Hey all
I’ve been lurking here the past few weeks while i’ve been trying to figure out what’s wrong with me, and it’s been by far the best and most useful resource i’ve found. Sincere thanks to all the regulars who’ve (albeit unknowingly) already given me some excellent advice and a grounding in beginners endocrinology.
Anyway, i’m now in a position to have some results to report…so thought i’d start a case thread in the hope you can give me your perspectives..in return theres a link to a document i’ve found useful at the end…
It’s probably important to note that i’m in the UK, which means I get treatment under our National Health Service which is great, but means it’s much harder to just shop around and change doctors easily.
Questionnaire answers here…scroll down for Lab results…!
34, 5ft11, 35 waist, 190lbs
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Was starting to see some effect from training and getting some favourable comments on gains, but past few months has started to undo that work. Good solid shape to my arms, shoulders and back but carrying extra fat around my middle, think that’s increased in past few months. Never seen the rate of gains i’d expect when training and eating hard.
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Always been very hairy, in most places except my back, have a full beard but male pattern baldness on top of head.
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General health is good. No pre-existing conditions other than what I believe to be T related ones. For past 2-3 years its been increasingly difficult to get up in the morning. I get 7, 8 or even 9 hours sleep each night. In the week I get to bed at 11, and my alarm goes off at 7.20 but it can be an hour before I can physically get out of bed. I’m tired all day, with brain fog and difficulty concentrating and staying on task. I lose my thread half way through sentences and get snappy and irritable at work when i’m interrupted and break my train of thought. Finally and most importantly I have literally no sex drive. It’s been that way for 2 years or more. Not an enormous problem as i’ve been single all that time, but it means I can weeks without thinking about sex.
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Not on any prescribed or OTC drugs on a regular basis, other than the occasional ibuprofen or paracetamol. Recently had a recurring tooth infection which meant 2x 1wk courses of Amoxycillin and 1 week of Metradinazole spread over 4 months or so.
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Diet is, I think reasonable. Generally 3 large eggs and wholegrain toast, or porridge for breakfast. Chicken & salad for lunch, home cooked dinner based around steak, chicken, salmon, turkey with pasta/rice/potato and green veg. When training, supplemented with morning/afternoon snacks and some whey protein around training. Don’t really eat processed meals or junk often. Could probably stand to eat more fruit/veg but couldn’t we all.
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3-4 times a week, 45mins to 1hr of weights and 20 mins of cardio. Based around squats/deads/bench on a 3 day split. Not trained regularly though for 2 months and not at all for the last month as i’ve just been constantly fatigued.
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Not experienced testes aching with fever
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Can’t remember having regular morning wood/nocturnal erections for over a year if not longer. Maybe very occasionally, but even then not that strong and not accompanied by any desire to do anything about it.
Experience with doctors…
A little over a month ago, I decided enough was enough. Sick of the constant fatigue and brain fog and non existent sex drive. The doctor was concerned it could be several things so ordered a full blood count, haematocrit, ferritin, TSH and so on as well as Plasma T.
The results all came back fine (you can see them below) APART from surprise! the Test, which was low.
The lab advised re-testing at 9am (as the previous blood was drawn at 11:40 and adding SBHG, LH and FSH tests. So this was done.
Second set of results came back and the T was 11.5 (range: 8-30) so considered “normal” and I could immediately tell the doctor was shutting down on me. It’s normal so there’s nothing I can do. No one to refer you to. Despite my protestation that it’s the very low end of normal surely!
She eventually agreed she’d re-test my total T in 4-6 weeks, and at my insistence will add on E2 and Prolactin to those next tests.
That was a week ago at the time of writing and it’s been a very tough week. The thought of sitting on my hands going nowhere for 4-6 weeks was driving me crazy. This is affecting my social life, sex life and work life. My business partners have commented on how much my attitude has changed.
So today I got a short notice appointment and saw a different doctor. Despite my going in with a set of well founded arguments that my results are low he wouldn’t agree and sent me home with a standard questionaire to fill out aimed at determining if i’m depressed! I get to go back and find out if I am on Tuesday. (Clue: i’m not!)
And so that’s where I am now. Feeling like i’m hitting a brick wall. And i’d appreciate the perspective of the guys on here…
LAB RESULTS - in UK units, but i’ve converted to US where possible for clarity
First tests - Blood drawn @ 11:50am 17th Feb 2012
Test Result Range
Plasma testosterone level 7.4nmol/L (213mg/dl) 8-30
Serum sodium level 141nmol/L 133-146
Serum potassium level 4.2mmol/L 3.5-5.3
Serum creatinine level 74.0 umol/L 64-104
Serum urea level 6.4mmol/L 2.5-7.8
Serum TSH level 3.1miu/L 0.2-6
Serum total bilirubin level 14umol/L 2-21
Serum alanine aminotransferase 35.0iu/L <=40
Serum alkaline phosphatase level 202iu/L 70-300
Serum albumin level 43g/L 35-50
Corrrected serum calcium level 2.3mmol/L 2.2-2.6
Serum inorganic phosphate level 1.0mmol/L 0.8-1.5
Serum C reactive protein level <5.0mg/L <=10
Full blood count
Haemoglobin Concentration 15.7g/dl 13.5-18
Total white blood count 5.84 10^9/L 4-11
Platelet count - observation 274.0 10^9/L 150-400
Mean cell volume 92fl 78-100
Packed cell volume 0.470 .4-0.52
Red blood cell count 5.11 10^12/L 4.5-6.5
Mean cell haemoglobin level 30.7pg 27-32
Red blood cell distribution width 12.0% 11.5-15
Neutrophil Count 3.21 10^9/L 2-7.5
Lymphocyte Count 1.98 10^9/L 1-4.5
Monocyte count 0.38 10^9/L 0.2-0.8
Eosinophil count 0.04 10^9/L 0.04-0.4
Basophil count 0.05 10^9/L <=0.1
Percentage hypochromic cells 1.0%
Haemoglobin A1C level 37.0mmol/mol 20-42
Second tests - Blood drawn @ 09:00am 2nd March 2012
LH 3.8
FSH 4.4
SHBG 20 nmol/L
Total Testosterone 11.7 nmol/L (337ng/DL) 8-30nmol/L
Whew, thanks for reading to the end…as promised, here’s a document i’ve not seen anyone mention on the forum (but if it’s been seen before apologies), it’s the clinical guidelines for UK doctors in diagnosing androgen deficiency in men. Endorsed by most of the relevant professional bodies in the country.
http://www.endocrinology.org/policy/docs/10-12-01_UK%20Guidelines%20Androgens%20Male.pdf
Now if only I could get my doctor to read it!
