Testosterone and Creatine Levels.

[adamgentile]

So I have my full annual physical with blood work and had my testosterone level checked for the first time ever.

My test level is 768, I'm 49 years old. The range on the print out read: Testosterone Total/LC/MS/MS 250 - 1,100 ng/dl

Is this range good for my age?

Also my Creatinine measure 1.20. The range is .60 to 1.35, this seems on the high side.

The only supplement I take is whey protein once a day, or only after a workout.

[Millz12323]

I'm jealous of that test score. My stuff always comes in below the normal range unless I do the blood work at 7am.. By 10am I'm already below the range.

Even first thing in the morning I'm just barely within the range. Oh well.

[Payton1221]

Did they determine your free-Test value?

The total number is good. For your age, it's very good (one website indicated that the average for 45-54 is 606).

[SuperChieftain]

So I have my full annual physical with blood work and had my testosterone level checked for the first time ever.

My test level is 768, I'm 49 years old. The range on the print out read: Testosterone Total/LC/MS/MS 250 - 1,100 ng/dl

Is this range good for my age?

Also my Creatinine measure 1.20. The range is .60 to 1.35, this seems on the high side.

The only supplement I take is whey protein once a day, or only after a workout.

Well seeing as i'm 34, and my level is 297, i'd say so.

[gym62richard]

So I have my full annual physical with blood work and had my testosterone level checked for the first time ever.

My test level is 768, I'm 49 years old. The range on the print out read: Testosterone Total/LC/MS/MS 250 - 1,100 ng/dl

Is this range good for my age?

Also my Creatinine measure 1.20. The range is .60 to 1.35, this seems on the high side.

The only supplement I take is whey protein once a day, or only after a workout.

Your Testosterone levels are good, more interestingly, whilst your creatinine levels are on the higher side of normal, for a male who regularly lifts this is not unusual.

My good lady is a doctor, or more precisely a consultant renal specialist, her explanation.

Creatinine levels vary from person to person, theoretically a 110lb female marathon runner would be expected to have a creatinine level measurement on the lower side of normal, whereas a 180lb male weightlifter may register towards the top end of the range. As creatinine is a by product metabolised by the muscles, then individuals with larger and denser muscles tend to produce more. Creatinine is broken down as the blood is filtered through the kidneys, this is the level determined by the creatine blood test.

However there are dietary and social factors that also affect creatinine levels, eating red meat, a high protein diet, consuming alcohol and hydration levels can all have an impact, even a heavy weight lifting session can result in the elevation of the individuals creatinine level.

[adamgentile]

Your Testosterone levels are good, more interestingly, whilst your creatinine levels are on the higher side of normal, for a male who regularly lifts this is not unusual.

My good lady is a doctor, or more precisely a consultant renal specialist, her explanation.

Creatinine levels vary from person to person, theoretically a 110lb female marathon runner would be expected to have a creatinine level measurement on the lower side of normal, whereas a 180lb male weightlifter may register towards the top end of the range. As creatinine is a by product metabolised by the muscles, then individuals with larger and denser muscles tend to produce more. Creatinine is broken down as the blood is filtered through the kidneys, this is the level determined by the creatine blood test.

However there are dietary and social factors that also affect creatinine levels, eating red meat, a high protein diet, consuming alcohol and hydration levels can all have an impact, even a heavy weight lifting session can result in the elevation of the individuals creatinine level.

Thanks for this information, really helpful. I drink a lot of beer, it's something I really need to work on and cut down.

[drudixon]

During my divorce was 98... Now low normal. Your score is great.

[Bccorrupt]

I'm 40 and my doctor was shocked mine was 550, so I'd say that's WELL above average especially at our age.

[induced_drag]

Test levels are really not all that important......UNLESS you are low 'for you'. That said, I have seen guys on this forum post up that they tested at 1100, and they look like a soaking wet teenager barely 150lbs (and they were middle age) , contrast that with others who test 400 but are top level natural bodybuilders.


