Hello, I recently started trying to feel better in life, and it appears on the surface to be low T. My stats are below. I’ve read through plenty on this site and look forward to learning more and helping where I can. Hopefully, others will be able to help me out along the way as well.
-38
-6’-2
-40 inches
-265 lbs
-Austin Powers has nothing on me. Hair everywhere dark and thick. I can grow a full beard in a week.
-Arms and legs have virtually no fat. All fat in midsection/gut
-no energy, no motivation, ANXIETY issues, weight gain, muscle loss, low libido, and ED, and brain fog/memory
-only take multivitamin
-Diet has been total crap. With no motivation, I ate what I wanted when I wanted except for periods of getting back in shape.
-See above, hardly any training in the last few years except for those few months of the year when working out again.
-Sometimes the right one aches, but this has happened for the last 20 years due to a hernia repair. They used mesh which I think rubs/touches something in that area. Had several docs check it out and they are not worried. I had a vasectomy in 2010 that I would imagine revealed an issue while opened up if there was one.
-Last 3-4 years morning wood and nocturnal wood is nonexistent except when I have to pee.
I have always been in fairly decent shape up to about 5 years ago. I am a stocky thick guy, but have always carried a little fat. During that time the fat has really increased especially in my gut, and I can see my muscles diminishing. I have also been feeling like crap with noted symptoms above, so after doing some reading, I decided to get my testosterone checked by my GP who is also a urologist.
It took a lot of pushing, but he finally relented and the below is what was checked.
6-6-2013 (fasting at 8:00 AM)
Testosterone 259 ng/DL 175-781
SHBG 13.8 nmol/L 13.3-89.5
Free Androgen index 65.13 % 24.30-110.20
Glucose 93 mg/dL 70-100
Creatinine 1.27 mg/dL 0.50-1.30
BUN 16 mg/dL 7-22
Sodium 143 mEQ/L 136-145
Potassium 4.1 mEq/L 3.5-5.3
Chloride 108 mEq/L 98-109
CO2 29mEq/L 22-33
Calcium 9.2 mg/dL 8.6-10.1
Bilirubin 0.4 mg/dL 0.2-1.2
Alkaline Phos 80 Units/L 34-130
AST (SGOT) 23 Units/L 0-40
ALT (SGPT) 53 Units/L 0-68
Protein 7.1 gm/dL 6.0-8.0
Cholesterol 200 mg/dL Borderline High 200-239
Triglycerides 302 mg/dL High 200-499
HDL Cholesterol 35 mg/dL Low 40-60
LDL Cholesterol 105 mg/dL Near Optimal 100-129
TSH 2.35 mcIU/mL 0.36-3.74
HGB 15.4 gm/dL 14.0-18.0
HCT 46.3 % 42.0-52.0
MCHC 33.3 gm/dL 32.0-36.5
With these results, I was told that I might be in the lower TT range, but due to my low SBHG I had plenty of free testosterone available that my body would use if needed. My doc did not really want to start me on any HRT, but said we could try it if I wanted. I really wanted to start feeling good again, but he only does monthly injections at the office, or will prescribe creams/gels, so I declined and walked out feeling more bummed out…
Fast forward to December 2013 â?? I was fed up with feeling like crap, so I decided to search for a local doc that specialized in HRT. The local compounding pharmacy led me to a doc in town that specializes and takes insurance. I went in and told her my story and showed her my labs. Based on my symptoms, previous labs, and asking to get started, she put me on 75 mg Test C/week. I know itâ??s a very low starting dose, but she did not have her own lab results yet.
The following labs are what she collected. The ALT test is a little high, but I stayed up late watching a football game with the guys the night before drinking. I really did not think I would get tested there in the office on my first visit, or I would have prepared better.
