Labs suggest a GI bleed possible, screen in/out with occult blood test. Are you avoiding red meat and limiting iron. While lower T does lead to lower HTC and RBC, this situation is beyond that.
Thyroid: fT4 is well below midrange. Please eval overall thyroid function via oral body temps, see below [done] . Problem could be caused by not using iodized salt [yes].
In 1700’s, most people had goiters from iodine deficiency.
Vegans easily have multiple amino acid deficiencies. Some nutrients are not available without cooking.
Your profile suggests adrenal fatigue from training with Adrenalin to compensate for low T and low thyroid function.
Skin showing loss of collagen reflecting a catabolic state that threatens all connective tissues. [joints]
Is ferrous sulfate causing constipation?
In the thyroid basic sticky, find references to stress, adrenal fatigue, rT3 and Wilson’s book. There is no simple fix for this, read the book.
With your thyroid issues, you might feel worse with low thyroid function, and well sub-optimal cortisol. The restored metabolic demands of higher T levels could outstrip your capacity.
Get these labs:
TSH
fT3 - the active hormone.
fT4
rT3 - reverse T3 that blocks/limits fT3 activity.
IGF-1 to eval GH status. - do not test GH directly!
DHEA-S [-not DHEA]
- later on you will need to be testing E2 -estradiol
CO2 probably elevated from holding your breath waiting for needle stick or during blood draw.
You will need to keep studying these issues as finding a doc who can address all of these issues in a proper sequence is not probable. You cannot be passive. You have a failure of the big three, testosterone, cortisol and thyroid. In USA, you can order your own labs from on-line services, in most States.
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
- Thyroid basics
- 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.
KSman is simply a regular member on this site. Nothing more other than highly active.
I can be a bit abrupt in my replies and recommendations. I have a lot of ground to cover as this forum has become much more active in the last two years. I can’t follow threads that go deep over time. You need to respond to all of my points and requests as soon as possible before you fall off of my radar. The worse problems are guys who ignore issues re thyroid, body temperatures, history of iodized salt. Please do not piss people off saying that lab results are normal, we need lab number and ranges.
The value that you get out of this process and forum depends on your effort and performance. The bulk of your learning is reading/studying the suggested stickies.