should i get a 2nd opinion on my treatment?

Back in February I tested at 296 Testosterone level. I have had low libido, lack of motivation to do almost anything, and inability to lose weight for quite some time. I was referred to an "anti aging" doc by my family physician, one of those places that doesn't take insurance, and charges out the ___ for everything. I also had TSH of 3.13, Free T4 of 1.31 (.61-1.76), and free T3 of 2.9 (2.3-4.2).

On my first meeting with the doc, we went over my blood work, and he ordered more to include vitamin and mineral levels in my blood. Also had me do a urine sample for neurotransmitters.

At that time he started me on testosterone therapy while we awaited the blood work. 3 125cc shots of test cyp, 2 weeks apart.

The tests came back, and the following results:

Pregnenolone: < 10 (meaning immeasurable). Standard is 20-100
Progesterone: 0.7 (.3-1.2)
DHEA: 340 (107-745). He said he prefers to get people to 600 or more.
Cortisol: 15.8 (4-22)
Estradiol, serum: 1.0 (.8-3.5)
Estradiol, free: 21 (0-53)
PSA: 1.7 (0-4.0). Screened me to make sure doing testosterone was ok.
SHBG: 26 (20-60)
IGF-1 : 261 (94-252).
Magnesium: 4.3 (4.2-6.8). He wants this higher.
Selenium: 380 (42-1400). He also wants this higher.
Zinc: 980 (1000-2000). Says this needs to really be up, especially in light of the fact my prostate is enlarged already. I do have BPH
Vit D: 34.1 (32-100). Again, he will be treating me for this being at low end.
Vitamin C:.2 (.4-2.0). I take 4 g a day, and still am way low. He is giving it to me in a different form, buffered, and also some that is fat soluble.
Vitamin B1 and B12 were both high, which he said was fine.
Insulin: 3.2 (0-29). He said this was fine.

My urine tests showed low norepinephrine and serotonin, and my epinephrine on the low end of normal.

At that time after going over all my tests, I am on the following huge regimen of supplements:

Prescriiptions
30 mg test/5 mg progesterone cream, once a day
5HTP/carbidopa: 2 capsules a day

Non prescriiption:
DHEA, 25 mg a day
CLA- 1 g twice a day
Pregnenolone: 100 mg once a day
Ascorbyl palmitate: 2 a day
Vitamin C buffered powder: 3x a day (1/2 tsp)
Melatonin: 3 mg time release at bedtime
COQ10: 200 mg once aday
R-Lipoic acid: 1 a day (this tastes horrible)
Super curcumin: 1 capsule twice a day
Herbal cardiovascular formula: 1 capsule twice a day.
Protein powder: 200-250 g a day

He is also having me do a long course of mineral and vitamin IVs, including zinc, magnesium, etc, and 4 injections of high doses of D3. Also I get a MIC shot every time I go.

about 4 weeks after my initial labs, I had DHT, a second estradiol test, and homocysteine results back, and my DHT was slightly elevated at 90 (30-85), and homocysteine was good 9.6 (0-15.0). Estradiol was now 4.8 (.8-3.5) and free estradiol was 2.2 (.2-1.5).

My questions are: am I being led on, and gouged? I feel no different after 6-8 weeks than I did before, my weight is the same, and I have no more libido than before. No random wood, or morning wood.

When I brought up the high estradiol, he said we will test everything in august after the course of IVs is done, and if still a problem, I will probably start on 6-oxo. His explanation was that we were trying to force my body to start properly assimilating the hormones down the proper paths by giving me progesterone, dhea, testosterone, and pregnenolone, and it will take my body time to figure out what to do with it all. It is possible that it may stop aromitizing the test into estradiol by august.

Is he right, or should I collect all my labs and go to a conventional endo for a second opinion?

I apologize for the long-winded post, it just is concerning me that I am spending more money than I have, none of which is covered by insurance, and getting no results.

The conventional treatment for me would be weekly testosterone shots with an aromatase inhibitor such as arimidex. Instead, I am getting supplements, mineral, etc. Tweet