Need Help with New Bloodwork

Hey all,

I’m new to this- I’m 46 and looking to feel a little younger- I’m 6’2" 173- very little fat, maybe about 12%.

I exercise, but I’ve been busy for about three months and haven’t had time to lift.

About 6 months ago I thought I might get my t checked I have mild ed as I get older and I feel tired and a little unfocused. I did a saliva test and

according to the lab I was ‘normal’.

So I ordered a full hormone test that required blood work. Here are the results:

Estradiol: 84 pg/ml Range 12-56
Testosterone: 427 ng/dl
Ratio T/SHBG 0.3 Range .7-1.0
DHEAS 78 ug/dl Range 70-325
Cortisol 23.8 ug/dl Range 8.5-19.8 morning
SHBG 50 nmol/l Range 15-50
PSA 5.0 ng/mol Range 0.5-4

Clearly I’m all over the place, and I’d like to reset all of these levels to optimal, healthy ranges. Not looking to become the hulk.

Can anybody help me to analyze these and suggest a minimally invasive plan?

Normal does not mean healthy or optimal.

We need to know a lot more about you as per the advice for new guys sticky. !!!
This sticky has the medical terms that you need to become familiar with.
Most of what we know is in the stickies. There is a lot to read and understand. You need to manage your own health care and cannot be passive. Doctors are into disease management, few are in health management.

You are extremely estrogen dominant. This does not make sense given your TT level. If you are not clearing estrogens from your body, one suspects impaired liver function. That can be from a pathology or drugs [Rx or OTC] that interfere will normal activities.

Your SHBG will be up and your FT low. FT is what gets the job done. T+SHBG makes up a large portion of your TT and it is inert.

PSA is bad and most docs will say no to TRT as they think that T causes prostate problems. But in reality, it is estrogens that cause prostate problems. NEVER have a doc do a DRE prostate exam and then do lab work for PSA, the numbers will be bogus. Do not test thyroid hormones soon after doc palpates your thyroid.

Your DHEA is very low, must supplement!
Cortisol is high, but perhaps you were hyped up for the lab work, retest later, do at 8AM
DHEA is made in the adrenals, so is cortisol. One is high, the other low. That is odd.

Recommendations:

Labs: TSH, fT3, fT4, FT, LH/FSH, CBC, total cholesterol, fasting glucose,
Supplements:

  • DHEA 25mg ED, do labs later and adjust as need to get in upper range.
  • herbal prostate supplements
  • fish oil caps, nuts, flax seed meal/oil [essential fatty acids]
  • 5000iu vit-D3, tiny oil based caps
    Rx: 1mg/week anastrozole in EOD divided dosing

Check body temperatures as per thyroid basics sticky and review your intake of iodized salt and/or vitamin that list iodine

Blood pressure?

Keep all posts in this one thread so we have context.

THANKS KSman! Here’s more, some has been repeated.
-age 46
-height 6’2"
-waist 32
-weight 173
-describe body and facial hair Broad shoulders, ‘swimmers body’ long and thin, full beard, high forehead. No chest hair to speak of, lots of hair on legs and genitals. ‘ectomorph’ loooong muscle bellies, and I have never gained weight easily. ‘tight scrotum’ lots of the time smallish/normal size testicles and larger organ.
-describe where you carry fat and how changed I have a tiny bit of fat at my belly, I used to have none about two years ago. I have more fat than ever in my life. I have usually been VERY low fat with a super fast metabolism.
I found this via google :Excess estrogen in men usually occurs as testosterone declines, because as testosterone declines, most men will accumulate fat primarily belly fat. Could this be the reason for low t high E? I’m no where close to fate, but I am fat in relation to my recent past- with perhaps a jump from 8 % to 12, 13, 14% in recent months.
-health conditions, symptoms [history] I have no ‘health conditions’ to speak of… only "tendencies’
-Rx and OTC drugs, any hair loss drugs or prostate drugs ever No RX drugs, No OTC drugs No hair loss drugs no prostate drugs.
– real dangers! see this http://propeciahelp.com/overvi
-lab results with ranges see previous post
-describe diet [some create substantial damage with starvation diets] Lots of animal protein, some carbs. Ususally no breakfast but I eat well I think, healthy amount of fat and diary, eggs, nuts, seeds…
-describe training [some ruin there hormones by over training] I did 5x5 for twelve weeks but I got really tired between workouts I gained muscle fast and got really strong. Gained 10 lbs muscle, ate about 4500 cals a day, lots of protein shakes. I intermittently do hot yoga when I have time. Too much and I lose too much weight.
-testes ache, ever, with a fever? Testes ached a few times in the last year or so, when I went a long time without sex. No fever in 20 years.
-how have morning wood and nocturnal erections changed . Morning wood is sometimes frequent, sometimes not, depending on how tired I am. Erections are weaker and temperamental about 60% of the time without Cialis. Libido is healthy- erections are not so healthy. This is recent.
I’ve been through a divorce recently and have a lot of work stress recently. The divorce I wanted but it was still stressful.
Cortisol WAS at 8 am. For the record, I am a fairly ‘reactive’ sort- I have been high strung, but as I get older I am less reactive.
I would characterize the last two years as medium to highly stressful.
I drink often but I wouldn’t call myself a heavy drinker- sometimes I drink too much, but not that often.
I am taking DHEA now, but not before I got last bloodwork.
I am now taking fish oil, but not before last bloodwork.
I am now taking vitamin d but not before last bloodwork.
I will get an AI ASAP.
What prostate supplements really work?
Blood pressure is low usually. I have to be careful to eat and I have fainted before in my life if I dont eat regularly.
Sleep isn’t as good as it used to be, but I am starting to sleep better.
I found this via google:
Stage 1
The first stage, which is called hyper-adrenalism, is characterised by abnormally high cortisol levels and low DHEA levels. High cortisol may cause poor sleep, sugar cravings, confusion, weight gain, hot flushes, water retention, glucose intolerance and muscle wasting. Cortisol also decreases serotonin and melatonin levels which may cause depression and insomnia, respectively.

And this: Adrenergic manifestations of hypoglycemia- all of these have been true of me except pins and needles, dilated pupils…
Shakiness, anxiety, nervousness, palpitations, tachycardia, sweating, feeling of warmth, pallor, coldness, clamminess, Dilated pupils (mydriasis), feeling of numbness “pins and needles” (parasthaesia). Adrenal problems and cortisol - the job of the adrenal gland is to produce the stress hormones to allow us to move up a gear when the stress comes on. Cortisol raises blood sugar levels. It is largely excreted during mornings and declines as the day progresses - this is why we should feel at our best early in the day, and blood sugar problems get worse as the day progresses. Often people compensate for this by eating more as the day goes on and explains why many hypoglycemics do not need or eat breakfast with supper being the largest meal of the day. ( I dont seem to need breakfast.)

I should also mention again that 6 weeks ago I had a saliva T test that came back at 135 pg/mL with the age range at 44-148.

I will work on the recommended additional labs, and buy a digital thermometer.
I’ve felt cold my whole life in my feet, and hands except when I exercise and eat alot or in summer.

Thats all for now- please let me know your thoughts, gentlemen…

and THANK YOU .

Seegee

Can you do this now? …and review your intake of iodized salt and/or vitamin that list iodine

KSman-

No vitamins whatsoever that list iodine. And I use Moldon Sea salt- no iodine there either.

Thanks for the input-

Seegee

Waking temp 97.2 Gentlemen, I haven’t gotten to 98.6 all day long.

Time for Iodine supplement?

Seegee