So, had some concerns (detailed more below) and wholeheartedly decided to get tested halfway thinking I was being ridiculous. I went to a Low T Center and for the $50 basic/initial test special just to see if I should pursue. Results came back 285ng/dL. I immediately started scouring this forum and other sources I could find, found a PA that posters suggest is decent in my area for TRT, and scheduled and appt for next week. Needless to say i havent been very productive while trying to figure out what is going on and how i csn address it.
This thread may be a bit premature, but the reality is I was to be proactive going to meetings with my doctor so that I don’t have to wait for retests, etc. I have been through all of the stickies, but this stuff is dense and there is a lot of material to try to internalize.
age: 28
-height: 5’10
-waist: 35
-weight: 210-215
-describe body and facial hair: moderate throughout. Facial hair can grow into a neckbeard, but takes awhile.
-describe where you carry fat and how changed. I’ve always had a bit of s linebacker build. Played ball in high school/undergrad(not a large program), so even though I haven’t kept up lifting I have a decent muscle base that makes me look less fat than I really am. I would say tons of weight ends up in my thighs.
-health conditions, symptoms [history]: asthma as a child, outgrew it. Nothing else really except family history of ADD and I got diagnosed a few months ago.
-Rx and OTC drugs, any hair loss drugs or prostate drugs ever: no hair loss or prostate drugs. Recently have been taking 10mg XR Adderall, but I don’t take it every day, don’t take on weekends, will take a week off, etc.
-lab results with ranges
All I currently have is 285ng/dL with no ranges. More testing to be done next week but thrtr will be a 7-10 day turnaround. I will try to get body temps in the next few days.
-describe diet: probably average American diet. Fast food 2-3 x per week. Decent amount of protein and lots of carbs, but have been better/healthier about choices since this started.
-describe training: 1-2 times per week I will lift, but pretty inconsistent. Hardly ever cardio except as a 10 minute warm up.
-testes ache, ever, with a fever? No.
-how have morning wood and nocturnal erections changed:
Here is what started my concern. Wife and I have a pretty great/advenurous sex life. But, baby arrived somewhat recently, so for the past year or so, it has been kind if meh… I thought my lack of interest was just due to her pregnancy/exhaustion…but, baby is sleepiing thriujgh the night now and things haven’t really gone back to normal. Also, I sometimes have an issue with Delayed Ejaculation, but it was never really problematic and I didn’t think much of it. Used to get morning wood all the time, in hindsight I really haven’t much lately.
I didn’t really start thinkijng about this though until recently. I was at a conference and picked up a hot side piece (wife knew and was cool with it). Despite going at it for 2 hours and having a strong erection the whole time, I couldn’t ejaculate. I chalked it up to alchohol. I got a chance to redeem myself the next night - I did finally get the job done with it essentially turned into a chore it took so long.
Since I returned and for the past two weeks I have not had morning wood or any random wood I am accustomed to. I can hardly even get wood when my wife or I try, and it doesn’t really get us anywhere because my libido is low.
Mood wise I’m generally good, but the libido/DE issues are dealbreakers and caused me to get tested. Noe that I know this could be an issue, I am booth excited that there may be a resolution, but terrified about starting TRT at this age.
12/4 lab update:
Initial tests have returned, and they are not what I expected to say the least. If anything, this has certainly warned me away from the free T clinic variety of treatment (they originally report test value of 285ng/dL). The summary is that I have borderline low HDL, very high Homocystein, high AST and slightly high ALT, slightly high RT3, in-range but low B12, barely Vitamin D deficient, very high E2. I have a follow-up appointment on Thursday. I have been taking Vitamin D, Iodine, and Selenium since immediately after having my blood drawn (so the past 2 weeks or so), and have seen a very minimal improvement in the ED/libido department, but even that improvement is inconsistent at best. I would love to hear thoughts on recommended steps forward that I may keep in mind for my follow-up.
