Posted by LostBoyinNC34 on November 23, 2003, at 8:22:15
In reply to Re: Whats the worst antidepressant youve taken?, posted by Stavros on November 22, 2003, at 23:23:50
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> Thanks for your concern i am over 30 as well and have had lots of blood work done over the years (9 plus) but don't know if testosterone is a typical of part of the blood work up? Good for you and good luck with your new life! I hope I can make it out of this hole some day!!Nope, testosterone and the related tests (pituitary, LSH, LH, DHEA, PSA, etc. ) are NOT standard parts of a routine physical or even a more "aggressive" physical. Basically, unless you are an old man with osteoporosis and your doctor suspects it you have to ask for these tests. Im lucky in that I have a primary care physician who isnt lazy and he is young, only a year older than me. He will order about any hormone type test like that if I ask him to.
Another good hormone to get checked out if you are TRD (male or female) is cortisol. To rule out Cushings disease or some super high cortisol issue. My cortisol levels were just barely at the cutoff point for too high.
Eric
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> > > Eric,
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> > > Your posts seems to be fairly forthright and agressive. I am glad that you feel better and I look forward to looking into this testosterone replacement.
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> > Oh I have one serious bit of advice for you. If you do look into testosterone replacement, dont do it unless youve formally been dxed with low testosterone. Dont do it just to feel "aggressive." You will probably still need a regular antidepressant too or maybe a mood stabilizer with it. DO NOT do it on your own!
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> > Go thru your medical doctor, get the blood tests. And get FULL BATTERY blood work, where they check your pituitary gland, DHEA, LH, LSH, etc. in addition to free serum testosterone. And the time to get testosterone checked is in the morning, thats when it peaks. You want to get diagnosed whether its primary or secondary hypogonadism...IF you have hypogonadism that is. The treatment for secondary hypogonadism can be different than primary hypogonadism.
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> > Remember, Im past 30 now, Ive tried EVERYTHING, Ive been disabled a long time and I even had a recent ECT consult. And I formally flunked the blood work. Otherwise I wouldnt be on this stuff. Testosterone is serious business and its a highly controlled substance...remember that. You dont get it prescried unless you actually have low T levels. And the gels and patches are expensive as hell too.
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> > Eric
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poster:LostBoyinNC34
thread:282682
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031121/msgs/282774.html