First and foremost I am a newbie to this forum so if I break any rules please lmk. I weigh 171 pounds at 5ft 10 inches, been lifting weights a looong time, since I was 18 so roughly 8 years. You probably think I weigh nothing and I don’t have any gains but about a year and a half ago I was diagnosed with H. pylori infection, and if you don’t know anything about it you should look it up. Long story short it caused severe gastritis which means severe heartburn and nausea for months. Last July I lost 20 pounds in one month, then another 10 slowly after. I couldn’t eat much for 6 months but still trained. So I USED to weigh 200 lbs with some fairly lean muscle at maybe 15% bf.
Since then, I’ve been struggling to gain any muscle, and it seems like my body recovers very slowly from workouts. I know my body very well, and I know how it responds to exercise etc so I figured something was wrong. I got my labs done and it seems like I have borderline low testosterone.
Doctor of course tells me I’m fine and have normal test for my age, but I’m not sure he’s correct. It is incredibly hard for me to put any muscle, something seems wrong. Obviously my sexual drive has lowered since I was 18, not significantly but noticed a difference.
Currently lift weights only 3 times a week (because body sin’t recovering anymore, used to workout 4-5 a week), get optimal nutrition high protein high fats, PLENTY of sleep (I prioritize this 8 hrs a night), no drugs or alcohol.
If you guys could help me interpet my labs and give your two cents if I should start TRT replacement it would be appreciated!
@nazgar0
Yes you are literally at the top of the range on free T (yours is 25). Most guys are asking if 9 or 10 is good enough for TRT and then get on injections to bring them to where you are at naturally 25.
Yes so my free T is pretty high relatively, but my Total test is on the low end it seems. I know most people think anything above 500 ng/dL is good, and most doctors believe anything above 300 ng/dL is great. But I’ve also read around 750 is truly optimal for quality of life. Just a thought, the longer I can avoid pinning up the better but I just want to be aware of everything.
And you referenced the estrogen being low, are you talking about the Estradiol at 13.6 pg/mL? Is there anything I can do about that?
Total test is for bragging rights. Free T is the testosterone that is being utilized by the body. You probably have low SHBG. They have lower-ish total T and higher free T.
You have a root cause of your problems and symptoms. Starvation and a significant loss of body mass lowers T and it takes a while until your body readjusts when you have fixed this. You are on a good way of recovery, continue and you will improve slowly over time.
That makes a lot of sense. I have been “cured” for of h. pylori infection 14 months as ofnow, but I’ve read it takes some people 24-36 months to fully recover from gastritis. Right now I’m averaging 3000-3200 calories a day and can’t seem to gain weight…and it’s hard for me to eat more without getting heartburn etc.
Well the good news is I guess I won’t be starting TRT anytime soon! thanks dextermorgan and johann77.
However, maybe it’s time for a cycle…haha jk… unless?..
I think you may be mistaken. Hist free test is direct assay which is very unreliable. When I did direct assay it showed me on the top of the range in the summer, but with calculated I’m at the bottom. I would suggest @nazgar0 test SHBG and Albumin so we can see where his free T truly is.
@nazgar0 Sorry, on the gray one that you photographed I cannot see free, only total. If you have second free test that is not direct can you post it?
I suggest you measure SHBG and albumin so to calculate it, this is the most accurate method for free t! Otherwise we are wondering what is going on. I’ve been bumping my head a lot with that
@nazgar0 I would add FT3 and FT4(did not saw them) to check the thyroid.
Your total testosterone levels are not healthy, but the free testosterone seems good on paper. I raised concern with the testing method because from experience I can tell you direct assay testing method can show a result looking good in the range but that is misleading.
The idea of most people is that you have lifestyle changes that can apply so your T goes higher, also the recovery from the illness can further increase it.
Apart from the other labs you have can you list which of the low t symptoms do you feel you have?