Full results are:
Test/SHBD
T: 596 (250-1100)
Free T: 123.7 (35-155)
SHBG: 15 (10-50)
Cholestorol Total: 141 (<200)
HDL Cholesterol: 40 (>40)
Direct LDL: 91 (<100)
Homocysteine: 18.7 (<11.4)
Apolipoprotein A1: 108 (94-176)
Apolipoprotein B: 64 (52-109)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
Glucose: 92 (65-99)
Urea Nitrogen: 20 (7-25)
Creatinine: 0.91 (0.60-1.35)
eGFR NON-AFR 114 (>=60)
eGFR AFR: 132 (>=60)
Sodium: 139 (135-146)
Potassium: 4.4 (3.5-5.3)
Chloride: 101 (98-110)
Carbon Dioxide: 29 (20-31)
Calcium: 10.1 (8.6-10.3)
Protein, Total: 7.5 (6.1-8.1)
Albumin: 4.8 (3.6-5.1)
Globulin: 2.7 (1.9-3.7)
Albumin/Globulin Ratio: 1.8 (1.0-2.5)
Bilirubin, Total: 0.7 (0.2-1.2)
Alkalin Phosphatas: 51 (40-115)
AST: 50 (10-40)
ALT: 48 (9-46)
Hemoglobin Alc: 5.1 (<5.7)
Magnesium: 2.1 (1.5-2.5)
Phosphate (as phosphorus): 3.6 (2.5-4.5)
Uric Acid: 5 (4-8)
Bilirubin, Direct: 0.2 (<=0.2)
Amylase: 36 (21-101)
TSH: 0.72 (.40-4.5)
T4: 8.8 (4.5-12)
T4 Free: 1.4 (0.8-1.8)
T3: 112 (76-181)
T3 Free: 3.5 (2.3-4.2)
RT3: 27 (8-25)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies: <1 (<9)
Thyroglobulin antibodies: <1 (<=1)
Thyroglobulin: 4.9 (2.8-40.9)
Progesterone: <.1 (<=0.3)
White count: 7.4 (3.8-10.8)
Red Count: 5.50 (4.20-5.80)
Hemoglobin: 16.6 (13.2-17.1)
Hematocrit: 46.3 (38.5-50)
MCV: 84.2 (80-100)
MCH: 30.2 (27-33)
MCHC: 35.9 (32-36)
RDW: 12.6 (1-15)
Platelet Count: 23 (140-400)
MPV: 11.2 (7.5-12.5)
Absolute Neutrophils: 4810 (1500-7800)
Absolute Lymphocytes: 1835 (850-3900)
Absolute Monocytes: 651 (200-950)
Absolute Eosinophils: 67 (15-500)
Absolute Basophils: 37 (0-200)
Ferritin: 264 (20-345)
Vitamin B12 375 (200-1100)
Folate Serum: 10.3 (>5.4)
C-Reactive Protein: 1.8 (<8)
Cortisol Total: 14.1 (4-22)
DHEA Sulfate: 158 (85-690)
FSH: 3.1 (1.6-8)
Growth Hormone: 2.7 (<=7.1)
Vitamin D, 25-OH, Total, IA: 19 (30-100)
Estradiol, Ultrasensitive: 49 (<=29)
IGF 1, LC/MS: 245 (63-373)
PSA, Total: 0.5 (<=4)
Insulin, Free/Bioactive: 5.8 (1.5-14.9)
12/13/17 update:
So, I have been on the RX and supplement protocol KSman suggested, plus 5mg of T3 2x/day.
I had a few days of feeling great, but apparently fell through the E2 sweet spot. I felt like I crashed my E2 after my second dose of AI, and felt terrible, so I decided to hold off an AI and iimmediately went and got my E2 (and Test because I was curious) tested.
Results for E2 were as expected, but the interesting thing I can’t explain are the Test results are back to breing low…
12/13/17
T: 368 (264-916)
FT: 12.5 (9.3-26.5)
E2: 9.4 (8-35)
So, my T, FT, and E2 were ALL low, which makes no since to me given the protocol I’ve been on.
Could anastrozole causing the crash in E2 also leave to a T crash? If not, my T numbers seem to fluctuate wildly… any thoughts as to an explanation?