41 YO with 86 ng/dL T Level

Well just got my blood work back with some not so postive results.

Have to see an hematologist before my endo will prescribe anything.

Blood count slightly out of norm

RBC - 5.83 (4.1-5.06 range)
Hemoglobin - 17.1 (12.5-17.0 range)

Cholesterol - 200 mg/dL (100-199)
LDL - 142 mg/dL (0-99)

Testerosterone, Bioavail with SHBG

Test, Serum (total) - 86 ng/dL (348-1197)
Bioavailable T - 50 ng/dL (95-350)
SHBG - 23 nmol/L

Estradiol - 9.2 pg/mL (8.0-35)

Prolactin - 7.9 ng/mL (3-18)

T4 free - 1.64 ng/dL (.82-1.77)

LH - 0.6 mUI/mL(1.7-8.6)
FSH - 0.9 mIU/mL (1.5-12.4)

So now I am going to see a hematologist before I can move on. In the meantime I will continue to get my cholesterol levels back in range by dropping some weight.

Have to say having low T really sucks. No motivation/energy and next to impossible to add any muscle. Hopefully I can get things in order in the near future.

[quote]GFA wrote:
Well just got my blood work back with some not so postive results.

Have to see an hematologist before my endo will prescribe anything.

Blood count slightly out of norm

RBC - 5.83 (4.1-5.06 range)
Hemoglobin - 17.1 (12.5-17.0 range)

Cholesterol - 200 mg/dL (100-199)
LDL - 142 mg/dL (0-99)

Testerosterone, Bioavail with SHBG

Test, Serum (total) - 86 ng/dL (348-1197)
Bioavailable T - 50 ng/dL (95-350)
SHBG - 23 nmol/L

Estradiol - 9.2 pg/mL (8.0-35)

Prolactin - 7.9 ng/mL (3-18)

T4 free - 1.64 ng/dL (.82-1.77)

LH - 0.6 mUI/mL(1.7-8.6)
FSH - 0.9 mIU/mL (1.5-12.4)

So now I am going to see a hematologist before I can move on. In the meantime I will continue to get my cholesterol levels back in range by dropping some weight.

Have to say having low T really sucks. No motivation/energy and next to impossible to add any muscle. Hopefully I can get things in order in the near future.[/quote]

Your lh and fsh numbers are very low. This could point to secondary. I would start looking into this. Maybe a restart would be a good test, pituitary mri something up that your lh and fsh levels are so low. Which will no doubt be contributing to low testosterone.

I have done an MRI already and a clomid stimulation test. Nothing found with the MRI and the clomid raised my T levels.

I have also done HCG in the past with positive results. Right now the doc wont prescribe any HCG or T until I get a green light from a hematologist.

Today i will try to make an appt with a hematologist and go from there.

Btw is there a thread for the clomid restart? I found an article about taking clomid for 5 months on another forum. Im not a steroid abuser or marathon runner either :wink:

Clomiphene citrate has been used successfully in the treatment of idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism induced by excessive exercise such as marathon running [5]. In that case report, reestablishment of the physiologic hypothalamic?pituitary?gonadal axis with the return of normal T and gonadal function was achieved with Clomiphene citrate (50 mg, 2 times per day) over 5 months. In our case, the reestablishment of eugonadal status was achieved with just a short challenge of Clomiphene citrate 100 mg over 2 weeks, but the patient relapsed. He needed a longer course of 2 months of Clomiphene citrate to maintain eugonadal status. Both cases, including ours, suggest that early intervention with Clomiphene can restore the hypothalamic?pituitary?gonadal axis. We are still continuing to follow up our patient to establish long-term effects. The patient did not suffer from any hot flashes or other side effects from Clomiphene citrate.

Just made an appt with my primary. Found out the endo is out till march 19th! Ill bring my blood work and see if he will prescribe some HCG for me.

you can get more tests in the meantime

ferritin
total iron capacity
TSH
FT4
FT3
RT3
Cortisol
D25-OH

running just FT4 is like saying well you have plenty of wood for the fireplace, so you can easily heat your home. what it doesn’t tell you is how much wood is actually in the fireplace and can be used (that is FT3), and too high RT3 is like closing the air inflow sufficating the FT3 you do have.

with high hemoglobin, you probably have high iron which interferes with your thyroid and other systems.

What is the hematologist looking for? Your RBC and Hemoglobin arent too far out of range…certainly nothing to really get up in arms about IMO

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:
What is the hematologist looking for? Your RBC and Hemoglobin arent too far out of range…certainly nothing to really get up in arms about IMO[/quote]

Exactly my point I brought up to my primary doc. I went to see him yesterday, showed him my blood work and asked him to prescribe HCG since my endo is out of town till march 19th and my endo wants me to see a hematologist before he will prescribe anything.

My doc is going to do some research on hcg (I printed out and gave him Dr. Shippen’s protocol) and let me know on monday. I said let me try the HCG for 3 weeks, re do my blood then we go from there.

I will also be looking for a new endo. My current endo sucks.

I just got my script for HCG from the doc with 4 refills.

I dropped it off at CVS but not sure if my insurance company will cover it. Will find out soon.

