You mention your total T was about the same as mine pre-trt but how was your FT compared to mine if you remember? I guess that’s were I’m hurting so bad is FT, correct?
I have read some studies touting boron as a FT enhancer but from what I gather it will at best bring it up around 25%. When you are sitting on an 8.3 FT, a 25% increase really doesn’t exactly bring things up to an optimal level does it?
@jondean99
My free T was never tested pre-trt. I didn’t know enough to make sure it was at the time. So unfortunately I really don’t know.
I take 3mg Boron a day but I wouldn’t bet on that helping you get free T up enough to make any difference. There’s a great thread all about boron by a respected endo here. It’s like 800 posts long so shouldn’t be hard to find.
You posted to someone else asking about why they went from once a week to more frequent injections. When dose change itself doesn’t get someone feeling better, change in dosing frequency is another tool that can help. Not everyone needs more frequent injections but many people seem to have a better response using it. All of our bodies will handle testosterone differently and for me I feel a major difference using daily injections. It has me feeling optimal at all times. There’s a few theories on why that is but in the end if it works, it works. Most people don’t need daily but even going from one a week injections to splitting the dose and doing twice a week is enough to keep people from having major swings.
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So you snore?
No I don’t, no sleep apnea or anything like that. If I do have a sleeping problem it’s that I am a very light sleeper…
Do you have a partner that can confirm this? I dont mean to second guess but we arent always aware of our snoring. I wasnt aware how bad mine was until I recorded it and listened back. Luckily my wife is a heavy sleeper.
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You are potentially being effected by the environment and toxins. I say this because your range should not be this low. my father is 25 years older than you and he has 12 free t and 550 total. He is 75 years old. I had 185 and 3.5 free t and 40. Wild.
At 50 I’d just start trt if I had good docs and availability. Otherwise I would take some anecdotes that supposably lower shbg. But be careful.
Your thyroid is going to need a look. 2.0 is high tsh and if ft3 is low you can work on that.
Thyroid issues cause Fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep issues and much more when low.
With a high shbg I’d consider the liver health and what’s causing that to sky rocket. Toxins.
I thought I didn’t snore… I snore like a walrus at times.
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Married 20 yrs to a light sleeper, the only time I can ever remember her saying I snored was about 16-18 yrs ago after a long night of tequila… No alcohol in over 10 yrs currently…
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Did you ever figure out why your #'s were so low at 40?
Toxins that lower T… like Phthalates maybe. Most plastics have T lowering chemicals don’t they?
There are a host of EDCs including phthalates. Here are a few articles of some different exposures: Toxic Chemicals | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
I gradually went up to 160 per week (one shot per week) trying to find an optimal dose. I realized that the day after my shot I was running about 1800 TT and 38 FT, and about 750 TT and 18 FT at my trough the day of my next injection – not exactly a steady course. This was not optimal to me with that large swing each week. I compromised at E3D, and still plan on trying EOD or ED soon to see what difference it might make, if any.
Ok guys, please don’t bash me about this next question because remember I am so very new to all of this… Can boron, vitamins, minerals, diet, rest, exercise etc pull me out of the ditch or is TRT my only way to improve to decent levels? I don’t take this decision lightly so I have to exhaust all options or I will not feel like a responsible adult lol… No seriously I have an 18 yr old son who was injured at birth who will always have to live at home. So I have a very strong sense of staying alive for as long as possible. Not that other people don’t but it’s something that I think about a lot when you have someone who depends on you to this extent…
With that being said, as far as longevity is concerned do I jump on trt or just try to live as healthy a life as possible so I can be here for him for max time? That’s a question I keep asking myself.
Pharmaceutical. Shampoo. Food.
Plastics. Air. Tech. EDCs and the List goes on
Check thyroid t anthony jay and EDC on YouTube. He wrote the book on it and is a great researcher.
It’s not easy to fix. I haven’t heard of anyone who has. I
What are your symptoms from energy to libido and physical health? 1-10?
Don’t suffer too long if symptoms are bad. If you can still work; focus and enjoy life ids not that bad.
Oh I’ve always known. It was due to another medicine I was taking for opiate addiction. Called Suboxone. It jacked my thyroid and test.
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Your FT is very low, and SHBG is pretty high which inhibits your FT from getting into a higher range. It’s going to be almost impossible to bring that SHBG down low enough to make any noticeable impact on FT whatsoever, without using Testosterone. If I were you, I’d want that FT number closer to 25-30 (not that you should shoot for targets, but base on relief of symptoms). The only way you’re going to do this is by using T.
Also, even if you were to perfectly dial in everything and optimize your T levels, you’re 50. Your T levels have been already declining for decades and will continue to do so. Throw on top of that all the environmental toxins that destroy T levels, it’s going to be a frustrating battle to try to make any difference naturally for you.
TRT will not be a magic bullet either. In order to get the most bang for the buck, you’ll want to dial your other components in as much as possible anyway - diet, sleep, exercise, etc are all important components of a solid TRT plan.
@jondean99
My sleeping issues were caused by adrenal issues. Get a 24 hr cortisol test and see where you are at. Can’t hurt and insurance will likely cover it. If you happen to have an amazing doc (we’re talking Dr Phil status) get yourself a Dutch Test.
@jondean99
If you have an 18 yr old son then you are likely at least 40. There’s a good chance your testosterone is at a level (if you posted it already I missed it) where you are more likely to have issues down the road due to low T. Plus imagine how much healthier of a life you’d live if you had lots of energy and libido. Energy to stay fit and motivation from sex to stay fit. Plus it’s a good feeling when you are the best looking guy in your friend group (or basically anywhere you go).
Good thinking looking at how to fix basics first. Recommend looking into books on how to boost test naturally. Diet, excercise and some supplements like zinc (not the t-booster supp stuff outside of one or two ingredients) and more controversial things like not putting mobile phone in your pocket / avoding plastic bottles seem to go a long way.
Trying this first, see how you feel and retesting levels in 3 months does not have the potentially downsides of trt which is still an option if the basics dont cut it to a level you’re content with.