In the future, please always include lab ranges.
Thyroid!
- TSH should be closer to 1.0, TSH=2.57 is a big problem.
- Thyroid lab ranges are stupid.
- This problem may be caused by not using iodized salt and then iodine supplements are also required. If is very important to have selenium in your diet at that time as a selenium deficiency can lead to thyroid autoimmune disease.
Thyroid symptoms:
- feeling cold easily or easier
- sparse outer eyebrows
- dry skin
- thyroid looks/feels large
- almost all of the same symptoms of low-T
Please eval your thyroid function via last paragraph in this post.
SHBG is most probably elevated, which reduces FT and inflates TT with non-bioavailable SHBG+T. So TT is overstating your T status.
SHBG is made in the liver and liver problems, perhaps some medications, can increase SHBG. Liver labs are needed. AST/ALT are basic.
With low FT, FT–>E2 will be low. Your E2 might have been lower but perhaps liver clearance of E2 is reduced.
Task list:
- Post info re iodized salt use and body temps and symptoms
- Get liver tested: SHBG, AST/ALT
Please read the stickies found here: About the T Replacement Category - #2 by KSman
- advice for new guys - need more info about you
- things that damage your hormones
- protocol for injections
- finding a TRT doc
Evaluate your overall thyroid function by checking oral body temperatures as per the thyroid basics sticky. Thyroid hormone fT3 is what gets the job done and it regulates mitochondrial activity, the source of ATP which is the universal currency of cellular energy. This is part of the body’s temperature control loop. This can get messed up if you are iodine deficient. In many countries, you need to be using iodized salt. Other countries add iodine to dairy or bread.