44 years old. For the last few years I’ve felt like something is just not quite right. Did some research symptoms seem like low-t. Great, start getting blood work done, get referred to an endo. More bloods.
Latest results. Any thoughts?
Your high SHBG is binding up a lot of your total testosterone, resulting in a sub optimal free testosterone, and more than likely also binding up estrogen. Leaving you feeling not right.
How’s your thyroid looking? Improper thyroid function can mess with your SHBG.
Get these labs done. You can get the testosterone measure again as a second datapoint “confirmation”
CBC
CMP
Total T
SHBG
Estradiol (sensitive)
PSA
TSH
FT3
FT4
If you’ve ruled out thyroid and everything else is on point, you could give TRT a try. It will almost certainly knock your SHBG down and bring up that free testosterone to where it needs to be.
Thanks.
This information will help when I go back to the doctor.
I’ve got a follow up with the endo scheduled for next week, my first appointment he said my thyroid is fine, I’m not so sure.
I would check the liver. The FSH is really high which might be indicating infertility.
I don’t see thyroid labs, but hyperthyroidism could cause an elevation in SHBG.
Regarding the high SHBG, since your Free T is low even though your Total T is towards the top end of the ranges, I hope your endo recognizes that you will need Total T levels well above the normal ranges, otherwise you would need to seek treatment privately.
Thanks. I appreciate your insights. This will all help when I go for my follow up appointment.
The high FSH is a surprise, I’ve got kids so who knows what that’s about.
I’m definitely getting my endo to run a full thyroid panel and I’ll get my liver enzymes checked then too.
The high FSH is your hpta trying to get your balls to produce more. They’re maxed out as SHBG is binding your testosterone up and so your brain is trying to compensate- the balls cant keep up as what they’re producing isn’t doing much in your body.
I had my appointment with the endo, he said I was fine just “genetics” as the reason for high shbg.
But he listened to me and asked what I wanted to do as far as starting trt.
And I got a script. I was given 200 mg test e, every two weeks
I’m also having a little bit of trepidation about starting the theI’m convinced that the way I’ve been feeling is because of sub-optimal/low test levels, but I’m nervous about starting therapy. Is this a common feeling? How does one overcome this?
I know from reading this and other forums that’s not an optimal protocol. I don’t know that I’m up for daily shots or even e3d. I think I can start at weekly injections and see what happens after first blood work results.
My question, is there a loading dose?
Or just start with the 100mg weekly?
No.
Maybe do more research? You have to take the internet with a grain of salt because you will find many differing opinions and ideas. Do you have friends or acquaintances on TRT? If so, talk to them.
No.
Probably a better choice than 200mg every other week. But, you could follow your doctor’s rx and try it. You might discuss weekly dosing with your doctor, mention the half life of the ester, and see if he would be open to more frequent dosing. I doubt he’d have a problem with 100mg a week.
Cool. Appreciate it.