Hi and thanks in advance for any advice or guidance and I apologize for the length.
Age: 42 yrs.
Height: 5’11"
Weight: 175 lbs (down from 205-210 in February 2013.)
waist: 32inches
I have a full beard (takes awhile to grow), bald head, little to no chest hair no back or shoulder hair. (I was a late bloomer.)
Currently very little body fat, when I was bigger, I carried it in my upper body.
I have IBS and anxiety issues and some panic attacks that have started in the last year and a half.
I had a vasectomy in 2002. Currently dealing with a dislocated shoulder / torn labrum.
Current medications are Xanax .5 mgs 2x /day, Pepcid 20 mg 1x, and Androderm Patch 4mg (which I have stopped, which started some hot flashes )
My diet since February has been largely plant based, while eating some form of meat 2-3 times per week. Almost no dairy.
I don’t work out. I work a physical job that keeps me moving all day.
No aching testicles, no fevers.
Only time I have morning wood is the first week or so of TRT. (I didn’t realize this until I started TRT.)
As a side note, pretty much for as long as I can remember, my normal body temperature is around 97.4 or 97.6., never 98. If I hit 99 I know I have a fever.(very rare)
I had bloodwork done at my request @ Labcorp first in Febraury 2013 by a chiropractor friend of mine, then in April by my PCP, then again in June by my PCP, then in July by an Endo I was referred to. Here are the results and comments.
February 2013 10 a.m.
Total Test Serum : 234 ng/dl (low) range 348-1197
Free Test : 9.3 pg/ml range 6.8- 21.5
DHEA-S 256.4 ug/dl range 88.9-427
Vitamin D: 17.6 ng/mL (low) range 30.0 �¢?? 100.0
TSH : 1.8 uU/mL range .5 - 4.8
T-4, free: 1.27ng/dL range .82 - 1.77
T-3 , free: 3.5 pg/mL range 2.0- 4.4
Reverse T-3: 20.0 ng/dL range 9.2- 24.1 ( I believe this gives a T-3 to RT-3 ratio of 17.5 which
is too low? )
April 2013 9:45 a.m. (After 2 months of 10mg Pregnenolone and working to raise Vitamin D)
Testosterone, Serum: 189 ng/dL (low) range 348-1197
Test, Free : 6.35 ng/dL (would have been low, but they changed the range) 5.0 - 21.0
% Free Test. 3.36 range 1.5-4.2
LH : 2.4 mIU/mL range 1.7-8.6
FSH : 4.3 mIU/mL range 1.5 - 12.4
Vitamin D 46.3 ng/mL range 30-100
Prescribed Androgel 1.62% 2 pumps/day by my PCP. Except the Androgel makes me feel like total shit by about the 5th day, including increased fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and mood swings, anxiety and digestive upset. And I can taste it after I put it on. I’ve tried to start it 3 different times with the same result.
June 2013 9 a.m. (Ranges and measurement values are the same as above).
Test, serum: 323 (Low)
Test, free : 9.46
% free test : 2.93
LH : 3.0
FSH : 4.6
DHT : 22 ng/dL (Low) range 30-85
PSA : .9 ng /mL range 0.0- 4.0
Estrogens: total 120 pg/mL (HIGH) range 40-115 ( I asked for E2 test, they ran the wrong one)
Prolactin : 8.5 ng/mL range 4.0-15.2
DHEA-S : 268.4
Vitamin D : 49.5
July 2013 8a.m. (Ran by Endo, who says possible Hypogonadism, possible pituatary problem. Had been off androgel for approx. 4 weeks at this test and off Pregnenolone for 1 week) (Ranges and values used are same)
Test, Serum: 412 (normal, if I’m 75 yrs. Old I guess)
E-2 : 21.8 pg/mL range 7.6-42.6
TSH : 1.130
T-4, free : 1.29
T-3, free: 3.5
IGF-1 : 211 ng/mL (high) range 64-210
Growth Hormone, Serum <0.1 ng/mL range 0.0- 2.9
Cortisol, serum : 11.9 ug/dL range 6.2 - 19.4
A1c 5.3 range 4.8-5.6
Blood glucose (fasting) : 88 mg/dL range 65-99
Metabolic Panel all normal
I also had a Pituatary MRI w/contrast which came back normal. Endo refused TRT because my levels came back low normal, despite 3 previous low test results. Had me re-test at 6 weeks.
September 28, 2013. Blood draw @ 9 a.m. Done @ Labcorp.
Testosterone, Serum: 283 ng/dl (Low) range : 348-1197
Diagnosed Secondary Hypogonadal. Endo started me on Testim 1 %, 5mg, and retested levels at 4 weeks. Testim made me feel just as bad as Androgel, if not worse. I seem to be fine for about 5-7 days then I crash. My biggest complaint with these is digestive upset and abdominal pain. (And the fact that my T doesn’t seem to go up). I finally had to quit after 4 weeks because I couldn’t take it anymore. I requested an appointment w/ Endo, but he’s booked until February (which is when my follow up was scheduled anyway) so I met with his P.A. And explained that the Testim sucked in general and I felt terrible. We discussed injections and she brought up pellets which I refused. She wanted more bloodwork. Dealing with this Endo’s office is terrible. You can’t get an appointment, they are very disorganized, and everytime I have had labs done, I have to call to get results, because they never call me. I’m talking like 3 weeks. Good thing I’m not dying. I would like very much to find a different doctor, but I can’t find anyone who knows HRT or TRT outside of a clinic like BodyLogic or LowT Center (not on my insurance). And I really don’t want to start all over again.
October 9 a.m. Blood drawn @ endo office after 1 month on Testim. Apparently they use Quest, so ranges are different. And Quest seems to believe that a level of 199 ng/dL is normal.
Testosterone, Serum: 280 ng/dL Range 199-1586 (seriously?)
E2 : 28 pg/mL Range <39
PSA : .87 ng/mL Range 0 - 4.0
Hemogram Bloodwork all came back normal.
Put on Androderm Patch. Same issues. I can taste the patch, and it really screws up my digestive system. Other than that, seems o.k. It raised my Total T some.
Bloodwork after 3 weeks on patch @ Labcorp.
Testosterone, Serum : 410 ng/dL Range 350-1100.
The patch raised my T, libido was decent, wood was pretty good, but couldn’t deal with the stomach upset. I stopped the patch, and had some serious hot flashes and nausea for about a week. I don’t know if the digestive issues are from the Testosterone itself, or I’m reacting to some ingredient in the gels. I know abdominal pain is listed as a side effect on all of these, but I don’t know what the reason is.
I’m thinking of asking for Clomid or trying injections. I don’t know what to do at this point. Finding a different doctor might not hurt either.
Thanks again. Any input is appreciated.