Is it ok to discuss places to buy it online with a prescription? I did some searching but who knows what is a legit place. The reason I ask is because the price is $167 bucks without insurance.

Its much cheaper at Walmart but they dont sell injectables anymore.

I tried like 5 other places (sams club, riteaid, shop rite…) none carry it.

On a related topic, I have an appointment with the hematologist tomorrow. My primary doesnt think its necessary but better safe than sorry.

Well my insurance doesnt cover the HCG, going to try one last place. Might try T injections instead which should be covered. $160 bucks a month is too much.

yep, the high costs is one of the reasons I stopped using HCG.

What are you doing now?

Just T and AI? Id like to discuss possible alternatives with my doc if I cant find a cheaper source for HCG (<$100).

I am on 50mg T-Cyp EOD and 10mg SR HC every evening (with a side theory about low cortisol at night leads to increased T-to-E2 conversion). that and on again off again vitamins. I really need to get a new round of tests to see where things stand.

Sorry for the silly question but what is SR HC? Dont think I have seen that acronym before.

Good news.

Walgreens has the generic pregnyl for $83, less than half of cvs $167. Going to place order today and should have it tomorrow.

Dropped off my script, they are just getting confirmation that Pregnyl is ok to order from the doc. Its only $83 a vial compared to $170 for the name brand stuff.

Give me generic!

Consulted with the hematologist today as well.

Checking my iron, b12 and some other possible genetic defects that can be causing my RBC and hemocrit to be elevated. He thinks its most likely sleep apnea but wants to make sure.

He said usually hypogonal men have low hemocrit, lh, fsh so its unusual unless you are taking steriods. He then throws in the jab with, but you are clearly not taking steroids. WTF! haha

Ill show him! :slight_smile:

Going to get that blood work done on thursday then have a follow up visit on Feb 28th to discuss results. He said its ok to do the HCG as well.

Once I start the HCG, Ill start logging my waist measurements, energy levels and changes in the gym. Should be interesting to see what happens.

Picked up HCG and took my first injection. 50ccs/500 units. I will be trying Dr. Shippens protocol to see how receptive I am the HCG for the next 3 weeks and will then redo my blood work.

It cost $160 for one vial 10k units, at least it says it last 60 days so my cost will be $80 a month which is manageable.

My libido has been pretty low lately, Ill report back any changes in libido over the next few weeks as well.

Day 2 Post HCG injection.

Not sure if its in my mind or not but my testicles feel like they grew and are more sensitive today.

Hit up the gym this morning and did Day 1 of Kris Gethins 12 week program. Legs! They are fried.

Leg Press
4-5 warm-up sets of 10-12 reps
3 sets to failure in 12-20 reps

Hamstring Curl
2 warm-up sets of 15 reps
3 sets to failure in 12-15 reps

Lying Hamstring Curl
2 warm-up sets of 15 reps
3 sets to failure in 12-15 reps

Leg Extensions
2 warm-up sets of 15-20 reps
2 sets to failure in 15-20 reps

Hack Squat
2 warm-up sets of 15-20 reps

Going to hit up the grocery store tonight and get more food like bagged veggies, brown rice so I can prepare meals in advance.

My injection schedule will be at night before bed.

2 weeks from now I will head back to my doc for a visit and get another script for lab work. My insurance company must LOOVE me right now haha. Screw them, wont pay for my HCG so Ill just make them pay for all my lab work. They cover androl gel tho.

Today I am going to labcorp again for the hematologist to check iron levels, b12 and some other things to see if there is anything unusual because of my high RBC, hemocrit. Hopefully nothing.

Energy : 3-4 (1-10 range)
Libdo: 3 (1-10 range)

Dont recall getting morning wood in awhile come to think of it. Ill see what happens after a few weeks on HCG.

Edit: Just looked up what he is checking for, hemochromatosis.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001368/

Hemochromatosis occurs when too much iron builds up in the body.

There are two forms of hemochromatosis: primary and secondary.

Primary hemochromatosis is usually caused by a specific genetic problem that causes too much iron to be absorbed. When people with this condition have too much iron in their diet, the extra iron is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and builds up in the body tissues, particularly the liver. The result is liver swelling. Primary hemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder in the United States, affecting an estimated 1 of every 200 to 300 Americans.

Secondary or acquired hemochromatosis can be caused by diseases such as thalassemia or sideroblastic anemia, especially if the person has received a large number of blood transfusions. Occasionally, it may be seen with hemolytic anemia, chronic alcoholism, and other conditions.

Hemochromatosis affects more men than women. It is particularly common in Caucasians of western European descent. Symptoms are often seen in men between the ages of 30 and 50 and in women over 50, although some people may develop problems by age 20. You have a higher risk of hemochromatosis if someone else in your family has or had the condition.

SR HC = Sustained Release HydroCortisone (it is compounded)

[quote]PureChance wrote:
SR HC = Sustained Release HydroCortisone (it is compounded)[/quote]

Thanks!

I just gave blood to test for high iron (hemochromatosis). Hopefully I dont have that but it would explain why my T is low. High iron can impact the HPTA axis since it binds to the pituitary and other organs.

Anyways no sense in getting worked up yet about it, I have 2 weeks to get my results.

Apparently lowering iron levels can fix the low T issues if that’s what I have.