Hi all, this is my log to solve my low T problem that I have suffered with for too long now. As you’ll see in my background history, there could be a number of things that contributed to my low T, and I am now more determined than ever to figure out exactly what the problem is, and how to solve it. Thanks for joining me on this journey.
Background History
I hit puberty at a normal age, and believe that I had healthy testosterone levels throughout my late teen years as evidenced by my frequent nocturnal/morning erections and a high sex drive/frequent sex with girlfriend. I did think that I had a mild case of gyno at this time, as my nipples were sensitive and I thought I felt small granules underneath them. I went to the doctor, but she said that it was a normal part of puberty and that the sensitivity should stop eventually.
Fast forward a couple years, I experienced my first case of ED when I was 21 and chalked it up to nervousness. I became extremely introverted from the age of 21-25 and started to use marijuana on a daily basis. When I did have the opportunity to have sex it would always be after a night of heavy drinking and I chalked up the ED to “whiskey dick.”
At this time I also got into bodybuilding seriously and decided to try prohormones for the first time at age 25. I did an 8 week cycle of CEL H-Drol at 50/50/50/50/75/75/75/75 and used Nolva for PCT at 40/40/20/20. I always followed the time on + PCT = time off rule, and did a second prohormone shortly after this time off. This time I used RPN Havoc for 8 weeks at 30-40mg for the entire cycle, followed again with a PCT of Nolva at 40/40/20/20.
By the time I finished this cycle + the time off I was 26 and wanted to give anabolics a try. I used Test E for 12 weeks at 500mg/week, with Arimidex at 0.5 mg EOD (if I recall correctly). My PCT was the usual Nolva at 40/40/20/20. After this cycle I decided that I didn’t want to get into the habit of using anabolics and used only natural supplements for the next year or so.
At age 27, I met the girl of my dreams and decided that it was also time to quit using pot. This is when I really started noticing problems and suspected that I had low testosterone, either from the long-term pot use or the anabolics. I had many episodes of ED with her, and when I could get it up; it was weak and would disappear quickly. As a result, I ordered some Cialis off the internet and it solved all of my ED issues – or so I thought.
My doctor refused to even authorize bloodwork for me, and as a result of my frustration, I stupidly started self-medicating with Test E, at a TRT dosage of 150mg/week. I continued to do this for a year and felt great. My erections were rock hard, and I experienced no ED whatsoever. Once I wised up and realized that I had no way of knowing if all of my hormones were within a healthy range, I decided to stop with the Test E.
This is where I think I made a horrible mistake. Instead of running a PCT like I always did, I decided that I would just go the taper down route (since I thought that the lower dosage wasn’t as suppressive) and just keep using Cialis until my HPTA restored itself to normal levels. I was 28 at this time and started dating a new girl, who I’d always keep awake because of my snoring. It was so bad that she suggested that I might have sleep apnea.
After researching the side effects of sleep apnea, I convinced myself that my low testosterone levels were a result of this, and not the stupid taper down that I did after using Test E. I went for a number of sleep studies and it was determined that I had severe sleep apnea, to the point that I would wake myself up 30 times/minute gasping for air. I have been using a CPAP machine for the last 2.5 years now, and I feel like it has helped improve things such as my daytime tiredness, however, it still didn’t solve my low testosterone issue. Fast forward to today at age 31, and I still have to use Cialis in order to get and maintain an erection.
No longer smoking pot, and using CPAP consistently has helped, as there have been a few occasions in which I was able to have sex without using any kind of PDE-5 inhibitor, however, the lack of morning wood/nocturnal erections, minor brain fog, and occasional fatigue, still tells me that I have some underlying problems (most likely from irresponsibly tapering off Test E). After this initial round of bloodwork, my free testosterone level is equal to that of a 55-64 year old, so I am hoping that my family doctor refers me to an endocrinologist so that I can test the other hormones like TT, E2, LH, FSH, and prolactin.
I am also going to get an oral thermometer to test my body temperature as it relates to the thyroid. I will update this thread with those numbers as soon as I get them. Ultimately, I am hoping that an HPTA restart comes out of all of this, and this is where I’m starting and documenting the process.
Age: 31
Height: 5’ 10”
Waist: 34”
Weight: 200lbs.
Body Hair: Hairy armpits, legs, and pubic region; fine/sparse hair up to belly button; hair around nipples; little to no chest hair; zero hair on shoulders or back.
Facial hair: Johnny Depp style facial hair; somewhat thick moustache, soul patch, and chin; sparse amounts on cheeks and sideburns.
Carried Fat: I carry the majority of fat in my midsection. It is the first place I gain it and the last place I lose it. I also have a little bit more fat than most males in my glutes; however, this could be a result of years of squats.
Health Conditions: Sever sleep apnea; suspected minor gyno through, but it has since disappeared as I started working out/aged.
