Blood Test Results Help

Pharma TRT
1

I am a 47 YO male. Life long lifter, but struggled with my body fat since a car accident a decade ago. 18 months ago at 300 lbs and pre-diabetic, I started to get a lot more serious about fitness. I did not feel good, look good and was worried. Lost about 60-65 pounds of fat over a year, and gained some fresh muscle.

After this year, I found that in some ways I was still not feeling like I thought I should and had trouble continuing the fat loss despite generally good behaviors. Moreover, I have a few symptoms of lower T (occasional brain fog, something of am unusually depressive mindset, lack of energy, dropping libido and performance, and increased difficulty in gaining muscle). I finally decided to do a pretty full bloodwork panel (like pulling teeth with my Doc) including hormones through the Life Extension Foundation (www.lef.org).

Here are the basics. I would very much appreciate any insights or advice. I have lurked around this forum for several months.

(This was done through Life Extension Foundation/LabCorp)( I think the ranges are LEF recommendations but not sure)

Cholesterol 204 (100-199 range)
LDL 117 (0-99 range)
HDL 67 (>39)
Triglycerides (100 0-149 range)

Vit D, 25-Hydroxy 49.7 (30-100 range)

T4 (direct) 1.37 (.82-1.77 range)

Testosterone 359 (348-1197 range)
Free test 12.3 (6.8-21.5 range)
Estradiol 32.6 (7.6-42.6 range)
TSH 2.600 (.450-4.500 range)
DHEA-Sulfate 440.3 HIGH (44.3-331.0) Which seems odd to me.
PSA 0.4 (0-4.0 range)
SHBG 24.4 (16.5-55.9 range)

C-React Protein .68 (0-3.0 range)
Triiodothyronine Free 2.7 (2-4.4 range)

I do take supplements and peri-workout nutrition, but have not taken anything that would directly effect hormones (e.g test boosters or estrogen blockers)

Multivitamin
Vit D
Vit K
Calcium/magnesium
CoQ10
Curcumin
Fish oil (14 grams a day)
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Chromium

Prescription meds

Lisinopril 40 mg(ACE Inhibitor)
Simvistatin 5 mg (statin)
Baby Aspirin 81 mg enteric coated

Thanks.

2

To correct the Free Test values:

Free test 12.3 (6.8-21.5 range)

3

You can edit your posts.

If you get on TRT, you probably will not need the statin drug. What type/dose CoQ10?

Time to test LH/FSH, must be done before any hormone treatment.

Comparing E2:FT, you are extremely estrogen dominant.

Why: Lisinopril 40 mg, this drug can increase E2, lowering T and reduced libido can be from that or more direct.

TRT can lower BP and improve endothelial dysfuction.

Statin drugs can lower CoQ10 and create symptoms of congestive heart failure - constant cough, and CoQ10 can sometimes reverse while still taking a statin drug.

Elimination of Rx drugs might lower E2. Right now, you should try low dose anastrozole. That could really let you feel better. TRT done right would be better still.

fT3=2.7 is not good, should be near 3.3, what is your iodine intake. Total T4 is not very useful if it has a abnormal amount that is tied to binding proteins. Report you waking and mid afternoon body temperatures.

4

Thanks for the reply.

My primary care physician put me on the Lisinopril because I was/am moderately hypertensive, which is well-controlled with that medication. I did not know of the side effects you mentioned. I continue to learn to take full responsibility for my own health.

I am taking 300-400 mg of the Ubiquinol form of CoQ10. I started to take this about a year ago when I read what you mentioned about statins.

My Vit-D supplement has 1,000 mcg of iodine. Of course, my physician told me to cut back on salt/sodium since I am somewhat hypertensive.

I will get my LH/FSH levels tested as soon as I can.

Would a good place place to start with low dose anastrozole treatment be 1 mg divided in three equal doses over the course of a week? Or 0.5 dived in three doses?

5

With a liquid anastrozole product you can dispense by the drop. If ~28 drops per ml and 1m/ml, 8 drops EOD for 1mg/week or 4 drops EOD for 1/2mg per week. If little tablets, you dosing gets difficult.

1/2 mg per week would be appropriate.

Have you read about hypertension at LEF?

6

Yes, I have read that information in LEF, and also read about Thyroid issues there over the weekend.

I have measured temps for three days now and they are somewhat low:

Day 1 am 97.7
Day 1 pm 97.6

Day 2 am 97.5
Day 2 pm 97.5

Day 3 am 97.6
Day 3 pm 97.4

(I did check other family members and they were all at or close to 98.6 so the thermometer seems to be working correctly)

I have noticed cold feet this fall as temps started to drop. Interesting.

