So I am thinking I may have low E since starting TRT. My libido has been gone for the last 3 or 4 days but after going out last night and getting prety slammed my libido feels like it is back. I have had a hangover most of the day and feel terible but I also have an increased libido.
what other effects would alcohol have other then elevating estrogen? I am trying to have as many facts as possible for my apointment next week
New Blood work is in and it looks like mixed results,
My SHBG is down about 10 points to 55.9 (normal range 14.5-48.4)but but so is my over all test from 589 to 540.
This should indicate a slight increase in Free test , From around 1.33% to 1.49% but I dont feel any better and the Dr. Thinks I should stay on the same Dosage of Andro for another two months. He claims that the SHBG will continue to decline but I have my doubts.
Anyone have an opinion if my SHBG should continue to decile over the next two months? I have been on Andro for exactly 4 weeks at this point.
can you post all of your test results?
what was your TSH, Free T3, D25-OH, etc.?
Thanks
[quote]PureChance wrote:
can you post all of your test results?
what was your TSH, Free T3, D25-OH, etc.?
Thanks[/quote]
Those are the only test he had done. I hope the other Dr who had blood work done will have more results when I see him on Tuesday.
In general will SHBG keep going down while on TRT even after 4 weeks? or do you need more info?
Here is my new lab work from both Dr’s.
Anyone see anything that sticks out ? What other test do I need? My Plan is to stop taking androgel this week do I need to take an AI then a small tun of Clomid to restart or should I be fine without either?
Last week from Dr#1 On Androgel
Total Test 540 (ng/dL) (250-1100)
Free Test 11 pgmL (6.8-21.5)
SHBG 55.9 nmol/L (14.5-48.4)
Prolactin 8.2 ng/mL (4.0-15.2)
Today Lab work Mar 2011 from new GP
Comp Metobolic Panel
Glucose Serum 80 mg/dL (65-99)
BUN 25 mg/dL (6-24) ***H
Creatinine Serum 1.55 mg/dL (.76-1.27) ***H
eGFR 49 mL/min/1.73 (>59) ****L
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 12 (8-27)
Sodium, Serum 140 mmol/L (135-145)
Potassium Serum 4.2 mmol/L (3.5-5.2)
Chloride, Serum 103 mmol/L (97-108)
Carbon Dioxide Total 23 mmol/L (20-32)
Calcium Serum 8.6 mg/dL (8.7-10.2) ** L
CBC
WBC 5.4 (4-10.5)
RBC 5.32 (4.10-5.6)
Hemoglobin 16.2 g/dl (12.5-17)
Hematocrit 47.0 % (36-50)
MCV 88fL (80-98)
MCH 30.5 p (27-34)
MCHC 34.5 g/dL (32-36)
RDW 12.9% (11.7-15)
Platelets 273 (140-415)
LF+Non-HDL Cholesterol
Cholesterol Total 239mg/dL (100-199) ***H
Triglycerides 149 mg/dL ((0-149) ***H
HDL Cholesterol 49 mg/dL (>39)
VLDL Cholesterol Cal 30 mg/dL (5-40)
LDL Cholesterol Calc 160 mg/dL (0-99) ***H
Non-HDL Cholesterol 190 mg/dL (0-129)***H
Thyroid Cascade Profile
TSH 3.97 uIU/mL (.45-4.5) *** Is this high?
Vit D 25-Hydroxy
19.2 ng/mL (32-100) ***L
For Reference; here is my lab work from over a Year ago when I had some symptoms but over all much felt better and no performance problems. One thing I noticed is I had over 40% more free T then before I started on Androgel this time. I see my free t came up to about 70% of what it was a year ago but still about 25-30% lower. I suspect my SHBG was at least with in normal range on this test but may have been somewhat elevated.
Original Lab work Dec 2009
Protein Serum Total 6.7 g/dl (6.0-8.5)
Albumin, Serum 4.5 g/dl (3.5-5.5)
Globulin, Total 2.2 g/dl (1.5-4.5)
A/G ratio 2.0 (1.1-2.5)
Bilirubin Total .5mg/dl (.1-1.2)
Alkaline Phosphate, S 79 IU/L (25-150)
Total Test 622ng/dL (280-800)
Free Test 15.5 pgmL (6.8-21.5)
TSH 2.530 uIU/mL .45-4.5)
PSA .6 ng/mL (0.0-4.0)
Thyroxine T4 (Direct) 1.57 ng/dL (.82-1.77) **** Is this level ok?