MORE is not necessarily better. Enough...is the most important thing. Testosterone is really not as big a player in muscular growth (at natrual levels) as are other hormones. (cortisol, insulin...etc).

Now before some smarta$$ chimes in.....sure, jacking yourself up to superphysiological levels 6-7 times the normal natural range, and you will see differences.

Shifting around (while still in the normal natural range) has not shown really any benefits anyone can see. There are MANY legal testboosters that really do work. And many banned ones which at one time were sold OTC. Some were incredibly effective with many people here posting blood work all brining them up to or slightly over the upper limit of the natural scale. Yet.....no muscle gains (or any that could be measured) were ever seen.

BB.com was once chocked full of real working t-boosters. Again....no real gains. Plenty of blood tests showing impressive 1000+ levels....yet no gains....


What you need to be concerned with is if you have symptoms of low-t. If you do then look into it. But dont forget, symptoms of low-t look a lot like hypothyroidism. If you are not experiencing symptoms....then dont worry about it. Getting levels checked is not a waste, but I would not be happier if I were 800 vs 500 if I felt no symptoms.


As for creatinine. Be more concerned with BUN Creatinine ratio. Since eating high protein and training elevates both, it is the ratio that you look towards that is more an indicator. You can essentially throw our eGFR. "E" stands for estimated and the population this is based off wont apply to athletic people eating higher protein.

[jademonkey]

What does the number mean, and how does one get tested? (No pun intested) (I mean intended)

[SuperChieftain]

What does the number mean, and how does one get tested? (No pun intested) (I mean intended)

Get a blood test...............

[LWW]

Adam,

I don't know chit about those numbers and I certainly won't let them stop me from working to lift more, but it sounds like your in my "real man's" list, and you also drink beer too boot, horrah!

Congrats on not using the Creatine either.

Lifting is best way to be the true "ageless male" (and Female).

ID, muscle, smoke and mirrors ain't got much to do with being filled with "test", the question is can these bb'ers with low test still shoot a load across the room???

[induced_drag]

ID, muscle, smoke and mirrors ain't got much to do with being filled with "test", the question is can these bb'ers with low test still shoot a load across the room???

Pics of a year of progress with not just "low" test levels, but BELOW the bottom of the scale levels. So....to my point about test levels not being as big a player as some make it, I think I may have some insight.

[superman704]

I have never tested my test levels but I assume my test levels are good, i'm bald and have high sex drive, and getting stronger in the gym is not a problem for me, all natty too, of course

[superman704]

Pics of a year of progress with not just "low" test levels, but BELOW the bottom of the scale levels. So....to my point about test levels not being as big a player as some make it, I think I may have some insight.

How tall are you? I think you are 6' tall

[induced_drag]

How tall are you? I think you are 6' tall

Almost 5'9"

[LWW]

Almost 5'9"

5'8" - 5'9" class RULE!!!, not too short, not too tall, just right!

.......but still too short for pro-strongman.

[superman704]

Almost 5'9"

You are taller than me, I'm 5'7''

[VitalitySeeker]

Pics of a year of progress with not just "low" test levels, but BELOW the bottom of the scale levels. So....to my point about test levels not being as big a player as some make it, I think I may have some insight.

Do you have fatigue due to the low test levels? You couldn't have too much fatigue because of all the hard work you clearly did.. Then again, maybe all the hard work is what hurt your T levels.. haha

What you're saying has me wondering how much of the effect of T levels on body composition has to do with basic cellular chemistry and how much of it has to do with just being amped up and lifting more. Maybe T has more of a mental effect and the muscle mass is the result of being amped up and doing more, being more positive, social aspects etc.

[induced_drag]

Do you have fatigue due to the low test levels? You couldn't have too much fatigue because of all the hard work you clearly did.. Then again, maybe all the hard work is what hurt your T levels.. haha

What you're saying has me wondering how much of the effect of T levels on body composition has to do with basic cellular chemistry and how much of it has to do with just being amped up and lifting more. Maybe T has more of a mental effect and the muscle mass is the result of being amped up and doing more, being more positive, social aspects etc.

