OT: Testosterone testing

I just asked my PCP to run the T test as I wondered what it was a few years after treatments. He just added to the normal annual tests and completely understood. It was fine so no surprise there.

I get PSA tests every 3 months, add in testosterone tests once or twice a year. That is how I learned that my leuprolide chemo treatments ("ADT") had killed 1 testicle and severely injured/limited the other one. MO said this was a relatively common side effect of such treatment.

I have gotten used to having no libido, goes well with my total ED from the 2013 surgery.

I get my T tested every year when I do my PSA test. It recovered after ADT to the low 300's which was my baseline. However when I tested in May it was down to 240.

And funny you should mention this issue Hal, because I actually tested yesterday, at my 6 month cardiologist visit (my request). And now it's down to 214. I know T levels do fluctuate throughout the day, so I consider this more or less unchanged from the last result of 240.

I actually feel fine, no issue with my energy levels or mental state. However my libido sure isn't what it used to be.
I sometimes wonder if the low T is why I cannot seem to get my triglycerides into the normal range no matter what I do. Because when I was on Lupron, TG soared into the 500's, (now 185). And I even wonder if the low T is a negative as far as heart disease progression goes.

Getting old sucks sometimes

halbert said...
Thanks guys--I was actually asking about the 'home' tests vs labcorp/quest T tests.......

haha

halbert said...
Thanks guys--I was actually asking about the 'home' tests vs labcorp/quest T tests.......

Duly noted Hal, apologies.

My feeling is that T levels tend to vary so much, that I would feel more comfortable with a lab test. Although I don't really know much about the home tests.