Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Jasksta

So, I went to my gp and asked him to take bloods and test my Testosterone Levels. He point blank refused to test my Testosterone levels.

He did take blood to test my thyroid even though I do not have any symptoms of thyroid problems. I told him this but still he insisted on testing my thyroid saying it was a more accurate test? Well the results came back and everything was fine so I asked again to test my Testosterone levels.

Still he refuses to take bloods to test Testosterone Levels.

Anyone know why doctors in Ireland are so reluctant to test Testosterone Levels?

Better still, can anyone recommended a doctor that's maybe more open minded and will to do the test? Been looking for weeks now and no joy.

Lelantos

Jasksta wrote: »

So, I went to my gp and asked him to take bloods and test my Testosterone Levels. He point blank refused to test my Testosterone levels.

He did take blood to test my thyroid even though I do not have any symptoms of thyroid problems. I told him this but still he insisted on testing my thyroid saying it was a more accurate test? Well the results came back and everything was fine so I asked again to test my Testosterone levels.

Still he refuses to take bloods to test Testosterone Levels.

Anyone know why doctors in Ireland are so reluctant to test Testosterone Levels?

Better still, can anyone recommended a doctor that's maybe more open minded and will to do the test? Been looking for weeks now and no joy.

No reason whatsoever for a doc not to do this. It's quite important, child reproduction, lethargy, to prevent osteo probs later. Change your GP, this is not a normal reaction bu him.

Jasksta

That's what I thought. He's exact words were:

"I don't believe in Low Testosterone - It's all in your head"

I was pretty adamant that I wanted this done but he just stood up, opened the door and told me to go on my way.

Have to say, i was really frustrated after talking with him.

Can anyone recommend a good gp in Limerick?

Appreciate any comments..

Lelantos

Jasksta wrote: »

That's what I thought. He's exact words were:

"I don't believe in Low Testosterone - It's all in your head"

I was pretty adamant that I wanted this done but he just stood up, opened the door and told me to go on my way.

Have to say, i was really frustrated after talking with him.

Can anyone recommend a good gp in Limerick?

Appreciate any comments..

Wow! Leave him asap, I suffer from low testosterone, am on gel to counteract the effects. Have been for approx 10 years. Benefits to my life have been immense since I started. I don't have a clue about the Limerick area, but I would ring some other practices Monday morn if I was you, its a simple blood test, at the very least it will place your mind at ease if you get tested

squod

Jasksta wrote: »

........ Low Testosterone - It's all in your head"

Bollox doctor, it's mostly made in your bollox.

Gummy Panda

This reminds me of a doctor who asked me was I american because I asked can I get tests done to check for allergies due to my brother having serve allergies to peanuts and penicillin.

Turns out years later that I was allergic to something and find out when a different doctor prescribed it. It was great fun having my face swell up like the elephant man and having trouble breathing due to penicillin.

Jasksta

Lelantos wrote: »

Wow! Leave him asap, I suffer from low testosterone, am on gel to counteract the effects. Have been for approx 10 years. Benefits to my life have been immense since I started. I don't have a clue about the Limerick area, but I would ring some other practices Monday morn if I was you, its a simple blood test, at the very least it will place your mind at ease if you get tested

Yeh, it's just unreal that he simply refuses to do this simple test. Think I'll be making some calls this morning as this is just not on.

Like you said, at the very least it will ease my mind.

So you reckon the gel does a good job then? I've heard mixed reviews on it, some saying injections are much better?

Jasksta

Gummy Panda wrote: »

This reminds me of a doctor who asked me was I american because I asked can I get tests done to check for allergies due to my brother having serve allergies to peanuts and penicillin.

Turns out years later that I was allergic to something and find out when a different doctor prescribed it. It was great fun having my face swell up like the elephant man and having trouble breathing due to penicillin.

Honestly, I don't know. How ignorant can these doctors be??

Lelantos

Jasksta wrote: »

Yeh, it's just unreal that he simply refuses to do this simple test. Think I'll be making some calls this morning as this is just not on.

