Hello,
I’ve been lurking here for a while.
I have had a variety of “low-T” type symptoms for many years now. I am now a 29 year old male. Here are some of my symptoms:
Feel little or no pleasure from sex.
Seldom have morning erections.
Brain Fog.
Tired and irritable in spite of ample sleep at night.
Results from workouts not what I expect.
I became interested in girls years later than my peers. (or so I think)
I’ve had well-meaning people try to “talk me out of it” and convince me that it’s “all in my head”. Bullshit, I know better than that!
My symptoms began around age 20. I’ve seen a number of doctors, most of whom were not the least bit helpful.
One doctor whom I saw suggested that I could have a case of chronic Lyme Disease. Reading about Lyme Disease, I was rather skeptical, but I tried the herbal regimen he recommended and I reported about a 40% reduction in the severity of my symptoms. At first, it seemed like a miracle-cure, but even as I was feeling better, my improvement stopped, and I knew something was still wrong.
My previous lab work included testosterone, but the diagnosing physician didn’t work with t-replacement. However, he did suggest that chronic disease organisms can disrupt the body’s ability to maintain healthy hormone levels. I thought about that, but I can’t help but wonder if that has something to do with my becoming interested in girls at a later age.
Anyways, here are some of the highlights from the last time the above doctor had my blood drawn (by Labcorp). (Apr 2, 2012)
WBC 3.1 1000/ micL (4.0 - 10.5) (has been low for years)
Total T 476 ng/dL (348 - 1197) (same as a test done 2 years ago)
T, Free Direct 9.5 pg/mL (9.3 - 26.5) (about the same as a test done 2 years ago)
SHBG 29.7 nmol/L (16.5 - 55.9)
LH 3.4 mIU/mL (1.7 - 8.6)
I decided to try something different. I found my way to a physician who specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. She insisted on ordering blood work again. Here are the highlights:
WBC 3.1 1000/micL (4.0 - 10.5)
Total T 513 ng/dL (348 - 1197)
T, Free 34.73 ng/dL (5.0 - 21.0)
The physician said that based on her previous one hour consultation with me, it sounded like low-T, but with the new test results say high-T!
She (the physician) pointed out the following. I am taking a number of supplements; she supposed that recently changing from one brand to another might have caused an anomalous result (I doubt it) (My supplements: adrenal glandular, Japanese Knotweed (Resveratrol), Stephania Tetrandra, Andrographis, Cat’s Claw). The other thing is that her test that says I have high-T is “Free Testosterone”. The test that I previously had done this year (and two years ago) that says I have low-T is “Direct Free Testosterone”.
The physician wants me to stop all supplements for a month, have the test done again, and then see her.
I was hoping that there may be some expert here who can explain the exact difference between these two tests and why I am having a problem getting a clear answer that the doctor can use to prescribe treatment.
Pleas help if you can!