Posted by Larry Hoover on November 23, 2003, at 7:06:19
In reply to I have been diagnosed with testosterone deficiency, posted by LostboyinNC34 on November 22, 2003, at 16:32:50
> Anyway...I just wanted to get the message out to all the TRD men out there. If youve tried all these stupid monoamine drugs that dont work good, you are 30 or over, get your testosterone levels checked out. You might be surprised.
I did. I am low-T. There are two problems presented, however.
The first is in assessing the actual cause. Testosterone does not act alone. It is in a complex interplay with both its own precursors and metabolites, but also in feedback regulation with at least four other glands, and all *their* hormones. You didn't get low-T in your thirties via a random occurence, an act of God.
The second one is that androgen replacement therapy is by no means a standard treatment, in that there are no established guidelines for when to apply it, and what exactly to apply as treatment. For example, my own test was off-the-scale low by some standards, but low-normal by the one my own doctor wished to apply. Because of this, he would not order further tests (pituitary testing is indicated, but I'm not getting it). An anology to hypothyroid sufferers is probably fair; despite obvious symptoms consistent with the diagnosis, many hypothyroid subjects are denied treatment, or given inadequate treatment, due to the interpretation of hormone levels as falling within the "normal" range.
> Testosterone is a GOOD antidepressant!
>
> EricI sure hope so.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:282569
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031121/msgs/282756.html