Like you said, at the very least it will ease my mind.

So you reckon the gel does a good job then? I've heard mixed reviews on it, some saying injections are much better?

It all depends on the specific case. Gel works perfectly for me though. Dose can be increase or decreased as needed. But again, its the doc who will guide you thru the options

ReDdevil87

Funnily enough I had a similar problem. I asked my GP to send me for a blood test and he had no problem with it, however he declined to put a test reading on it for some reason. I studied sports therapy and was a Personal Trainer for a few years so I know how to increase test naturally through exercise lifestyle and dietary supplements, but anyone who trains knows supplements are expensive, especially to someone out of work. I haven't worked in the fitness industry for years now and haven't really trained properly for a few years. Along with that and a few years of bad diet has it's effect on you both physically and mentally and with men low test levels that come with a bad lifestyle can seriously cause havoc with you, after all it is what makes men well men. How we look and also how we think. So I honestly don't know why GP's decline to check and treat this, it is madness. What I would recommend to anyone getting a test check done is to ask them to check your estrogen levels as well. Some of you may know and some of you may not, but your test can convert to estrogen through aromatization, something as simple as drinking alcohol can aromatize testesterone. Your test(production) levels might be okay but if you have a large percentage converting to estrogen you can still have a lot of negative effects. So something like TRT might not be a viable option and you would probably benefit more from taking an AI(aromatize inhibitor). I didn't bother visiting a different GP to ask them to send me to get a test check but if anyone here knows of one in Dublin that doesn't have any problem with sending you for this necessary and important check I wouldn't mind hearing a recommendation.

Noxin

I hope you didn't pay him.

Cut him out and go find a new doc!

Tefral

I'd look up Stephen Lucey. He's a n ex limerick hurler and footballer. He's a doctor also. I'd say he would be more open to looking at this kinda thing!

kevpants

Lol.

How many people who approach a doc about a testosterone test aren't secretly really excited about the possibility of some totally legal steriods?

Let's not pretend it's anything else.

conzy

Not gaining a pound of muscle a week, must be a hormonal issue

arynne

I can help you with this if you care to PM me. GP are very reluctant to get involved with TRT.

Mellor

kevpants wrote: »

Lol.

How many people who approach a doc about a testosterone test aren't secretly really excited about the possibility of some totally legal steriods?

Let's not pretend it's anything else.

I'd say a significant amount are thinking that, maybe even most.
But definitely not all of them.

Blackphoenix626 wrote: »

Yeah, it is something else.

Do you actually know you have low T or do you think you have low T?

Transform

TRT is defo coming down the line.

What you are going to see are clinics opening up in much the same way you get your teeth whitened. Guarantee it will happen and dont see what the issue would be at all as women have been taking HRT for years and there is never a big fuss over that (in general)

Tefral

Blackphoenix626 wrote: »

I know so.

Might be worth looking at this. http://www.discountsupplements.ie/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=test&product_id=1191

kevpants

I'd imagine any of the big boutique 5 star private hospitals like the Beacon or that will offer a service where testosterone would be monitored and tested because those places are pretty much willing to offer any treatment that will make them money.

What you can't expect is for the Irish public health system to support your requirement for more testosterone. You aren't going to get a referral from your GP for it.

It's going to cost you either via needing a really top insurance policy or by stumping up the cash yourself.

deadlybuzzman

cronin_j wrote: »

Might be worth looking at this. http://www.discountsupplements.ie/index.php?route=product/product&filter_name=test&product_id=1191

Not being funny but morning wood is a decent measure of having at least a basic level of test.
Can home tests be trusted all that much? Considering its a treatment for life a less DIY approach would be preferable.
Testing would also need to be done regularly for a while because levels can vary wildly. One late night of beer and meg ryan films with dido playing in the background would give you a very different reading to what's possible at the other end of the scale with good rest, diet etc

Alf Veedersane

deadlybuzzman wrote: »

Testing would also need to be done regularly for a while because levels can vary wildly. One late night of beer and meg ryan films with dido playing in the background would give you a very different reading to what's possible at the other end of the scale with good rest, diet etc

Misread that the first time around and was "WTF? :eek:"

Clark2014

Jasksta wrote: »

Better still, can anyone recommended a doctor that's maybe more open minded and will to do the test? Been looking for weeks now and no joy.

