So, here are my results from Quest:
TSH = 0.9 / ref range = 0.4-4.5 mIU/L
T4 FREE = 1.4 / ref range = 0.8-1.8 ng/dl
Testosterone = 665 / ref range = 250-1100 ng/dl
(total)
Testosterone = 117.6 / ref range = 35-155 pg/ml
(free)
Estradiol = 21 / ref range < OR = 39 pg/ml
PSA = .9 / ref range < 4 ng/ml
As you could guess, I’m a bit disappointed as my testosterone seems to be within the normal range. I’m just curious as to why I can’t grow facial hair and have gyno, to me it doesn’t make sense. My big thing is: yes, lack of facial hair could be genetic. But cancer can also be genetic, it doesn’t make it normal or optimal. In actuality I could care less about facial hair, in fact I really only want a mustache for probably about a week to scare little kids and feel like I lived in the 70s for a bit. But in all seriousness, my concern is the mental aspect of it. I always feel anxious (mostly socially) and have mild depression, which compounds to make me feel very little confidence. And from what I’ve read, a lot of people who go on testosterone and have these same conditions, feel them improve.
And my suspicion grows further that just because I’m in range, doesn’t mean it’s where it should be, or is in the optimal range, when I read articles detailing how testosterone levels in American men have dropped 20%, yes that’s right, 20 %, in the past 20 years. Therefore, how do we know if these “normal” ranges are actually normal? How long has this testosterone decline been going on? From what I read, MOST people on TRT, when they keep their estrogen in check, feel best when they are somewhere around 1000 and below 1500 or so total T.
I guess why I’m so frustrated is I don’t know for sure if my thought process is legitimate. I did try to suggest maybe going on a 2 month trial period of testosterone injections, Hcg, and arimidex just to see how it made me feel, and if it did nothing I could come off it, pretty much without doing much or any damage to my hormonal function, but my doctor isn’t willing to do this.
Adding to my concern about not being sure if my thought process is legitimate, becuz I don’t know if this is all in my head and can be overcome mentally. SCT is really difficult to live with, but I don’t know if it is real and truly debilitating or if it’s a crutch to blame why I feel the way I do sometimes. Some days I am able to feel free of self doubt and have confidence while other days I seem to be encompassed by it, so I don’t know if it is a mental condition or a physical one, wither way, I’d like to hear any of your opinions.