12-23-13 (around 2:00 PM no fasting)
Glucose 77 mg/dL 65-99
BUN 15 mg/dL 7-25
Creatinine 1.18 mg/dL 0.60-1.35
Sodium 142 mmol/L 135-146
Potassium 4.4 mmol/L 3.5-5.3
Chloride 104 mmol/L 98-110
CO2 25 mmol/L 19-30
Calcium 10.1 mg/dL 8.6-10.3
Protein 7.1 g/dL 6.1-8.1
Albumin 4.8 g/dL 3.6-5.1
Globulin 2.3 g/dL 1.9-3.7
Bilirubin 0.3 mg/dL 0.2-1.2
Alkaline Phos 67 Units/L 40-115
AST (SGOT) 23 Units/L 10-40
ALT (SGPT) 48 Units/L 9-46
TSH 1.51 mIU/L 0.40-4.50
Free T4 1.2 ng/dL 0.8-1.8
Free T3 3.7 pg/mL 2.3-4.2
HGB 15.8 g/dL 13.2-17.1
HCT 47.0 % 38.5-50.0
MCHC 33.6 g/dL 32.0-36.0
Vitamin B12 302 pg/mL 200-1100
Vitamin D 24 ng/mL 30-100
FSH 8.9 mIU/mL 1.6-8.0
LH 3.9 mIU/mL 1.5-9.3
Prolactin 3.7 ng/mL 2.0-18.0
SHBG 16 nmol/L 10-50
TT 272 ng/dL 250-1100
FT 68.1 pg/mL 35.0-155.0
E2 33
I have been on the injections for 2 weeks now. The prescription was for 150 mg every 2 weeks IM. I did this for the first injection on Monday Dec 23. Two days later I felt great and my libido and ED were both better than I can remember, but then the next day and on everything plummeted. I don’t know if the 2 day turnaround was placebo, or if it is due to my low SHBG metabolizing the test quickly, but I was able to have sex twice that day and erection quality was awesome. By Friday (4 days post injection) my libido, ED, and general well being were worse than ever.
I decided not to wait 2 weeks for another injection, and by the knowledge I gained here, I switched to SUBQ injections EOD while keeping the overall monthly dosage the same. After several injections of this, my anxiety kicked into overdrive, and I was feeling very bad. I ended up having the worst anxiety attack ever on January 2. On January 3, GP put me on a very low dose of Prozac, and I am taking Taurine and schizonychia berries supplements trying to ease the anxiety. Between January 3 and today (January 8), I have actually had several really good days (great mental clarity and high energy) while still having some days with lingering anxiety issues. I really don’t want to take the Prozac, so maybe this issue can get sorted out. If anyone has any thoughts, please chime in. This crap is wearing me down.
I don’t know if the anxiety is related to the TRT or not. In addition to the therapy, I have shocked my system by cleaning up my diet, quitting sodas, and exercising. I have actually been walking/hiking for the last 2 months, but recently started weights again.
Body temps are pretty normal - mid to high 97s when waking. Plus my T3 and T4 numbers are pretty much middle range. I know KSman wants TSH to be near 1, but I really don’t think Iâ??m iodine deficient. I don’t put salt on my food, but I eat a lot of fish, eggs, ect. that are high iodine foods. I’m also pretty hot natured.
As mentioned ALT level is high, but I’m hoping it’s due to drinking the night before. Is this level concerning? I will have her recheck on the next labs with no drinking.
Vitamin B12 and D levels are low. The lab report says that B12 values below 400 can lead to neuropsychiatric abnormalities. Could this be the cause of my anxiety issues?
FSH and LH seem odd to me. LH is pretty middle of the road while FSH is elevated. I’m guessing this confirms I’m primary hypo?
I have a follow up appt to my TRT doc on Jan 14. I will let her know about my experiences thus far, ask to go to 100 mg/week, and discus HGC. She will also give me an AI if needed. I’m assuming she will run labs again. Any additional tests I should request besides E2?
Will be interested to see how you get on. Get the doc to check your E2 (estrogen) levels at your next blood test. They may then prescible you an AI (Arimidex) that you can take to help control it.