Rx/OTC drugs: No hair loss or prostate drugs; Cialis; H-Drol prohormone [4-chloro-17a-methyl-androst-1, 4-diene-3-17b-diol]; Havoc prohormone [2a, 3a-epithio-17a-methyl-5a-androstan-17b-ol]; Testosterone Enanthate [4-androsten-3-one-17beta-ol, 17beta-hydroxy-androst-4-en-3-one]; Proviron (Mesterolone) [1 alpha-methyl-17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one]
Lab Results:
Note: I asked my family doctor to test everything mentioned in the lab work sticky i.e., TT, FT, Estradiol, etc. however he said that he wants to do things systematically, and would rather have an Endocrinologist test these after he does initial testing (I clearly have what you call, an “idiot doctor.) This is what I have so far…
Hematology
WBC – 5.2 [4.0-11.0] xE9/L
RBC – 4.81 [4.50-6.00] xE12/L
Hemoglobin – 144 [135-175] g/L
Hematocrit – 0.427 [0.400-0.500] L/L
MCV – 89 [80-100] fL
MCH – 29.9 [27.5-33.0] pg
MCHC – 337 [305-360] g/L
Platelets – 262 [150-400] xE9/L
RDW – 12.6 [11.5-14.5] %
Differential
Neutrophils – 2.7 [2.0-7.5] xE9/L
Lymphocytes – 1.9 [1.0-3.5] xE9/L
Monocytes - 0.3 [0.2-1.0] xE9/L
Eosinophils – 0.2 [0.0-0.5] xE9/L
Basophils – 0.0 [0.0-0.2] xE9/L
Biochemical Investigation of Anemias
Vitamin B12 – HI 731 [138-653] pmol/L
Ferritin – 265 [22-275] ug/L
General Chemistry
Glucose Fasting – 4.8 [3.6-6.0] mmol/L
Hemoglobin A1C/Total Hemoglobin – 5.4 [<6.0] %
Sodium – 140 [135-145] mmol/L
Potassium – 4.4 [3.5-5.2] mmol/L
Chloride – 102 [98-108] mmol/L
Creatinine 102 [67-108] mmol/L
Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) – 84 [An eGFR from 60-89 ml/min/1.73 m2 is consistent with mildly decreased kidney function. However, in the absence of other evidence of kidney disease, eGFR values in this range do not fulfill the KDIGO criteria for chronic kidney disease. Interpret results in concert with ACR measurement.]
Calcium – 2.27 [2.15-2.60] mmol/L
Phosphate 1.08 [0.80-1.45] mmol/L
Urate – LO 228 [230-480] umol/L
Albumin – 47 [35-52] g/L
Bilirubin Total – 12 [<20] umol/L
Alkaline Phosphatase – LO 34 [40-129] U/L
Gamma Glutamyl Transferase – LO 13 [14-62] U/L
Alanine Aminotransferase – 22 [<50] U/L
Aspartate Aminotransferase – 21 [<35] U/L
Magnesium – 0.80 [0.70-1.00] mmol/L
Muscle Enzymes
Creatine Kinase – 271 [44-275] U/L
Lipids
Triglyceride – 0.64 mmol/L
Cholesterol – 6.07 mmol/L
HDL Cholesterol – 1.35 mmol/L
Non HDL Cholesterol – 4.72 mmol/L
LDL Cholesterol – 4.43 mmol/L
Cholesterol/HDL Cholesterol – 4.5
Thyroid Function
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) – 2.0 [0.32-4.00] mIU/L
Thyroxine Free (Free T4) – 13 [9-19] pmol/L
Reproductive and Gonadal
Testosterone Free – 283 [196-636] pmol/L
Serum Proteins
C Reactive Protein – 0.4 [<6.0] mg/L
Bone Markers
25-Hydroxyvitamin D – 136 [75-250] nmol/L
Diet: Since about the age of 21, I ate a fairly clean diet for bodybuilding purposes. It is based around optimal testosterone production, and includes a variety of healthy fat sources, complex carbs, and higher quantities of protein. A typical day would look like this:
Upon waking – Up until just recently I would drink and drink recommended by Charles Poloquin which consists of a 1/4 tsp of any colored salt, a 1oz. shot of real lime juice, mixed with water.
Meal 1 – 1tbsp coconut oil, 3 whole eggs, 6 egg whites, ½ avocado, and 120g peppers
Meal 2 – 1 scoop whey protein, handful of Brazil nuts
Meal 3 – Large salad consisting of mixed greens, green onions, peppers, carrots, cucumbers, olives, and celery; 1 can flaked white albacore tuna or 6oz. chicken breast
Meal 4 (preworkout) – 2 slices of Ezekiel bread; 1tbsp raw almond butter
Immediately after workout – 1 scoop whey protein, 5g creatine monohydrate
Meal 5 (postworkout) – 6oz sirloin steak; 1 cup broccoli; 200g sweet potatoes or 150g brown rice
Meal 6 – Cottage cheese, handful of Brazil nuts; 1 packet cream wheat
Testes Ache: Never had testes ache with or without a fever.
Morning Wood/Nocturnal Erections: Few and far between; weak and go away quickly when I do get them on occasion. I believe this was a result of me having severe sleep apnea, which I have since been using a CPAP since the age of 29.