Should I get my LH/FSH levels tested right away or can I try the liquid anastrozole for 8 weeks and then get these measured along with all my other values to see how I am responding? This would be the easier and less-costly option for me, but if getting them tested before is important I will. Does repeating bloosd work after about 8 weeks seem appropriate?

Thanks

7

If you became iodine deficient, 1mg/day may not provide iodine replenishment [IR]. You can get Iodoral and take up to 50mg/day, depending on how you tolerate. See if you feel better in a week and watch body temperatures every day.

People store 1 - 1.5 GRAMs of iodine, mostly in the thyroid. Women store more as breast tissue stores iodine as well, to provide iodine to babies I assume. Small intakes cannot manage IR.

Try the iodine and 0.5mg/week anastrozole and see how your body responds. This may affect LH/FSH and T. So you want to stabilize then do the labs and some changes take a while.

Get some good quality probiotics from a health food store, should be refrigerated. IR can disturb your gut flora and you might need it anyways.

8

I started the anastrozole with a dose of .5 mg per week eod (this is 4 drops from the dropper) and have one week completed and am feeling good so far. My temps continue to be low and I am tracking them daily and putting them in a journal. Ranging between 95.4 and 97.5, and averaging about 96.4 for the waking temp. I started additional iodine a week ago as well, starting with 1,000 mcg and adding an additional 1000 mcg eod (e.g., day 1: 1000, day 3 2000, day 5 3000, etc.) so far tolerating it well.

Talked to my primary care physician about the low temps, thyroid, and iodine, and not surprisingly, he said that my blood-work for thyroid was in the normal ranges, so not to worry, and that he was skeptical of supplementing with iodine but to go ahead but to stay under 5000 mcg per day. LOL

I really appreciate the help.

9

Yes, your doctor is normal. His comprehension and reasoning skills are poor. However, because most doctors have the same problem; he falls within the 95th percentile. So he would have to be in the dumbest 2.5% to be abnormally stupid. You are having a normal medical experience, what are you complaining about? :wink:

Actually, he did agree that you could give iodine a try and I think that he will be very interested in any positives that you report.

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Well time for an update. My experience/results are slightly mixed but in the end feel positive.

As for Iodine, as I got to 12mg and above per day I began to experience GI issues despite taking a high quality Probiotic, and quit for a few days and now am slowly taking it back up.

I suspect I might be an “over-responder” to Anastrozole. My energy levels are definitely much better. My libido/desire initially surged for 10-14 days but has subsequently fallen back to about where they were before. In terms of performance in the bedroom, my erections are definitely stronger, but recently I had two failures to climax despite everything being positive in the moment. This is unusual for me. Any thoughts?

On the fitness front, all good news. I have made gains in the gym and despite my weight staying the same I am losing inches around my midsection (Lost 1.5 inches at my navel).

I have been taking 4 drops EOD.

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I have been doing the 4 drops of Anastrozole for a year now. I am an over-responder and here are my lab results from last fall and the ones I did a week ago. I am planning on cutting back to 3 drops eod. My E2 levels are way too low, but my T levels improved a great deal.

A year ago vs latest:

Vit D, 25-Hydroxy 49.7 (30-100 range) Vit D, 25-Hydroxy 47.5 (30-100 range)

T4 (direct) 1.37 (.82-1.77 range) T4 (direct) 1.36 (.82-1.77 range)

Testosterone 359 (348-1197 range) Testosterone 524 (348-1197 range)
Free test 12.3 (6.8-21.5 range) Free test 20.0 (6.8-21.5 range)
Estradiol 32.6 (7.6-42.6 range) Estradiol 11.5 (7.6-42.6 range)
TSH 2.600 (.450-4.500 range) TSH 2.240 (.450-4.500 range)
DHEA-Sulfate 440.3 HIGH (44.3-331.0) DHEA-Sulfate 400.2HIGH (44.3-331.0)
PSA 0.4 (0-4.0 range) PSA 0.5 (0-4.0 range)
SHBG 24.4 (16.5-55.9 range) SHBG 26.9 (16.5-55.9 range)

Over the last year, I have grown more hair on my arms and legs. My weight is the same but I am stronger and leaner. My libido is not what I would have liked but that is probably due to the low Estradiol.

KSman or others, any thoughts or feedback? Thanks.

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I am no expert so take this for what it is worth…
Your E2 seems still a little low and so does your total T

Please keep us posted