Dr Andrew Rynne in Kildare is one of the few doctors in Ireland that prescribe TRT.

Check out testosterone.ie

Clark2014

kevpants wrote: »

Lol.

How many people who approach a doc about a testosterone test aren't secretly really excited about the possibility of some totally legal steriods?

Let's not pretend it's anything else.

Most people who use TRT take it for medical reasons.

Jasksta

Agreed most people do indeed use TRT for medical reasons & I'm not a bodybuilder

At present I'm living in the U.K. due to work commitments and have had two tests to date but both came back within the "normal" range. Go figure..

However, there is a lot of conflicting and confusing information regarding the "normal" range and I'm still continuing to seek advice.

Mellor

Clark2014 wrote: »

Most people who use TRT take it for medical reasons.

He point was that a lot of people who go to the doctor looking to have their testosterone checked. Are probably hoping that their levels come back low. To justify something to themselves, to make sure they aren't missing out, or to get a "medical reason" for TRT.
I'd imagine the majority of tests comeback normal.

Jasksta wrote: »

Agreed most people do indeed use TRT for medical reasons & I'm not a bodybuilder

At present I'm living in the U.K. due to work commitments and have had two tests to date but both came back within the "normal" range. Go figure..

However, there is a lot of conflicting and confusing information regarding the "normal" range and I'm still continuing to seek advice.

You had concerns about your T levels, you've been tested twice. And it came back normal. This is a good thing, but you don't sound too happy about the results.
What did your levels come back at?

Clark2014

Mellor wrote: »

He point was that a lot of people who go to the doctor looking to have their testosterone checked. Are probably hoping that their levels come back low. To justify something to themselves, to make sure they aren't missing out, or to get a "medical reason" for TRT.
I'd imagine the majority of tests comeback normal.


You had concerns about your T levels, you've been tested twice. And it came back normal. This is a good thing, but you don't sound too happy about the results.
What did your levels come back at?

TRT is not something you want to mess around with unless you absolutely need it.

Mellor

Clark2014 wrote: »

TRT is not something you want to mess around with unless you absolutely need it.

I'd completely agree with that tbh.

colossus-x

deadlybuzzman wrote: »

Not being funny but morning wood is a decent measure of having at least a basic level of test.
....

Phew, I thought I was a hard gainer and some kind of pervert..but I was wrong.
Being mis-informed is a terrible thing.

trt01

kevpants wrote: »

Lol.

How many people who approach a doc about a testosterone test aren't secretly really excited about the possibility of some totally legal steriods?

Let's not pretend it's anything else.

And you're an authority on the endocrine system and necessity of trt?

If you would perhaps educate yourself a tad, you'd realise that trt replaces at scored physiological levels NOT supra physiological, and hence no benefits other than constant levels.

When you've actually walked the path on your ignorant statements, then you possibly try to input something constructive..........until then, you've no idea what you're talking about kiddo

trt01

Clark2014 wrote: »

TRT is not something you want to mess around with unless you absolutely need it.

Are you on it?

trt01

Jasksta wrote: »

Agreed most people do indeed use TRT for medical reasons & I'm not a bodybuilder

At present I'm living in the U.K. due to work commitments and have had two tests to date but both came back within the "normal" range. Go figure..

However, there is a lot of conflicting and confusing information regarding the "normal" range and I'm still continuing to seek advice.

You're conversing with ignorance on here.

ROI is still stuck in the dark ages unfortunately, a friend just self medicates and gets reg blood work, he is on 125mg test e per week which is around 90mg test after the ester weight is discounted. In the UK you would get Nebido after a trip to a specialist via your GP, as did I.

Good luck.