BirdHunter
Age 48
Height 5’ 10’’
Waist 48"
Weight 255
No signs of hair loss on head but very fine hair. Facial hair grows somewhat uneven, light mustache.
Body hair is thin and light, especially armpits where hair has always been almost non-existant.
Almost all fat is on my belly. Some underarm boobs. I have been fat since about age 10. Ass is (too) small. Legs are ripped. Calves are big and well defined. I get compliments on my legs (25" thighs)/calves(18").
Health conditions include a history of moderately high blood pressure up to 160/100 when taken at doctor or dentist. Usually more like 140/85 outside medical setting. Hypoglycemia diagnosed 15-20 years ago with GTT and managed with low carb intake. Obviously induced by poor diet. My teeth are bad. Always a ‘night person’. Traditionally very difficult to sleep at a normal time and very tired in the morning.
The only food that ever gave me energy was sugar. For years I was confused when people said things like ‘I am tired I need to have a bite to eat’. Food made me tired. At times I would sleep minutes after eating dinner. Sugar gave me energy to make it through the day. I have had some success with a low carb diet. Always had very sensitive stomach. Commonly alternated between constipation and diarrhea.
I have successfully managed it with digestive enzymes and/or probiotics and tons of fiber. I suspect insulin resistance. I suspected Hashimoto’s, my sister has it and has taken Synthroid since she was about 13 years old. Discussed with multiple doctors, and repeatedly told I didn’t have it because it is a woman’s disease.
No Rx drugs for 5 years at least. I tried various supplements. Digestive enzymes, vitamin B complex, potassium (history of electrolyte issues in family), large doses of C, chromium, iodine, Trillium Tribellus, fish oil. More recently focused on testosterone related supplements including, vitamin D, DHEA, Zinc, fish oil, Magnesium (to aid sleep).
Currently limiting or eliminating them in anticipation of blood work. Never touched hair or prostate meds. I have done several rounds of corticosteroids for a lower back injury.
The following was performed by LabCorp (via PrivateMD Labs)
TT, LC/MS 291.9 348.0-1197.0 ng/dL LOW
FT 5.6 6.8-21.5 pg/mL LOW
E2 <5.1 7.6-42.6 pg/mL LOW Roche ECLIA methodology
LH 4.3 1.7-8.6 mIU/mL
FSH 3.9 1.5-12.4 mIU/mL
Prolactin 11.6 4.0-15.2 ng/mL
TSH 3.390 0.450-4.500 uIU/mL
T4 Free 1.43 0.82-1.77 ng/dL
T3 Free 3.3 2.0-4.4 pg/mL
TPO Ab 10 0-34 IU/mL
Thyroglobulin <1 0.0-0.9 IU/mL
Lymphs (Absolute) 3.3 0.7-3.1 x10E3/uL HIGH
Sodium, Serum 147 134-144 mmol/L HIGH
Cholesterol, Total 193 100-199 mg/dL
Triglycerides 197 100-199 mg/dL HIGH
HDL Cholesterol 35 >39 mg/dL LOW
LDL Cholesterol Calc 119 0-99 mg/dL HIGH
I am surprised by the E2. Given my body fat I believed I would be high estrogen. I included things out of range. I can upload the full lab report if it is helpful. I can’t explain Lymphs. I suspect Sodium was mild dehydration. I had a hard time producing for the urinalysis. Doctor already tried to put me on 2 hypertension drugs (losartan and amlodipine). I told him I would investigate them. They look horrible. I suspect he will try to get me to take a statin. I suspect he will try to give me T cream. I plan to push for self administered injections 50mg E3D.
Currently breakfast with yogurt smoothie, glutamine, creatine, protein powder and a lot of psyllium. Low carb works pretty well for me if I carefully manage fiber. Eggs mid morning/pre workout, some high protein snack post workout, meat, vegetable and salad everyday for dinner. Not super strict low carb at this time.
Went strict about 2 years ago and dropped around 50 pounds in just a few months. I have been the same weight since then, but slowly changed body composition. More muscle, same weight on scale for about 1.5 years (Unusual for me. I can normally gain or loose weight easily. Maintaing a weight has always been very difficult for me). Now I feel stalled (about a year at 250) in weight loss and muscle/strength gains.
I train about 3 hours 3 days a week. I walk/run HIIT style on a track 2 miles to warm up then do some yoga/stretching. I have been focused on compound lifts for about a year. Learned to love deadlifts (actually rack pulls). I was always terrified of aggravating my back but found them very beneficial. I don’t lift a lot of weight. My rack pulls are up to 185 and a couple inches below my knee. If I pull lower I feel it in my low back. I am scared to go much heavier. My back has seriously hurt me before. I have 2 herniated disks (L3-4 and L4-5). I am still numb on parts of both legs, I think it is permanent nerve damage. I have been working on squat depth and feeling some pain in the front of my right hip (flexor?) so my squat is light like 135. I do front squats. Regular squats hurt the base of my neck and make me learn forward too much. I think I lack shoulder flexibility to get the bar positioned correctly for back squats and I think the front squat allows me to protect my low back. My bench is a mess. I was up to 185 but never felt and pump or burn or DOS in my pecs. My shoulders were taking all the wear so now one is sore. My elbow (bicep/funny bone) has also been bothering me. I quit bar bench and do light dumb bell and mostly rotator cuff work. I watch the videos and read the articles, but I am considering a strength training coach to see if I can do something to improve my form or balance muscle so I don’t get joint pain. I have to figure out how to go about finding someone in my area (south Florida), and the best kind for me to look for (Power lifter, maybe? I want perfect form to avoid injury).
Testes rarely hurt. One time many years ago I wore a union suit hunting and got some soreness after a long walk. I think the inseam was putting pressure on my testes. When I get a fever my testes usually ache a bit like my hands and other joints (general inflammation). About 9 months ago a noticed a varicocele. I didn’t know what it was and thought it might go away. It didn’t and I researched it and figured out what it was and that it was not going to just go away. It aches very mildly occasionally. It is one of the reasons I am suspected low T.
Morning wood is a thing of the past. I have started having problems maintaining an erection. I can usually (but not always) get hard, but any distraction or change of position and it is probably gone. My wife on the other hand is my age and hornier than she has ever been in the 30 years we have been together. This is another reason I am looking into TRT.
I read that fat guys should not be taking steroids. I read TRT can help weight loss.
I read T can increase blood pressure (is this for very high doses?). I read T can lower blood pressure…???
At my weight and blood pressure should I be safe doing replacement doses?
Thank you