Ok, so I have started T Therapy, but I have never been able to fully interpret my pre-therapy results as doctors don’t have the time to sit and discuss properly what I feel is very important. Does anyone have an opinion on my results on the image here about my Total, Free, Bio, Albumin, Cortisol, SHBG, LH, FSH
etc. I am still awaiting the results of an MRI Scan to look for a pituitary tumour too (which the condescending consultant thinks is just a formality to prove there isn’t one, but can’t explain why my levels are wrong). An honest normal opinion would be great as this is pretty much my life focus just now until the T Therapy starts to do something. Cheers.
When did you get your blood draw? We’re you fasted? Hydrated?
Albumin is high but this could be dehydration. Cortisol is very high if this blood draw was done in the morning. Testosterone is shit but LH and FSH are low, which is leaning toward secondary hypogonadism. I think it’s smart to verify that you do or don’t have a pituitary tumor, because your low T issue is definitely pituitary related.
Do you work out? Sedentary or active job? What does your diet look like and alcohol drug intake? Sleep habits?
So many of these numbers depend on your lifestyle and habits, so it’s going to be hard for anyone to give you an opinion if they don’t know anything about you, and what factors in your life are influencing these numbers.
Thanks for this. My blood draw was 9am, fasted and I was hydrated. I don’t work out - never have. have always struggled to add muscle even with other forms of exercise. I cycle (mountain biking) and run, I have a desk job, but I am moving around all day too, lifting heavy boxes of paper etc so I am not unfit. My BMi is completely perfect, 40 years old, 11 stone, 5’9, Never taken drugs, never smoked, I do drink alcohol but no more than 14 units a week, sleep is between 6 and 8 hours a night and has been pretty poor for years, although my T Gel seems to be helping a bit after 2 weeks. My diet is pretty good. Lots of fresh fruit and veg, lots of nuts, wholemeal bread, pasta etc, little salt, all home cooked, limited meat intake too. Generally I am healthy. Blood pressure is 126/75 which is fine too. So something is clearly broken somewhere?
That part is obvious due to your T numbers, and the fact that your pituitary is not cranking out LH and FSH by the boat load to try and get that level up.
You may have been a candidate to try HCG mono therapy. It will mimic LH and, if your testicles are in good shape, will get them to start cranking out normal testosterone levels. Something to consider.
If you have a decent amount of stress (job, GF issues, etc…) in your life, that would explain the cortisol and poor sleep. Try to eliminate that as much as possible. With cortisol levels that high in the morning, your body is staying catabolic, which explains why you can’t put on any muscle mass. Your body is in survival (fight or flight) mode all the time… You have to get that under control…
I would suggest bringing lean meats into your diet and start an exercise routine if possible (weight lifting…STAY AWAY FROM CARDIO for at least the first little while,until you get cortisol down consistently). Also, get more thorough bloodwork, including lipids, DHEA, DHT, E2, and a full Thyroid panel. It’s easier to make corrections when you have a bigger picture to begin with.
Very interesting - Thank you. My job can be quite stressful, working in a fast production design and digital print environment, and recently, my marriage nearly ended because of no intimacy - before I discovered my levels had been dropping for the last few years - maybe longer. Luckily, things are sorted now it is realised that I have somethings wrong. Cialis has been helping me thank goodness. My libido has been crap for years - maybe even 10 or so years. This has knackered my self esteem too. My levels have been tested 4 times over the last 2 years and I have had a 10.5, a 7.7, an 8.3 and a 5.5 which was an afternoon test. I now am awaiting the T Gel doing something to hopefully bring back my drive - if this comes back, I feel it will just lift everything else too. The joys.
Try to get on injections. You will be much happier in the long run.
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This could be similar to men who overtraining and see testosterone decline from overtraining, you do any exercise, testosterone declines but recovers later and increases testosterone, but if you’re not resting and are always on the move, this may be why testosterone is low.
It may take years to get to this point. This situation could also increase the stress hormone cortisol, when the body is under stress, cortisol increases and continuing to go about business as usual can cause damage to your body.
It would be nice to see estrogen, in its absence a minimum two moderate injections per week is optimal, increasing injection frequencies if side effects are experienced after 6 weeks because you should expect some increase in symptoms during the first 6 weeks as you body starts using these higher hormones levels.
Things will level off after 6 weeks and this is when lab testing is done preferable waiting till 8 weeks to allow things to settle.
This is why your testosterone is low, my brother works in this environment working 12 hour shifts, my bothers testosterone is low after more than 30 years in the business.
LH and FSH are bottom of the range indicating that you are secondary.
You may get good results with clomid.