To summarize above: my cholesterol is stupid high, I can’t get my iron up and in fact supplements seem to make it go down, I don’t respond well to testosterone injections, my hormones seem to be all over the place over the years and I feel like a shell of who I used to be.
I’m going to come in at a different angle but what is your history if any at all with psychological medications (benzodiazapines/ SSRIs)
The reason I ask is because they alter your chemistry and perception exponentially and many people have lingering issues that manifest into physical issues during or after use.
I have some similar symptoms to you, crummy responder to TRT, have a CPAP, off balance cholesterol, higher glucose and I have chronic fatigue issues. I’ve also been medicated with benzodiazapines for 5 years and have been getting off them slowly trying to regain a normal balance.
You seem like a candidate for daily injections and a higher dose. Along with daily shots, take daily Cialis, and the best foods you can afford. Daily shots are also great for mental wellness. In effect, you create a situation in which you have a steady stream of hormones all of the time. It may sound excessive but I believe that I tend to avoid a ton of issues with the task of pinning daily. Cialis should help lower your blood pressure without the need for other meds that are guaranteed to have side effects that can fool you into thinking that your TRT is not working. So let’s focus on your TRT, and use of Cialis in order to stop the use of Statins
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I agree. Can also take less test (usually) because you’re not playing with giant peaks/troughs. Having 900ng TT and 50pg e2 (let’s say) consistently every day really helps mood/energy levels.
When these issues first came up 2 years ago my doctor prescribed Prozac because they thought it was all just anxiety. I took it for a week but it started making feel suicidal so I stopped.
Other than that I’ve never taken any kind of benzo or SSRI since I never had any kind of issues before.
Damn I didn’t know cialis helped with blood pressure. I’ll talk to my doctor about it. (Also, I stopped taking a statin last year, so I no longer take it)
I agree with daily injections, but I’d be lying if I said that sounds like a hastle. Do you think creams would work since it’s daily or would it have to be injections? I read mixed opinions on cream
Thanks for the help I appreciate it.
It seems like it, but its not. Just have to accept it as part of life. Difference is that with daily TRT you tend to look like you dont need a thing. I use the thinnest needle possible. TRT is far from an inconvenience.
I went the cream route for 4-5 weeks thinking the same thing, but it really feels different than injections. I think it’s cos e2 just doesn’t get up high enough (for me, anyway) and way more hair shedding. I should give it more time, but already told my clinic I want to go back to shots, EOD.
I found cream more of a hassle personally. I did not like worrying about sweating, swimming etc and having it wash or wipe away before I got the full benefit. Switched to injections when people started saying you should actually apply twice a day and said screw that noise when I already wasn’t liking once a day because of those worries. Found that a 200ml bottle of cyp lasts longer than the cream doing daily as well so I am saving a little money which is also a plus. It has become just part of my normal morning routine after showering and don’t even really think about it anymore.
Hey @hardartery last year you had mentioned the parathyroid stuff. I’m still dealing with issues and I’m about to get blood work to focus on thyroid and parathyroid stuff.
Do you have any recommended blood work for the hyperlasia thing you had?
Thanks
Got some blood work back and could really use some advice. It doesn’t look like my testosterone injection is doing anything at all.
5’10
Male
185lbs
Current medications/supplements
- Testosterone Cyp: 120mg/week
- Synthroid: 25mcg/daily
- Iron: every other day
- B12: 1000mcg/daily
LABS
- Total T: 486 (264-916)
- Free Androgen Index: 156 (24-122) HIGH but total t isn’t high?
- SHGB: 11.3 (16.5-55.5) LOW
- TSH: 1.8 (.45-4.5)
- FT4: 1.1 (.82-1.77)
- FT3: 3.3 (2.2-4.4)
- Reverse T3: 17 (9-24)
- Ferritin: 304 (30-400)
- Iron: 84 (38-169)
- TSAT: 24% (15-55)
- Insulin: 29 (2.6-24) HIGH
- total cholesterol: 245 (100-199) HIGH
- triglycerides: 283 (0-149) HIGH
- HDL: 31 (>39) LOW
- LDL: 161 (0-99) HIGH
- CRP: 1.4
@hardartery this is for you since you know about parathyroid.
Calcium: 9.8
PTH: 21 (15-65)
Vitamin D: 20 (30-100)
Calitonin: <2 (0-8.4)
Since starting synthroid with iron supplements my iron and TSAT doubled. But my ferritin also shot way up? Also my total T is not great but my free androgen index is high?
I don’t know if I need a dose increase of testosterone or synthroid or both?
Any help is appreciated.
@dextermorgan @systemlord @highpull @unreal24278 @physioLojik @dbossa @enackers
You simply need to take more . Just raise the injection to 175 a week.
For thyroid you want to look at symptom resolution not numbers on a lab.
First get your T in order,. If increasing dose doesn’t help (make sure FT is at a good level to qualify its working) you should then look at thyroid for issues with fatigue and etc.
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Assuming you’re not doing that great, since you are here. I think you’re looking at increasing both testosterone and thyroid. If only wanting to change one, I would base the decision off symptom priority, i.e. you are tired but your libido is worse, etc.
I think it’s pretty much a tossup, but if going more by the numbers, I’d go for thyroid. See where SHBG settles, then address the testosterone. Increasing test first isn’t wrong though. Neither is increasing both.
Good luck.
Thanks for the advice I’m going to bump up T.
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Appreciate it man. Definitely not doin great. I’m going to raise my T dose.
You do think thyroid could be better based on numbers?
This high Free T and barely midrane Total T is because you most likely have low SHBG. TRT lowers SHBG in almost everyone, except for people with diabetes. 
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I don’t think you need to because if you don’t feel anything from raising your testosterone, focus on thyroid optimization.
Some people with thyroid problems fail to convert enough T4 (synthroid) to free T3. If this is the case, you will need a T4/T3 combo.
Yes.
My SHGB is low constantly. I’m definitely going to clean up nutrition more I have roughly 20lb to lose and if I keep eating sugar I will be prediabetic sooner than later.
How do I know if I don’t convert t4 to t3?
I’m only on 25mcg of synthroid and don’t know whether to increase to 50mcg or try Armour. I read threads where people like @enackers entire life basically changed with armour but read @swan9021 thread where synthroid increase changed his life.
Low SHBG can be caused as a result of inflammation, so cutting out processed foods is a must if you’re in an inflammatory state.
As I’ve lost weight and starting eating healthy, I’ve seen my SHBG steadily increase from 11->18. It had been <12 for years until now.
I’ve also benefited from lifting weights.