Chicken or the egg?

[CubbieBlue]

I am 23 years old and have low testosterone. My levels have steadily been climbing upwards from 250 to 520 over the past 10 months. At one point I went to an anti-aging PA and did a month of arimidex and hcg. I decided to stop that and see if I can find a reason for my low test levels/see if they will continue to trend upward.

Here's my question: I suffer from PTSD. Throughout this period of low test levels I have left it largely untreated. Do you think if I treat the PTSD the test will rise? Or is the low test a cause of the PTSD?

[agoraphobe]

I can only offer my own anecdotal experience that starting test came close to curing my anxiety. But I was below reference range when I started and went straight into testosterone injections.

[CubbieBlue]

How much more time should I wait to see if my test levels improve? They essentially doubled in 6 months. Should I be confident that they will continue to increase?

[andy12345]

I'm 250-280ng/dl based on a 9am draw (which is what....reflective of 5 seconds of one's metabolism?)

I have always been an anxious person, even at a young age, say 5.. There was nothing really to cause that anxiety, unless you count bullying, but then that was nothing compared to the nasty stuff that happened to others.....

I never had the fighting spirit of any type.
However, I'm looking at ADHD-inattentive/mainly inattentive with its potential link of dysthymic/atypical depression like reactive moods etc and general "annoying pratt" syndrome - delicate mental disposition etc.

Another chicken or egg.....for me.

Anyway, I would be different I expect if I was at 520ng/dl....but not in the position yet to get there.

If you have PTSD, that's not going to help you until it's managed better than treated. What's your Free T etc? Whats your E2, SHBG, have you tried any other drugs etc etc, do some "recreational" drugs or beer help you (in medicinal quantities not whackout quantities)? etc etc.

Your title really is not a very good one btw......how is anyone who's "been there done that" going to reply to you if they skim this thread because it's not specific?
:huh:

The range for most labs is SI units (8-28nmols) US and others (230-800ng/dl approx) you can go higher, but you won't know your levels unless you pay.....and managing E2 etc . Sure you've read it all before........