Hello everyone! This is my first post. I am 23 years old and would like to give you a brief synopsis of what led me to TRT. I used prohormones at the age of 21 for a 3 month period (did not use HCG/clomid or any other ancillary drugs) and essentially shrank my testicles and severely dampened my HPTA. It was the worst mistake of my life and I have no one to blame but myself. I was never the same after that. Low libido, began losing muscle mass, gaining fat (even though diet did not change) Depressed, etc. Working out did not help, no matter how hard I pushed myself. My body literally began deteriorating.
I had my GP do a blood test to check my testosterone, free and total. Here are the results:
01/03/2012 4:00PM
Result Flag Range
Testosterone, Free 5.0 Low 9.3-26.5
Testosterone, Total 308 Low 348-1197
LH 7.7 1.7-8.6
FSH 1.9 1.5-12.4
Prolactin 15.4 High 4.0-15.2
Estradiol 23.7 7.6-42.6
SHBG 33.7 16.5-55.9
TSH 3.360 0.450-4.50
03/06/2012
Vit. D, 25-Hydroxy 109.0 High 30.0-100.0
DHEA-Sulfate 290.5 211.0-492
I ended up seeing another doctor because the current one was a complete moron and she told me she didn’t think it meant anything and I was fine. I even went to see an endocrinologist and she also said there was nothing wrong with me.
So, this other Naturopathic doctor told me had never seen a young male patient with low testosterone levels like mine. He had me do one final blood test in the morning. Here are the results:
07/09/2012 9:00AM
Testosterone, Free 4.2 Low 9.3-26.5
Testosterone, Total 369 348-1197
Prolactin 12.5 4.0-15.2
Cholesterol, Total 152 100-199
HDL 61 >39
LDL 83 0-99
Triglycerides 39 0-149
He put me on Testosterone Cypionate 0.5ml (100mg) per week. I split that in half and did 2 shots per week. He didn’t know/did not prescribe HCG or anastrozole. I was desperate and foolishly believed that it would work solo.
10/08/2012
Testosterone, Free 7.2 Low 9.3-26.5
Here’s where I open up to you guys. This was about a week after a 50mg dose, so it does not accurately reflect a peak number. As far as physical changes. It was helping a bit in the gym. Now here is where I get foolish. He upped my script to 150mg per week and I had them check my estradiol level 3 days after I injected (trying to get anastrozole script). Estradiol came in at 35.9. Doc says in range and not a problem.
So, at this point I am 4 months in my TRT therapy and I notice a shift in my body composition. Muscle gain stopped and fat gain increased suddenly. I freaked out. My testicles had shrank to maybe 30% of their original size and pulled up tight in the scrotum and I was feeling extremely depressed. I did not get bloodwork (stupid I know). Could have most likely been low DHEA and Pregnenolone or thyroid dysfunction. No insurance at the time and was expensive for me.
He referred me to another Naturopathic doctor. I met her and told her how I was feeling and she scripted me HCG in the hopes my testicle size would recover. They did recover a good amount, but nothing like before I had ever used steroids. Much better though. I had researched much about thyroid hormones and adrenal gland issues at this point. I was on HCG 250 IU twice per week and taking iron 65mg tablets daily. I stopped the T-cyp. injections in mid-November. I tested the following in January (Have insurance now through job):
01/16/2013
Cortisol-AM 18.3 6.2-19.4
Cortisol-PM 9.1 2.3-11.9
Ferritin 30 30-400
Iron Saturation 68 High 15-55
UIBC 102 Low 150-375
TIBC 322 250-450
Vit. B12 1131 High 211-946
Folic Acid >19.9 >3.0
Testosterone, Free 5.4 Low 9.3-26.5
Testosterone, Total 408 348-1197
TSH 3.980 0.45-4.50
Free T4 1.47 0.82-1.77
Free T3 2.8 2.0-4.4
Estradiol 22.5 7.6-42.6
PSA 0.2 0.0-4.0
IGF-1 199 83-344
Reverse T3 35.9 High 9.2-24.1
Progesterone 0.7 0.2-1.4
SHBG 46.7 16.5-55.9
DHEA-Sulfate 257.7 211.0-492
Insulin 2.7 2.6-24.9
After this, she put me on Sustain-released Liothyronine 5mcg daily to reduce Reverse-T3.
I continued the HCG and here are the results.
04/01/2013 8:09AM
Testosterone, Free 5.6 Low 9.3-26.5
Testosterone, Total 426 348-1197
TSH 3.980 0.45-4.50
Free T4 1.47 0.82-1.77
Free T3 2.2 2.0-4.4
Estradiol 9.3 7.6-42.6
PSA 0.3 0.0-4.0
IGF-1 199 83-344
Reverse T3 15.9 9.2-24.1
Progesterone 0.7 0.2-1.4
SHBG 44.8 16.5-55.9
DHEA-Sulfate 211.9 211.0-492
Pregnenolone 107 <151
DHT 28 Low 30-85
LH 1.5 Low 1.7-8.6
FSH 1.2 Low 1.5-12.4
She changed/increased my Liothronine to immediate release (covered by insurance) 10mcg daily. Added DHEA/Pregnenolone cream 75mg/50mg daily. And HCG is now 500IU twice per week, along with Testosterone cypionate 120mg per week. She also scripted anastrozole in case I need it. Ok, that’s my story up to this point guys. Thank you for taking the time to read it. Now I have questions.
Why did my estradiol drop by like 50%? The only thing that changed was adding the Liothyronine.
I plan on coming off the liothyronine. Can I stop cold turkey? (I am going to get Free T3/T4, Ferritin tested at the end of this month first)
Do you think my reverse T3 will stay in range once I come off the liothyronine?
Any advice in general? I am still waiting for the testosterone to rebuild in my body. No effects yet.
Age: 23
Height: 5’ 11"
Waist: 34"
Weight: 171lbs
Can’t grow a full beard, some chest hair.
Carry most of my fat on my love handles
Hypogonadism (Other than that always been healthy, no drugs/smoking or alcohol)
Never used propecia or other hair loss drugs
Diet is clean 90% of the time (About 2,500 calories on average; If I try to increase I just get fatter even if all foods are extremely clean) I used to hover between 195-200lbs at about the same or slightly less body fat.
Have been depressed. Have not been going to the gym. Tired of killing myself for no results.
Testicles do not ache. Smaller than when I had never touched prohormones (roughly 40%+ smaller)
Morning wood is sometimes not there and when it is, it’s not very strong.