I no longer have fatigue since I am being treated for both hypo-thyroid and hypo-gonadal. Both related to my head trauma in 09. Both thyroid and testosterone are pituitary signaled. It took me a few years to figure it out, and yes I was training for a few of those. I had the fatigue back then, but I was so motivated in the gym I forced my way through it.

Other areas of my life suffered though. My worst memories were I can remember on weekends hearing the giggling voices of my then very young children playing. I would not even get out of bed to see them. I would stay in bed till 1pm or so. Then I would wander down and lay on the couch. By 400 I would be asleep again and would not wake up until dinner. Then I would go to bed around 930 or 10. It obviously frustrated my wife as I was zero help. She also resented and pointed out that I could find the motivation to lift, but yet any other time I acted like a zombie.

By the 3rd or 4th year of being in great shape, probably the best of my life, I asked my doc why I felt so bad at my physical. Looking through his notes he noted that I had complained of fatigue the past few years. That is when he ordered a full hormone panel on me. We did not order GH, but I would have to assume my small amount of GH has probably harmed also, but they really dont script adults for GH deficiency. So I never had that checked. Aging has seemed to be catching up with me so it is possible but I would almost rather not know.


I do think for me the deficiency really impacted with fatigue mostly. Besides body hair loss (almost lost all my leg hair over the period of 3 years. Like shiny smooth old man legs ) . I did not notice any changes in muscle mass or strength when I corrected my hormones. One thing I did notice since I controlled my diet so closely back that is my daily energy expenditure went up 200 cals per day with the same level of activity. Probably mostly due to correcting my thyroid. My body temp also rose almost 1.5deg. I used to have a resting body temp of aprox 97 all the time. Again, related to thyroid.

[VitalitySeeker]

I no longer have fatigue since I am being treated for both hypo-thyroid and hypo-gonadal. Both related to my head trauma in 09. Both thyroid and testosterone are pituitary signaled. It took me a few years to figure it out, and yes I was training for a few of those. I had the fatigue back then, but I was so motivated in the gym I forced my way through it.

Other areas of my life suffered though. My worst memories were I can remember on weekends hearing the giggling voices of my then very young children playing. I would not even get out of bed to see them. I would stay in bed till 1pm or so. Then I would wander down and lay on the couch. By 400 I would be asleep again and would not wake up until dinner. Then I would go to bed around 930 or 10. It obviously frustrated my wife as I was zero help. She also resented and pointed out that I could find the motivation to lift, but yet any other time I acted like a zombie.

By the 3rd or 4th year of being in great shape, probably the best of my life, I asked my doc why I felt so bad at my physical. Looking through his notes he noted that I had complained of fatigue the past few years. That is when he ordered a full hormone panel on me. We did not order GH, but I would have to assume my small amount of GH has probably harmed also, but they really dont script adults for GH deficiency. So I never had that checked. Aging has seemed to be catching up with me so it is possible but I would almost rather not know.


I do think for me the deficiency really impacted with fatigue mostly. Besides body hair loss (almost lost all my leg hair over the period of 3 years. Like shiny smooth old man legs ) . I did not notice any changes in muscle mass or strength when I corrected my hormones. One thing I did notice since I controlled my diet so closely back that is my daily energy expenditure went up 200 cals per day with the same level of activity. Probably mostly due to correcting my thyroid. My body temp also rose almost 1.5deg. I used to have a resting body temp of aprox 97 all the time. Again, related to thyroid.

Wow. I can relate but on a much smaller scale (self induced from doing too much physically and mentally). Maybe the significant amount of rest you were getting helped make up for the low T with the gains. Glad you figured it out.

[LWW]

I would not even get out of bed to see them. I would stay in bed till 1pm or so. Then I would wander down and lay on the couch. By 400 I would be asleep again and would not wake up until dinner. Then I would go to bed around 930 or 10. It obviously frustrated my wife as I was zero help. She also resented and pointed out that I could find the motivation to lift, but yet any other time I acted like a zombie.

