Low T, normal LH/FSH/prolactin level, Dr wants MRI done

[bluesnickers]

I just got my blood test results in, and the DR(endocrinologist) wants an MRI to rule out pituitary gland tumor. I'm no doctor but with the low prolactin level, I'm not sure why MRI is necessary.
[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]total test was in low 200 ng/dl, prolactin 6.2, normal LH/FSH level. Shouldn't doctor recommend clomid or HCG therapy instead?[/FONT]

[FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]I'm in my 30's, been off the gear for almost 3 years, always did my PCT (last one with HCG) I didn't tell the doc about the use of steroids, just told him I've taken pro-hormones.
Should I consider the MRI? I'm claustrophobic, and if MRI is necessary, it needs to be sedated one. Too much trouble if it's not necessary.
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[stevesmi]

I think it is ridiculous the way doctors want to run up medical bills on their patience. welcome to the club. I had a ladder fall last year and the doctor wrote me out to get a MRI for $3500 just so we can see that I have a sprained elbow when it was obvious what was wrong. so lets spend that much money just to find out the patient has a sprained elbow, makes perfect sense lol

what has happened here is you abused steroids in your past and now your numbers are low. LH and FSH ranges are crazy wide. if your LH was on the upper end of the range than i would agree with your doctor that something might be wrong. but in this case I bet your LH is like 2.5 or 3 which technically is 'within range' .. he just wants to run up your medical bill

my advice is find a new doctor and get more opinions, never listen to a doctor who wants you to do expensive tests when he doesn't give you a straight answer as to why. it is obvious what he is trying to pull here, and that is why FOR PROFIT healthcare system is such a joke

 

[muskate]

Low testosterone levels are very common for guys in their 30s who have used steriods for a long period of time. Even with using steroids responsibly with proper PCTs after each cycle, your testosterone levels never fully recover. It's kind of like fixing a car. If you fix it once, it's about as good as new. If you fix it 4-5 times+, it is never the same as when it was brand new.

Getting an MRI done to rule out a tumour is never a bad idea but it isn't needed in my opinion. With normal FSH/LH levels and low testosterone levels, you have all the tell tale signs of someone who's natural testosterone production is suppressed from years of steroid usage.

I personally would see another doctor and try to get prescribed TRT.

 

[bluesnickers]

Thanks for replies guys. I don't know if he's doing it for money or not. It's not a private office but rather a big general hospital. I was on gear for maybe 3 years tops, 1-2 cycle per year.
My LH level was 4.5 with 8.1 FSH, which is in the high range. But I think he's thinking I have secondary hypogonadism because he wants me to do an MRI to rule out pituitary gland related abnormalities.
I'm not looking for TRT yet, since I don't have kids. I like to up my natural production, and that's why I want to try clomid/hcg first.

 

[muskate]

If you want to boost your testosterone production naturally, your best option is going to be to run the perfect PCT protocol -> http://www.evolutionary.org/the-perfect-post-cycle-therapy-pct/

If you take some time to do some research on HCG, you will find that it does more harm then good. Read this: http://www.evolutionary.org/hcg-dangers-exposed/