Glucose, Serum 79 mg/dL (65-99)
Comp Metobolic Panel
BUN 13 mg/dL (5-26)
Creatinine Serum 1.09 mg/dL (.76-1.27)
eGFR >59 mL/min/1.73 (>59)
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 12 (8-27)
Sodium, Serum 140 mmol/L (135-145)
Potassium Serum 4.2 mmol/L (3.5-5.2)
Chloride, Serum 103 mmol/L (97-108)
Carbon Dioxide Total 23 mmol/L (20-32)
Calcium Serum 8.6 mg/dL (8.7-10.2) ** L
CBC
WBC 4.3 (4-10.5)
RBC 4.63 (4.10-5.6)
Hemoglobin 14.4 g/dl (12.5-17)
MCV 90fL (80-98)
RDW 13.1% (11.7-15)
Platelets 273 (140-415)
don’t worry about SHBG… nothing you can directly do about it so why waste the time?
you seem to have a thyroid problem, are probably hypothyroid, and need more tests include free T4, free T3, Reverse T3, 8am Cortisol, and ferritin. if you are hypothyroid then there is a good chance that you will have problems absorbing transdermal medications.
Total T4 is pretty useless.
what is your waking body temp? what about at 9am, 1pm, and 5pm over the course of a couple days? That tells metabolism which gives us a picture of your thyroid and cortisol levels.
Your D25-OH is horrible. you should start on a minimum of 6,000iu D3 daily.
your CHOL is horrible. 100-500mg Niacin daily might be a good basic first step.
seems like your Total T wasn’t that completely horrible before you started on androgel and your LH and FSH were high so your Pituitary was screaming at your testicles to keep working. Getting your thyroid and cortisol tested and fixed if needed might just boost up you T levels naturally - might not, but you should at least rule them out.
[quote]PureChance wrote:
you seem to have a thyroid problem, are probably hypothyroid, and need more tests include free T4, free T3, Reverse T3, 8am Cortisol, and ferritin. if you are hypothyroid then there is a good chance that you will have problems absorbing transdermal medications.
what is your waking body temp? what about at 9am, 1pm, and 5pm over the course of a couple days? That tells metabolism which gives us a picture of your thyroid and cortisol levels.
Your D25-OH is horrible. you should start on a minimum of 6,000iu D3 daily.
your CHOL is horrible. 100-500mg Niacin daily might be a good basic first step.
seems like your Total T wasn’t that completely horrible before you started on androgel and your LH and FSH were high so your Pituitary was screaming at your testicles to keep working. Getting your thyroid and cortisol tested and fixed if needed might just boost up you T levels naturally - might not, but you should at least rule them out.[/quote]
Looking at my blood it looks like i have a kidney issue. I spoke to my uncle, who is retired Nephrologist, and he seemed a bit concerned about the dramatic change in 12 months. He told me to make an immediate appointment with his old partner to find out why my BUN and Creatinine levels are so elevated and my eGFR is low.
I am thinking this is all related but once I get this straight I will defiantly take the Sups you recommended to get my D25-OH and CHOL back to normal.
Update,
I have an apointment with a Nephrologist on the 7th but looking at my numbers from a year ago till today a few things jump out at me and not in a good way
TSH was 2.5 now it is 3.97 (t4 Free was 1.57 (.82-1.77) wasn’t tested in the latest round)
BUN was 13 now 25 (Both with a good BUN/Creatine ratio so I was hydrated in both test)
Creatinine was 1.09 now 1.5
TT was 622 now 598 (Pre androgel neither of these are bad)
FT was 14.5 now 7.85 (Pre Androgel; Suspect this is due to elevated SHBG of 65.6)
Vitamin D 25-Hydroxy now 19.2 (No previous data but it is now low)
In a years I went from prety darn healthy to poor Kidney function, Low FT, and what looks to ne a tyroid issue (If you follow the other post on this forum a TSh of 3.97 would be a definate indicator)
I hope I can figure out what is going on. My Kidney numbers are the most disturbing to me since I went from almost optimal numbers to elevated in just over a year. I have been to the Dr office probably 12 times in my life prior to the past year and now I know why most don’t have a clue and I am getting prety frustrated.
If all these syptoms point a certian direction for someone on here please post.
the only thing I would recommend is to make sure you get a full complement of tests per the blood test sticky. You need more data on your thyroid, ferritin, cortisol, B12, Magnesium, etc. etc. etc.