Greetings,
Here is my backstory.
46 yr old male
5’8"
waist 34"
Body comp has changed since lifting (for the better) used to be skinny fat, now I have abdominal fat that I cannot seem to lose completely. 14-15% body fat by caliper was 24%. Lots of body hair. Historically lots of hair on my head, but it’s starting to thin with age.
No known health conditions, bloodwork back with great results except T numbers.
I’ve done 5x5 SS for about 16 months, recently switched to Wendler 531 for variety.
I eat mostly lots of meat and veggies, keeping carbs from fruit under or around 100g per day.
High libido, lots of morning wood as normal. No loss of function.
When I began lifting I quickly gained strength and my body comp started changing, but very slowly. I suspected that I might have low T. A year later (late this summer) I insisted that I get my T levels checked during my physical, the Internal Med Dr basically refused to do it until I told him that I would simply order it myself and that he might as well just add it to the blood work order. A week later I was confirmed low “normal”.
9/15/12:
Total Testosterone 258 250 - 1100 ng/dL
Total Testosterone was measured by LCMSMS. The LCMSMS method
correlates well with our extraction/RIA method.
Free Testosterone 51.1 35.0 - 155.0 pg/mL
I was then referred to an endocrinologist who pulled more bloodwork:
10/3/12
LH 1.3 0.8-7.6 mIU/mL
Prolactin 1.9 2.5-17.0 ng/mL
The doc suggested he would put me on Clomid to “jump start” my endogenous production, he then would not see me for 3 months. I started on 50mg EOD, which initially made me feel great but then about a week later I started acting like a PMSing chick. I then became very concerned that I would not be seen for months, I found a new doc who seems interested in helping me out and he pulled more bloodwork.
11/9/12
Estradiol 33 < OR=39 pg/ml
FSH 2.4 1.6-8.0 mIU/mL
LH 2.5 1.5-9.3 mIU/mL
Testosterone 455 ng/dl 241-827 ng/dL
DHEA Sulfate 193 45-345 mcg/dL
SHBG 17 nmol/L 10-50
Dr takes me off Clomid he thinks my FSH and LH are whacky as a result of it. He puts me on a single tube of Testim 1% (5g) daily. I take 100mg of zinc, 200mg of DIM (diindolymethane) (extract of broccoli, kale and other veggies), glucosamine, and 4g’s of high quality fish oil daily.
My bloodwork is back after 6 weeks on the gel.
12/19/12
Estradiol <12 0-39.8 pg/mL
Testosterone Total 111.0 ng/dL 160-726 ng/dL
FSH 1.7 1.4-18.1 mIU/mL
LH 2.6 1.5-9.3 mIU/mL
DHEA Sulfate 147.0 80-560 ug/dL
SHBG 27.4 nmol/L 13-71
T3f 3.28 2.3-4.2 pg/mL
T4f 1.33 0.89-1.65 ng/dL
So as you might see my T dropped 75%, my FSH dropped almost a point. I assume this is because my endogenous production shut down a couple of weeks ago now that I’m on the trans-dermal crap. The initial feelings of being well have subsided and I definitely feel lower than I have.
I seem to have done well one month into using clomid I got to 455. Tomorrow when I speak to my doc about this i’m going to suggest that I be put on the same protocol as a friend of mine which is self admin injectable T, Arimidex and HcG.
Given the amount of weight I’ve been moving for 18 months I would think I’d be much bigger than I am. I eat clean, and sufficiently, lots of protein and veggies, I have stubborn ab fat, although I look remarkably different than I did even a year ago. I’m fairly strict in my lifting protocols and take good care of myself.
I seek the advice of those on this forum as many of you clearly know a hell of alot more about this than most Dr’s. My doc will most likely do anything I suggest - he’s a good guy. What should I do?
I think I’ve included most of the information needed.