levels were since most doctors don’t care to check until you complain about symptoms you KNOW you are experiencing.
Also keep in mind those reference ranges for testosterone levels have been reduced over the years since the general population levels have continued to decline.
I have seen several doctors over the years and they refused to consider TRT even though my total and free testosterone levels were at and later well below the low end of the reference range. Like most men I too don’t know what my baseline testosterone levels were back in the day, I think they must have been higher than the average based on symptoms starting to manifest well before I crossed below the low threshold levels.

In January of 2022 my left ear ruptured and bled all over my pillow. I felt like an ice pick had been shoved in my ear. I went to an urgent care place and was diagnosed with COVID. I ended up losing most of my hearing in the left ear. Both ears were impacted and I had lost all my hearing for a couple weeks. Getting into see the ENT specialist had to wait until I was negative for COVID. I think the delay caused more damage.
The pain was persistent until the ENT specialist cut the ear drum and I could actually hold my nose and whistle out my left ear.
In hindsight I think several things started happening with that COVID infection:
My testicles started shrinking.
Erections basically stopped happening. My ED got progressively worse.
I had an overall ache in my body.
I gained about 40 pounds.
Depression became a major issue since I started having suicidal thoughts.
After seeing my urologist in April of 2023 and him telling me all my issues were due to my recent weight gain I decided I had to find new doctors.
I searched for an endocrinologist to pursue TRT. After another round of lab tests he confirmed what the prior lab results had already shown.
I started TRT in May 2023.
I noticed immediate improvements.

I think the rapid, further decline of my testosterone, testicular shrinkage, testicular pain, loss of erections before starting TRT somehow were related to COVID.

A subsequent COVID infection in July of 2023 on a cruise ship was treated with 10 days of Paxlovid along with Azithromycin.
After that treatment my testicular pain and overall aching subsided.
I have since lost 45 pounds.

In summary you must be your own advocate. If a doctor refuses to listen to you then you should at least consider a second opinion or changing doctors.
Do your own research.
Secondly, consider the possibility that COVID could have a connection to your situation.

Also your lab tests should come from the same testing facility if you are trying to observe trends and because various labs utilize different methods and ranges.

REPLY
1 reply
mordy | @mordy | Jul 10 11:34am

I totally agree with what you are saying. I also have gone through the situation where I needed to be my own advocate. TRT is very crucial if a guy is having symptoms. My symptoms starred when I was 36. Now I'm 44. I can't ejaculate without a PVS device. I can't maintain an erection for penatrating without penile injection before sexual inturcurse even on TRT. But most important if see symptoms to be imbarrassed to deal with them and you need to trust your specialists.

REPLY
nolivap99 | @nolivap99 | Jul 12 8:21am
In reply to @kbb57 "From experience, you MUST know your free testosterone levels. Most guys won’t know what their baseline..." + (show)
@kbb57

From experience, you MUST know your free testosterone levels. Most guys won’t know what their baseline levels were since most doctors don’t care to check until you complain about symptoms you KNOW you are experiencing.
Also keep in mind those reference ranges for testosterone levels have been reduced over the years since the general population levels have continued to decline.
I have seen several doctors over the years and they refused to consider TRT even though my total and free testosterone levels were at and later well below the low end of the reference range. Like most men I too don’t know what my baseline testosterone levels were back in the day, I think they must have been higher than the average based on symptoms starting to manifest well before I crossed below the low threshold levels.

In January of 2022 my left ear ruptured and bled all over my pillow. I felt like an ice pick had been shoved in my ear. I went to an urgent care place and was diagnosed with COVID. I ended up losing most of my hearing in the left ear. Both ears were impacted and I had lost all my hearing for a couple weeks. Getting into see the ENT specialist had to wait until I was negative for COVID. I think the delay caused more damage.
The pain was persistent until the ENT specialist cut the ear drum and I could actually hold my nose and whistle out my left ear.
In hindsight I think several things started happening with that COVID infection:
My testicles started shrinking.
Erections basically stopped happening. My ED got progressively worse.
I had an overall ache in my body.
I gained about 40 pounds.
Depression became a major issue since I started having suicidal thoughts.
After seeing my urologist in April of 2023 and him telling me all my issues were due to my recent weight gain I decided I had to find new doctors.
I searched for an endocrinologist to pursue TRT. After another round of lab tests he confirmed what the prior lab results had already shown.
I started TRT in May 2023.
I noticed immediate improvements.

I think the rapid, further decline of my testosterone, testicular shrinkage, testicular pain, loss of erections before starting TRT somehow were related to COVID.

A subsequent COVID infection in July of 2023 on a cruise ship was treated with 10 days of Paxlovid along with Azithromycin.
After that treatment my testicular pain and overall aching subsided.
I have since lost 45 pounds.

In summary you must be your own advocate. If a doctor refuses to listen to you then you should at least consider a second opinion or changing doctors.
Do your own research.
Secondly, consider the possibility that COVID could have a connection to your situation.

Also your lab tests should come from the same testing facility if you are trying to observe trends and because various labs utilize different methods and ranges.

Jump to this post

Thnx , agree

Does TRT = testosterone replacement therapy ?

REPLY
1 reply
kbb57 | @kbb57 | Jul 12 3:10pm
In reply to @nolivap99 "Thnx , agree Does TRT = testosterone replacement therapy ?" + (show)
@nolivap99

Thnx , agree

Does TRT = testosterone replacement therapy ?

Jump to this post

Yes.
TRT = Testosterone Replacement Therapy

REPLY
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