Dude, by no means am I saying that I have what you have, but hearing what your wife was saying is what I'm going through, and I only train one day a week, but god damn I get up early and "out the door" where is that motivation to becoming a millionaire.

[induced_drag]

Dude, by no means am I saying that I have what you have, but hearing what your wife was saying is what I'm going through, and I only train one day a week, but god damn I get up early and "out the door" where is that motivation to becoming a millionaire.

In 09 I was almost killed. I was the sole survivor of a terrible helicopter crash. Left with a broken neck and frontal brain injury. I had amnesia for a short will and still to this day lost about 3 months of memories which never have returned. For a time after the accident, I struggled with short-term memory issues. Isolated in a brace for 3 months and watching the faces of those around me feeling sorry for me left me feeling the most weak I ever have in my life. My short term memory issues would mean I would often repeat myself (over and over). I had about a 5 min memory loop. Having a brain trauma, one has no idea anything is wrong with themselves. It is the reactions of others to you that remind you that you are not right.


I had two businesses that I ran and owned at the time. I could not even remember what needed to be done. My wife always a mom and I had no help. I lost just about everything. Only a few years later did I find some records and get it resolved that a few people screwed me out of aprox 100k in receivables. It was too late to go after them since the economy plunging even worse in that times bankrupted them.


In those times where I could not control anything, the only thought that I could remember was the feeling of strength I had when I was younger and used to train. I had not trained for 10 years. Lying in the guest room of our home where I slept (my wife could not sleep with me because I had constant nightmares after the crash and would be screaming out several times a night). I can remember saying to myself....'I want to deadlift 500lbs again.' Sounds silly, but I remembered repping 500lbs in my 20's and I wanted to feel that way again.

From the day I was cleared after my accident, it took me 11 workouts, and I deadlifted 500lbs again. (which is pretty amazing because I was so depressed after the 3 months in the collar I lost 30lbs). I think I was below 170. I could not work for a year, so all my focus was working out and getting better.

Funny how something like that will motivate you. It is the reason that I dont miss workouts now. I dont skip....EVER.

[LWW]

I can remember saying to myself....'I want to deadlift 500lbs again.' Sounds silly, but I remembered repping 500lbs in my 20's and I wanted to feel that way again.

From the day I was cleared after my accident, it took me 11 workouts, and I deadlifted 500lbs again. (which is pretty amazing because I was so depressed after the 3 months in the collar I lost 30lbs). I think I was below 170. I could not work for a year, so all my focus was working out and getting better.

Funny how something like that will motivate you. It is the reason that I dont miss workouts now. I dont skip....EVER.

WOW, to that whole situation, and the part I quoted is not silly, I've never dead lifted 500 yet, but I want it so bad I can taste it. I can relate to 405 because I was training with 405 15 years ago.

I'm way more motivated to lift than make a bunch of money, but I need to make money so I can lift and that's about my only motivation to "make money", I hate money and I hate the B.S. it takes to make it, I love to lift though.

Money can't buy health, I stopped lifting for several years to focus and advance in a new career, I only lifted about once every 3 months, after about 3-4 years of that I felt sick most of the time, plus not lifting I lost self-esteem which effected my confidence to be assertive.

[fitnessguyuk]

If Creatine and testosterone levels are higher first thing in the morning is there any added benefit to working out first thing in the morning? I generally workout at around 7am but not sure if this is an optimum time or not? Also, aged 39 wondering whether it is worth taking a testosterone test.

[adamgentile]

Adam,

I don't know chit about those numbers and I certainly won't let them stop me from working to lift more, but it sounds like your in my "real man's" list, and you also drink beer too boot, horrah!

Beer, the best post-drink around Most of the old schoolers would all train together, then eat and hit the pub for a few beers.

[blue9steel]

What you need to be concerned with is if you have symptoms of low-t. If you do then look into it. But dont forget, symptoms of low-t look a lot like hypothyroidism.

I was not aware of that, thanks for the info.

[induced_drag]

I was not aware of that, thanks for the info.

I have both unfortunately. At times I wish this was a topic I knew nothing about,. But I have been forced to learn a lot about it.