Hey @mm14
I’ve been monitoring and reading on this board and others for a while now. Was interested to come across your post lastnight and led me to make an account here. I have a very similar profile to yours and also live in Vancouver. I am 28 Y/O and as a result get very little interest from family physicians to address my symptoms. As stated here too many times, hormone imbalance seems to be very poorly understood by most.
Below are some of my basic test results. I’ve had a series of bloodwork done over the last 2 years since I’ve been dealing with this issue, leading me to conclude high SHBG (Have had it above 50 both times tested, 1 year apart). As a result, I likely have low free T. My calculated free T and Bioavailable T say otherwise, but hardly believe that’s accurate from what I am learning on these boards. I also am doubtful of this as your direct free T results came back below range. Considering we have similar T and SHBG levels, I would be willing to bet I’m low end of range or even below if I was to test using the direct method.
Total T: 24.1 (8.4 - 28.8 nmol/L)
SHBG: 53.1 (10.0 - 70.0 nmol/L)
T Bioavailable Calculated: 9.2 (2.7 - 13.5 nmol/L)
T Free Calculated: 391 (115 - 577 pmol/L)
LH: 3.1 (1.1 - 8.8 IU/L)
FSH: 1.4 (IU/L)
Estradiol: 67 (<157 pmol/L)
I have a few questions, what is your most prominent symptom? Mine is definitely the sexual dysfunction. Very low libido, essentially non existent with ED issues and low sensitivity. Moderate mood/depression/anxiety issues, but not sure at this point if the depression related sides have developed as I am constantly thinking about this and how to move forward.
Secondly, how did you manage to get the Labcorp tests? I would also like to get a few tests done that aren’t offered up here. Direct Free T and Sensitive E being two of them. I see you mentioned Discount Labs. Did you run into any road blocks ordering through them, and then presenting to Labcorp during day of blood draw since you weren’t a U.S. Resident?
Lastly, any luck with the trt clinic? I tried to contact one a few weeks back but was told i was too young and to see a family doc lol. Keep going around in circles. Endo’s won’t touch my case as my Total T is normal. Haven’t even gotten the chance to get infront of one as they decline my family doctor’s referral. Seems like you’ve had a bit more luck with your family physician at least prescribing some form of T even if it was low dose. I saw a Urologist yesterday with the same story, he told me to see an Endo haha!
Would appreciate an update on your case. I have started some preliminary discussions with Defy Clinic at this point to see if they work with Out of Country Patients. This was going to be my last resort, and looks like I am at that road now.
Sorry for the long post, thought we might be able to help each other out since our cases are very similar.